A Great Song From An Early Musical

[crisgal]

my friend has asked me to help her find a song from a musical - preferably one she has never heard before.
She has to speak it as a monologue for a drama exam. She's done it before and it helps if she's never heard the song sung, so that it is genuinely her own interpretation.
i am a big musical fan, and remember watching grainy old black and white ones with my dad. I know i've heard some great songs but can't remember any now!
I've had a search on t'internet, but wondered if any spring to ABer's minds?

[Pooka1950]

I've always loved the old Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films, I think your friend might find something there. If she doesn't mind "playing it gay" (sorry can't think if a better way of putting it!) or changing the lyrics slightly she might look at Irving Berlin's "Change Patners". Then there's Jerome Kern's "I won't Dance" and several other possibilities from those wonderful musical films. Or did she only want to use stage musicals? Hope this helps

[Tilly2]

What about something that Danny Kaye might have sung? They were all very cleverly cons.tructed

[bibblebub]

"Ya got trouble" from The Music Man is tremendous (starts at about 1:00) and it's halfway to being a monologue already

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_Oe-jtgdI

[mallyh]

love is a many splendid thing

[paddywak]

I'll walk with God, from The Student Prince.

[Prudie]

Young at Heart is one of my favourite musicals, this is just an example (although I admit I'm not quite clear on what kind of song you're after).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JqKD4aNW_k

[FredPuli43]

"Smoke Gets in your Eyes" is from a musical (not many people know that; I googled it) produced in 1934 with songs by Jerome Kern. It reads as a wistful monologue ("They asked me how I knew my true love was true...")

[FredPuli43]

And this link gives you the complete lyrics of "Smoke Gets in your Eyes"

http://www.lyricsmania.com/smoke_gets_in_your_eyes_lyrics_platters_the.html

[FredPuli43]

And here's one that is full of theatrical references. Your friend might feel it's been done to death by singers who think they can act or deliver a lyric; they are not all Ella Fitzgerald; but it's good, nonetheless:

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/judy_collins/send_in_the_clowns.html

[saxy_jag]

Here's a lovely version of 'Send in the clowns' from 'A little night music'. When Judy first played this role she had to find a way of performing this as a non-singer, hence she half spoke it. I find it compelling.

[saxy_jag]

Sorry, the link didn't come through:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvZex3Qf7QQ

[stewey]

Crisgal, take a wander around this site.

http://monologues.co.uk/

[Nibble]

How about .....

http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/b/broadwaymelody.shtml

[Maydup]

Its not an early musical, but this song from Sunset Boulevard is a great song. Its spoken by a fading actress returning to the studio back in he early days of film.

http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/sunsetboulevard/asifweneversaidgoodbye.htm

[seadogg]

Some good ones in "The Pajama Game"

http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/pajamagamethe/hernandoshideaway.htm
Hernando's Hideaway was a well known number in its day.

[Maydup]

Or for something light hearted try If Mamma was Married from Gypsy.

http://www.lyricsmania.com/gypsy-if_mamma_was_married_lyrics_broadway_musicals.html

[crisgal]

thanks everyone, great songs!
It has to be a song she hasn't heard at all - so that she doesn't know how it's sung.
It can be funny, sentimental or jazzy.

[andy-hughes]

I think this would be good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxmz3RcNNBE

[crisgal]

Yes it would be but it's very famous! I've found one: i was born in a trunk, from A star is born. Thanks everyone x