Another Audition, Another Show

[minstrlmummr]

 No details at present.      I've been an also-ran so often the last couple years, I'm almost afraid to get my hopes up.

I am soliciting opinions as to what song to use -- the rules stipulate it must be a well-known song, not an original creation.
The question for me is do I present myself as a comedy/novelty act or as a straight singer?      In my mind,    I've always seen myself as a comic, since there was a long time when I couldn't sing and a time when I didn't realize I could sing, but I've always known I can make people laugh.       In the past, pros I've asked invariably point me towards the songs I'm most comfortable performing, which means stuff from the street show, stuff from the CD.   I have no idea whether those songs are considered "well-known" enough.

My short list:

Kathy's Song   (Paul Simon)

The Thing   (sung by Phil Harris, written by Charles C. Grean)

You're My Home   (early Billy Joel album cut which has gotten some radio play but is not among his best-known works)

The Marvelous Toy (Tom Paxton)

This Is My Song    (Petula Clark, written by Charlie Chaplin)

The Rose   (Bette Midler)

I Got It From Agnes   (Tom Lehrer)   (I think he's still alive-- if he finds out someone turned his unsavory work into a G-rated comedy    sketch he might not like it...)

shrinkyohead has voted   "novelty song" because...there will be many many more straight singers than comic singers.    (Okay, what was actually said sounded like   "You can't compete with people who've been singing their whole lives..." )    There is something to be said for doing two things with one song if I can.

Opinions?

Comments

As Always, JMHO, YMMV, etc.

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

Although it would be a Good Thing for you to stretch yourself, an audition for a paying gig might not be the place to do it. The other candidates will presumably be running with their strengths, too....Perhaps the thing to do would be to prepare two songs (one silly and one sappy sweet); if most of the people ahead of you are doing the former, do the latter (or voicey versey) :-)

Re: As Always, JMHO, YMMV, etc.

[minstrlmummr.livejournal.com]

"Voicey Versey"... I like it 8)

I will probably have three or four songs ready to go (taking them from my street show increases the number of ready-to-sing pieces) just in case one or another funny song is not "well-known" enough.

The more I perform, the more I notice how much my attitude while singing has to do with other people's impression of what I can do--sometimes, if I'm singing a straight song and giving it all I've got, obviously comfortable singing it, the reaction is as strong as for a funny song. Sometimes if the funny song is new, it being funny doesn't always help...

I'm more leaning towards funny for this audition since the judges will have "not seen the likes of me before", will they?

[stringlady.livejournal.com]

What Shalmestere said...

I like Marvelous Toy - but then, I've liked that one since I heard Paxton sing it when I was 11. I also think it counts as reasonably well known.

The Rose is maybe a little too well known? Everyone has heard it sung badly... Now, singing it well can turn that to your advantage, but all you need is one judge who thinks "OMG, not that tripe again!" and tunes you out to really hurt you.

You really can sing, BTW - and you should Really Just Sing more often - but you should also do this in your comfort zone. If you do a silly song, though, make sure it shows that you do also have a voice - which may be a vote against I Got It From Agnes.

"I **snorkgagcough** Got It From Agnes"

[minstrlmummr.livejournal.com]

There is that--having only listened to the recording once or twice, I have little idea how different my "Julie Andrews/Miss Piggy at the Music Hall" beginning sounds from plain straight singing.

I have to rehearse any guitar pieces a capella, just in case I'm not allowed to use the guitar; I'll be optimistic and bring it anyway...

Song to sing

[darklilli.livejournal.com]

My vote would be for something that shows not only your singing range, but also your ability with comedy.

I remember a song our sea shanty group used to sing back when I was a Brooklynite - but I guess that's not a "well known" category.

fingers crossed anyway!

Re: Song to sing

[minstrlmummr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the crossed fingers! :::hugz:::

I think people who know novelty songs will have at least heard the three that I use -- they're all more than twenty-five years old. In a perfect world, I'd do "Carrot Juice Is Murder" but have little confidence many people have heard of the Arrogant Worms.

I wish there was someone I could write to and ask from the company.