# Recommend me energetic Broadway musicals (or other vocals) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000 "2011-09-20T23:37:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/1 "2011-09-20T23:37:11Z")
I need stuff to listen to at work, especially in the afternoons when I get tired and food coma-ish. I’m getting tired of my current song rotation, and was wondering if Dopers had any thoughts. I think that when I get tired I tend to need songs with a lot of energy (patter songs are really good) and ideally with forward narrative power, which is why Broadway musicals are perfect, but I’m open to other ideas as well. I do most of my listening on Spotify, so I’m much more likely to take the advice if it’s available on Spotify. In case this helps, here are a list of musicals I’ve already tried: Musicals I love to listen to, in no particular order: Guys and Dolls 1776 Music Man Legally Blonde (I know, I feel guilty about this, but I really do like it, especially for listening to when tired, it’s like pure caffeine in song form, and lots of forward narrative) Ragtime (another one I feel vaguely guilty about, but hey, super-caffeinated music) Book of Mormon (about half of it) Wicked (at least, all the songs with Kristin Chenoweth) Sweeney Todd A Little Night Music My Fair Lady Mary Poppins (movie) Musicals that are OK, but that I don’t like listening to that much: Basically everything by Rodgers and Hammerstein (who appear to have no forward narrative power in their songs) Grey Gardens Kiss Me Kate Gilbert and Sullivan (which I loooove madly, but not for work listening usually) Musicals that either I don’t like or flat-out bore me: Most of Into the Woods Avenue Q Mary Poppins (the musical) How to succeed in business without even trying Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/2 "2011-09-21T13:12:45Z")
_Forever Plaid_! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/3 "2011-09-21T14:45:47Z")
**The Drowsy Chaperone The Pajama Game Damn Yankees!** In movies: **Singin’ in the Rain** ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/4 "2011-09-21T15:15:29Z")
_In The Heights_ _RENT_ (at least some of the songs). Some of the lyrics are NSFW, but that may not be an issue since you have _Book Of Mormon_ on your list above. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/5 "2011-09-21T15:47:35Z")
Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog has some upbeat numbers, especially “So They Say” and “Brand New Day.” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/6 "2011-09-21T15:55:06Z")
**The Boyfriend** , \*\*Gypsy \*\*and **Bells Are Ringing** all have great energetic upbeat songs in 'em. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/7 "2011-09-21T17:42:57Z")
Cy Coleman’s Stuff: Sweet Charity City of Angels The Life It leans toward the cheesy, but it’s big and has energy. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/8 "2011-09-21T17:48:47Z")
Little Shop of Horrors, great stuff! Although “Suddenly Seymour” might have to grow on you a little. “Grow”, ha, I slay me! ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/9 "2011-09-21T17:51:22Z")
_Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_, especially “Oklahoma?”, “All About Ruprecht” and “Ruffhousin’ Mit Shüffhausen” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/10 "2011-09-21T18:11:59Z")
_West Side Story_: “Gee, Officer Krupke” in particular. _Chicago_: “All That Jazz” in particular. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/11 "2011-09-21T19:52:35Z")
Oh, wow, so many great suggestions! I went on Spotify this morning and looked up Forever Plaid, Drowsy Chaperone, and Pajama Game, and Bells are Ringing, all of which sound promising. Singing in the Rain kind of bores me (sorry! maybe seeing the movie would help?), and In the Heights seems to be exactly what I was looking for! They don’t have Damn Yankees or Dr. Horrible, but I’ve been reminded that I’ve wanted to see both of those for quite some time, so I’ll try to pick those up elsewhere. The Boyfriend is also unavailable through Spotify but sounds interesting. Oh, right, Rent! I have been overexposed to some of the songs, but others I really like. (And yes, NSFW is okay as long as it’s not the whole thing; I mostly just filter out the NSFW songs.) And Gypsy! I’ll add some of these. West Side Story and Chicago! Right! I forgot about those! Oh, gosh, I haven’t thought of Little Shop of Horrors in years – I love “Somewhere That’s Green” as well – I will definitely add all three of these to the list, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. _goes to look up Cy Coleman and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – will return with updates_ I should have stated in the OP that they don’t need to be bouncy, necessarily – the energy can come from overwrought emotion, too 🙂 Thanks!! Any more? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/12 "2011-09-22T00:27:47Z")
Second **In the Heights** , and will add **Hairspray** , **Pippin** and one of the very best musicals of all time, **A Chorus Line**. **Spring Awakening** is clearly in the same vein as **Rent** , but with teenagers instead of young adults. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/13 "2011-09-22T01:04:12Z")
I came in to say **Guys and Dolls** , my favorite musical, but it’s first on your list. A lot of good ones mentioned here;, I will add: **Annie** **Bye Bye Birdie** **The Wizard of Oz** (people tend to think only of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but so many of the songs have incredible energy – “We’re Off to See the Wizard”, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”, and especially “If I Only Had a Brain”) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/14 "2011-09-22T12:53:14Z")
Never heard the original Broadway musical but the movie version of _Best Foot Forward_ has some great tunes by Harry James and His Music Makers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/15 "2011-09-22T13:16:54Z")
For somthing different, the 1992 Broadway Revival of _Tommy_. Available in [the complete cast recording](http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Tommy-Original-Recording-Broadway/dp/B000003FLC/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1316697311&sr=1-2) and [15 highlights](http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Tommy-Original-Recording-Highlights/dp/B000003FOI/ref=sr_1_12?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1316697311&sr=1-12); we have the latter. ---
**Author:** ![ballardfam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@ballardfam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ballardfam)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/16 "2011-09-22T13:20:32Z")
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Soundtrack from the 50’s film. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/17 "2011-09-22T13:31:38Z")
Also, if you like **Ragtime** , the same people wrote **Once on this Island** , about 1/2 of which I’d say has energy, and a more obscure (but more energetic) musical called **Lucky Stiff**. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/18 "2011-09-22T16:52:57Z")
High energy stuff might be good to look into the Jukebox musicals. I’m thinking specifically of **American Idiot** **Movin’ Out** **Mamma Mia** **We Will Rock You** **Rock of Ages** **Jersey Boys** Several of these are TERRIBLE shows, that I would never recommend spending your time on. The story they used to knit these stand alone songs together ranges from boring(Movin’ Out) to bizarre(We Will Rock You), to boss (Jersey Boys). But it’s hard to deny the power of the music. In a more traditional musical vein we have **Hair** - for energy and some decent storytelling **The Fantastiks** - Storytelling, storytelling, storytelling. **Promises, Promises** revival cast recording starring Kristen Chenoweth! **Nine** Good story, hard to follow if you’ve never seen the show though. **Cats** Stay away from Memory(snooze) and stick to Magical Mr Mestopheles(kickass). **Annie Get Your Gun** There are two promotional tracks out there which are recordings of Reba Mcentire which are pretty hard to find, but excellent storytelling (You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun, and I Got Lost in His Arms). I’m not a country music fan, but she did a great job with these two. Of course the Bernadette Peters cast album from the revival and the Ethel Merman original are fine work too. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/19 "2011-09-22T17:46:19Z")
Anything Goes Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Sweet Charity ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000/20 "2011-09-22T22:53:18Z")
Spamalot. Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria. The female lead is amazing. The songs send up musical theater cliches very well. Can’t wait until they release the rights for local productions. Right now, I’m playing in the band for a production of Always… Patsy Cline. Fun music. This spring we’re doing Ain’t Misbehavin’. All Fats Waller songs. I saw the Pointer Sisters do that one. Great arrangements of classic jazz. The Producers. Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick have a great chemistry. I played in the pit for a production recently. Most shows, I’m pretty well sick of it the second weekend. This one I enjoyed until closing night. Smoky Joe’s Cafe has great classic songs. All Leiber & Stoller. I loved playing that show. No plot, just music. Second vote for Forever Plaid. Also check out the holiday version, Plaid Tidings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-energetic-broadway-musicals-or-other-vocals/597000.md?page=2)