# In musicals where two groups sing different parts of the song simultaneously **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617 "2005-10-30T19:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/81 "2016-08-18T19:13:31Z")
Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/82 "2016-08-18T19:19:48Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > The most thrilling moment in Xanadu was when Gene Kelly and Michael Beck are each envisioning their version of the perfect nightclub band then their two separate visions blend together- in song! > > Okay, I just wanted to be the first person ever to write the phrase “The most thrilling moment in Xanadu”. > 😛 > > (If this was one of those “Name Your Guilty Pleasures” Threads, I’d tell you just how much I really do love that scene!) Same here…it’s called “Dancin’.” It always impressed me how seamlessly and harmoniously the two different styles fit together…very well-written. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/83 "2020-03-22T02:20:14Z")
Bumped. Two other examples: “All for the Best” from _Godspell_ (starting at 1:41): [All for the Best - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Snj9kXNyA) “Doll on a Music Box,” which includes a reprise of “Truly Scrumptious,” from _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_ (at 3:42): [Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) - Music Box Dance Scene (10/12) | Movieclips - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_l2ii_25tc) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/84 "2020-03-22T04:27:27Z")
I love how this thread has turned into a mutual appreciation society for all things counterpoint. Take that, Wrong Person On The Internet! Many of my favourites have been mentioned, but what about [Please Hello](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8WiudDlTBw) form Sondheim’s _Pacific Overtures_? The way that essentially devolves into a yelling match of the various ambassadors each singing to approriately regional music but still actually fitting together harmonically is about the most impressive thing I can think of ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/85 "2020-03-22T07:37:06Z")
I haven’t read all 15 years of this thread, but I think that “Skid Row” from Little Shop of Horrors does this towards the end, and I love it. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z0kSBiu1IGk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgSCgsMA8=&rs=AOn4CLABcnarFre5tUjzcVA5VVV79Dz1dQ "Little Shop of Horrors Skid Row") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kSBiu1IGk) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/86 "2020-03-22T12:35:50Z")
The reason why everyone in a musical knows all the words to a song and can sing along with others is because the writers wrote it that way. Musicals, like classical opera, require complete suspension of disbelief. The weirdest example of “everybody knowing the words” I can think of was in _ **Pompeii** _, when the Greek chorus in the arena announced even unscheduled events with perfect timing. How the fuck would each member have known what to say? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617/87 "2020-03-22T12:37:11Z")
The reason why everyone in a musical knows all the words to a song and can sing along with others is because the writers wrote it that way. Musicals, like classical opera, require complete suspension of disbelief. The weirdest example of “everybody knowing the words” I can think of was in _ **Pompeii** _, when the Greek chorus in the arena announced even unscheduled events with perfect timing. How the fuck would each member have known what to say? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617.md?page=4)