My Top Ten Sondheim Songs (Chronological)
Barcelona from Company (1970)
Sondheim has said that musical theater songs have to be little one-act plays. Barcelona fits the bill. Our lead, Bobby, has recently met, and bedded, April (a flight attendant). Bobby has a fear of commitment and this song is a perfect character note for him. And it’s funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T062wD825JQ
Being Alive from Company (1970)
Many songs were tried for the finale of Company. It’s a fairly cynical show in its exploration of relationships. “Being Alive” was the least cynical choice. (One of the other possibilities was “Marry Me a Little”) As an upbeat embrace of an openness to a long term commitment, “Being Alive” ends the show with show-stopping optimism. ("vary my days" is one of my favorite lyrical snippets from a song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8kYfPoHyos
The Road You Didn’t Take from Follies (1971)
Follies is a show where the four main (late-middle-aged) characters look back on their lives and the choices they’ve made. This song of Ben Stone’s most closely hews to that theme. It’s a perfect distillation of the feelings folks might have at a certain point in their lives. Trust me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luydh4zUry4
The Miller’s Son from A Little Night Music (1973)
This is a second act song by a minor character in the piece, which has caused some to think it could have been jettisoned. However, it is the perfect counterpoint to all of the previous actions of the main characters and in that way comments on their inanity. It’s a perfect three-act song that’s meant to be sung lustily.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=202975708901
Pretty Women from Sweeney Todd (1979)
Sweeney (a barber) wants revenge on the Judge who ruined his life. As he shaves the Judge with a straight razor, they both sing about pretty women. Sweeney and the audience know what he has planned. The Judge does not. This gorgeous song works so well theatrically since it is at odds with what (we think) is coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omD3m-xwBWk
Epiphany from Sweeney Todd (1979)
Sweeney is interrupted and his revenge against the Judge is thwarted. This song has to show us that Sweeney will now move from specific revenge to an all-consuming revenge against humanity. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a song, and Sondheim is up to the challenge. I call “Epiphany” the hardest working song on Broadway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quctDawu_bo
Sunday from Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
George (Georges Seurat) has spent the first act obsessing on creating his masterpiece (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte) at the expense of his relationship with his paramour, Dot. This end of Act 1 stunner has the painting finally come together while the characters sing this beautiful choral work. I cry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsHflVxyGKQ
Move On from Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
In Act II, George’s great-grandson (also an artist) feels he has lost his artistic vision. Dot resurfaces and sings this paean to artists and the act of creation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSKyO6Q6M6Q
Unworthy of Your Love from Assassins (1990)
Presidential assassins (and would-be assassins) throughout history interact and the authors speculate through them on why America has produced so many hopeful assassins. (But it’s really a good show! Really. It is) Squeaky Fromme and John Hinckley have a beautiful duet, where he’s singing to Jodie Foster and she’s singing to Charlie Manson (it really is a good show). The juxtaposition of the characters and their motivations to the beauty of the song makes this one of my faves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QBudOVP9P0
Loving You from Passion (1994)
Again, a song with a lot of work to do. We have Fosca (an obsessive, unpleasant, sickly woman) in love with a beautiful soldier. And, against all odds, he falls in love with her. Audiences were not buying that transformation, but with the addition of this song (which explained her feelings and softened her some), they were better able to accept it. Gorgeous song. Passion is the only Sondheim show where I was able to see the original Broadway production. Thrilling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3DEjxuoBaQ