If you love a song from a popular Broadway score, chances are a lot of other people love it, too. You might hear it at a piano bar, at an audition, a cabaret act or floating out of your next-door-neighbor鈥檚 shower.
Here鈥檚 a look at ten showtunes, ranging from classic to contemporary songs, that have enjoyed widespread popularity.
10. 鈥淭here鈥檚 A Fine, Fine Line鈥� from
Robert Lopez and gave us one of the best musical theatre ballads of the modern era in their still-running 2003 hit Avenue Q. How odd that one of recent Broadway鈥檚 most touchingly human moments in song is delivered by a puppet, Q leading lady, Kate Monster! In a show full of pop culture references and below-the-belt comedy, we are treated to this straightforward lyric about relationships (and very relatable) set to a simple and lovely tune.
9. 鈥淪omeone Else鈥檚 Story鈥� from
While you might be safer obsessing over a song from a short-lived musical, you鈥檙e still in danger of having to share your favorite with the world, particularly when the show in question is an international cult hit sensation with music by members of one of the most popular pop groups of all time, i.e. Chess. People can鈥檛 seem to resist the switcheroo of the words (鈥淭he story is the girl is me鈥�), the soaring melody or the perfect 80s pop vamp.
8. 鈥淔ifty Percent鈥� from
Another popular song from a less successful show, 鈥淔ifty Percent鈥� from Ballroom seemed assured a future on people鈥檚 playlists when original star delivered her untouchable rendition on the 1979 Tony Awards. Fans flocked to buy the cast album and sheet music, and now you can鈥檛 spend a night on certain blocks in the West Village without hearing the number at least once. Alan and 鈥榮 storytelling lyrics (with music by ) is absolutely ideal for performers to personalize with their own experience, and audiences follow suit.
7. 鈥淔rank Mills鈥� from
Singers everywhere are attracted to the songs from Hair, 鈥淭he American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.鈥� Most of the songs from Hair are extremely rangy and difficult to sing, requiring legitimate vocal chops beyond the realm of the average Sunday crooner. An exception is the sweet 鈥淔rank Mills,鈥� a love letter to a wayward boyfriend with enchantingly quirky words.
6. 鈥淗ome鈥� from
At the opposite end of the spectrum from 鈥淔rank Mills,鈥� 鈥淗ome鈥� is extremely difficult to sing, written to showcase a pop gospel R&B diva with a virtuoso voice, and 鈥� original recording has never been bettered. That said, bring on all the sorry substitutes. I can鈥檛 help myself. Even if you miss the money notes and crack on the intervals, give me a little heart where you can, shout out 鈥淟ord鈥� somewhere in between the lines and I鈥檒l love you for trying. Maybe I鈥檓 just a textbook friend of Dorothy and a hopeless child of the 70s, but 鈥淗ome鈥� hits me where I live every single time.
5. 鈥淪ome People鈥� from
This was not the take-home tune from Gypsy. People sang 鈥淓verything鈥檚 Coming Up Roses,鈥� they sang 鈥淭ogether Wherever We Go,鈥� 鈥淟et Me Entertain You,鈥� 鈥淎ll I Need Is The Girl.鈥� Hell, they sang, 鈥淗ave An Egg Roll, Mr. Goldstone鈥� before they sang 鈥淪ome People.鈥� But Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony-winning living legend Liza May Minnelli started singing 鈥淪ome People鈥� in her concerts in the 70s and made it one of her standards, speeding it up and giving it that Liza flair that made everybody else take note.
4. 鈥淏roadway Baby鈥� from
In a score full of pastiche, 鈥淏roadway Baby鈥� is the ultimate throwback. Here, the layer of Stephen Sondheim commentary and context is so subtle, what you get is indistinguishable from an old school barn burner. This could be the ultimate showtune of all time. Fittingly, it gets sung a lot.
3. 鈥淐abaret鈥� from Cabaret
The title song from Cabaret was a hit for Marilyn Maye before the show even opened on Broadway. Countless recordings followed, not to mention Liza Minnelli鈥檚 success with the song on film and hundreds of concerts. The net result is that the song has firmly has established itself as a standard of the Great American Songbook. It鈥檚 the ultimate meta anthem for the original concept musical, and equally self-referential for pretty much anyone singing it anywhere.
2. 鈥淒on鈥檛 Rain On My Parade鈥� from
Is there any Broadway musical tirade more forcefully aspirational than 鈥淒on鈥檛 Rain On My Parade鈥�? This show-stopper is the epitome of musical theatre oomph. Of course, no one can top 鈥檚 landmark original version. They can鈥檛 top it, but some people come mighty close to equaling it. brought all her own style and substance to 鈥淒on鈥檛 Rain On My Parade鈥� in the Actors Fund benefit concert of Funny Girl. sings it in her Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda鈥� act with her inimitable spunk and a final money note that stays with you long after the song has ended. Even Bobby Darin recorded his own swinging version, to which memorably sang along in American Beauty.
1. 鈥淪end In The Clowns鈥� from
This might be 鈥檚 most beautiful song. He has explained that it was inspired by a single gesture made in a scene in the show, and perhaps for this reason, it so movingly captures an authentic emotional moment. Judy Collins and Frank Sinatra scored hits with the song. Dozens of other performers have also recorded it, including Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Bassey, Grace Jones, Barbra Streisand, Cher and Pl谩cido Domingo.
(Ben Rimalower is the author and original star of the critically acclaimed Patti Issues and Bad with Money. Visit him at and follow on Twitter.)
