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Songs Never to Sing for an Audition

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Mira Andrews

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:55 pm
Ok people, what songs would you say you should never sing at an audition and why?

My thoughts - Anything Jason Robert Brown - few pianists can actually play it, even though his stuff is awesome.  
PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:37 pm
Memory - Cats
On My Own - Les Mis
I Dreamed a Dream - Les Mis

The three most over done audition songs in the history of theatre. Keep away from them.

And I disagree on the JRB thing. I would actually push more for using his stuff regularly. It's very well put together, usually shows a range, and is stuff that only the really die hard theatre fans know so it's not usually to overdone. I have used JRB songs often and have yet to met a accopianst that has had problems with it. Perhaps you are just dealing with bad accompainsts? Professional ones should be able to play it. That's their job.  

WickedElphie
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:07 pm
I would say to stay away from JRB if you are dealing with maybe community theatre (a.k.a. where the accomp. would be awful at it...trust me I know crying ), but if it's for a show where you are almost positive the accomp. can play it, go for it. The rhythms of his songs are usually very hard, so unless you've practiced with an accomp. before, I'd steer clear.

Stay away from extremely popular shows, unless you (anyone in general) are better than the original singer, which is doubtful. This includes:

Rent, Wicked, etc.

One song to add to WickedElphie's (very accurate) list is

My New Philosophy: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

I've heard from auditioners themselves that they HATE that song because everyone does it.

Good list so far people! 3nodding  
PostPosted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:04 pm
THINK OF ME FROM PHANTOM
i was auditioning for a school and they told us to never ever do that song because they had heard it so much. plus half the people can't hit the notes. XD  

symphonium

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:49 pm
Avoid anything from Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, or any song from a show currently on Broadway.
Casting directors love it when they hear "Music of the Night" or "Defying Gravity" for the millionth time. xp  
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:44 pm
I agree with the Wicked or Rent because they are way over done. Same as Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis, and Cats so beware, pick something that not everyone will be doing.  

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:08 am
I looked at the question globally and I'd tend to say you shouldn't sing songs that doesn't show your vocal potential. Like, if you have a powerful voice and all, don't come with With all is said and done from the Mamma Mia! musical.  
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:29 pm
I looked at the question from a different aspect as well. As a former musical theatre major, I studied voice for 2 semesters, and was pushed to sing songs that were great for my range, but did not fit me at all as far as character goes. I'm not a happy shiny person. I'm sarcastic, quick-witted, and mostly pessimistic, particularly about love. So don't make me sing "Out of my Dreams" from Oklahoma again or I'll have to beat you.

The lesson here: for an audition, pick songs that you think you can pull off, acting-wise, without looking fake, cheesy, or over-done. The two mentioned above, from Les Mis (particularly On My Own) fit me well, because of the sad nature of the songs. Overdone they may be, but if you're good enough, go for it. On My Own got me to state at solo & ensemble (with the hardest judge in the world, it seemed), so if you think you can pull it off with confidence, you probably can.  

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Koneko Tsukino

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:42 am
For gentlemen, "The Transformation" from Jekyl and Hyde is NOT good. Do not ever even attempt it. It's not that you may not be able to sing it, but it's that the songs because silly if you do not have the advantages of actually transforming. So NOT SINGY!

I would have to agree with the above listen selections. I myself am guilty of those, but that was because at the time I had to pick something quick and those were songs I was quite familiar with. Try picking things from unusual, unloved musicals like Chess. I have found that whenever I do Chess, people react with surprise.  
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