OMG he did didn’t he? I can’t remember why? Also Leah Michelle who sang that Barbara Striensand’s “don’t rain on my parade “ and Shelby Corcoran played her mother on Glee, also Glenda In Wicked and singing “ defying gravity “ on Broadway. Why she never became a huge star I’ll never know. It’s funny how Ryan Murphy went from fun loving Glee, to absolute opposite in American Horror Story. The greatest show ever
@@tiffanystarbeck2279 I think it was because at that time he was still bullied for being gay and him wanting to sing a woman’s song even caused some hateful phone calls and he didn’t want to make it worse for himself (and his father)? 😅 I’m not 100% sure though, it’s been a while. I think Lea just had a bad reputation bc she apparently was insufferable to work with 😅
I’m sorry, but where is “AND I AM TELLING YOU, I’M NOT GOING” from DREAMGIRLS??? No person worth their salt could possibly demonstrate the range this song requires in just a few bars…
Other names for this list: "Top 10 musical songs to sing on a roadtrip" "Top 10 musical songs to sing in the shower" "Top 10 musical songs to belt on your own"
This reminds me of a scene in one of the naked gun movies where the girl was singing memory in the shower and the bad guy comes in (I wanna say to kill her or something, but it's been a long time, I'm not sure) and he literally forgets what he's there for and starts to sing along. It's hilarious.
i also think that you shouldn’t sing satisfied for an audition, not just because of the difficulty level but also because it’s TECHNICALLY not a solo. she is backed up a lot by the chorus and those voices feed off of each other, so just having the studio recording of the chorus line singing back up will be difficult to match to. so it’s just not the most ideal song for an audition imo..
I’m shocked that “I Dreamed A Dream” wasn’t on this list. I was at an audition once where at LEAST 5 or 6 people sang that. 🤦🏻♀️ I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind to sing it, but I didn’t want to be cliché. I’m glad I chose something simpler. Sometimes less is more. I went with a Carpenter’s song. I ended up landing a secondary character and the understudy of a lead role. And it was my first show.
Agreed I'd avoid Les Mis in general but I Dreamed a Dream now has the double curse that a lot of people will associate it with Susan Boyle who ironically sang it as an audition song and launched a career!
I mean no.... just none of the ones they repeated several times or that are iconic. Saying none of the songs in glee would take out like half the songs in existence. I think glee did like 700 or more different songs
@@kato_the_gamer Yeah I don't think anyone's going to care if you start singing Born this Way if you can spin it. They covered a lot of songs and quiet a few didn't require high range.
I used to work for a kids theater group. We had kids sing "Popular," "Burn," and a few Phantom songs. After Frozen came out I really expected multiple children to bring "Let It Go" but none did. They kept singing it the previous school year, but come auditions, not a one. One year a girl, she was about 8 at the time, and a small 8 at that, she sang "Set Fire to the Rain." This big soulful grown-up song coming out of this little girl. She wasn't bad either, not perfect, she was 8, but not bad at all. It was just such a weird disconnect though.
@@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155 I'm pretty sure she got a solo, but I can't remember which show that was. I know that one year she flirted with Cosmo Brown in Singin in the Rain, and I know that one year she got the big solo in "NYC" for Annie, but I'm pretty sure this was before that. It's a non-prophit and we wanted to teach the kids, so everyone got a part, just not necessarily the one they wanted.
Yea...part of it is an age and really connecting to a song emotionally. I don't like kids singing really mature songs even if they are excellent singers
I have huge respect for anyone who can master the incredibly deep notes of "Bring Him Home." In my school production of "Les Mis" our Valjean was only 16, yet he had a brilliant baritone voice, and brought the house down every night.
@@susanrobinson910 Thanks so much! He was more of the rugby type, but our director cast him after hearing him sing in music class. He was very nervous, but gradually grew accustomed with the role. I think that he's been in a few local productions since then.
Exactly. I can sing all of the female parts and quite afew of the male parts for both Phantom and Les Mis. The only reason most people shouldn't select them is simply because of lack of range or lack of training as you said.
You need the training though. That’s the thing. I wouldn’t tackle it due to being an untrained singer. Though privately I’ve been trying to sing it since I was five or six lol!
Think of me is a more difficult song to learn. I had a semester to learn it in school and even though I was confident in my voice, it's so hard to land those vocal jumps accurately, especially when you got pressure on you.
@@Angelicwings1 i wouldn't think people would be auditioning for shows...especially at the professional level without any training. That, to me, would be inadvisable.
It takes a lot of breath control because of how fast paced the melody is. Along with that it actually does take a lot of voice control. Cause you’re going from an almost speaking voice in some parts to a higher part and down to a whispering section in one verse. Doing that without proper warm ups of your vocal chords and proper breath control can screw you up if you were choosing to do that song for an audition.
Yea the range isn’t really the issue It’s the fact that you’ve Gotta have some really good Vocal control Lung capacity and breath control Trying to properly distribute air between lines can be a problem
@@itsmesara4464 I wouldn't necessarily say that, but usually the casting panel already has an idea of what direction the show is going to go. If you audition with a song that the character you're auditioning for sings, you better hope and pray that your rendition fits their idea for that said character, otherwise, you're out of luck.
I used ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ for an audition and I got the part. I think it’s more about if you can nail that song like they said if you can convey the performance that that song needs.
@@RLucas3000 You don't like songs that Barbra Streisand has performed? She's not a songwriter, so "Streisand songs" are just songs she performed by Barbra Streisand. She's nearly 80 years old and has been singing professionally since she was 9, so - with the exception of "about 4" that you "do really like" - there are literally thousands of songs you simply "don't like in general." Declaring that you don't like the songs a singer has performed is a *very* strange thing to say (you dislike the songs themselves, not her performances, right? Because if you just disliked her performances, I'm sure you would have said so.) How on earth do you keep track of everything she has sung, and not just everything she has recorded? It must take up a lot of your time, making sure you've heard all of the "Streisand songs" so, with the exception of "about 4" songs, you can be sure to dislike them.
No...that wouldn't be the biggest problem at all. A good actor wouldn't just start crying if the moment didn't call for it, and that moment doesn't call for it. LoL
What do you mean? Not hating, because some people on the internet take questions that way. I genuinely want to know what you meant. Not The Boy Next Door was amazing and the judge even said so (I can’t remember her name sorry).
ANY song that was made famous by kids yelling on pitch should be banned for auditions. Ugh. And I like Annie, but every kid song is performed by the kid/s pitch-yelling.
Short answer: Anything popular You guys also missed "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress, and "Mama Who Bore Me" from Spring Awakening I swear I've heard like 8 different versions of "She Used to Be Mine" and 5 different versions of "Mama Who Bore Me"
I don’t think that “She Used to Be Mine” is really a difficult song to sing, so much as a song that requires a lot of emotional depth to sing in a way that accurately portrays what the song is about. It does require some range and definitely a good amount of vocal control, but compared to others on this list, or even other Waitress songs like “I Didn’t Plan It”, I don’t think it’s to difficult of a song. I think that’s part of why there are so many good renditions of the song.
And now that they made In the Heights a movie well now I can’t use Breath . Trust me I drilled that song into my head for months for an audition for my school’s production.
I’ve seen a few people nail Whitney songs. I wouldn’t attempt Mariah songs. She has some of the hardest songs ever. She makes her songs hard on purpose.
@@carriel9954 thank you so much for your reply. I have to agree with you, Mariah Carey does have a large vocal range. I really enjoy so much of her music and wouldn’t ever attempt to try and sing one of her songs.
You should audition with whatever you can do best, to be honest. Also, character-introduction pieces (the aria or song that introduces the character) are often a great choice, because they're written to come early in the evening (when you're less warmed up) and their entire purpose is to introduce a the character to the audience.
This. An audition is your opportunity to convince them of why you should be cast, which means you need to sing whatever song will best allow them to see you as that character. There is no such thing as a blanket "never sing" list. Any one of these songs could be the perfect song for a specific person at a specific audition.
There's a million UA-cam videos about songs you definitely should NOT use for an audition, but there's barely any videos on songs you SHOULD use for an audition.
Probably because it would beat the whole purpose. People would sing only these “good for auditions” songs, they would become overused and THEN no one would want to hear them ever again. Also a good song for you can be an awful choice for me and vice-versa. It’s very tricky. It’s easier to do a list on “no one should sing these” than it is to do a “everyone can ace these”.
That's because the answer is "sing whatever best helps us to see you in the role." And therefore changes for every single audition. Walk into that room and take your moment. Do what no one else could do. As such, all of these "never sing this" lists are total BS because the right song for that moment might be on someone's "never sing" list
I would pick something that showcases my vocal range and my ability. For example I know that due to me being in choir for many years I feel a choral piece would suffice.
Being Alive is a MASTERPIECE! The whole POINT of Kurt singing "Being Alive" in Glee was that the NYADA director wanted to see more depth from Kurt and Being Alive meant a lot to him on a deep level, EVEN THOUGH it had been done to death.
I’m surprised Heathers, Mean Girls, & Beetlejuice weren’t mentioned, considering how popular they are. I’ve been to a few different auditions where someone did Dead Girl Walking.
YEAH, dead girl walking/beautiful/candy store/freeze your brain, world burn/someone gets hurt, dead mom/home; all of them are entirely too overdone. BUT like with any show it’s ok to do an underdone song from an overdone musical!! say my name and fright of their lives would be good if you had your heart set on beetlejuice. stuff like that
I once played an audition where 4 women sang Dead Man Walking. It’s almost impossible to play on the piano, and I didn’t know it, so that was a disaster!
I’m kind of surprised to not see Rent on here. I can’t imagine that Seasons of Love is a stranger to the audition rooms, and the entire musical is rather complex vocally.
Seasons of Love seems like a weird pick for an audition, since it's definitely a group song. I think that some of the singles (Out Tonight, or One Song Glory come to mind) would make good auditions for people who can manage those songs. Most are duets though, so I agree that those aren't great for audition pieces.
I was in a beauty pageant that had a talent portion. One of the girl's I was up against sang "Think of Me" and nailed it, even the last part. I didn't stand a chance. LOL
I did “Go the Distance” from Hercules to audition for Seymour…. And the director said flat out “that song choice didn’t make sense” and without thinking I said “Are you actually f*cking stupid?” Yeah he was but safe to say I will never audition for that playhouse again…
"And I Am Telling You" from Dream Girls should be on the top of this list. Not many people should attempt to even sing it unless they have the lung power to do justice to it.
Omg I auditioned w/ "Don't Rain on my Parade" for a high school play (I was a total Glee nerd back then, now I'm not..) & not only did I FORGET the lyrics (I didn't prepare AT ALL for the audition) but I had to depend on my teachers & classmates to help me figure out the rest of the lyrics. To say I can't listen to that song w/out dying inside is an UNDERSTATEMENT 🥺😭
the same thing happened to me but in middle school and with waving through a window!! when i saw it on this list i almost passed out, i had forgotten that happened!
You should do a list of non-musical theater songs- there are a lot more of them that should really never be attempted (like the entire Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Prince catalog) or others that are done so much that no one will pay you all that much attention when you hear them.
@@beebop4363 Indeed. it would be safe to say that all of the solos from Les Mis should be avoided foe auditioning. The only time you should sing them is if you go on to callbacks (where you are generally expected to then sing songs from the show) or seconds round of auditioning. THis is usually when the director tries to nail down what roles they want their choices in. Little story: In high school, we performed Les Miserables as our spring musical (We were one of the first on the east coast to perform the high school edit of the show in 2003). I, ideally, was auditioning for Fantine and my second choice would have been Eponine. I didn't have the higher voice for Cosette. I made it to the second round, but the director had me sing "On My Own". It seemed to be between me an done other girl, and they were using a point system. The result: I was one point away from getting the roll of Eponine... I was devastated when I found out.
@@ashleybuechler860 man that sucks. I was in a local theater’s production of the school version over the summer, but I was in the ensemble. I suppose the only ‘named’ part I had was Javert’s aid, which was fun cuz I was the one who knocked down Valjean in the prologue (and threw the bag at him).
My audition was with The Other Side (from Greatest Showman) cuz I didn’t know many Broadway musical songs that well and I have a weird vocal range. Basically the Alto I - Soprano II part, aka right in the middle of alto and soprano, which can make picking a comfortable part hard when there’s only two parts.
@@beebop4363 I used to be Sop. 1. Then after a few years I was more comfortable in Mezzo Sop range with the ability to sing lower into Alto. Granted, I do have a good range. As a good example, the song Take On Me (by A-ha), there is only one note in that song that I can't hit naturally, and that's the lowest note that starts the chorus, "Take".
I agree with this list title. Love the list. The statement about "don't try song specifically made for people of color" really bothered me. Not true because I love anyone who can sing a song but I also didn't like it because songs from HAMILTON were not written for people of color; it just happen to have them deliver it.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who found that a strange statement 🤔 it's a song for a particular character but then there's also how the musical directors and people running the production are running it unless there's a theme linked to being a POC like in Hairspray for example
The thing is that casting calls for Hamilton specify only "ethnic actors" for all roles aside from King George and chorus...so.... There was even a big scandal about it a few years ago. This was the response: "A Hamilton spokesperson subsequently released a statement, stressing that “it is essential to the storytelling of Hamilton that the principal roles - which were written for non-white characters (excepting King George) - be performed by non-white actors”."
A piece of advice an old instructor of mine gave is to choose a piece you know well that isn’t too complicated and isn’t show-boaty. It can demonstrate your skill, but you want to give them a taste of what you can do
I’m not surprised waving through a window is on this list- I should have watched this BEFORE I auditioned for my school musical because I sang waving through a window BUT I got a callback for Tuesday :D
Another one I’d suggest not to do even though it’s not from a musical is Heart Attack by Demi Lovato. I mean, I might be able to nail that riff they do in the comfort of my own home, but I’d never risk blowing it at an audition.
As a former actor, singer , director, et al, I would agree with all of these recommendations. Even if you can NAIL one of these songs, it doesn't prove that you can do anything else! Pick something that shows your versatility! Something off the beaten path, but not too far off. (Parents, NEVER allow your children to sing "Tomorrow" - directors have heard hundreds or more versions of this song at auditions!) I admit to having broken this rule when auditioning for "Music Man". I decided to do "Ya Got Trouble". The locals already knew my versatility, as I was performing in "Tintypes" and handled accents, singing, humor, et al (we won't talk about dancing, though I managed to pull off a bad impersonation of Cohan's dancing. And I managed to get all of the words correctly - it was a dream role and I got the part, but had to turn it down because I'd mistaken the run dates and the first week of Music Man would have conflicted with closing week of Tintypes. One of the biggest regrets of my life, but I couldn't leave the theatre hanging with a replacement closing week! I don't roll that way.
On My Own from Les Miz was actually my primary audition song for about 14 years (not that I had many auditions, I kinda gave up my musical dreams when I got pregnant at 19 - priorities). The majority of the auditions that I've done with this song (I had backups ready), were very positive. But they also weren't for anything more than "community" theater or for college choruses/choirs.
This tier list is so true. When auditioning it’s better to show off but also make sure you pick a song that you won’t mess up. The songs in the playlist are iconic but have difficult parts that you can easily mess up on
I was Cinderella in "Into the Woods" during high school and "On the Steps of the Palace" was the biggest pain in the butt to perform. My theater director, who was also my choir director, and I basically gave up on the printed version and changed the key register slightly so I could hit everything more consistently.
I broke rule 10 on my audition. I was auditioning for Scar in a Musical/Movie hybrid adaptation of The Lion King, and did “Be Prepared”. But, I nailed the audition, and got the part.
I once had a voice teacher who made me sing "Memory" for an Arts competition. I could almost see the judges dying a little inside when they announced my song.
The best voice teacher had a wonderful piece of advice: Even among trained singers, being “A VOICE” is 1 in 100. Most people have voices that are “charming.” So, most people can’t do the “showstoppers”, especially at an audition. Also, if I hear Dream an Impossible Dream at an audition again, I’ll be tempted to stab myself in the eardrum.
When I was going to be a freshman in high school, I auditioned for my school's competitive show choir with Think of Me and I got in. It just goes to show that if you're able to nail the song, just go with it.
Honestly it just goes to show that a high school choir needs new people to keep it going and not many people want in. Turn down your ego a little there, honey.
@@letolethe3344 I didn't mean to sound egotistical if that's how my comment came across. I just had worked really hard on that song to prepare for that audition. Looking back, I just feel super proud of myself and my work ethic to do that song justice. Was I up to snuff with all the amazing women who have played Christine? Absolutely not. I was a thirteen year old just doing her best. In this case and scenario, my hard work ended up paying off.
For all of you who want to save time or watch one in specific: 10- A song from the show you are auditioning for in general (1:33) 9- Defying gravity- Wicked (2:41) 8- Think of me- The phantom of the opera (4:11) 7- Satisfied- Hamilton (5:40) 6- Bring him home- Les Misérables (7:19) 5- Waving through a window- Dear Evan Hansen (8:51) 4- Don't rain on my parade- Funny Girl (10:12) 3- Being alive- Company (11:43) 2- Any Jason Robert Brown song (13:27) 1- Memory- Cats (16:44)
wait, that’s actually an interesting choice, I would’ve applauded you for that. I was in a production of American Idiot in college, Good Riddance was our final song, so I know from the pretty arrangement that it works as a theater song. also I appreciate whenever someone picks an unconventional audition song.
@@JackieBorelli thank you. Sadly, I didn’t have a good arrangement and had to do it Acapella because the casting director only had the Mary Popins soundtrack downloaded(he didn’t believe in number 10)
I am kind of astonished not to see the iconic Rose's Turn from Gypsy on this list. That song is well known, unhinged, has a difficult rhythm that has to be followed and the finale of the song is absolutely make or break.
i love Angela Lansbury’s take when asked in an interview about her doing the first revival of Gypsy on Broadway in the early 70s. She said thoughtfully, “It’s true, this show was Ethel Merman’s. And in the future, it will be someone else’s. But right now, in this moment in time, the show is mine.”. I think that’s a great way for any auditioner to think of any song!
I actually kind of disagree with Waving Through A Window. The song is probably one of Evan's easier solos and would work well auditioning for a lot of characters that have multiple "faces," especially one whose dominant traits are showing happy but internalizing sad. It's a heck of a lot better choice for a Dear Evan Hansen song than something like Words Fail.
I've been scrolling for this comment tbh. So many people have played the role and killed this song. Yes, there are some tricky belts at the end but if we're going to talk technical difficulty 'For Forever' is the harder song.
I feel like This Is Me from The Greatest Showman is another one that is done to death. I love that song in that movie but the amount of times I heard it in American idol, the voice, and America’s got talent auditions is beyond annoying at this point.
In many instances, auditioning with a song from the show is literally not allowed. I worked with a theatre company for years where that was a strict policy
I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but, if I were to audition for any big musical, I just go for something from Marvel's: Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. It may not have done well, but at least I'd be going for the songs that no one would expect. Plus, the main reason I would pick that musical, I'm a Marvel fan no matter what it is.
I’ve literally never auditioned for anything but if I did I’d definitely do “Michael in the Bathroom” from “be more chill” because I know I can nail it
Pretty much a general rule of thumb, if it’s a somewhat relevant musical theatre song, don’t use it. Stick with a known yet unexpected pop song that really shows off your range
If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be to stop auditioning with "On My Own!" OMG! I was a decent singer but not fantastic and that was my go-to audition song. Guess what? I never got the lead in anything. I was always the understudy for the lead. I didn't get to go on, but sometimes the girl playing the lead would have to miss a rehearsal and I'd fill in for her and I remember so clearly the director being impressed by my voice. Like, "Oh, you can actually sing." Yeah, I could sing, I just sucked at auditioning and I thought I was freakin' Idina Menzel. I was not. LOL EDIT: It's funny though because "Bring Him Home" was my solo when our choir did the Les Miz medley. I was a soprano and they didn't even attempt to get a guy to sing it.
Who knew that Glee Characters performed at auditions using lots of these songs? This video kind of dissed them in a way. Not cool. They were all amazing songs.
I'm insane, so I'd probably try to audition with "Guns and Ships." :-D I used to belong to a church that featured a lot of secular music, including some services devoted to various film/TV/musical themes. One day the pastor, who has no clue about how music works, asked me to sing "Phantom of the Opera" - yes, the duet between Christine and the Phantom - for a service themed around that musical. She also asked one of our altos to sing something else way out of her range. For my song, I figured Why the Hell Not, and recorded a video where I sang Christine's part, turned off the lights, quick-changed to the Phantom, then flipped on the lights right when his part started. Took me 80 million tries, but it finally worked.
It is absolutely correct Satisfied is actually really hard to sing along. I almost perfected it but than I stopped practicing it. Recently when I again tried to sing along, I failed miserably.
10. [Anything from the show you're auditioning for] 9. Defying gravity (wicked) 8. Think of me (Phantom) 7. Satisfied (Hamilton) 6. Bring Them Home (Les Mis) 5. Waving Through a Window (Dear Evan Hansen) 4. Don't rain on my parade (Funny Girl) 3. Being alive (Company) 2. [Any Jason Robert Brown song] 1. Memory (Cats)
I can't sing but geez, just seeing these folks performing makes my throat hurt haha I think cause there are so many talented people in the world, it's easy to forget just how amazing and skilled singers are and what it must take to maintain their voices.
"Gethsemane" from Jesus Christ Superstar should definitely have been on this list. It has such demanding falsetto notes that it feels wrong when the person singing it doesn't even try to hit them.
Oh yeah, good call! Nobody does it like Steve Balsamo, or whoever else people might argue is the best. Probably anything from JCS especially I don’t know how to love him is probably way overdone…
I would also put a caveat on the "not singing something from the show you're auditioning for advice". Some productions will specifically ASK you to pick a song from the show. In fact, I was asked once to be prepared to sing any song in my vocal range from the show.
I always wanted to sing like Sia! The feeling of singing that high note that almost everyone cringes before she sings “I wanna swing like a chandelier “ the whole part. Singing is the one thing in life that brings me joy, so I just stick to singing in the shower and my car
This is hilarious. I'm an acting student taking a singing for actors course this semester, and our variety show currently includes at least 4 of the above mentioned songs between the seven of us LOL.
7:37 Yes, I fell in love with Les Miz when I was 12. A number of months later, I auditioned for a youth summer theatre production of Les Miz: School Edition and committed the sin of singing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."
I can think of a few that can also be avoided. Climb Ev'ry Mountain might only be good for a classically trained voice. Also The Greatest Show and This is Me from The Greatest Showman. Cabaret. Mama Mia. Tonight, from West Side Story. A.friend in college auditioned for Les Miserable' with On My Own, and got rejected.
Then check out Katherine Steeles UA-cam channel, she has a lot of tips and tricks for auditions including videos of what not to sing and which songs are best for your voice
I remember when I was in high school I got nervous and chocked with the these two songs when I audition for the musicals “I Can Hear the Bells” from Hairspray and “High Hopes” 😂 so sad but true story lol
I auditioned with "Think of Me" and won the part I wanted in the show!! The director had me sing it for everyone there after all the auditions were done. And I sang it to the end. Being a classically trained soprano and vocal coach let's you break a few rules. Don't try this at home, unless you can do it justice. 😉
I disagreed with a couple of the songs, mostly because I have successfully auditioned with Think of Me, and think it's a fantastic song for a trained soprano. The real trick is knowing your range and LOTS of practice. If you know you can nail a difficult song, I don't think it's a bad idea. The one that I agree with most is If I Were a Rich Man, because you will ALWAYS be compared with Topol, and no one can sing that song like Topol.
I grew up singing with vocal training and choir practice but since I've been out of practice for years, I would not be able to reach the super high notes anymore. I can still sing pretty high, but I still sing the super high notes in my head
Check out our featured song: "One Chance" by Rijell! ua-cam.com/video/apMXH8Y3gbM/v-deo.html
I was surprised nothing from Mary Poppins was on this list, the only song I would audience with that I probably shouldn't is "Feed the Birds".
I can do Satisfied.
I swear I have mastered satisfied from Hamilton
I love to sing along to let it go from frozen and I can’t hold the end note but I love singing along to it
Anyone who can nail Satisfied from Hamilton during an audition deserves a Tony right on the spot.
🤣🤣🤣 yeah
Maybe not during an audition, but I’m confident I’m pretty good at it. And I’ve never given myself credit for anything. 😂😂😂
I can sing it well but I’m stage shy
@@nkesefuentes4391 Same
I can sing it. But my sister is the stage actress. She could do it better.
I'm just a stay at home mom lol
Showing Kurts “defying gravity” is kinda funny considering he blew the tone on purpose 😄
Yeah in future episodes he hits that note with no issues at all. Shows up in the albums as well.
I was about to say this
It’s one of the most difficult songs of a Broadway show.
I bet you think it SOUNDS easy, but it isn’t.
OMG he did didn’t he? I can’t remember why? Also Leah Michelle who sang that Barbara Striensand’s “don’t rain on my parade “ and Shelby Corcoran played her mother on Glee, also Glenda In Wicked and singing “ defying gravity “ on Broadway. Why she never became a huge star I’ll never know. It’s funny how Ryan Murphy went from fun loving Glee, to absolute opposite in American Horror Story. The greatest show ever
@@tiffanystarbeck2279 I think it was because at that time he was still bullied for being gay and him wanting to sing a woman’s song even caused some hateful phone calls and he didn’t want to make it worse for himself (and his father)? 😅 I’m not 100% sure though, it’s been a while.
I think Lea just had a bad reputation bc she apparently was insufferable to work with 😅
I’m sorry, but where is “AND I AM TELLING YOU, I’M NOT GOING” from DREAMGIRLS??? No person worth their salt could possibly demonstrate the range this song requires in just a few bars…
That's what I thought!!!😳🤯
YESSSS IT IS SUCH A GREAT SONG BUT IT IS SOOO HARD TO PULL OFF
Agreed
Everyone who's tried it blew out their vocal cords so they couldn't tell msmojo it should have been on the list 🤣
Even if it wasn't a top 10 it should have been an honorable mention. Although it definitely should have been a top 10
Other names for this list:
"Top 10 musical songs to sing on a roadtrip"
"Top 10 musical songs to sing in the shower"
"Top 10 musical songs to belt on your own"
True
Top 10 songs people who can't sing think are hard to sing. But it would be rude to point that out so publically.
This reminds me of a scene in one of the naked gun movies where the girl was singing memory in the shower and the bad guy comes in (I wanna say to kill her or something, but it's been a long time, I'm not sure) and he literally forgets what he's there for and starts to sing along. It's hilarious.
Lol. I was thinking the same thing.
I literally have a playlist for some of these songs hahaha and I do all three (just when I'm by myself lol )
i also think that you shouldn’t sing satisfied for an audition, not just because of the difficulty level but also because it’s TECHNICALLY not a solo. she is backed up a lot by the chorus and those voices feed off of each other, so just having the studio recording of the chorus line singing back up will be difficult to match to. so it’s just not the most ideal song for an audition imo..
That's what I was thinking. Even if you think you can pull it off vocally, it just doesn't work for a 16 bar audition piece.
Yeah its not the same without the chorus parts and you can't replicate a chorus with one person
I was thinking about that it'd be a weird one to pull off on your own.
Is helpless a solo?
@@cait2123 no but burn is
Showing kurt's voice crack was just uncalled for, especially since he did it on purpose💀💀
Thank you!! I was looking for this comment! He did it on purpose! 🤦🏿♀️
@@mozellamathews7058 literally made me SO mad hahaha, and the fact that they didn't let him do it when they resang it in s5 made me SO UPSET
So he said.
@@remyfacade I mean he hits the note in his solo studio version soooo I think that proves everything lol
@@isabellac4901 not really. Anyone can hit the right note on a recording
I’m shocked that “I Dreamed A Dream” wasn’t on this list. I was at an audition once where at LEAST 5 or 6 people sang that. 🤦🏻♀️ I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind to sing it, but I didn’t want to be cliché. I’m glad I chose something simpler. Sometimes less is more. I went with a Carpenter’s song. I ended up landing a secondary character and the understudy of a lead role. And it was my first show.
I'm surprised that Tomorrow from Annie wasn't on this list.
Anything from Les miz is a no go really
Agreed I'd avoid Les Mis in general but I Dreamed a Dream now has the double curse that a lot of people will associate it with Susan Boyle who ironically sang it as an audition song and launched a career!
Should go with something from Miss Saigon if you really wanna showcase your vocals without the cliché songs
@@Angelicwings1 but why?
Just to summarize: any song used on Glee, is a NO, NO xD
I mean no.... just none of the ones they repeated several times or that are iconic. Saying none of the songs in glee would take out like half the songs in existence. I think glee did like 700 or more different songs
Lol I was thinking this too
Pretty much
@@kato_the_gamer Yeah I don't think anyone's going to care if you start singing Born this Way if you can spin it. They covered a lot of songs and quiet a few didn't require high range.
yes
I used to work for a kids theater group. We had kids sing "Popular," "Burn," and a few Phantom songs. After Frozen came out I really expected multiple children to bring "Let It Go" but none did. They kept singing it the previous school year, but come auditions, not a one. One year a girl, she was about 8 at the time, and a small 8 at that, she sang "Set Fire to the Rain." This big soulful grown-up song coming out of this little girl. She wasn't bad either, not perfect, she was 8, but not bad at all. It was just such a weird disconnect though.
Did she get cast?
@@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155 I'm pretty sure she got a solo, but I can't remember which show that was. I know that one year she flirted with Cosmo Brown in Singin in the Rain, and I know that one year she got the big solo in "NYC" for Annie, but I'm pretty sure this was before that. It's a non-prophit and we wanted to teach the kids, so everyone got a part, just not necessarily the one they wanted.
@@ChildOfDarkDefiance gotcha
My younger sister goes to Applause Academy, she did “Aristocrats”, “Frozen”, and she’s gonna be doing “Heathers”.
Yea...part of it is an age and really connecting to a song emotionally. I don't like kids singing really mature songs even if they are excellent singers
I have huge respect for anyone who can master the incredibly deep notes of "Bring Him Home." In my school production of "Les Mis" our Valjean was only 16, yet he had a brilliant baritone voice, and brought the house down every night.
Trina Q, Wow! 🤯
That’s incredible to have a voice like that at such a young age! I hope he continued to sing!
@ Trina Q Hugh Jackman sang "Bring Him Home" so beautifully I had tears in my eyes.
@@susanrobinson910 Thanks so much! He was more of the rugby type, but our director cast him after hearing him sing in music class. He was very nervous, but gradually grew accustomed with the role. I think that he's been in a few local productions since then.
@@trinaq congratulations to him.
To be fair, if you're classically trained in opera and have the correct vocal range , Think of Me, isn't that hard to sing correctly.
I was thinking the same thing
Exactly. I can sing all of the female parts and quite afew of the male parts for both Phantom and Les Mis. The only reason most people shouldn't select them is simply because of lack of range or lack of training as you said.
You need the training though. That’s the thing. I wouldn’t tackle it due to being an untrained singer. Though privately I’ve been trying to sing it since I was five or six lol!
Think of me is a more difficult song to learn. I had a semester to learn it in school and even though I was confident in my voice, it's so hard to land those vocal jumps accurately, especially when you got pressure on you.
@@Angelicwings1 i wouldn't think people would be auditioning for shows...especially at the professional level without any training. That, to me, would be inadvisable.
Never Enough from Greatest Showman should absolutely be on this list
And Walking on a Tightrope. 😅👌
Thats one of the most popular audtion song ever
Anything from Greatest Showman.
Absolutely. I wish i could've told that to 11 year old me.
Satisfied isn't an insanely challenging vocal range. The pace of the song is tricky in spots.
I sing it with no problem
It takes a lot of breath control because of how fast paced the melody is. Along with that it actually does take a lot of voice control. Cause you’re going from an almost speaking voice in some parts to a higher part and down to a whispering section in one verse. Doing that without proper warm ups of your vocal chords and proper breath control can screw you up if you were choosing to do that song for an audition.
Thanks for telling us something we all know.
That's all.
Yea the range isn’t really the issue
It’s the fact that you’ve Gotta have some really good Vocal control
Lung capacity and breath control
Trying to properly distribute air between lines can be a problem
Mariah Carey songs could have filled up this whole list. Her songs are vocal suicide. Super hard.
This was more for show tunes
Same with Whitney Houston songs!
Ariana Grande hold my ponytail
Mariah Carey's style of singing pierces my ear drums
It's a showtunes list. Not a pop songs list.
Choked up a bit seeing Naya Rivera clip. She was always my favourite in glee, so was really sad to hear she left this world so young last year
Jup same
I was looking for this comment… ugh it gives me chills everytime😭😭😭
Unless they specify to do it, NEVER audition with a song from the show, EVER
Yep
May I ask why? Ive heard that a lot but Ive nevet known why :")
@@equinux6472 cause it kinda just seems like you’re a suck up and you’re too focused on only getting like a big role
@@itsmesara4464 I wouldn't necessarily say that, but usually the casting panel already has an idea of what direction the show is going to go. If you audition with a song that the character you're auditioning for sings, you better hope and pray that your rendition fits their idea for that said character, otherwise, you're out of luck.
I used ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ for an audition and I got the part. I think it’s more about if you can nail that song like they said if you can convey the performance that that song needs.
That's definitely a hard song to sing. I am glad that you got the part that you wanted.
Congrats! i don’t like Streisand songs in general, but there are about 4 i do really like, and that’s one of them.
@@RLucas3000 You don't like songs that Barbra Streisand has performed? She's not a songwriter, so "Streisand songs" are just songs she performed by Barbra Streisand.
She's nearly 80 years old and has been singing professionally since she was 9, so - with the exception of "about 4" that you "do really like" - there are literally thousands of songs you simply "don't like in general."
Declaring that you don't like the songs a singer has performed is a *very* strange thing to say (you dislike the songs themselves, not her performances, right? Because if you just disliked her performances, I'm sure you would have said so.)
How on earth do you keep track of everything she has sung, and not just everything she has recorded?
It must take up a lot of your time, making sure you've heard all of the "Streisand songs" so, with the exception of "about 4" songs, you can be sure to dislike them.
@Sparklemotion101 Ni It ain’t that serious bro💀
@@majesticsquares2213 I disagree.
Burn really isn’t too bad
The biggest problem would be capturing the emotion without starting to tear up
And it'd be capturing the mix of emotions as well - the sadness, the hurt, and anger all need to be coming through for it to really hit
No...that wouldn't be the biggest problem at all. A good actor wouldn't just start crying if the moment didn't call for it, and that moment doesn't call for it. LoL
I am SO SO GLAD you included Robin Williams rendition of Babs’, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” That’s perfection in four measures right there! ❤️❤️❤️
Honestly, it's always wonderful seeing his beautiful face
The fact that Kurt wore a full phantom mask to his audition, then wondered why he didn’t get it
What do you mean? Not hating, because some people on the internet take questions that way. I genuinely want to know what you meant. Not The Boy Next Door was amazing and the judge even said so (I can’t remember her name sorry).
I heard you're not supposed to audition in a costume, it makes the person auditioning look desperate
@@CarolineForbesAndTaylorSwift huh, I’m not a judge but I guess that makes sense
He didn't though, he didn't use it
@@nateperkins9860 He may not have worn the Phantom outfut, but he diiiid end up in the gold lame pants 🤣
Where’s “Tomorrow” from Annie?!?!? I’ve sat through god knows how many auditions where I heard EVERY little girl belt it at the top of their lungs.
Is that only second to "Somewhere over the rainbow"?
@Lion Muesli I went to a wedding where the singer was VERY good. Learned later she had played Annie when she was a kid in a road company.
Tomorrow sounds its best when its belted and off tune in my opinion
ANY song that was made famous by kids yelling on pitch should be banned for auditions. Ugh. And I like Annie, but every kid song is performed by the kid/s pitch-yelling.
Yeah that is suicide
Short answer: Anything popular
You guys also missed "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress, and "Mama Who Bore Me" from Spring Awakening
I swear I've heard like 8 different versions of "She Used to Be Mine" and 5 different versions of "Mama Who Bore Me"
I don’t think that “She Used to Be Mine” is really a difficult song to sing, so much as a song that requires a lot of emotional depth to sing in a way that accurately portrays what the song is about. It does require some range and definitely a good amount of vocal control, but compared to others on this list, or even other Waitress songs like “I Didn’t Plan It”, I don’t think it’s to difficult of a song. I think that’s part of why there are so many good renditions of the song.
And now that they made In the Heights a movie well now I can’t use Breath . Trust me I drilled that song into my head for months for an audition for my school’s production.
I wouldn’t ever attempt to audition with any Whitney Houston song. Well after hearing these show tunes, I wouldn’t attempt ANY of them!!!
I’ve seen a few people nail Whitney songs. I wouldn’t attempt Mariah songs. She has some of the hardest songs ever. She makes her songs hard on purpose.
@@carriel9954 thank you so much for your reply. I have to agree with you, Mariah Carey does have a large vocal range. I really enjoy so much of her music and wouldn’t ever attempt to try and sing one of her songs.
It's impossible redo it.
It's best not to audition with any song by a "diva" artist (Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, etc.).
You're here too
You should audition with whatever you can do best, to be honest. Also, character-introduction pieces (the aria or song that introduces the character) are often a great choice, because they're written to come early in the evening (when you're less warmed up) and their entire purpose is to introduce a the character to the audience.
This. An audition is your opportunity to convince them of why you should be cast, which means you need to sing whatever song will best allow them to see you as that character. There is no such thing as a blanket "never sing" list. Any one of these songs could be the perfect song for a specific person at a specific audition.
There's a million UA-cam videos about songs you definitely should NOT use for an audition, but there's barely any videos on songs you SHOULD use for an audition.
Probably because it would beat the whole purpose. People would sing only these “good for auditions” songs, they would become overused and THEN no one would want to hear them ever again. Also a good song for you can be an awful choice for me and vice-versa. It’s very tricky. It’s easier to do a list on “no one should sing these” than it is to do a “everyone can ace these”.
That's because the answer is "sing whatever best helps us to see you in the role." And therefore changes for every single audition.
Walk into that room and take your moment. Do what no one else could do.
As such, all of these "never sing this" lists are total BS because the right song for that moment might be on someone's "never sing" list
I would pick something that showcases my vocal range and my ability. For example I know that due to me being in choir for many years I feel a choral piece would suffice.
Being Alive is a MASTERPIECE! The whole POINT of Kurt singing "Being Alive" in Glee was that the NYADA director wanted to see more depth from Kurt and Being Alive meant a lot to him on a deep level, EVEN THOUGH it had been done to death.
this!! 100%
Chris sounded fantastic in his version.
As a director of musical theatre, who has sat through thousands of auditions...I endorse this message!
Would you also put Deadgirl walking on the do not sing list? Especially if the show is based on a Disney movie like Beauty and the Beast?
What would be recommendations then?
@@Angelicwings1 From my own research something that matches the character but from something that's not too popular.
Dan what would be a good choice. A song within our respective ranges but something that showcases our vocal abilities.
@@girlishgamer1 yeah don’t sing dead girl walking for an audition for beauty and the best
Guns and Ships, If you can rap like Daveed Diggs you deserve any role in a musical.
I tried sing it once I was too fast, lol; I was using a French accent too.
Thank you! That was the first song I learned to rap actually.
@@thechosenone3163 Me too.
It took my four days to learn the rap and I still can’t say it right.
@@nevadalaraine It took me maybe… two? I stumble on the last part though because I can never remember that last Lafayette line.
And I Am Telling You from Dreamgirls most definitely should've been on this list
Yep. At that point, I'm not going to love it. LOL
People attempt that song in auditions?! Poor brave, unfortunate souls.
@@Sharpe1502 I would hope someone doesn’t sing this during an audition 😂
@@Sharpe1502 Stupid, but brave.
I’m surprised Heathers, Mean Girls, & Beetlejuice weren’t mentioned, considering how popular they are. I’ve been to a few different auditions where someone did Dead Girl Walking.
I was thinking the same with Beetlejuice. I mean no one is gonna be as amazing as Alex Brightman
@@countrygirlbeth1 they don't need to be as amazing as alex brightman
The screlting is real. Especially with these three shows lol
YEAH, dead girl walking/beautiful/candy store/freeze your brain, world burn/someone gets hurt, dead mom/home; all of them are entirely too overdone. BUT like with any show it’s ok to do an underdone song from an overdone musical!! say my name and fright of their lives would be good if you had your heart set on beetlejuice. stuff like that
I once played an audition where 4 women sang Dead Man Walking. It’s almost impossible to play on the piano, and I didn’t know it, so that was a disaster!
I’m kind of surprised to not see Rent on here. I can’t imagine that Seasons of Love is a stranger to the audition rooms, and the entire musical is rather complex vocally.
Seasons of Love seems like a weird pick for an audition, since it's definitely a group song. I think that some of the singles (Out Tonight, or One Song Glory come to mind) would make good auditions for people who can manage those songs. Most are duets though, so I agree that those aren't great for audition pieces.
@@acbutler42 I absolutely agree that it would be a terrible choice but just figure people would attempt it anyways.
Back in my theatre days everyone and their mother sang “Out Tonight” and “Take Me or Leave Me” as their audition song.
@@giftofgab1791 lemme guess ...late 90s/early 2000s... 🙂
I think One Song Glory could be used if they can really sing it, but that's about it.
I was in a beauty pageant that had a talent portion. One of the girl's I was up against sang "Think of Me" and nailed it, even the last part. I didn't stand a chance. LOL
I did “Go the Distance” from Hercules to audition for Seymour…. And the director said flat out “that song choice didn’t make sense” and without thinking I said “Are you actually f*cking stupid?” Yeah he was but safe to say I will never audition for that playhouse again…
Actually, “Go the Distance” is just way overdone for auditions across the country. I would avoid it for that reason alone.
It ACTUALLY makes sense... I mean, did you read the name on the fcking score????????
He wasn't wrong... It's an illogical choice which won't help a director to envision you in the role of Seymour.
"And I Am Telling You" from Dream Girls should be on the top of this list. Not many people should attempt to even sing it unless they have the lung power to do justice to it.
Omg I auditioned w/ "Don't Rain on my Parade" for a high school play (I was a total Glee nerd back then, now I'm not..) & not only did I FORGET the lyrics (I didn't prepare AT ALL for the audition) but I had to depend on my teachers & classmates to help me figure out the rest of the lyrics. To say I can't listen to that song w/out dying inside is an UNDERSTATEMENT 🥺😭
damn
Nuuu,I am so sorry you had to go through that TmT
Better Luck Next Time My Friend 😭💕
the same thing happened to me but in middle school and with waving through a window!! when i saw it on this list i almost passed out, i had forgotten that happened!
You should do a list of non-musical theater songs- there are a lot more of them that should really never be attempted (like the entire Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Prince catalog) or others that are done so much that no one will pay you all that much attention when you hear them.
They already did. About 5 months ago
pretty sure that list exists
I kind of think for most shows it is best to stick to musical theatre songs anyway. There are exceptions of course.
Surprised, "on my Own" from Les Mis is not even an honorable mention. that song had been done to death.
They mentioned it when they brought up "Bring Him Home."
@@beebop4363 Indeed. it would be safe to say that all of the solos from Les Mis should be avoided foe auditioning. The only time you should sing them is if you go on to callbacks (where you are generally expected to then sing songs from the show) or seconds round of auditioning. THis is usually when the director tries to nail down what roles they want their choices in.
Little story: In high school, we performed Les Miserables as our spring musical (We were one of the first on the east coast to perform the high school edit of the show in 2003). I, ideally, was auditioning for Fantine and my second choice would have been Eponine. I didn't have the higher voice for Cosette. I made it to the second round, but the director had me sing "On My Own". It seemed to be between me an done other girl, and they were using a point system. The result: I was one point away from getting the roll of Eponine... I was devastated when I found out.
@@ashleybuechler860 man that sucks. I was in a local theater’s production of the school version over the summer, but I was in the ensemble. I suppose the only ‘named’ part I had was Javert’s aid, which was fun cuz I was the one who knocked down Valjean in the prologue (and threw the bag at him).
My audition was with The Other Side (from Greatest Showman) cuz I didn’t know many Broadway musical songs that well and I have a weird vocal range. Basically the Alto I - Soprano II part, aka right in the middle of alto and soprano, which can make picking a comfortable part hard when there’s only two parts.
@@beebop4363 I used to be Sop. 1. Then after a few years I was more comfortable in Mezzo Sop range with the ability to sing lower into Alto. Granted, I do have a good range. As a good example, the song Take On Me (by A-ha), there is only one note in that song that I can't hit naturally, and that's the lowest note that starts the chorus, "Take".
I love Jennifer Hudson but the "Cats" remake was awful and no one can sing "Memory" as good as Elaine Page!!
Maybe Betty Buckley?
@@harrietdot Definitely Betty Buckley
Definitely Betty Buckley. She could belt that song.
Saw Maime Paris in Cats a few years ago. She nailed it.
True, but Jennifer singing cats is the only best thing about the movie cats.
I agree with this list title. Love the list.
The statement about "don't try song specifically made for people of color" really bothered me. Not true because I love anyone who can sing a song but I also didn't like it because songs from HAMILTON were not written for people of color; it just happen to have them deliver it.
That statement is racist and dumb. Anyone should play any character whatever your color is.
As a person of colour, i had to replay it because what does that even mean?? 😕
I'm glad I'm not the only one who found that a strange statement 🤔 it's a song for a particular character but then there's also how the musical directors and people running the production are running it unless there's a theme linked to being a POC like in Hairspray for example
The thing is that casting calls for Hamilton specify only "ethnic actors" for all roles aside from King George and chorus...so....
There was even a big scandal about it a few years ago. This was the response:
"A Hamilton spokesperson subsequently released a statement, stressing that “it is essential to the storytelling of Hamilton that the principal roles - which were written for non-white characters (excepting King George) - be performed by non-white actors”."
Hamilton was absolutely written by and for people of color. Let black people have something. Damn!
A piece of advice an old instructor of mine gave is to choose a piece you know well that isn’t too complicated and isn’t show-boaty. It can demonstrate your skill, but you want to give them a taste of what you can do
I’m not surprised waving through a window is on this list- I should have watched this BEFORE I auditioned for my school musical because I sang waving through a window BUT I got a callback for Tuesday :D
Another one I’d suggest not to do even though it’s not from a musical is Heart Attack by Demi Lovato. I mean, I might be able to nail that riff they do in the comfort of my own home, but I’d never risk blowing it at an audition.
I love your name. I’m a Marvel and Hamilton nerd too lol
@@molly_parker_1847 aww thank you, that’s so nice!
*they* and yes it’s kind of not fitting
@@frandarling8054 yes, thank for for correcting me I forgot how they identify. I’m not being sarcastic btw. Thx :)
I did “Maybe This Time” for my high school musical and got a lead part. I think Cabaret is a safe/solid choice.
As a former actor, singer , director, et al, I would agree with all of these recommendations. Even if you can NAIL one of these songs, it doesn't prove that you can do anything else! Pick something that shows your versatility! Something off the beaten path, but not too far off. (Parents, NEVER allow your children to sing "Tomorrow" - directors have heard hundreds or more versions of this song at auditions!) I admit to having broken this rule when auditioning for "Music Man". I decided to do "Ya Got Trouble". The locals already knew my versatility, as I was performing in "Tintypes" and handled accents, singing, humor, et al (we won't talk about dancing, though I managed to pull off a bad impersonation of Cohan's dancing. And I managed to get all of the words correctly - it was a dream role and I got the part, but had to turn it down because I'd mistaken the run dates and the first week of Music Man would have conflicted with closing week of Tintypes. One of the biggest regrets of my life, but I couldn't leave the theatre hanging with a replacement closing week! I don't roll that way.
Can I do Music of the Night? I know I can do it under pressure.
On My Own from Les Miz was actually my primary audition song for about 14 years (not that I had many auditions, I kinda gave up my musical dreams when I got pregnant at 19 - priorities). The majority of the auditions that I've done with this song (I had backups ready), were very positive. But they also weren't for anything more than "community" theater or for college choruses/choirs.
This tier list is so true. When auditioning it’s better to show off but also make sure you pick a song that you won’t mess up. The songs in the playlist are iconic but have difficult parts that you can easily mess up on
I was Cinderella in "Into the Woods" during high school and "On the Steps of the Palace" was the biggest pain in the butt to perform. My theater director, who was also my choir director, and I basically gave up on the printed version and changed the key register slightly so I could hit everything more consistently.
"Waiving thru a Window" is the most iconic song from Dear Evan Hansen? Ever hear of You WIll Be Found?
Waving through a window is def more iconic. YWBF is less well known
I broke rule 10 on my audition. I was auditioning for Scar in a Musical/Movie hybrid adaptation of The Lion King, and did “Be Prepared”. But, I nailed the audition, and got the part.
I once had a voice teacher who made me sing "Memory" for an Arts competition. I could almost see the judges dying a little inside when they announced my song.
What era though?
You forgot the most important part: (sitting at the edge of my seat) how did you do tho?!
The best voice teacher had a wonderful piece of advice: Even among trained singers, being “A VOICE” is 1 in 100. Most people have voices that are “charming.” So, most people can’t do the “showstoppers”, especially at an audition.
Also, if I hear Dream an Impossible Dream at an audition again, I’ll be tempted to stab myself in the eardrum.
I mean, if you have a good singing voice as good as Jennifer Hudson, you can audition by singing "Memory"
If you're as good as Jennifer Hudson you can do anything from this list lol
If you have a singing voice as good as Jennifer Hudson yuou can audition singing your grocery list.
when "Memory" begins, many directors stop listening tbh
Jennifer or Paige.
Memory is a shit song. Period.
No one should ever sing it, regardless of how food they are.
When I was going to be a freshman in high school, I auditioned for my school's competitive show choir with Think of Me and I got in. It just goes to show that if you're able to nail the song, just go with it.
Honestly it just goes to show that a high school choir needs new people to keep it going and not many people want in. Turn down your ego a little there, honey.
@@letolethe3344 I didn't mean to sound egotistical if that's how my comment came across. I just had worked really hard on that song to prepare for that audition. Looking back, I just feel super proud of myself and my work ethic to do that song justice. Was I up to snuff with all the amazing women who have played Christine? Absolutely not. I was a thirteen year old just doing her best. In this case and scenario, my hard work ended up paying off.
Popular and the whole Wicked album is amazing but I would never
Haha I’d probably pick Thank Goodness and give my best Glinda impression. Or just stick to serenading my drunk Lyft passengers haha
For all of you who want to save time or watch one in specific:
10- A song from the show you are auditioning for in general (1:33)
9- Defying gravity- Wicked (2:41)
8- Think of me- The phantom of the opera (4:11)
7- Satisfied- Hamilton (5:40)
6- Bring him home- Les Misérables (7:19)
5- Waving through a window- Dear Evan Hansen (8:51)
4- Don't rain on my parade- Funny Girl (10:12)
3- Being alive- Company (11:43)
2- Any Jason Robert Brown song (13:27)
1- Memory- Cats (16:44)
Don’t audition for Mary Popins with good riddance by Green Day. I made that mistake and didn’t get a callback
That's a shame, hope that you'll have better luck with your next audition, whenever that might be!
@@trinaq thank you. I’m working on a show at the moment
wait, that’s actually an interesting choice, I would’ve applauded you for that. I was in a production of American Idiot in college, Good Riddance was our final song, so I know from the pretty arrangement that it works as a theater song. also I appreciate whenever someone picks an unconventional audition song.
@@JackieBorelli thank you. Sadly, I didn’t have a good arrangement and had to do it Acapella because the casting director only had the Mary Popins soundtrack downloaded(he didn’t believe in number 10)
@@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155 i think for ‘Mary Poppins’, “Hushabye Mountain” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang could work.
I am kind of astonished not to see the iconic Rose's Turn from Gypsy on this list. That song is well known, unhinged, has a difficult rhythm that has to be followed and the finale of the song is absolutely make or break.
i love Angela Lansbury’s take when asked in an interview about her doing the first revival of Gypsy on Broadway in the early 70s. She said thoughtfully, “It’s true, this show was Ethel Merman’s. And in the future, it will be someone else’s. But right now, in this moment in time, the show is mine.”. I think that’s a great way for any auditioner to think of any song!
I actually kind of disagree with Waving Through A Window. The song is probably one of Evan's easier solos and would work well auditioning for a lot of characters that have multiple "faces," especially one whose dominant traits are showing happy but internalizing sad. It's a heck of a lot better choice for a Dear Evan Hansen song than something like Words Fail.
I agree.
I've been scrolling for this comment tbh. So many people have played the role and killed this song. Yes, there are some tricky belts at the end but if we're going to talk technical difficulty 'For Forever' is the harder song.
I feel like This Is Me from The Greatest Showman is another one that is done to death. I love that song in that movie but the amount of times I heard it in American idol, the voice, and America’s got talent auditions is beyond annoying at this point.
I agree. I loved the show originally. But I got sick and tired of it.
I think never enough is even more done..
Never Enough is hard to sing and to listen to when the performer can't hit it
Also that's an Ensemble piece by design. Unless there is another arrangement, it's not good
In many instances, auditioning with a song from the show is literally not allowed. I worked with a theatre company for years where that was a strict policy
yep, that's kind of like one of those industry standards that professionals know is implied when not explicit.
I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but, if I were to audition for any big musical, I just go for something from Marvel's: Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. It may not have done well, but at least I'd be going for the songs that no one would expect. Plus, the main reason I would pick that musical, I'm a Marvel fan no matter what it is.
I would never audition with an opera song, based on the fact that I can't sing opera
Same
I’ve literally never auditioned for anything but if I did I’d definitely do “Michael in the Bathroom” from “be more chill” because I know I can nail it
showing chris colfer singing defying gravity AND including kurt’s tanked note was uncalled for
Thank you for putting a clip of Naya singing!! She destroyed that song, and all the other ones she sang on Glee. Made me cry. RIP Naya.
I am GENUINELY curious as to how someone would perform Satisfied as a solo.
Pretty much a general rule of thumb, if it’s a somewhat relevant musical theatre song, don’t use it. Stick with a known yet unexpected pop song that really shows off your range
I was scared you were gonna say "maybe this time" from cabaret... glad I can keep it in my arsenal (but surprised it wasn't 1) 😁
If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be to stop auditioning with "On My Own!" OMG! I was a decent singer but not fantastic and that was my go-to audition song. Guess what? I never got the lead in anything. I was always the understudy for the lead. I didn't get to go on, but sometimes the girl playing the lead would have to miss a rehearsal and I'd fill in for her and I remember so clearly the director being impressed by my voice. Like, "Oh, you can actually sing." Yeah, I could sing, I just sucked at auditioning and I thought I was freakin' Idina Menzel. I was not. LOL
EDIT: It's funny though because "Bring Him Home" was my solo when our choir did the Les Miz medley. I was a soprano and they didn't even attempt to get a guy to sing it.
Can we talk about how old she was when she sang Think of Me in that movie? It’s a shame her singing career hasn’t gone better.
@just a lil tortle I think 16 :) Her audition video is on UA-cam, it's amazing!
Who knew that Glee Characters performed at auditions using lots of these songs? This video kind of dissed them in a way. Not cool. They were all amazing songs.
I'm insane, so I'd probably try to audition with "Guns and Ships." :-D
I used to belong to a church that featured a lot of secular music, including some services devoted to various film/TV/musical themes.
One day the pastor, who has no clue about how music works, asked me to sing "Phantom of the Opera" - yes, the duet between Christine and the Phantom - for a service themed around that musical. She also asked one of our altos to sing something else way out of her range.
For my song, I figured Why the Hell Not, and recorded a video where I sang Christine's part, turned off the lights, quick-changed to the Phantom, then flipped on the lights right when his part started. Took me 80 million tries, but it finally worked.
I'm a simple person. I see Kurt Hummel, I click.
Me too!
yet they've done him wrong in the end unfortunately! 😖
It is absolutely correct Satisfied is actually really hard to sing along. I almost perfected it but than I stopped practicing it. Recently when I again tried to sing along, I failed miserably.
10. [Anything from the show you're auditioning for]
9. Defying gravity (wicked)
8. Think of me (Phantom)
7. Satisfied (Hamilton)
6. Bring Them Home (Les Mis)
5. Waving Through a Window (Dear Evan Hansen)
4. Don't rain on my parade (Funny Girl)
3. Being alive (Company)
2. [Any Jason Robert Brown song]
1. Memory (Cats)
Did you HAVE TO show the clip of Chris Colfer DELIBERATELY tanking the note in Defying gravity??? 🤦🏻♂️🙄🤣
LOL yes, yes we did
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yeah agreed, he has sang that song well, and he also did Bring Him Home extremely well.
I would also suggest never singing "Confrontation" from Jekyll & Hyde unless you are absolutely certain that you can sing both parts flawlessly
*laughs in singing that in the shower... every... single... time* heh... i should not audition for anything then
I can't sing but geez, just seeing these folks performing makes my throat hurt haha
I think cause there are so many talented people in the world, it's easy to forget just how amazing and skilled singers are and what it must take to maintain their voices.
"Gethsemane" from Jesus Christ Superstar should definitely have been on this list. It has such demanding falsetto notes that it feels wrong when the person singing it doesn't even try to hit them.
Oh yeah, good call! Nobody does it like Steve Balsamo, or whoever else people might argue is the best. Probably anything from JCS especially I don’t know how to love him is probably way overdone…
This video is just 80% Glee and I respect that
I would also put a caveat on the "not singing something from the show you're auditioning for advice". Some productions will specifically ASK you to pick a song from the show. In fact, I was asked once to be prepared to sing any song in my vocal range from the show.
I sang "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera with a cold and nearly nailed it.
I always wanted to sing like Sia! The feeling of singing that high note that almost everyone cringes before she sings “I wanna swing like a chandelier “ the whole part. Singing is the one thing in life that brings me joy, so I just stick to singing in the shower and my car
For Baritones out there that think they’re tenors… stay away from Santa Fe, My Petersburg, Waving Through A Window, etc.
3:40 ok-so context, Kurt failed that note on purpose so his dad wouldnt face the embaressment of his son singing a song traditionally sung by a woman
I've had to sing things for phantom of the opera and wicked. My chorus teacher did it as for auditions and she picked them
So singing "Queen of Night" by Morzart is totally fine for an audition.... apparently?!
Morzart
If you can sing Queen of the Night perfectly, you’re already past auditions and most likely polishing your second or third Emmy Award on the shelf.
I've heard it once in over 20 years of auditions, so... yes, go for it!
Lol several people auditioned with that song in The Voice all over the world.
🤣👍🏼
Someone in glee singing almost every song😂😂
This is hilarious. I'm an acting student taking a singing for actors course this semester, and our variety show currently includes at least 4 of the above mentioned songs between the seven of us LOL.
After watching this video I have never needed a hug more from my boyfriend ever. He passed from a stroke 3 years ago. We were together 33 1/2 years.
I thought it was I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis would be number one, because the emotion and song is very difficult to nail it in history of theater
I actually got accepted to acting school with “Bring him home”. (I’m a girl).
Not surprising because the song is a female range.
@@rebecca8525 idk they claim in this audition no one should audition with this song..
My cousin Brianna can ACE "Satisfied." I am witness to it, and my mind was BLOWN! 🤯💜
7:37 Yes, I fell in love with Les Miz when I was 12. A number of months later, I auditioned for a youth summer theatre production of Les Miz: School Edition and committed the sin of singing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."
I can think of a few that can also be avoided.
Climb Ev'ry Mountain might only be good for a classically trained voice.
Also The Greatest Show and This is Me from The Greatest Showman.
Cabaret.
Mama Mia.
Tonight, from West Side Story.
A.friend in college auditioned for Les Miserable' with On My Own, and got rejected.
Now I'm interested in knowing the best songs to audition with.
Me too.
Same! It might be a short list because all of these would be missing from the list 😂😂
Same tbh!
even more curious now 😂
Then check out Katherine Steeles UA-cam channel, she has a lot of tips and tricks for auditions including videos of what not to sing and which songs are best for your voice
I remember when I was in high school I got nervous and chocked with the these two songs when I audition for the musicals “I Can Hear the Bells” from Hairspray and “High Hopes” 😂 so sad but true story lol
LMAOO HIGH HOPES???
LMAO
I auditioned with "Think of Me" and won the part I wanted in the show!! The director had me sing it for everyone there after all the auditions were done. And I sang it to the end. Being a classically trained soprano and vocal coach let's you break a few rules. Don't try this at home, unless you can do it justice. 😉
If you had strict vocal training none of these songs are impossible to sing.🤷 That is just my opinion!
It's not that they are imposible to sing. But that they are very easy to mess up and to be outshine when another 6 people sing the same song.
I disagreed with a couple of the songs, mostly because I have successfully auditioned with Think of Me, and think it's a fantastic song for a trained soprano. The real trick is knowing your range and LOTS of practice. If you know you can nail a difficult song, I don't think it's a bad idea. The one that I agree with most is If I Were a Rich Man, because you will ALWAYS be compared with Topol, and no one can sing that song like Topol.
yes but that doesn't change the fact that they're majorly over-done and any director would appreciate if you sang something bit more original
@@sonjalahti713 Very fair point
I grew up singing with vocal training and choir practice but since I've been out of practice for years, I would not be able to reach the super high notes anymore. I can still sing pretty high, but I still sing the super high notes in my head
Could you sing or audition with “Glitter and Be Gay” if you practiced?
@@RLucas3000 Probably