My Top Ten Songs From Musicals

When I was a child, I was introduced to musicals by my mother. She would rent all the old movie musicals and we would watch them together. There was something about them that made them different to other movies. What was it again? Oh yeah - the music! Some of those pieces done to explain or expand on certain character's feelings were so catchy, or so melancholy that you just had to know the words, you just had to sing along and the movie became one of your favorite movies because of the songs.

Truly it is hard to limit my list to ten favorite tunes. But I will try.

• If I Were A Rich Man

From the movie Fiddler On The Roof, If I Were A Rich Man was sung by Tevye. The way he sang it was so full of feeling and the accent completes the tune. If you have watched Fiddler On The Roof you may know what I mean.

• Sunrise Sunset

Also from Fiddler On The Roof, this song was sung when Golde and Tevye's daughter was getting married. The lyrics are quite apt as they capture the feeling parents have when they turn to see that their child is no longer a child - they are all grown up! It has a sort of bitter sweetness to it that gives one a lump in the throat.

• People Will Say We're In Love

From the musical Oklahoma, this is a cheeky yet romantic song, sung by Curly and Laurey. I have nothing to say except I absolutely love it! It is such a sweet tune not like the music today. It is not rushed and it is simple.

• Wouldn't It Be Loverly?

All I want is a room somewhere,

far away from the cold night air,

With one enormous chair,

Ah wouldn't it be Loverly?

Sorry. I got caught up. This is a skippy song of Eliza Dolittle's wishes, listing all the things that she would like to have in life. They are quite simple things and can match almost anyone else's wish and I think that is what makes it so effective. One can sing it and mean it. It can be applicable to everyone really.

• June Bride

From Seven Brides For Seven Brothers I would call this a whimsical song probably because of the tune and the way it is sung. The notes go up and down in a lilting manner and you can just sit on your window-sill with your hand on your face and sing it looking all wishful. The thing about this song is if I hear it, I sing it a lot. Its suitable for these winter months when you think the snow just won't stop!

• Santa Fe

From the Disney musical Newsies, this is one in a great soundtrack. Every song is a favorite song and it really is not fair that I picked this out of all. It is sung by Jack and the piano in the background really gives it some feeling. I am not sure how to put it. Maybe someone who knows it can put it into words better than I can but the piano almost sounds like tears dropping at the end.

• Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Who doesn't know this song from The Wizard of Oz? Everyone has sung it at sometime or heard someone sing it. Once again it has a sort of wistfulness to it that draws a sigh and makes you think, yes, somewhere over the rainbow.

• A Spoonful of Sugar

When I first heard A Spoonful of Sugar in Mary Poppins, I wanted to have that medicine that those children were taking. After that movie, I never gave trouble when I had to take liquid medicine again because I always hoped it would taste like that. It never did but I still hoped. I will be sure to show my children this so maybe they will think like I did. Ha!

• The Sound of Music

The hills are alive! Who didn't go running across the first field they could find and try to sing it like Julie Andrews! Only me? Oh.... Well that song really was one of the first songs from a musical I was introduced to. I know the entire soundtrack like the back of my hand. Another one that I loved to sing was The Lonely Goatherd. It was the way they did their voices you know. I just had to try to sound lie them.

Oh well, those were my ten but there are a very many others. Some from the movies I have mentioned and others from movies I have sadly neglected. I hope I am forgiven for that.

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