10 Songs From Musicals That Are Unexpectedly Difficult To Sing, According To Reddit

2021 brings adaptations for musical theater lovers Dear Evan Hansen, in the highlands, Tick-tock, tick-tock…bang!,even more.While 2022 has been relatively quiet, there has been a decline in information Matilda and the long-awaited evil The musical has fans on the edge of their seats. While the musical’s songs and story are well-known, the show itself has been largely unavailable due to distance, cost or pandemic guidelines.

Because of this, many fans are left to enjoy the musical on their own, downloading the soundtrack, singing along, and imagining everything in between. Fans who sing songs themselves create varying degrees of emotional connection, but that connection can be hindered by the fact that the song is surprisingly difficult to sing. It’s no secret that some songs are impossible for anyone to complete without extensive training, but musical theater fans took to Reddit to discuss secret songs they didn’t expect to get into trouble like they did.

“New Argentina” – Evita

musical Evita Follows the life of Eva Perón, who rose from poverty to power, investigating how she became an icon in Argentina. The first act ends with the song “New Argentina,” in which Eva and Juan Domingo Perón gain social and political power through their commitment to the people.

The song is deceptively simple, and Eva’s short phrases seem more like dialogue than song—until you try to sing it.As Beth Holler said, “There are very few performers who can sing this song without sounding like they’re screaming.” This is consistent with the way Patti Lupone talks about the musical of: “I screamed through a section only a woman-hating man could write” (from New York Times).

“Giants in the Sky” – Into the Woods

jack went into the woods

Although Jack is played by the brilliant Daniel Huttlestone in the film, he is in into the woods Typically performed by men in their late teens or early twenties, his songs were written for those who spent all their time training. “Sky Giant” is a great song, but also very difficult.

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Reddit user Psychotwilight called it a song “written by a sadist” and defined its complexity as: “Hard to hit notes, fast jumps from high notes to low notes, complex lyrics difficult to remember and pronounce, rapid tempo changes , needs a really good actor with strong stage presence to sell well.” It’s a powerful song, but definitely not one that beginners can master without putting in effort.

“Hope you can come here again” – The Phantom of the Opera

Christine sings in the cemetery in The Phantom of the Opera

kristen song in phantom of the opera These songs are notoriously difficult, but most people focus on her most striking and soaring songs. However, according to Reddit user im_not_bovvered, the song Kristen wrote to her father is actually “one of the hardest musical soprano songs ever.”

Played well, this song can feel very peaceful, but it takes a talented vocalist to hit the right notes while maintaining an emotional tone. Petite_Courtney explained the song’s complexity: “A lot of people focus on the high E, but what really makes her songs difficult are the many low notes. Any Christine actress needs a huge vocal range, but also a Very comfortable range during breaks. ”

“I’m still alive” – ​​close to normal

The main characters of

next to normal Opened on Broadway to great fanfare in 2008, relatively little was known to the public until it appeared in one of the productions. riverdaleThe infamous musical. The musical follows a woman as she tries to manage her bipolar disorder while also grieving the loss of her son.

One of the show’s most popular songs is “I’m Alive,” sung from the perspective of her son (or her illness, depending on the interpretation). While there’s little difficulty in the song, Reddit user Sarcherre described it as “a marathon and a sprint all at the same time.” It’s hard to hold your breath through the song, and as Carnivile explains, “It’s also really boring if you don’t have a good performer. You need a really dynamic voice, otherwise it’s just repeating” I’m alive 60 times.” “

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“By the Sea” – Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd and Miss Lovett at Sweeney Todd's Beach

Musical theater fans might revisit Halloween classics Sweeney Todd But they may find it surprisingly difficult to keep up with Helena Bonham Carter as she attempts to seduce Johnny Depp’s crazy hairdresser Elope with her.

“By the Sea” isn’t very difficult in terms of the notes Ms. Lovett sings, but XenoVX explains that the complexity lies in the phrasing: “[Sondheim] In terms of vocal range, it’s not that bad for the most part, but it’s very challenging to get the lyrics right while maintaining the right phrasing and performing the lyrics as intended. “There’s a lot to say in a short amount of time, and it takes a lot to sing clearly and convincingly.

“End Game #3” – Chess

Anatoly Sergeyevsky and Freddie Trump Staring at the Board in Chess

Many musicals are based on historical events chess Use a literal chess tournament as a metaphor for the Cold War.Tim Rice spoke about the musical in January 2022 on his podcast Get Onto My Cloud, saying queen strategy That’s been done, so the play may soon be revived on Broadway and/or made into a movie.

The song “Endgame #3” takes place at the musical’s climax, when both a chess tournament and the characters’ personal crises are at stake. The instrumental music is overly exaggerated, which may make the audience think that the singing is easy. But as Pickseese says, “In every live recording I’ve heard, most of the actors (even the pros) are completely out of breath or in trouble by 3/4 of the way through.” This musical isn’t for it. timid person.

Nettie Fowler sings for Jolie in 'Carousel'

Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals Carousel It tells the love story of Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow as they navigate the complexities of life. Before things fell apart, they sang “If I Loved You,” a song that teased their attraction without outright stating it.

Although the song is relatively simple in terms of the singer’s vocal range, almost every word is expanded.As 16note said, “You need to breathe sky Complete the phrases of that song even before you get into the performance challenge of the scene. “There are some amazing duets in there, but unless both sides happen to be well-trained performers, this one might be hard to pull off.

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“Maria” – West Side Story

Ansel Eggert's Tony and Rachel Ziegler's Maria stare at each other in 'West Side Story'

classic musical west side story 2021 has just been remastered, bringing its soundtrack back into vogue. Despite its complexity, its hardest song may masquerade as the easiest: “Maria.”

Redditor IrmeliPoika explains the surprising choice: “It has a pretty difficult melody, a somewhat deceptive rhythm, and some impressive high notes. The lyrics are mostly “Maria,” which also makes it harder, because You can’t rely on words to express emotion.” Repeated songs often seem simple, but are hard to do well.

“Send the clown” – Little Night Music

Anne reads a letter inviting her to a party in

night music Explores the intricate ways in which a group of mismatched lovers gradually find a better relationship. Desiree was involved in numerous affairs and was an actress struggling to find fulfillment in her life.

“Send in the Clowns” is a hugely popular song from the musical, but its complexity is hidden in plain sight. While the audience focuses on the lyrics and notes, time plays with them. As Shh04 explains, “It starts in 12/8, before you finish a phrase, goes to 9/8, and alternates the two throughout the song.” Success means the audience never Notice how difficult it is.

“Goddess Shiksa” – the past five years

Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan over the past five years

past five years Follow Jamie and Cathy as they try to keep their relationship going, with one reviewing the relationship from the end and the other seeing it unfold from beginning to end. While the musical is known in theater circles for its extreme complexity, it didn’t seem all that difficult in its 2014 film adaptation, especially Jamie’s song “Shiksa Goddess.”

However, as Ethra2k points out, “Jason Robert baritone is basically a tenor range, but with a full baritone voice.” Because his songs don’t stay within a clear range, they can be very difficult to manage.

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