Broadway karaoke is undeniably popular with a certain crowd. Theatre lovers will gladly spend all evening belting out tunes by Broadway legends such as Barbra Streisand or Patti LuPone, but the general public may not know Andrew Lloyd Webber from Stephen Sondheim. They have likely seen The Phantom of the Opera or Avenue Q, but generally won't know the songs well enough to sing them on karaoke night. Still, Broadway is responsible for some of the greatest hits of all time, such as My Fair Lady's "I Could Have Danced All Night" or Bye Bye Birdie's "Put on a Happy Face," and no karaoke collection is complete without at least one Broadway compilation CD.
Broadway karaoke is undeniably popular with a certain crowd. Theatre lovers will gladly spend all evening belting out tunes by Broadway legends such as Barbra Streisand or Patti LuPone, but the general public may not know Andrew Lloyd Webber from Stephen Sondheim. They have likely seen The Phantom of the Opera or Avenue Q, but generally won't know the songs well enough to sing them on karaoke night. Still, Broadway is responsible for some of the greatest hits of all time, such as My Fair Lady's "I Could Have Danced All Night" or Bye Bye Birdie's "Put on a Happy Face," and no karaoke collection is complete without at least one Broadway compilation CD.
What to Buy for Broadway Buffs
Any balladeer will go ga-ga over albums such as Stephen Sondheim Songs, which features classic Sondheim numbers such as "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd or "Loving You" from Passion. Rogers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and Andrew Lloyd Webber are all also well-known composers. Looking for specific musicals? Try classics such as Hello, Dolly or Evita. Look for a varied collection of vocal ranges; after all, a soprano singing the classic bass number "Old Man River" is likely to get booed off the stage.
You can never go wrong with a classic Broadway compilation album such as Sing the Hits of the Sound of Broadway, which includes hits such as "Memory" from Cats, "Cabaret" from Cabaret and "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof. Looking for specific shows? Try hit movie musicals such as Grease, Chicago and West Side Story. Younger crowds will enjoy recent Broadway smashes such as Wicked, Hairspray or Legally Blonde. Disney musicals are always a hit, so shop for shows such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast or Mary Poppins. Classic musicals such as Brigadoon, My Fair Lady and Guys and Dolls will be a hit with older crowds. When buying a Broadway karaoke compilation, remember to look for a mix of ballads, iconic hits, dance numbers and duets. This will ensure everyone can find something they feel comfortable singing.