Late Night Music LSU Can't Play Offense and the Saints Can't Play Defense Edition Part 121..........."Broadway"

I'm doing this list because so many of these songs get stuck in my head and because so many of you have been begging me for a Broadway list. Broadway is forgotten in America too much as being the place for some of the most talented people in America that don't necessarily have the fame and money of the artists we see on TV, but they have the drive to be great at their craft due to the love of the stage. This list was super hard, so please thank me for it. Enjoy!

"Starlight Express" from "Starlight Express", "Superstar" from "Jesus Christ Superstar",and "Tomorrow" from "Annie". NOT RECEIVING VOTES was anything from "South Pacific", "Cats", or "Les Miserables"........or "Grease". I'm sorry, all of those suck.

"Seasons Of Love"- "Rent". When "Rent" opened on Broadway in 1996, it quickly became of the most popular shows of all time just due to its controversial topics, young cast, catchy songs, and the unbelievably low prices of tickets which made it probably the most affordable Broadway shows in recent history. The show not only won 4 Tony Awards its first year, including Best Musical, it also jump started the careers of future TV stars Jesse L. Martin, Taye Diggs, and Idina Menzel (after she became a legend in her own right in "Wicked"), it also was a jump start for Adam Pascal, who would go on to play the lead in the original cast of "Aida" alongside Heather Headley. However, I really liked him in "School Of Rock". This clip from the opening credits from the 2005 motion picture adaption features the majority of the original cast with the exception of Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thomas, who were new additions for the film. This song remains the trademark song of the musical, as it has also been covered by Stevie Wonder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8iTeDl_Wug

"Defying Gravity"- "Wicked". Speaking of Idina Menzel. Here she is on the White House Broadway celebration. I'm laugh at how giddy the Obama daughters are over her- shows that they love "Glee". "Wicked" tells the story of the two witches, the good witch of the north and the wicked witch of the north in the land of Oz, and acts as a prequel of sorts for the famous story of "The Wizard of Oz" before Dorothy arrives. In fact, the tagline of the musical which came out in 2003, was "So Much Happened Before Dorothy Arrived". Bonus points for being on "Glee".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp1v_cDojAo

"Written In The Stars"- "Aida". Another "Rent" original in a spectacular role. The musical "Aida" was peculiar and original in so many ways. For beginners, the music was written by Tim Rice (lyrics) and Elton John (music), which was the same combo that Disney used for their blockbuster "The Lion King" (more on that one in a minute). Also, before the opening of the original Broadway production in 2000, Elton John and Tim Rice released a concept album of sorts of the music from the musical being performed by various artists including Elton John and cast members Heather Headley and Sherie Rene Scott, as well as other popular musicians. Once the show opened, the story of Aida the Nubian Slave and Radames, the captain of the Egyptian Army won 4 Tony Awards and the Grammy for Best Original Cast Recording. This song, which was previously recorded by Lee Ann Rimes and Elton John, is the first real emotional point in the play and is a great version here by Heather Headley and Adam Pascal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG2u-kAA2-c

"The Music Of The Night"- "The Phantom Of The Opera". I have to admit. I have never been a very big Andrew Lloyd Webber fan. I think his musicals for the most part are annoying, and while they are creative, most of them are too over the top for me to even get into. However, "The Phantom Of The Opera", currently the longest running show on Broadway, is the exception and can make a great case for the best production ever on Broadway. I had the privilege of seeing this show once in New York and was completely blown away by it. The popularity of the show grew much due to the talent of original lead man Michael Crawford, seen here. What an amazing song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dhyiqhR7Y

"One"- "A Chorus Line". Until recently, "A Chorus Line" was the longest running show on Broadway, and the irony of it was the fact that the production was about auditioning for a chorus line on Broadway. The show won an astounding nine Tony Awards, and was made into a 1985 motion picture starring Michael Douglas (from which this clip was taken), and was later revived in 2006, where it was nominated for Best Revival. This closing number to the show and movie has always been the favorite of fans, and really sums up the togetherness of a chorus line of dancers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNcV5pHJT5M

"Any Dream Will Do"- "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat". Ok, last Andrew Lloyd Webber one- I promise. First off, forget the irony of the mormon Donny Osmond playing a Christian character. This song is so freaking catchy and gets SO stuck in your head- see if you can watch this clip from the 1999 DVD production without replaying. Second, try not to laugh at his ridiculous hair. Unlike most of the shows on this list, "Joseph" had just over a year run on Broadway in 1982-83, but saw unbelievable success in London's West End and through tours of the show across America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA1EqovahRw

"Put On A Happy Face"- "Bye Bye Birdie". Little known fact about the 1960 production is that the story is actually based on Elvis Presley's famous 1957 draft notice into the United States Army, although the main character's name is a play on Presley rival Conway Twitty. This song is so freaking catchy and this clip from the 1995 TV movie version of the show would be cooler if Jason Alexander wasn't in it- not that he's not a good actor or anything, but I just can't picture him as anyone but George from "Seinfeld".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBnJyOUWdM

"Ease On Down The Road"- "The Wiz". Michael Jackson- that's all you need to know. "The Wiz" (which had the official name of "The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical of the Wizard of OZ") made history in 1975 as the first all black cast of a Broadway production in history and taking home seven Tony Awards, with the film making just as much history in 1978, from which this clip was taken. This clip to me is a perfect example that Michael Jackson would have been an incredible actor if he would have really focused on it. And don't even start me as to awesome he would have been on Broadway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGxBx8RzzrM

"Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat"- "Guys and Dolls". I love pulling out stuff from the 1950's when you have no idea what I'm talking about. In 1950, "Guys and Dolls" was the hottest ticket on Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for best musical and was made into a 1955 motion picture featuring Marlon Brando, which is where the famous scene here was taken from. Also, the production was revived an unprecedented three times! Most recently in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7kzsZreG0o

"If I Were A Rich Man"- "Fiddler On The Roof". Anyone who can tell me what the fiddler actually is can pick my next topic. Just saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc

"Ya Got Trouble"- "The Music Man". Like "Guys And Dolls", "The Music Man", which originally opened in 1957, it has been revived multiple times, most recently in 2000. The production about the ultimate con artist, it was also a very successful 1962 motion picture, which featured Broadway front man Harold Hill in one of the catchiest Broadway tunes of all time. Just remember, every time you play pool, it starts with P and that rhymes with T and that stands for trouble.

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

"A Change In Me"- "Beauty And The Beast". While Toni Braxton was fighting with her record company, she went to Broadway and took on several roles. However, her most famous was the role of Belle in the production of Disney's "Beauty And The Beast". Braxton was so amazing in the role, that Alan Menken wrote a new song for the musical specifically for the Broadway production specifically for Braxton, which is seen here. This song has been featured in all future performances of the stage production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgTm17bm05w

"Amazing Journey"- "Tommy"."Tommy" was strange because it was almost released in reverse. The Who originally released the studio concept album "Tommy" in 1969, then the film for the album in 1975, and finally the Broadway stage production in 1993. "Tommy" has put The Who at legendary status and this song pretty much sums up exactly what their timeline on "Tommy" has been.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9U-7GdvuEc

"Sun And Moon"- "Miss Saigon". I have to admit, I was gonna leave "Miss Saigon" out because I think the plot is so stupid, but this song is simply amazing. Lea Solanga, the original Kim on Broadway has one of the most amazing voices in stage history and created a worldwide following after her 1991 Tony Award winning performance in "Miss Saigon". After the success of the musical, Solanga was the singing voice of both Jasmine and Mulan, making her a Disney mainstay. She is seen here with original London cast member Simon Bowman, who did not appear in the Broadway production.

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

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight"- "The Lion King". I am pretty upset I can't find any good clips with Heather Headley, as she was the original Nala when "The Lion King" opened in 1997 before she went on to get even more famous on "Aida". Pretty good performance here from "Good Morning America" in 1999 when "The Lion King" was the best selling show on Broadway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biNRb9Ec3-E

Rent

Wicked

Aida