I remember reading that Patti LuPone said the whole of Evita was written by a man who hates women, because it was so strenuous to perform the part of Eva Peron.
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I totally though Memory would've been on this list!! Most people Can't sing it because of the wide range of notes, the belting, and the amount of emotion you have to put in it.
Memory definitely deserves to be way up on this list. And the proof is in the pudding with that one; even though many others have tried to sing it, no one has managed to capture the emotion of Elaine Paige's performance. Sure there have been singers who have sung the song beautifully. But in Elaine Paige's performance the song, the emotion, and the character are woven together so inseparably that almost no cover since has done the song justice. If that ain't a hard song I don't know what is.
@@tayh3645 I saw Debra Byrne sing it in Sydney Australia when it first appeared, and I thought she was better. Partly because Debra was a child star, then became addicted to drugs, and Cats was her big comeback.
I had to sing Memory in 9th grade. I’m a high school junior, and my private voice tutor in ninth grade was... not good. I hadn’t had vocal rest before or since working with her. I hated how I sounded and now that I know how difficult it is (I’m an alto and she tried to make me a soprano, but chose Memory for the belting low parts.) As a ninth grader, I did not know the emotion in the least. At least it was a pretty song, and the only one we both could agree to.
This song is not really that straining. It gives a different impression because one of its most known singers, isn't actually in the comfortable range for it....
Phantom should be higher, they have the title song prerecorded with all the actors involved (including understudies and alternates) and it's played back so the performers don't have to sing it live every night and damage their voice.
That isn't the main reason it's pre-recorded though. It's done because with the actors running around backstage to get on the boat there is too much background noise and they'd be out of breath. Also some Christines sing on-top of the pre-recorded track every night. Your point still stands, however
@@samsingsthings As far as I'm aware, that isn't the case. You can tell if a section is pre-recorded when the conductor puts their headphones on, which tends to happen right as the music kicks in. Some Christines will sing over all the notes, some will do only some, but they are the exception and not the rule - the widely held speculation is that most Christines do not sing any of the notes live unless it's a special occassion such as their last show
We did Phantom at my high school, and I played Christine. We only did 4 shows, but I still asked if we could pre record the end of the title song just in case I got sick, but in the end I had to do it live every night. I knew it was a bad idea, but since it was only 4 shows it was fine. If I had to do more than that, it would have definitely damaged my voice even with flawless technique (which I don't have)
Right? Those songs require EXTREMELY powerful singing ability and have very high notes very few can pull off. Not to mention those who pull the songs off look understandably exhausted after singing them.
@@jenifierce6517 Giants it's a mouthful that does require a little more thought about proper diction although the examples in here don't do it justice, Phantom it's less difficult to screw up with proper training and a lot of dedication
If you think about it really giants in the sky isn't really that hard well if your trained particularlty for it on the other hand Phantom of the Opera is way harder since it takes a very skilled opera singers to sing those notes. Also I'm just gonna mention this defying gravity isn't that hard well at least not as hard as people think it is. The one song I do find hard to sing from Wicked is No Good Deed as it is very belty and has many high and held out notes. Defying gravity is just as hard but in my opinion not as hard as No Good Deed.
It's not a fave of mine, although I can appreicate the insane vocal talent it takes to do those roles. I don't understand how the actress playing Christine can do that role for months on end without some vocal damage.
@@sassypants7536 It's because the title song is pre-recorded for the stage in all official productions. The Christines aren't hitting the cadenza's E6 every single performance. As well, lots of caring for their health and their voice. Rachel Anne Moore, the understudy Carlotta on Broadway, posted a while ago about going to an ENT doctor.
Oh yes, i think i remember reading that. It's like the one exception to the live rule that Broadway live by. I would prefer that actually, given how much strain that would put on thier vocal chords.
Not even an honourable mention for "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde?! Elle is moving around the entire time controlling the stage, singing with that signature Elle Woods "Peppiness" and has to hold the last note for an obnoxiously long amount of time. Not to mention after Laura Bell Bundy left the show, the key had to be lowered because she was the only one to (successfully) pull it off. Also Phantom should be much higher on the list.
The Glee rendition was said to be sped up but if you really want to listen to a great rendition of it, listen to Jane Whittenshaw's performance in Sondheim's master class in front of Sondheim himself.
Honestly, I love Dear Evan Hansen, but there's no way Words Fail deserves to be there. Waving is harder in my opinion and still doesn't deserve to be on the list. Also, Giants in the Sky has some tricky intricacies, but doesn't deserve to be that high on the list. I think Later from A Little Night Music should definitely be on this list. He has to sustain a high B while faux-playing the cello. If that's not hard I don't know what is
I was upset that Defying Gravity and Bring Him Home/any Les Mis songs weren't in the top 10 but I was very happy to see Glitter and Be Gay at #1.That is a hard ass song! I am a soprano and I've tried to sing it but I'm always exhausted by the end.
It takes a VERY well trained soprano for this -- Chenoweth was classically trained (and is a coloratura soprano -- not just any soprano can sing it, you have to have the range *and* the agility.)
The role of the Narrator in Joseph is a beast, not mentioned at all. Glitter and Be Gay is scary hard! You must be a legit coloratura soprano to sing that. No Defying Gravity or Bring Him Home? This person who compiled this list doesn't know music.
I’m so upset that “I’m Here” from The Color Purple and “She Used To Be Mine” from Waitress aren’t on here. They take such powerful vocals and emotion in order to pull them off
My best friend did "She Used To Be Mine" at the Access Broadway regionals last year and ended up scoring platinum and 4th place overall in her category. I have gotten platinum before but it was THIS year and it was an acting duet with my twin sister (we are both 14) and we ended up getting 2nd place overall. I have never seen a 14 year old do that song like she does.
It is a very difficult song to sing given the wide range and the way it is written. It is never sung live in any professional production. Sarah Brighton did not sing it live and neither has any other person playing Christine. It is prerecorded.
I came here to say this exact same thing. It's not just a memorization song, either. You have to have good vocal control to switch every other note when singing that fast.
The Real XXKitty_LoveXX well actually it was on broadway back in the 80´s but it was a... let’s say a conceptual production 😂 nevertheless the destruction could (should ?) have been in this video
It was technically in my range when I was younger, but I lost it long ago. Gave up on hitting it after I practically dislocated my jaw trying to get enough force behind it.
"Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun didn't even get an honorable mention. I has fast back and forths, very high notes for both the male and female parts, and has an incredibly long note that is held impossibly long.
Phantom literally is one of the hardest songs I've ever attempted, one, playing, and two, preforming. The notes might not be suuuuuppppeeer high throughout the entire show, but the sheer amount of breath support you need, and you need to have a good vibrato, you also have to act the shit out of it as well just to sell it.
“Giants in the Sky” isn’t so tough if it’s in your range, and if you run through it three or four times to lock in on the rhythm. However, never expect than an audition accompanist will be able to nail it during your one chance at bat.
Miles L. I mean belting an E6 with barely any breath is TOTALLY not a big deal at all... I’ve been practicing for months and still am not nearly where it should be so
i dont think it needs to be #1, but i do agree it should be higher. Me, Being able to hit higher notes, the e6 is ovbiously a bit hard, but definitely not that hard for people who have been training longer than a year.
When Angela Lansbury asked Sondheim when she was supposed to breath in "By the sea" (Sweeney Todd) he answered: you are not supposed to breath, you are supposed to sing.
I love Sondheim, but I've always known he was a sadistic bastard. Check out Liz Calloway's "Another Hundred Lyrics" for a fantastic tribute to his evil genius.
I never want or mean to put hate on anything, but no way in hell is giants in the sky harder than gethsemane. A lot of the list is wrong imo. Although I’ll admit number 1 is probably right.
To everyone complaining about Guns & Ships not being on here: I think Hamilton's bit in Yorktown is harder. Guns & Ships took me at most half an hour to nail, whereas it always takes an enormous breath to get through Yorktown. It is slower, but it's longer and the spaces for breaths aren't as long. And in terms of impressive tongue-twisters, I think Washington On Your Side is the hardest.
List of those I have sung: Words fail Rainbow high Phantom of the opera (Christine's part) Confrontation (not in a performance though) Bring him home Defying gravity (come on everyone's attempted this)
I have attempted Confrontation, phantom of the opera, memory (I know it’s not in your list, but I feel like it’s still hard because you need a lot of emotion for the last part) and defying gravity and they are all very hard. I also believe phantom of the opera should’ve gotten a higher place then what it got on this video.
I played Eva in Evita. I must say that Rainbow High was pretty mellow. For me, the most difficult song was What’s New, Buenos Aires. It took some major air support and diction to manage most of it.
...when was I 5 my parents took me to this show at The Kennedy Center and as soon as the chandelier came swinging down over the audience I fell in love w the stage
I just cannot believe they used David Hasselhoff in this clip. His music never did well on Billboard's top 100 but I guess he's much better on Broadway. I just can't see it 😱
Green Finch and Linnet Bird from Sweeney Todd (Johanna’s song) is also deceptively nasty. No excessively high notes or belt required, but the entire thing sits on and around the upper tessitura point, which means that very good technique is essential for the singer to not tire herself. It also has extended [I] vowels on high tessitura (as in sing) that stand out as harsh if not correctly approached.
Alice Catherine YES!! I sang this for a contest and it was probably the hardest thing i’ve ever had to put my voice through. It’s absolutely beautiful though!
@@sarahluczak6440 I sang it for a competition as well. It was so hard and took forever to train. Once you get it though it sounds so pretty. I was able to place. So hard but so fun.
Sarah Maya I also sang it for a competition and I was not pleased with my performance since it’s such a straining song ... I ended up getting first place though regardless with extra points for the difficulty 😂 Such a beautiful song though
I love doing theater in the ensemble and just sing whatever musical I'm doing for fun at home, and jeez, I'm not a great singer but I can finally kinda sing Green Finch and Linnet Bird a year after doing Sweeney Todd and lots of practice. It's a harddd song
No good deed from Wicked man.... god, I wanna sing that one so bad, but you need strong emotion, a lot of belting power and the godly ability to do that Fiyero in the middle of it
Rap doesn't require anywhere near the vocal ability displayed in these songs, sure it requires good diction and fluidity of delivery, but this is broadway SONGS, not raps =)
When I did it and invited people that didn't know what it was about...afterwards they were like WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST WATCH. 10/10 reactions are hilarious
Upload X it’s INFURIATING how they always show David Hasselhoff and never mention Anthony Warlow!! IMO the original (Warlow) version is infinitely better than the current version. I’m really not into the R&B/modernization nonsense they did to it. The version I saw on tour was classic and timeless. The rock/R&B stuff will be (is) dated in a season or two.
Try hitting the sustained high notes in "Climb Every Mountain" from "The Sound of Music." It's exacting and difficult to say the least and should be on this list
Memory from Cats should definitely be on here, just watch Betty Buckley belt it out with effortless precision and power, way more bone chilling than the songs on here.
Nothing out of Hamilton and Wicked and Les Miserables only in the honourable mentions? Okay... I love Into the Woods but (a) higher than Phantom and (b) Giants in the Sky instead of Last Midnight and the Prologue (I mean, 15 minutes of singing without pause with so many characters and the Witch's fast solo part) Well...
That goddamn prologue. I was unfortunately the Narrator, and WHEW. Anyone who has to be a part of it is expected to loose their minds. Multitasking is a must. But no, Giants in the Sky deserves to be on the list . . . . I'm also kind of mad about Kiss Me from Sweeney Todd. I mean..... really?! THATS what they chose. It IS watch mojo, and they don't actually know much, so....
@@samsingsthings pretty much all of Legally Blonde. Like those are hard just singing wise! Now including all the necessary energy to act it and dance it out!
satisfied should have AT LEAST been an honourable mention. that song is nearly impossible to sing for people that even have the greatest vocal ranges. the breath control required is astonishing, and the pronunciation of all the words is nearly impossible. you literally do not catch a break for the entire song, and can barely take a breath before you have to literally rap with vibrato
Ive been working on this song for a couple of months and I can finally do the staccatos I’ve always been able to hit the notes but the breath support is insane too bad it’s opera not broadway
Very true, but it’s not Broadway. It’s opera. And it’s both arias that are a bitch. The first one has that rapid fire coloratura, and the second one, well, 4 F6s and the triplets of death.
ANYTHING Sondheim is hella difficult. I've been in Sweeney Todd twice and stage managed Into the Woods when I was a freshman in college (my first stage management role). And I was in West Side Story.
This is why we’re told you don’t audition with Sondheim 😂 Especially since whoever accompanies is usually sight-reading because they have one accompanist for all the auditions, it’s essentially torture to have to do one of his works on the spot
I've done Sweeney and West Side and they are two of the most difficult shows I've done in my life (bearing in mind I've done about 40). I'm a soprano, so Sweeney was insane for that. It's all so dissonant and non sensical. Then West Side was difficult because I was one of the sharks. So singing difficult songs with even more difficult and tiring choreography (bearing in mind I'm asthmatic) was torture.
@@colterlincoln2881 I believe they do it live as many times as they can, one reason they pre-record is so they dont damage their vocal chords since they have to do it around 8 times a week, not including rehursala
*rolls eyes in annoyance because i sang words fail on Starmaker karaoke and got an A in scoring rank!* Bitch please! *than sees Defying Gravity as an Honorable mention and flips* BITCH IT IS SO BLOODY HARD TO HIT THAT END NOTE AND YOU... YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO GIVE IT AN "HONORABLE METION" EVEN I CAN'T HIT THAT NOTE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO. 1!!!!
the bulk of the Title song in "Phantom" actually uses a pre-recorded vocal track for 2/3 of the song. it switches to live when they round the corner in the boat. to my knowledge there is only 1 Christine who has actually sang the last note of the song live.
Very impressed that they knew "Glitter and Be Gay"! There is some hope for Mojo, after all. To be honest, though, Candide is by Bernstein, so it's really pushing that nebulous dividing line between musical theater and opera, and once you cross that, there's a whole repertoire of much more demanding stuff that you have to consider.
How the heck was "Bring Him Home" only in the honourable mention??? I'm a girl, and can sing quite high if I really try, and I STILL struggle with that song (from the 1987 album of course). A man singing it is something I can't even fathom, yet he still does it.
Marvelous list! A little surprised that "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd didn't even garner an honorable mention. Mood and temp shifts from enraged, out for revenge and blood thirsty, to grieving for the woman he had loved as well as his daughter and all this while the actor must maintain the audience's sympathy for this horribly wronged man. It takes a true mastermind of musical theatre to pull all this off! All hail the incredible George Hearn!
confrontation i can agree with. your pretty much playing two characters at once and your switching between different body stances and voices. even singing it casually to yourself it's easy to screw up as you may mess up the fast switches and one of the two is gonna crack.
Because glitter and be gay requires an immense vocal range, a lot of energy, accuracy, comedy. Not getting married, whilst obviously incredibly difficult relies on diction
Glitter and Be Gay requires intense vocal training due to the "operatic" head voice and a huuuge vocal range. Also the ability to sing the song continuously while shifting through head to chest to head again aaaaand not to mention the movements + singing (Chenoweth as an example)
You’d definitely need to be classically trained to be able sing in Phantom. I find the final song the Phantom sings to be the most powerful male vocal performance of the show.
As a legit first soprano, I'd like to say that Christine's notes are still extremely difficult - anything in the Highs are. Anyone who takes on the role is extremely talented! EDIT: I also think that ‘Candide’ isn't a fair comparison. It's an operetta and the rest are musicals, so obviously it will require a more classical/technical tone. Operas generally are harder than musicals anyway.
the fact that I'm Here from The Color Purple didn't make this list and that Glitter and be Gay is first is truly a crime. Also Words Fail and Giants in the Sky aren't very difficult pieces
He is a god. The first time i heard it i thought there were two people singing...then i saw it live with the og Broadway cast back in 98 and nearly had a heart attack.
Also: Epic III - Hadestown (Contains ridiculously high falsetto notes for the male lead) The Opera - Natasha, Pierre, and Great Comet of 1812 (Requires complex understanding of techniques such as glottalisation and ululation)
There's nothing super demanding about La Vie Boheme. Don't get me wrong, I love RENT, but the songs aren't very challenging from a vocal/performance standpoint, and that's what this list was about.
That awkward moment when the honorable mentions are actually harder than a lot of the actual listed songs.
I know!
Yep
Not really though. They are just all you know
frrrr
1. Anything Andrew Lloyd Webber Has Ever Written
*laughs in Stephen sondheim*
I think you're both right 😂
Yes!!
I remember reading that Patti LuPone said the whole of Evita was written by a man who hates women, because it was so strenuous to perform the part of Eva Peron.
yes yes and yes
"It requires the lead to step into Hansen's shoes"
Sweetie the entire role requires that
Elle The Animator Finally someone said it!!
@Bricheese Art that is basically the definition of acting
Thank you!
I think they meant the lead role. They just said "the lead"
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I totally though Memory would've been on this list!! Most people Can't sing it because of the wide range of notes, the belting, and the amount of emotion you have to put in it.
birbsomniac my thoughts exactly!!
birbsomniac how the hell is Memory not on this list?!
Memory definitely deserves to be way up on this list. And the proof is in the pudding with that one; even though many others have tried to sing it, no one has managed to capture the emotion of Elaine Paige's performance. Sure there have been singers who have sung the song beautifully. But in Elaine Paige's performance the song, the emotion, and the character are woven together so inseparably that almost no cover since has done the song justice. If that ain't a hard song I don't know what is.
@@tayh3645 I saw Debra Byrne sing it in Sydney Australia when it first appeared, and I thought she was better. Partly because Debra was a child star, then became addicted to drugs, and Cats was her big comeback.
I had to sing Memory in 9th grade. I’m a high school junior, and my private voice tutor in ninth grade was... not good. I hadn’t had vocal rest before or since working with her. I hated how I sounded and now that I know how difficult it is (I’m an alto and she tried to make me a soprano, but chose Memory for the belting low parts.) As a ninth grader, I did not know the emotion in the least. At least it was a pretty song, and the only one we both could agree to.
How is Defying Gravity an honorable mention? That song has destroyed vocal chords
Being honest I can do it, but I've practised for about a month, every day. And at the start I was horrible. So I agree.
Oh and No Good Deed, FIYEEEEEEROOO
Depends how you perform it
@@gingercrawford8025 true, some ppl do it lower key
This song is not really that straining. It gives a different impression because one of its most known singers, isn't actually in the comfortable range for it....
Phantom should be higher, they have the title song prerecorded with all the actors involved (including understudies and alternates) and it's played back so the performers don't have to sing it live every night and damage their voice.
Crystal Kopp was about to say this
That isn't the main reason it's pre-recorded though. It's done because with the actors running around backstage to get on the boat there is too much background noise and they'd be out of breath. Also some Christines sing on-top of the pre-recorded track every night. Your point still stands, however
I heard that usually the Christines sing all except the last note, or the last couple on matinees or when sick
@@samsingsthings As far as I'm aware, that isn't the case. You can tell if a section is pre-recorded when the conductor puts their headphones on, which tends to happen right as the music kicks in. Some Christines will sing over all the notes, some will do only some, but they are the exception and not the rule - the widely held speculation is that most Christines do not sing any of the notes live unless it's a special occassion such as their last show
We did Phantom at my high school, and I played Christine. We only did 4 shows, but I still asked if we could pre record the end of the title song just in case I got sick, but in the end I had to do it live every night. I knew it was a bad idea, but since it was only 4 shows it was fine. If I had to do more than that, it would have definitely damaged my voice even with flawless technique (which I don't have)
I feel like "And I'm Telling You" and "Phantom of the Opera" should be higher on the list
Right? Those songs require EXTREMELY powerful singing ability and have very high notes very few can pull off. Not to mention those who pull the songs off look understandably exhausted after singing them.
Ikr!!
Especially and I am telling you
I love Into The Woods, but it doesn’t deserve to be in front of Phantom of the Opera
Too true
Why the hell is Giants in the Sky after Phantom of the Opera??? And btw, my performance junior year was the best 😂😂
@@jenifierce6517 Giants it's a mouthful that does require a little more thought about proper diction although the examples in here don't do it justice, Phantom it's less difficult to screw up with proper training and a lot of dedication
Love Giants in the Sky, for me is the best piece from Sondheim, but Phantom is more dificult
If you think about it really giants in the sky isn't really that hard well if your trained particularlty for it on the other hand Phantom of the Opera is way harder since it takes a very skilled opera singers to sing those notes. Also I'm just gonna mention this defying gravity isn't that hard well at least not as hard as people think it is. The one song I do find hard to sing from Wicked is No Good Deed as it is very belty and has many high and held out notes. Defying gravity is just as hard but in my opinion not as hard as No Good Deed.
Phantom of the Opera should be way nearer number 1
Yeah, she always rates it low on a list. I think it's not a fav for her but people would flip if it wasn't included.
It's not a fave of mine, although I can appreicate the insane vocal talent it takes to do those roles. I don't understand how the actress playing Christine can do that role for months on end without some vocal damage.
@@sassypants7536 It's because the title song is pre-recorded for the stage in all official productions. The Christines aren't hitting the cadenza's E6 every single performance. As well, lots of caring for their health and their voice. Rachel Anne Moore, the understudy Carlotta on Broadway, posted a while ago about going to an ENT doctor.
Oh yes, i think i remember reading that. It's like the one exception to the live rule that Broadway live by. I would prefer that actually, given how much strain that would put on thier vocal chords.
Yeah that is a hard one. There are times when I can get the final just fine and other times when it's nope, not today.
Not even an honourable mention for "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde?! Elle is moving around the entire time controlling the stage, singing with that signature Elle Woods "Peppiness" and has to hold the last note for an obnoxiously long amount of time. Not to mention after Laura Bell Bundy left the show, the key had to be lowered because she was the only one to (successfully) pull it off.
Also Phantom should be much higher on the list.
I agree
As much as i love Dear Evan Hansen did she just call it a....... Classic?
I know right? It's like 'Jared and Connor are awesome and all, but you'd call IT a classic and NOT Wicked?'
It seems there has been a big screw up in the script
A "modern classic" so like... it will some day be a classic
Her exact words were “modern classic.”
It will be, one day....
They'd do so much better if the people choosing these "Top 10's" actually knew something about musical theater.
Vancoin
Trust me, I know.
She called DEH a classic. Like wut
Ktportal Productions they said modern classic so maybe they meant it will be a classic in time?
tell me
how is dear evan hansen
a *classic???*
@@marie-vy4mc She said *modern* classic.
I may not be into Glee, but holy cow that rendition of “Getting Married Today” is the fastest I’ve ever heard that song. Kudos to the actress!!!
wmwilson you should watch Glee is REALLY GOOD
They sped it up :(
The Glee rendition was said to be sped up but if you really want to listen to a great rendition of it, listen to Jane Whittenshaw's performance in Sondheim's master class in front of Sondheim himself.
They sped it up,and she didn't even sing half of it
The actress is Amber Riley, she's on West End currently
"Don't try to sing these at home"
Me: Too late. Way too late.
Yeah I know what you mean
Ashley H in sign language my vocal cords don't work anymore
Honestly, I love Dear Evan Hansen, but there's no way Words Fail deserves to be there. Waving is harder in my opinion and still doesn't deserve to be on the list.
Also, Giants in the Sky has some tricky intricacies, but doesn't deserve to be that high on the list.
I think Later from A Little Night Music should definitely be on this list. He has to sustain a high B while faux-playing the cello. If that's not hard I don't know what is
Maybe Words Fail is on the list because of the emotions?
I honestly find it hardest to sing For Forever from DEH but that's probably just me
I'll give Words Fail a pass because of the level of acting needed.
I think you should lighten up. Words fail requires alot of emotion
For forever and Waving through a Window is hard.
"DONT TRY TO SING THESE AT HOME"
*SINGS AT FRIEND'S HOUSE*
Does that count?
Broadway wants to know your location.
Katelyn Cipher666 so me
Guilty. 😝😂
Katelyn Cipher666 l laughed too hard at this lol
I was upset that Defying Gravity and Bring Him Home/any Les Mis songs weren't in the top 10 but I was very happy to see Glitter and Be Gay at #1.That is a hard ass song! I am a soprano and I've tried to sing it but I'm always exhausted by the end.
It takes a VERY well trained soprano for this -- Chenoweth was classically trained (and is a coloratura soprano -- not just any soprano can sing it, you have to have the range *and* the agility.)
The only part of Bring Him Home that is difficult is the ending high note.
I'm doing Glitter and be Gay in a recital soon, and I hate the sustained Eb6's at the end!! It's a song that is such a huge test of vocal endurance.
Yeah i love those songs most
The role of the Narrator in Joseph is a beast, not mentioned at all. Glitter and Be Gay is scary hard! You must be a legit coloratura soprano to sing that. No Defying Gravity or Bring Him Home? This person who compiled this list doesn't know music.
I’m so upset that “I’m Here” from The Color Purple and “She Used To Be Mine” from Waitress aren’t on here. They take such powerful vocals and emotion in order to pull them off
she used to be mine is at best an honorable mention, but i'm here should 100 percent be higher than words fail.
I think there are way harder songs than 'she used to be mine'
i’m here is so hard, i can’t-
My best friend did "She Used To Be Mine" at the Access Broadway regionals last year and ended up scoring platinum and 4th place overall in her category. I have gotten platinum before but it was THIS year and it was an acting duet with my twin sister (we are both 14) and we ended up getting 2nd place overall. I have never seen a 14 year old do that song like she does.
Guurrlll, where's the justice for The Phantom of the Opera???
It is a very difficult song to sing given the wide range and the way it is written. It is never sung live in any professional production. Sarah Brighton did not sing it live and neither has any other person playing Christine. It is prerecorded.
It's an absolute crime that modern major general isn't even an honorable mention.
thats exactly what i was thinking
TRUE
When she said something about fast phrases, I immediately thought “Oh! Model of a Modern Major-General”
But nope.
its fast but rangewise very easy. its really just simple memorization
I came here to say this exact same thing. It's not just a memorization song, either. You have to have good vocal control to switch every other note when singing that fast.
Alicia en el Pais de las Maravillas operetta* but yes, not a musical
The destruction from Carrie one hundred percent deserved an honorable mention it is so underrated and hard
EXACTLY
Have to agree
Yeah, but..... Carrie isnt really broadway....
YES YES YES
The Real XXKitty_LoveXX well actually it was on broadway back in the 80´s but it was a... let’s say a conceptual production 😂 nevertheless the destruction could (should ?) have been in this video
One time I tried to hit the e6 in phantom and my mom yelled at me from downstairs and told me to stop screaming lmao
It was technically in my range when I was younger, but I lost it long ago. Gave up on hitting it after I practically dislocated my jaw trying to get enough force behind it.
Kim Riser Aw I’m sorry
Forever Eva Whenever I sing that song, or any high notes, my brother tells me to stop screaming. But I can hit it...and it sounds fine, so idrk😂.
Kim Riser oh my goodness
lmao
"Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun didn't even get an honorable mention. I has fast back and forths, very high notes for both the male and female parts, and has an incredibly long note that is held impossibly long.
Lauren Ones is a goddess in Annie get your gun.
Anything you can do, I can do better.
I can do anything better than you.
NO Y-
It is hard. It takes effort to sing.
Exactly, the part where she holds that note for so long seems really hard :/
@@katsomething3591 assuming you mean Laura Osnes?...
Defying gravity only a honarble mention but
IT
IS
SO
HARD
TO
SING
(Trust me)
And don't sleep on Confrontation. I almost lost my voice while attempting to both parts for Jekyll and Hyde. It was THE hardest song that I ever sang
I know right I literally died attempting the end
I know right I literally died attempting the end
I KNOW I WAS SO SHOOK ABOUT THISSSS
FR!!
Into the woods isnt that hard...
Also GIRL PHANTOM NEEDS A TOP 3
Confrontation needs a top 3 as well!
I agree, phantom has been hard for me to learn but the notes for me isnt hard. Whats hard is performing the emotional songs without crying
Phantom literally is one of the hardest songs I've ever attempted, one, playing, and two, preforming. The notes might not be suuuuuppppeeer high throughout the entire show, but the sheer amount of breath support you need, and you need to have a good vibrato, you also have to act the shit out of it as well just to sell it.
“Giants in the Sky” isn’t so tough if it’s in your range, and if you run through it three or four times to lock in on the rhythm. However, never expect than an audition accompanist will be able to nail it during your one chance at bat.
Phantom of the Opera should have been number one in my opinion. Or at least a bit higher on the list
okay its hard but not THAT hard
Miles L. I mean belting an E6 with barely any breath is TOTALLY not a big deal at all... I’ve been practicing for months and still am not nearly where it should be so
Reagan P it’s easy for people who have higher ranges so that’s probably why is not that high
i dont think it needs to be #1, but i do agree it should be higher. Me, Being able to hit higher notes, the e6 is ovbiously a bit hard, but definitely not that hard for people who have been training longer than a year.
I'm actually wondering where's Think of Me on the list
Six Sondheim songs on this list. That should tell you something about his writing.
Or how much Ms Mojo like Sondheim?
Even a channel that doesnt know musicals understands how tricky he is
When Angela Lansbury asked Sondheim when she was supposed to breath in "By the sea" (Sweeney Todd) he answered: you are not supposed to breath, you are supposed to sing.
i really think sondheim was on crack when writing his musicals
I love Sondheim, but I've always known he was a sadistic bastard. Check out Liz Calloway's "Another Hundred Lyrics" for a fantastic tribute to his evil genius.
Glad someone realized how hard “Confrontation” truly is
I WISH I saw the show live!
Omg it's so difficult
I KNOW! I listened to it the other day and I swear trying to find out where Anthony Warlow breathes is like trying to find faith in humanity in 2020.
I never want or mean to put hate on anything, but no way in hell is giants in the sky harder than gethsemane. A lot of the list is wrong imo. Although I’ll admit number 1 is probably right.
Not to mention how phantom is 7.
gonna have to say, “bring him home” deserved to be on this list for sure
To everyone complaining about Guns & Ships not being on here: I think Hamilton's bit in Yorktown is harder. Guns & Ships took me at most half an hour to nail, whereas it always takes an enormous breath to get through Yorktown. It is slower, but it's longer and the spaces for breaths aren't as long. And in terms of impressive tongue-twisters, I think Washington On Your Side is the hardest.
Same.
I agree that Yorktown is harder than Guns and Ships but nothing from Hamilton should be on this list :)
Washington on Your Side or Guns and Ships since Daveed raps very quickly
The reason why guns and ships isn’t on the list is because I’m getting married today is a lot faster and more demanding
@@katsomething3591 Guns & Ships is technically faster, if you do the math, but Not Getting Married is def more demanding
List of those I have sung:
Words fail
Rainbow high
Phantom of the opera (Christine's part)
Confrontation (not in a performance though)
Bring him home
Defying gravity (come on everyone's attempted this)
I have attempted Confrontation, phantom of the opera, memory (I know it’s not in your list, but I feel like it’s still hard because you need a lot of emotion for the last part) and defying gravity and they are all very hard. I also believe phantom of the opera should’ve gotten a higher place then what it got on this video.
I’ve tried defying gravity but only Elphaba’s part
@@thenarnianhufflepuff6077 I just sing both parts in duettes switching between Elphaba and Glinda in their songs and also in the phantom of the opera
One of the most satisfying moments ever was when I *NAILED* the Defying Gravity high note. (I'm a mezzo-soprano) ;)
True, I can't really sing but you hear me now and then trying to attempt to give it a go (yeah, I'm that bad, sorry)
I played Eva in Evita. I must say that Rainbow High was pretty mellow. For me, the most difficult song was What’s New, Buenos Aires. It took some major air support and diction to manage most of it.
I was Eva too, personally I found the belts in New Argentina the hardest
You are so lucky! Was it a high school production? I would love to play Evita!
"Into the Woods is no pushover though, especially that last high note, which can trip up even the greatest heroes."
Laughs in F#4
Dude how is is defying gravity not in the main list?
I did my 9 page research paper on the History of Phantom of the Opera and I loved it. 10/10 would recommend.
When your a musical theater dork and love English. I would love to have written a paper on a musical...perhaps Hamilton or Phantom but god damn.
I saw it in London. It was soooo good, I would totally see it again!
...when was I 5 my parents took me to this show at The Kennedy Center and as soon as the chandelier came swinging down over the audience I fell in love w the stage
That is fantastic!
Interesting...was it just on the history of the show or the story in general?
I'm in Jekyll and Hyde right now and our lead is s o g o o d I always get goosebumps when he sings, especially in Confrontation!
I just cannot believe they used David Hasselhoff in this clip. His music never did well on Billboard's top 100 but I guess he's much better on Broadway. I just can't see it 😱
May Really?! Who are you playing?
@@sophieandrew3354 I am just an ensemble member (a noble girl), but it is really fun so far!
I did it awhile ago and it was soooo much fun. Our lead was amazing as well
the nala in our lion king performance is so skilled and amazing it honestly scares, especially in shadowland.
Green Finch and Linnet Bird from Sweeney Todd (Johanna’s song) is also deceptively nasty. No excessively high notes or belt required, but the entire thing sits on and around the upper tessitura point, which means that very good technique is essential for the singer to not tire herself. It also has extended [I] vowels on high tessitura (as in sing) that stand out as harsh if not correctly approached.
Alice Catherine YES!! I sang this for a contest and it was probably the hardest thing i’ve ever had to put my voice through. It’s absolutely beautiful though!
@@sarahluczak6440 I sang it for a competition as well. It was so hard and took forever to train. Once you get it though it sounds so pretty. I was able to place. So hard but so fun.
Sarah Maya I also sang it for a competition and I was not pleased with my performance since it’s such a straining song ... I ended up getting first place though regardless with extra points for the difficulty 😂 Such a beautiful song though
I love doing theater in the ensemble and just sing whatever musical I'm doing for fun at home, and jeez, I'm not a great singer but I can finally kinda sing Green Finch and Linnet Bird a year after doing Sweeney Todd and lots of practice. It's a harddd song
And also Worst Pie in London
No good deed from Wicked man.... god, I wanna sing that one so bad, but you need strong emotion, a lot of belting power and the godly ability to do that Fiyero in the middle of it
Yaaasssss indeed! And the break in one of the no good deed goes unpunished! It's so hard!
So we're just going to ignore all the Hamilton raps? Guns and Ships? No?
Ikr
exactly
Rap doesn't require anywhere near the vocal ability displayed in these songs, sure it requires good diction and fluidity of delivery, but this is broadway SONGS, not raps =)
Don’t hate me, but guns and ships isn’t even that fast
Rapping is easy
I would think the whole of SWEENEY TODD should’ve gotten an honorable mention. That musical would really get you on your toes.
albert penuelaz I recently did it and can confirm
AGREE
Agreed. I think that's why the film version cut out out parts or even whole songs.
That musical is nice I like how it thrills people
When I did it and invited people that didn't know what it was about...afterwards they were like WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST WATCH. 10/10 reactions are hilarious
Giants in the Sky is not hard to sing. Gesetheme on the other hand is a beast.
And I'm sorry, Gethsemane is incredibly difficult to sing. It should have been more than an "honorable mention."
Tove Almroth should have been number one
@@cailuzak1644 Yep, and Defying Gravity should have been number two.
Yes it should switch places with giants in the sky
I can hit that g5 my guy
whhYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
I love that Jekyll and Hyde is on the list. And you finally mentioned Anthony Warlow
Upload X it’s INFURIATING how they always show David Hasselhoff and never mention Anthony Warlow!! IMO the original (Warlow) version is infinitely better than the current version. I’m really not into the R&B/modernization nonsense they did to it. The version I saw on tour was classic and timeless. The rock/R&B stuff will be (is) dated in a season or two.
@@allisonbergh4429 Anthony Warlow is an underrated legend, that musical restores a piece of my soul.
Rose's Turn from Gypsy deserves a top 5 spot on this list. The actress needs to have a psychotic break on stage, that is pretty hard to beat.
Giants In The Sky is definitely not that hard; it's not that easy but no way is it up there with the hardest ones.
My Fault is way harder.
@@jaredmcd6202 Yeah, but that's sung with like 5 people, so when you sing it with a group, it's not as difficult.
@@TheNarwhalGal True.
Jack Abramsohn I actually think the five people make it harder because if one person isn’t on beat, it becomes a train wreck fast.
....thank you!!!!
Now , imagine singing one of those songs 2 times per night for several days
THIS IS CRAZY!
As someone who has played Cinderella, I think On The Steps Of The Palace is just as hard as Giants in the Sky
I'd say that it's harder.
Neither of them should honestly be on this list.
Amen
Honestly, on the steps is definitely harder, but neither live up to the others on the list
Neither one is especially difficult though
"Don't try to sing these at home."
*Sings all of them*
I can't sing "Words Fail" without crying like a little bitch lol
“Do not sing these at home”
*nervously laughs in destroyed vocal chords*
Try hitting the sustained high notes in "Climb Every Mountain" from "The Sound of Music." It's exacting and difficult to say the least and should be on this list
Pirates of Penzance's I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General should have at lease made an honorable mention in here.
That’s one tricky! I’m disappointed that song didn’t make the list!
A mention? Do it fast, then do it faster. This is number 1!
Feel like phantom of the opera should be higher on the list
Memory from Cats should definitely be on here, just watch Betty Buckley belt it out with effortless precision and power, way more bone chilling than the songs on here.
Nothing out of Hamilton and Wicked and Les Miserables only in the honourable mentions? Okay...
I love Into the Woods but (a) higher than Phantom and (b) Giants in the Sky instead of Last Midnight and the Prologue (I mean, 15 minutes of singing without pause with so many characters and the Witch's fast solo part) Well...
That goddamn prologue.
I was unfortunately the Narrator, and WHEW. Anyone who has to be a part of it is expected to loose their minds. Multitasking is a must.
But no, Giants in the Sky deserves to be on the list . . . .
I'm also kind of mad about Kiss Me from Sweeney Todd.
I mean..... really?! THATS what they chose.
It IS watch mojo, and they don't actually know much, so....
These are all great and all. But how did "Words fail" make it but not "So much better" from _legally blonde_ ?!?!?
Carlos Alejandro Alvarenga or what you want, or whipped into shape (STAMINA)
@@samsingsthings pretty much all of Legally Blonde. Like those are hard just singing wise! Now including all the necessary energy to act it and dance it out!
Because whenever I sing it I’d cry and choke on my tears
@@daamric sucks to suck man
Carlos Alejandro Alvarenga exactly!!!!
satisfied should have AT LEAST been an honourable mention. that song is nearly impossible to sing for people that even have the greatest vocal ranges. the breath control required is astonishing, and the pronunciation of all the words is nearly impossible. you literally do not catch a break for the entire song, and can barely take a breath before you have to literally rap with vibrato
you make me feel talented for being able to do it
11:38 Defying Gravity should've been higher on the list
oh absouoletly
Since she talked over most of the music it was hard to hear what she was talking about.
The aria of the Queen of the Night from the Magic Flute is no piece of cake.
Ive been working on this song for a couple of months and I can finally do the staccatos I’ve always been able to hit the notes but the breath support is insane too bad it’s opera not broadway
Very true, but it’s not Broadway. It’s opera. And it’s both arias that are a bitch. The first one has that rapid fire coloratura, and the second one, well, 4 F6s and the triplets of death.
ANYTHING Sondheim is hella difficult. I've been in Sweeney Todd twice and stage managed Into the Woods when I was a freshman in college (my first stage management role). And I was in West Side Story.
We're doing Into the Woods next spring at my community college.
@@AdderTude It's a wonderful show!!
This is why we’re told you don’t audition with Sondheim 😂 Especially since whoever accompanies is usually sight-reading because they have one accompanist for all the auditions, it’s essentially torture to have to do one of his works on the spot
Into the woods was the most difficult show I've ever done. Played Jack in college and the staging alone is enough to drive a person crazy
I've done Sweeney and West Side and they are two of the most difficult shows I've done in my life (bearing in mind I've done about 40). I'm a soprano, so Sweeney was insane for that. It's all so dissonant and non sensical. Then West Side was difficult because I was one of the sharks. So singing difficult songs with even more difficult and tiring choreography (bearing in mind I'm asthmatic) was torture.
If Phantom of The Opera theme song or Glitter and Be Gay is not at the top, I will riot.
Exactly. If glitter and be gay is not there I'll be mad.
Lmao time to riot
Glitter and Be Gay DESERVES
1. Glitter and be gay
2. Confrontation
3. Phantom of the opera
4. Not getting married today
5. Kiss me
Amber Riley had me and my Mum crying when we saw her sing And I am Telling You live
"Gethsemane" is an "Honorable Mention"? You have no idea, that should've been in the top 3.
Dear Evan Hansen shouldn't have even been on this list. And Gethsemane was cheated hard.
THANK YOU!!!!!
Gesthsemane is such an underrated song. People really underestimate how hard it is
Agreed. I love Dear Evan Hansen, but the songs really aren’t that hard to sing especially if you practice them
The only way dear Evan Hansen songs would be hard to sing is because you may cry while singing and CHOKE ON YOUR TEARS-
That song was passed on WAYYYYY too hard
Kiss Me is so difficult, but when you have it, its so so fun. I played Anthony Hope and that was one of my favorite moments in any of my performances.
You know that E6 at the end of "Phantom" is pre recorded??
bluecherry456 The entire song is. There’s a lot of running around that goes on backstage to pull of the theatrical aspect.
My production was all live! It was crazy 😂
@@colterlincoln2881 I believe they do it live as many times as they can, one reason they pre-record is so they dont damage their vocal chords since they have to do it around 8 times a week, not including rehursala
That's because everything in this video is pre-recorded.
omg thank you for including chess. it’s literally one of my favorite shows ever. i saw it in dc and it’s seriously so amazing.
Lmao, most of our (middle school mind you) cast for into the woods can sing Giants in the sky
I'm so glad MsMojo is making so many Broadway videos! These are my favourite!
"Glitter and be gay"
That sounds like a daily routine for me lmao
ayy
"Don't try to sing these at home"
* sees Word Fail *
* starts sweating because I've 100% tried singing it at home
*rolls eyes in annoyance because i sang words fail on Starmaker karaoke and got an A in scoring rank!* Bitch please!
*than sees Defying Gravity as an Honorable mention and flips* BITCH IT IS SO BLOODY HARD TO HIT THAT END NOTE AND YOU... YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO GIVE IT AN "HONORABLE METION" EVEN I CAN'T HIT THAT NOTE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO. 1!!!!
the bulk of the Title song in "Phantom" actually uses a pre-recorded vocal track for 2/3 of the song. it switches to live when they round the corner in the boat. to my knowledge there is only 1 Christine who has actually sang the last note of the song live.
Hard to sing?
Diva from the fifth element: *hold my beer* ...
That's not Broadway, though.
dude diva's song is humanely impossible
But it was sung by a human so its completely possible.
That was a computer my dear. A machine produced it
@@ambergray6945
Dimash a boy is the close to Do it, but a computer was used to do itm
I think that at least in the honorable mentions Guns and Ships should be there. The rapping parts are just so fast!
Very impressed that they knew "Glitter and Be Gay"! There is some hope for Mojo, after all. To be honest, though, Candide is by Bernstein, so it's really pushing that nebulous dividing line between musical theater and opera, and once you cross that, there's a whole repertoire of much more demanding stuff that you have to consider.
I personally think gethsemene is harder than words fail
"And I am telling you" is at ·9 - LAUGHABLE! Lets see who can match J Holidays version!
How the heck was "Bring Him Home" only in the honourable mention??? I'm a girl, and can sing quite high if I really try, and I STILL struggle with that song (from the 1987 album of course). A man singing it is something I can't even fathom, yet he still does it.
Phantom of the opera is my fav.
Marvelous list! A little surprised that "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd didn't even garner an honorable mention. Mood and temp shifts from enraged, out for revenge and blood thirsty, to grieving for the woman he had loved as well as his daughter and all this while the actor must maintain the audience's sympathy for this horribly wronged man. It takes a true mastermind of musical theatre to pull all this off! All hail the incredible George Hearn!
All hail George Hearn!
"Don't try and sing these at home"
As soon as my roommate leaves, I'm going to practice these! 😊
confrontation i can agree with. your pretty much playing two characters at once and your switching between different body stances and voices. even singing it casually to yourself it's easy to screw up as you may mess up the fast switches and one of the two is gonna crack.
The "No!" moments always leave me shook when they're done well.
I honestly appreciate the chess mention so much. Pity the Child honestly takes the soul out of a man
Also, where’s Watch What Happens from Newsies?!
Jamie_Jewel I sang that song for my 7th grade choir solo and after I finished my teacher muttered ‘so many words’
Totally agree!
Jamie_Jewel no
The Monado’s Power Lol k
Grace yeah it too me ages to learn it for my show. But it’s so satisfying to sing once you know it
Jamie_Jewel I don’t deny its a hard song, because it definitely is, but not top 10 or an honorable mention in all of theatre
I’m glad that “Defying Gravity” from Wicked got an honorable mention, at least.
How is Not Getting Married not #1?!
how is modern major general not on the list, much less number 1.
OOH that’s a good one too!
Because glitter and be gay requires an immense vocal range, a lot of energy, accuracy, comedy. Not getting married, whilst obviously incredibly difficult relies on diction
Glitter and Be Gay requires intense vocal training due to the "operatic" head voice and a huuuge vocal range. Also the ability to sing the song continuously while shifting through head to chest to head again aaaaand not to mention the movements + singing (Chenoweth as an example)
You’d definitely need to be classically trained to be able sing in Phantom. I find the final song the Phantom sings to be the most powerful male vocal performance of the show.
If I could be in Phantom I would either want to be Christine or Meg, but I'm probably going to be Meg
As a legit first soprano, I'd like to say that Christine's notes are still extremely difficult - anything in the Highs are. Anyone who takes on the role is extremely talented!
EDIT: I also think that ‘Candide’ isn't a fair comparison. It's an operetta and the rest are musicals, so obviously it will require a more classical/technical tone. Operas generally are harder than musicals anyway.
the fact that I'm Here from The Color Purple didn't make this list and that Glitter and be Gay is first is truly a crime. Also Words Fail and Giants in the Sky aren't very difficult pieces
11:25 Bring Him Home from Les Miserables. Nice choice
Anthony Warlow can definitely master the two arguing voices of Henry and Edward in confrontation.
He is a god. The first time i heard it i thought there were two people singing...then i saw it live with the og Broadway cast back in 98 and nearly had a heart attack.
Also:
Epic III - Hadestown (Contains ridiculously high falsetto notes for the male lead)
The Opera - Natasha, Pierre, and Great Comet of 1812 (Requires complex understanding of techniques such as glottalisation and ululation)
I'm so glad to see Confrontation on this list!! The musical is definitely an acquired taste, but that songs is by far the best in the score.
Guns and Ships from Hamilton
La Vie Boheme from RENT
There's nothing super demanding about La Vie Boheme. Don't get me wrong, I love RENT, but the songs aren't very challenging from a vocal/performance standpoint, and that's what this list was about.
My biggest issue with guns and ships is that I tend to sing it faster than the track
Arietta
right?!
I can’t believe memory by Elaine Paige wasn’t on here, that heartfelt dip and boom in the song is soooo beautiful.
This list is incomplete: *M E M O R Y* - Grizabella (Cats) 🐈
I only recognize the last guy singing "Pity the Child" as Roger from Rent. And he's SPECTACULAR no matter what he's singing ❤️❤️❤️❤️