Top 10 Songs You Should NEVER Audition With
#10: A Song From the Show You’re Auditioning For!
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It’s a given, but an important one! Choosing a song from the show you’re auditioning for can go wrong for so many reasons. The team watching you audition probably already has a certain creative approach in mind for the show, and if you miss the mark with a song from the show, they might feel like you’re not the right fit. Also, if you audition with a song from the show, you’re probably going to pick a song for a role you want. Doing this might pigeonhole you in the director’s mind, and they might not consider you for something else. Your best bet is to go with a similar style, but avoid anything from the show itself.
#9: “Defying Gravity” “Wicked” (2003)
We all know “Wicked”: an iconic show with iconic performances... that should definitely be avoided in the audition room. We almost went with “Popular” for this entry – which you should probably also avoid – but “Defying Gravity” is really the one to avoid. With that said, if you know for a fact that you can absolutely nail this number on the first run, we won’t stop you. But, when you’re following in the footsteps of Idina Menzel, Stephanie J. Block, and the like – you better be sure of your skills under pressure. It’s always best to avoid anything with such high standards already set.
#8: “Think of Me” “Phantom of the Opera” (1986)
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If we’re being realistic, you should probably avoid anything from “Phantom of the Opera” like the plague! It’s overdone, it’s over the top, and it’s tough to nail when you’re nervous. But, if we had to pick one song to throw by the wayside, we’ll go with “Think of Me”. It’s Christine’s first big solo in the show, and with that stature comes a lot of pressure. The song involves a ton of vocal leaps, stays pretty high for the entirety of its run, and has one of the most difficult outros we’ve ever heard. If you absolutely must do “Think of Me”, just promise us you won’t tackle that ending, alright?
#7: “Satisfied” “Hamilton” (2015)
As soon as the “Hamilton” cast recording became available for mass consumption, every director in the musical theater world just knew they’d be hearing the songs at auditions for years to come. In fact, in just a few short years, many “Hamilton” songs became ones to avoid. We definitely think you should leave “Burn” on the cutting room floor, but nothing’s worse than picking “Satisfied”. And it’s always best to leave songs created for actors of color to the performers they’re intended for. But, even if the song is right for you, “Satisfied” is one that’s tough to perfect. With its combination of belting, rapping, and acting, you need to be positive that you can absolutely kill it!
#6: “Bring Him Home” “Les Misérables” (1980)
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With its big emotions and grand musical stylings, theater kids all over the world fell in love with “Les Miserables” from an early age. But, just because you love something doesn’t mean you should bring it into the audition room. You don’t want to be the tenth person at said audition to break out “On My Own”. While we’re on the subject, it’s also probably a good idea to leave “Bring Him Home” out of the equation. The song requires such a strong start, right in those first few notes, that if you’re even the least bit nervous, it’s bound to show. Instead, go with something that gives you a little more breathing room. (Literally.)
#5: “Waving Through a Window” “Dear Evan Hansen” (2015)
Sometimes, it’s a great idea to sing a song from a newer musical for an audition. It’s modern, it’s fresh, and not a ton of people have had the chance to sing it yet. But, in the case of “Waving Through a Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen”, it might not be the best choice. Ben Platt essentially made “Evan Hansen” what it is, and “Waving Through a Window” is without a doubt the most popular song in the show. If you’re some secret savant who can blow Ben out of the water, by all means, be our guest. As a general rule, though, it’s always better to avoid the ones with iconic performances attached to them.
#4: “Don’t Rain on My Parade” “Funny Girl” (1964)
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If Ben Platt is strongly tied to Evan Hansen, Barbra Streisand is basically married to Fanny Bryce. Thus, pretty much everything she sings in the musical “Funny Girl” should be avoided – and none more so than “Don’t Rain on My Parade”. When you’re going into an audition, you want to make sure you stand out, while also showing off what you can do. The last thing you want is to be compared to someone who’s not even auditioning for the role. And, unfortunately, if you choose “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, it’s going to be near impossible not to compare you to Babs.
#3: “Being Alive” “Company” (1970)
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Ah, Sondheim... In any other context, we’d be raving about how much we love his difficult and unique arrangements. When it comes to an audition room, however, you need the accompanist on your side from the get-go. So, you should probably avoid incredibly difficult-to-play songs like “Another Hundred People,” but you should DEFINITELY avoid masterpieces like “Being Alive”. Not only does it have that signature Sondheim stamp of complexity, but it’s near-impossible to separate yourself from the master himself. Unless you can blow it out of the water, people will likely leave talking about how good Sondheim is rather than how good you are.
#2: Any Jason Robert Brown Song
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Every musical theater kid worth their salt loves a good Jason Robert Brown tune. Which means his songs are frequently used in auditions. Emphasis on the ‘frequent’. We can guarantee your casting director has already heard everything from “The Last Five Years” and probably most of “Songs for a New World” that day – maybe twice. Plus, like Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown pieces are incredibly hard to sight-read. You don’t want to be a Cathy in this situation and make the pianist hate you, so might as well choose something else. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Anything Goes” / “Anything Goes” (1934) This Song Ain’t The Top “Let It Go” / “Frozen” (2013) We’re Begging You, Let This One Go “If I Were a Rich Man” / “Fiddler on the Roof” (1964) You’d Be Richer If You Didn’t Use This Song for Auditions “On the Steps of the Palace”, / “Into the Woods” (1986) Even in Fairytale Form, Sondheim Should Be Avoided “This Is the Moment” / “Jekyll & Hyde” (1990) Your Audition Is Not the Moment for This One
#1: “Memory” “Cats” (1981)
Salem Orion Memory
There was really only one choice for the number one spot – you knew it, we knew it… . Sure, it’s an absolutely gorgeous song and, without a doubt, the most beautiful song in the show but, let’s be real, that’s not exactly a unique opinion. And, you definitely wouldn’t be the first person to take it into an audition. Besides being overdone, this song requires a ton of emotional investment. You can’t just sing “Memory”, you have to feel it! The show is literally about cats, so getting the audience to care about the characters takes some serious acting chops. Our best advice? Let the cat keep your tongue if you’re planning to audition with this one!
