1940-1950

"Bewitched" from Paul Joey by Hart & Rodgers has been covered by quite a few Jazz musicians, so a word of warning. If you do not have that syrupy lyrical voice that make women drool the minute you open your mouth for the first vowel, don't do it. That is my first impression. However, since it was originally written for a woman, best be able to do the whole "my-world-is-crumbling-at-the-edges-but-I-am-strong-and-will-struggle-through-this-ballad" or the "I-am-sickly-in-love-with-this-guy" while everyone is rooting for you or forget this song. It can be nasally and annoying.

If you are a great storyteller type singer, and not so strong with the ballads, this decade has a song for you - "The Saga of Jenny" from Lady in the Dark. And there is something about the lyrics to "Nobody's Heart" from By Jupiter by Rodgers & Hart that hits a chord with me... "Nobody's arms belong to me, No arms feel strong to me, I admire the moon, as a moon, just a moon, Nobody's heart belongs to me today".

The 1940's decade produced some of the most overdone Rodgers & Hammerstein songs in musical theater history. If you don't know "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma!, "If I Loved You" from Carousel, or "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific its time to brush up your musical theater. And yes, "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" was written in this decade.

This is the decade, of course, where musical theater begins to change course from a happy-go-lucky time to more dark and downtrodden.

1930-1940

I love Gershwin and Gershwin. They take a line that has always gone the EXACT same way and then decide to throw in a flat. Or a pitch pend of sorts. Or something that you DON'T expect and the next thing you know you are listening carefully to see where the line will go next. I'm not the biggest fan of "Who Cares?" from Of Thee I Sing (441 performances) but it does exactly that.

"The Song Is You" from Hammerstein & Kern's Music In the Air came about in 1932. I'm not a big fan of the tune, but it seems others are. Check it out for yourself!

Cole Porter's "You're The Top" from Anything Goes is one of those songs that is either a whopping success or a giant flop. If you can't sell a song, if you can't instantly get the audience into what you are saying like a salesperson, pass this one on by, please!

Babes in Arms appeared in 1937 and the song "Where or When" seems to be a preview of what is to come later from Richard Rodgers (though his partner in this song is Hart and not Hammerstein). For some reason I don't think of Rodgers coming onto the scene until the 1950s, but clearly I am wrong!

1920-1930

"Look for the Silver Lining" from Sally (1920), written by DeSylva and Kern is one I don't hear often but love to run across. It is set so nicely for the voice to glide through. The melody lulls you around and for whatever reason the text always gives me a glimmer of hope

Refrain
"Look for the silver lining
When e'er a cloud appears in the sky
Remember somewhere the sun is shining
and so the right thing to do is make it shine for you.

A heart, full of joy and gladness
Will always banish sadness and strife
So always look for the silver lining
And try to find the sunny side of life"

A bunch of Standards....
I'm sure everyone has run across "I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise" from George White's Scandals (Gershwin & Gershwin). its one of those standards you should just probably know. I didn't realize I knew this next tune until I read through it - Hart & Rodger's "Manhattan" from Garrack Gaieties. Written back in 1925, there was definitely a swing influence there. I feel like it is a good one to have in your back pocket. If you are a soprano and have not learned "Someone To Watch Over Me" from Gershwin's Oh, Kay! please go learn it now. It can be one of the most over done auditions songs in the history of musical theater BUT everyone expects you to know it and to sing it in both the key of C and in E flat, so you might as well get started! And if you are a Bass, take a look at Hammerstein & Kern's "Ol' Man River" from Showboat. It is a beautiful tune and the beginning, rarely known, has great insight into life in the 1920's.

1911-1920

Irving Berlin, Irving Berlin, and wait! Irving Berlin. "I Love a Piano" from Stop! Look! Listen! (later added to White Christmas) was penned in 1915. I am not a fan of singing or performing this song, but I am a fan of listening to the song. It is full of chromatic lines not all to common to songs around which makes it slightly different, but check it out for yourself.

"Till The Clouds Roll By" from Oh Boy! written by Kern & Wodehouse is a surprisingly well known melody. Perhaps you can recall it by a few of the lyrics:
"Oh the rain comes a pitter, patter,
and I'd like to be safe in bed.
Skies are weeping,
while the world is sleeping,
Trouble heaping
on our head."

The musical ran for 463 performances, not bad!

1900-1910

I don't recognize many of the musicals that opened during this decade except the Ziegfield Follies. Wizard of Oz opened in 1903, but not with the same music you have come to know now. "Toyland", which I always thought of as Christmas tune, though I'm not sure why, is from Babes in Toyland. It opened in 1903, or so says the book, and it floats in 6/8 time. Doesn't show much more than an octave range, but I have a soft spot for it.

And then came 1904 and Little Johnny Jones. Don't recognize the musical by George M. Cohan? Perhaps you recognize a tune from it - "Give My Regards to Broadway". If you haven't heard this song covered by virtually everyone, go check it out!

1880-1890

Now, here's one for you. You're A Grand Old Flag is not just a tune you learn in music class. Oh, no! It is from the musical George Washington, Jr. written by George M. Cohan, written in 1896 but premiered in 1906. While I don't suggest it for an audition song beyond patriotic auditions and/or middle school auditions, check out all the words you didn't know existed!

What an interesting decade to read through. Very much vaudevillian in flavor. I guess that would be an obvious statement.