These songs ensure a short audition. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable audition songs you should definitely avoid if you want to get cast.
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00:00Are you nervous about your big number? Oh god no come on it's all about the attitude I'm just
00:04gonna do what I did with America in West Side Story last year. Yeah but this is like a sad
00:09song right? Welcome to Ms Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most notable
00:14audition songs you should definitely avoid if you want to get cast. Is there somewhere you're
00:19supposed to be? Broadway. Number 30. There are worse things I could do. Grease. There are worse
00:27things I could do. Then go with the boy or two. Granted Hopelessly Devoted to You is a tough
00:36number to audition with being that it's so well known but a good vocalist can still put their own
00:41spin on it. It's harder to get Rizzo's introspective solo right though. For one thing it requires a
00:46large amount of lyrical expression which is challenging for young performers who may struggle
00:51with its deep pointed lyrics. Sure it's not one of those numbers that requires you to belt or have
01:07a huge range which can seem like an advantage but that means there isn't much to hide behind
01:12and anyone tackling it has to really be able to emote and feel the words being sung in order to
01:18impress. Number 29. Getting Married Today. Company. Pardon me is everybody there because
01:32if everybody's there I want to thank you all for coming to the wedding. I'd appreciate you going
01:35even more. I mean you must have lots of better things to do and not a word of it to Paul. Remember
01:38Paul you know the man I'm with? Oh sorry. Patter songs are always fun and provide a good chance to
01:44show off your lyrical dexterity but there are patter songs and then there are Stephen Sondheim
01:49patter songs. Trust us getting married today is not for the faint-hearted or for amateurs. It is
01:54an anxiety-ridden and anxiety-producing tune that goes a mile a minute and requires a lot of breath
02:01control. Listen everybody I'm afraid you didn't hear or do you want to see a crazy lady fall apart
02:04in front of you? Is it only Paul who may be ruining his life? You know what both of us be losing our
02:08identities. I telephoned my analyst about it and he said to see him Monday but by Monday I'll be
02:11floating in the odds that with the other garbage I'm not well. And of course since this is a comical
02:16number about Amy's marital jitters, delivery and timing are very important as well. In other words
02:22a lot has to align which means plenty can go wrong unless you want to be compared to greats such as
02:27Julie Andrews and Katie Finneran. It's best not to go there. Look I didn't want to have to tell you
02:32but I may be coming down with hepatitis and I think I'm gonna faint so if you want to see me
02:35faint I'll do it happily but wouldn't it be funnier to go and watch your funeral so thank you for the
02:3827 dinner plates and 37 butter knives and 47 paperweights and 57 candle holders. One more thing
02:42I'm not getting married. Number 28. Over the Rainbow. The Wizard of Oz.
02:57It's a beautiful standard. You know it, we know it, heck the whole world knows it.
03:02It's been performed a million times by a million singers some of which are legends.
03:08Lemon drops away above the chimney tops that's where you'll find me.
03:20Composer Harold Arlen is a genius. We could go on for days. The crux of the matter is if you take
03:26on this classic tune you won't just be competing against the many folks who have come before you
03:30but against Judy Garland herself.
03:45We don't know about you but the one thing we never want casting directors to do is to think
03:49about Garland and compare us to her. Pick another song and re-watch The Wizard of Oz instead.
04:01Number 27. Good Morning Baltimore. Hairspray.
04:20There's no question that this opening number is a bop. It's a good introduction to sweet Tracy
04:25Turnblad and to the world of the story, setting up the optimism that drives the plot.
04:31But much like the musical's romantic I Can Hear the Bells, it's been done to death.
04:50For obvious reasons, the music of Hairspray has been a long favorite of high school productions
04:54and the like, so choosing Good Morning Baltimore as your audition song might just conjure up
04:59associations with teenage musical theater, which some might view negatively. Plus,
05:04if you lack even a bit of pep it becomes hard to sell the number's energy.
05:20Number 26. Gimme Gimme. Thoroughly Modern Millie.
05:29There are those, we suppose, that won't think you're mad for singing a song from Thoroughly
05:42Modern Millie at an audition. What they're forgetting is that in this day and age,
05:46Gimme Gimme is a predictable choice everyone has heard before. Granted, it has a great build-up,
05:52and while it certainly takes prowess to nail, it's not the most musically complicated piece either.
06:00So since you're starting out at a disadvantage given its popularity,
06:19it probably won't do enough to impress the casting director. While we're on the topic,
06:23we'd also recommend steering clear of Not for the Life of Me, which has a long introduction
06:28and has been overdone too.
06:41Number 25. Dead Girl Walking. Heather's The Musical.
06:45But I don't own a motorbike. Wait, here's an option that I like.
06:51Spend these 30 hours getting freaky.
06:57Using numbers from contemporary musicals for auditions is always risky and tricky.
07:02Dead Girl Walking from the popular Heather's Musical is definitely one you should be wary of.
07:07For one thing, the vocal power needed is considerable,
07:10particularly for that high note near the end.
07:23Also, there's the fact that this song is not the best one to make into a solo.
07:27After all, a portion of it is a response to JD,
07:30and some of its comic punch is lessened by his exclusion.
07:34And it must be said, if Candy Store weren't a trio number,
07:37then perhaps Dead Girl Walking wouldn't be so popular in audition rooms.
07:51Number 24. This Is Me, The Greatest Showman.
07:54I am not a stranger to the dark. Hide away, they say,
08:01cause we don't want your broken parts.
08:04Pop anthems about empowerment naturally make for popular audition songs,
08:08as they tend to show off the voice, but we must caution you against using This Is Me.
08:12The thing is, it isn't just overdone, it's too big for most people.
08:17It takes a lot of charisma and stage presence to pull it off,
08:20especially since it's essentially a solo.
08:24You certainly won't have a full orchestra or ensemble in tryouts with you.
08:37You'd be alone with likely just a piano accompaniment.
08:40Trust us, there's a good chance the end result would be underwhelming.
08:44Pair that with the fact that the casting directors will have heard
08:47some version of the number a sickening amount of times,
08:49and avoiding it becomes a no-brainer.
08:55Number 23. Maybe This Time, Cabaret.
09:03Maybe this time, for the first time, love won't hurry away.
09:14This candor in Ebb Standard is a good one.
09:16There's a reason it was included as a major solo in the Cabaret movie,
09:20despite it not initially being part of the theatrical productions.
09:23That's also why it later became an integral part of stage revivals too.
09:28Everybody loves a winner, so nobody loves me.
09:39Unfortunately, Maybe This Time's popularity makes choosing it for an audition problematic.
09:44If competing against Judy Garland is guaranteed to be a failure,
09:48then competing against her daughter is also not recommended.
09:51It's not just Liza Minnelli either.
09:54Many talented, legendary singers have put their stamp on this number.
09:58Making it your pick would basically be fighting a losing battle.
10:01Maybe this time, I'll win.
10:17Number 22. Mama Who Bore Me, Spring Awakening.
10:20Mama who bore me, mama who gave me.
10:27This Tony award-winning musical's first song is a strong one, to be sure.
10:32But why anyone would go to an audition armed with it is beyond us.
10:35Mama for weeping, mama the angels, no sleep in heaven.
10:47For one thing, the tune has a more low-key start,
10:50which isn't necessarily the best thing when the aim is to grip the creative decision makers quickly.
10:55On the flip side though, it's not easy to sing,
10:57and the bigger moments aren't for beginners by any means.
11:00In other words, you can't afford to phone this in.
11:03So unless you have the vocal power and charisma to handle that balance and pull off the climax,
11:09it's best to just cut your losses and choose something else.
11:12Mama who bore me, mama who gave me.
11:18No way to handle things.
11:22Number 21. She Used to Be Mine, Waitress.
11:25That these shoes and this apron, that place and its patrons,
11:32have taken more than I gave them.
11:36By far Waitress's best known song, She Used to Be Mine is gorgeous.
11:40It's also one we'd recommend steering clear from.
11:43Written by Sara Bareilles, it sees Jenna grapple with who she's become.
11:47The number builds gradually, and you have to know what you're doing emotionally
11:51and vocally to captivate audiences as the melody truly takes off.
11:55I would give it all back for a chance to start over.
12:01Rewrite an ending lore or two.
12:06A limited range or failure to maintain control over the notes will be glaringly obvious,
12:10and it's safe to say no casting director will be a huge fan.
12:14Never mind the fact that it's not the most original pick.
12:18Number 20. This Is The Moment, Jekyll and Hyde.
12:30This is the moment, this is the day, and I send all my doubts and demons on their way.
12:43It might be the moment for Jekyll, but it is most certainly not the moment for you.
12:49Yeah, that's a smart move. It's like Jekyll and Hyde. I can't control when Nana comes out.
12:53This Is The Moment from Jekyll and Hyde is a gorgeous song,
12:56and we can certainly understand why you would want to give it a shot in an audition setting.
13:01But This Is The Moment is a song that's really all about the build.
13:05The song grows so seamlessly and fits together so well,
13:09it might be difficult to find the perfect moment to start your 16 measures.
13:27Furthermore, by the time you get to the end of the song,
13:30you've got a couple of pretty high notes and a lot of sustained ones.
13:35Remember, you've just got the one shot, so pick something you're certain to slay.
13:58Number 19. On The Steps Of The Palace, Into The Woods.
14:05He's a very nice prince, this much we know, but is this a very nice audition song?
14:22The jury's out. In general, songs by the great Stephen Sondheim are usually best avoided.
14:28In fact, you'll see him again on this list.
14:36His music can be really tough to sight-read,
14:44and if you want the accompanist to like you, it's best to steer clear.
14:47But more than that, On The Steps Of The Palace is a difficult song to nail
14:51on the first try and under pressure.
14:54Sondheim used strange intervals in his songs often, and this one is no different.
15:06Number 18. If I Were A Rich Man, Fiddler On The Roof.
15:25Come on, you all know the tune.
15:28It's impossible not to sing along when you hear those famous first notes come in.
15:36But a catchy tune does not a great audition song make.
15:48There's no doubt that If I Were A Rich Man is one of the most famous songs in the musical canon,
15:53and pretty well known as a reworked pop song too.
16:06But it's probably something a lot of casting directors have heard one or two times too many.
16:24You want to stand out in an audition, and pick something that won't make
16:28the casting director think of anyone else, even if that someone else is Gwen Stefani.
16:35Number 17. Let It Go, Frozen.
16:54We've all definitely belted out the notes to Let It Go in the shower,
16:58or perhaps driving in our cars.
17:00But if we're being honest, it's probably best the song stays out of the audition room.
17:05Frozen was so unimaginably popular when it came out in 2013,
17:09and Idina Menzel's rendition of Let It Go was practically inescapable.
17:25The casting director you're auditioning for has definitely heard this more times than necessary,
17:30and a few of those times have probably been from a very loud child.
17:34Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song,
17:38and your insipid dreams magically come true. So let it go.
17:44Best to just let this one go.
17:57Number 16. Anything Goes, Anything Goes.
18:04Just remember, not everything goes in an audition. Anything Goes is an incredibly
18:16catchy number, and certainly a perfect choice for a quick dance or tap audition
18:20if that's what you're going in for. But it's not necessarily the most impressive song to sing,
18:26which is what we're focused on today.
18:35When you're picking the perfect audition song, you want something that's going to show off your
18:43vocal strengths, and we think there are probably other songs from Anything Goes that would do that
18:47better than the titular number. Plus, you'd be competing with the likes of Sutton Foster
18:52and Patti LuPone. Who wants to do that?
19:04Number 15. I Dreamed a Dream, Les Miserables.
19:08This is really huge. This is like the March on Washington, but for a singing show.
19:12Can you imagine if Martin Luther King were here and sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis
19:17with that baritone? That would be historic.
19:19The last time this song fared well in an audition was probably 2009 when
19:23Susan Boyle sang it on Britain's Got Talent.
19:38But it's certainly been downhill since then. If I Dreamed a Dream wasn't the most recognizable
19:44song from Les Miserables before Boyle cranked it out for Simon Cowell, it certainly is now.
19:50It's a little overly emotional if you're not particularly prepared to hone that sadness,
19:55and a lot over-sung in an audition room.
20:08Our advice if you want to nail the audition, quit dreaming that dream and pick another song.
20:30Number 14. Seasons of Love, Rent.
20:38For a lot of us, Rent is the reason we know how many minutes are in a year,
20:48and was probably our introduction to musical theater.
21:02But don't let that nostalgia factor take over you in an audition.
21:07Leave this one alone.
21:26Seasons of Love is a great song, no doubt. But it's not the most musically interesting
21:31solo you could pick, and doesn't give you too much to work with as an actor in an audition.
21:36Plus, once again, it's a song that everyone and their mom has heard 525,600 times,
21:43or probably more. Be unique. Pick something else.
21:58Number 13. A song from the show you're auditioning for.
22:02Feel free to sing along if you know the words.
22:04It's a given, but an important one. Choosing a song from the show you're auditioning for
22:09can go wrong for so many reasons. The team watching you audition probably already has
22:21a certain creative approach in mind for the show, and if you miss the mark with a song from the show,
22:26they might feel like you're not the right fit.
22:31Also, if you audition with a song from the show, you're probably going to pick a song
22:42for a role you want. Doing this might pigeonhole you in the director's mind,
22:47and they might not consider you for something else. Your best bet is to go with a similar style,
22:52but avoid anything from the show itself.
23:02Number 12. Defying Gravity – Wicked
23:20We all know Wicked. An iconic show with iconic performances that should definitely be avoided
23:26in the audition room. We almost went with Popular for this entry, which you should probably also
23:32avoid, but Defying Gravity is really the killer. With that said, if you know for a fact that you
23:39can absolutely nail this number on the first run, we won't stop you. But when you're following in
23:52the footsteps of Idina Menzel, Stephanie J. Block, and the like, you better be sure of your skills
23:58under pressure. It's always best to avoid anything with such high standards already set.
24:23Number 11. Think of Me – The Phantom of the Opera
24:36If we're being realistic, you should probably avoid anything from Phantom of the Opera like
24:54The Plague. It's overdone, it's over the top, and it's tough to nail when you're nervous.
25:08But if we had to pick one song to throw by the wayside, we'll go with Think of Me.
25:13It's Christine's first big solo in the show, and with that stature comes a lot of pressure.
25:28The song involves a ton of vocal leaps, stays pretty high for the entirety of its run,
25:33and has one of the most difficult outros we've ever heard. If you absolutely must do Think of Me,
25:39just promise us you won't tackle that ending, alright?
25:52Number 10. Satisfied – Hamilton
26:08A toast to the groom, to the bride, from your sister.
26:20As soon as the Hamilton cast recording became available for mass consumption,
26:24every director in the musical theater world just knew they'd be hearing the songs at auditions
26:29for years to come. In fact, in just a few short years, many Hamilton songs became ones to avoid.
26:38We definitely think you should leave Burn on the cutting room floor,
26:48but nothing's worse than picking Satisfied.
26:51And it's always best to leave songs created for actors of color to the performers they're
27:08intended for. But even if the song is right for you, Satisfied is one that's tough to perfect.
27:21With its combination of belting, rapping, and acting,
27:29you need to be positive that you can absolutely kill it.
27:33Number 9. On My Own – Les Miserables
27:47If you want to be on your own, outside the audition room, lamenting your choice in song,
28:03by all means, pick this one. Rachel Berry might have made it into the Glee Club with this,
28:08but that doesn't mean you will. On My Own might be one song in Les Miserables that could beat
28:13I Dreamed a Dream for the most overdone audition song. And when you pick a song that's probably
28:25been sung a multitude of times that day, you run the risk of not being the best at it.
28:31And we want you to be the best.
28:48Number 8. Bring Him Home – Les Miserables
29:02We've spent a lot of this list talking about Les Mis. With its big emotions and grand musical
29:12stylings, theater kids all over the world fell in love with Les Mis from an early age.
29:17But just because you love something doesn't mean you should bring it into the audition room.
29:21I don't know how I didn't get in. I mean, how do you beat a monologue from Equus and 16 bars
29:26from Les Mis? You're great, kid. I made a mistake.
29:29Bring Him Home may not be the most overdone Les Mis song, but it's still probably best to leave
29:35it out of the equation. The song requires a strong start right in those few notes that if you're even
29:41the least bit nervous, it's bound to show. Instead, go with something that gives you a little more
29:47breathing room. Literally.
30:01Number 7. Waving Through a Window – Dear Evan Hansen
30:31We almost went with the emotional words fail,
30:34but we're keeping it classic with Waving Through a Window.
30:46Sometimes it's a great idea to sing a song from a newer musical for an audition.
30:50It's modern, it's fresh, and not a ton of people have had a chance to sing it yet.
30:55But in the case of Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen, it might not be the best choice.
31:02Ben Platt essentially made Evan Hansen what it and he is, and Waving Through a Window is without
31:19a doubt the most popular song in the show. If you're some secret savant who can blow Ben out
31:24of the water, by all means be our guest. As a general rule though, it's always better to avoid
31:30the ones with iconic performances attached to them.
31:47Number 6. Tomorrow – Annie
32:04Talk about an earworm. And if you're a casting director,
32:08or a human being really, probably one you don't want to have rattling around your head all day.
32:17Tomorrow from Annie is a fun song to sing when you're a kid,
32:28and probably used to be a great audition song for little kids,
32:31until it became so incredibly overdone.
32:46It's possible you still might have the pluck to make that casting director crack a smile,
32:53but odds are they won't be quite as endeared as FDR, as they've already heard the song too many times.
33:00Number 5. Don't Rain on My Parade – Funny Girl
33:16Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter. Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter.
33:23Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.
33:29If Ben Platt is strongly tied to Evan Hansen, Barbara Streisand is basically married to Fanny
33:35Bryce. Thus, pretty much everything she sings in the musical Funny Girl should be avoided.
33:44And none more so than Don't Rain on My Parade.
33:48Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter. Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter.
33:53Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.
33:57When you're going into an audition, you want to make sure you stand out,
34:01while also showing off what you can do.
34:04Hey Mr. Arnstein, here I am!
34:16The last thing you want is to be compared to someone who's not even auditioning for the role.
34:20And unfortunately, if you choose Don't Rain on My Parade,
34:24it's going to be near impossible to not compare you to Babs.
34:34AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
34:44Number 4. Being Alive – Company
34:48Someone to hold you too close.
34:56Someone to hurt you too deep.
35:00Ah, Sondheim.
35:02In any other context, we'd be raving about how much we love his difficult and unique arrangements.
35:07When it comes to an audition room, however, you need the accompanist on your side from the get-go.
35:13So you should probably avoid incredibly difficult-to-play songs like Another Hundred People.
35:19Another hundred people just got off of the train and came up to the ground,
35:22while another hundred people just got off of the bus and are looking around at
35:26another hundred people who got off of the plane and are looking at us,
35:30who got off of the train and the plane and the bus, maybe yesterday.
35:34But you should definitely avoid masterpieces like Being Alive.
35:38Someone to force you to care.
35:42Someone to make you come through, who'll always be there,
35:47as frightened as you of being alive.
35:52Not only does it have that signature Sondheim stamp of complexity,
35:56but it's near impossible to separate yourself from the master himself.
36:00Unless you can blow it out of the water,
36:02people will likely leave talking about how good Sondheim is, rather than how good you are.
36:08Being alive, being alive
36:32Do I even need to tell you a song?
36:34Horns, strings keep up.
36:37And I am telling you, I'm not going.
36:46If there was ever a song that is so incredibly associated with one performer,
36:50And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going would be it.
37:02Jennifer Holliday wiped the floor with this number when she first sang it,
37:06and has continued to do so every time she's performed it since.
37:21Jennifer Hudson also did an amazing job in the Dreamgirls movie in 2006,
37:26but this role is still to this day immediately associated with Holliday.
37:36I'm not walking out
37:38Those are two really tough comparisons,
37:40and the song is pretty difficult to sing and emote through anyway.
37:43Our advice?
37:45Leave it to the pros.
38:01Number 2.
38:02Any Jason Robert Brown song
38:05Every musical theater kid worth their salt loves a good Jason Robert Brown tune.
38:22Which means his songs are frequently used in auditions.
38:26Emphasis on the frequent.
38:35We can guarantee your casting director has already heard everything from the last five years,
38:40and probably most of Songs for a New World that day.
38:43Maybe twice.
38:55Plus, like Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown pieces are incredibly hard to sight-read.
39:01You don't want to be a Kathy in this situation and make the pianist hate you,
39:05so might as well choose something else.
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39:32Number 1.
39:33Memory – Cats
39:46There was really only one choice for the number one spot.
39:49You knew it.
39:50We knew it.
39:51Sure, it's an absolutely gorgeous song,
39:54and without a doubt the most beautiful song in the show.
39:57But let's be real, that's not exactly a unique opinion.
40:00And you definitely wouldn't be the first person to take it into an audition.
40:14Besides being overdone, this song requires a ton of emotional investment.
40:20You can't just sing Memory, you have to feel it.
40:24The show is literally about cats,
40:43so getting the audience to care about the characters takes some serious acting chops.
40:48Our best advice?
40:49Let the cat keep your tongue if you're planning to audition with this one.
40:54Number 2.
41:06Miss Mojo – Next
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