You Must Meet My Wife -A Little Night Music

It seems that Into the Woods is all the rage now on SING! So, I thought I'd post some lesser known Sondheim. This is from A Little Night Music, which in my opinion is one of Sondheim's most gorgeous ear-pleasing scores. In this number, Mr. Fredrik Egerman is telling Desiree Armfeldt, the long-time love of his life all about his new young wife, Anne. ("Her?" -A million points if you get that Arrested Development reference!). Desiree is less than thrilled with the news but thrilled when she learns that their marriage has yet to be consummated.
This show was revived in 2009 starring Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones (whom some may recall from her terrible Tony-awards performance). Below is a video with the song from that cast recording, which is my favorite. 
Fun fact for those Into the Woods aficionados: in the movie, the harp that Jack steals from the giant is playing this song!
So here it is, I have sung Desiree and invite you to join me as Fredrik (gender-bending is always welcome!)
Here are the lyrics:

[FREDRIK]
[Spoken]

I do think it's time to talk about my wife, don't you?

[DESIREE]
To boast or complain?

[FREDRIK]
Both, I expect.

[sings]
She lightens my sadness,
She livens my days,
She bursts with a kind of madness
My well-ordered ways.
My happiest mistake, the ache of my life:
You must meet my wife.
She bubbles with pleasure,
She glows with surprise,
Disrupts my accustomed leisure
And ruffles my ties.
I don't know even now quite how it began.
You must meet my wife, my Anne.
One thousand whims to which I give in,
Since her smallest tear turns me ashen.
I never dreamed that I could live in
So completely demented, contented a fashion.
So sunlike, so winning,
So unlike a wife.
I do think that I'm beginning
To show signs of life.
Don't ask me how at my age one still can grow--
If you met my wife, you'd know.

[DESIREE (speaking):]

Dear Fredrik,
I'm just longing to meet her.
Sometime.

[FREDRIK]

She sparkles...

[DESIREE]

How pleasant.

[FREDRIK]

She twinkles...

[DESIREE]

How nice.

[FREDRIK]

Her youth is a sort of present--

[DESIREE]

Whatever the price.

[FREDRIK]

The incandescent--what?--the--

[DESIREE (offering a cigarette):]

Light?

[FREDRIK]

--of my life.
You must meet my wife.

[DESIREE]

Yes, I must. I really must.
Now--

[FREDRIK]

She flutters.

[DESIREE]

How charming.

[FREDRIK]

She twitters.

[DESIREE]

My word!

[FREDRIK]

She floats.

[DESIREE]

Isn't that alarming?
What is she, a bird?

[FREDRIK]

She makes me feel I'm--what?--

[DESIREE]

A very old man.

[FREDRIK]

Yes--no!

[DESIREE]

No?

[FREDRIK]

But--

[DESIREE]

I must meet your Gertrude.

[FREDRIK]

My Anne.

[DESIREE]

Sorry--Anne.

[FREDRIK]

She loves my voice, my walk, my mustache,
The cigar, in fact, that I'm smoking.
She'll watch me puff until it's just ash,
Then she'll save the cigar butt.

[DESIREE]

Bizarre, but
You're joking.

[FREDRIK]

She dotes on--

[DESIREE]

Your dimple.

[FREDRIK]

My snoring.

[DESIREE]

How dear.

[FREDRIK]

The point is, she's really simple.

[DESIREE]

Yes, that much seems clear.

[FREDRIK]

She gives me funny names--

[DESIREE]

Like?

[FREDRIK]

"Old Dry-as-Dust."

[DESIREE]

Wouldn't she just?

[FREDRIK]

You must meet my wife.

[DESIREE]

Yes, I must, yes, I must.

[FREDRIK]

A sea of whims that I submerge in,
Yet so loveable in repentance.
Unfortunately still a virgin,
But you can't force a flower--

[DESIREE]

Don't finish that sentence!
She's monstrous!

[FREDRIK]

She's frightened.

[DESIREE]

Unfeeling!

[FREDRIK]

Unversed.
She'd strike you as unenlightened--

[DESIREE]

No, I'd strike her first.

[FREDRIK]

Her reticence, her apprehension--

[DESIREE]

Her crust!

[FREDRIK]

No!

[DESIREE]

Yes!

[FREDRIK]

No!

[DESIREE]

Fredrik!

[FREDRIK]

You must meet my wife.

[DESIREE]

Let me get my hat and my knife!

[FREDRIK]

What was that?

[DESIREE]

I must meet your wife.

[FREDRIK AND DESIREE]

Yes, you must.
Yes, I must.

Here's the song:

And here's a small clip of the performance: 

Paciencia Y Fe -In the Heights

I have been after this track for some time now and really several others from this show which I hold very dear to my heart. As a person of hispanic heritage I believe that this is one of the best portrayals of hispanic culture on Broadway. (West Side Story doesn't count, as it's rather inaccurate). For those of you unfamiliar with the show, In the Heights is about the Hispanic community in Washington Heights in New York City. It's a show that shows different generations and explores what home and identity mean to the people of that community. I would love to work on several group numbers from the show, so if anyone is interested, please message me! In the mean time, I will post this one sung by Abuela Claudia, the neighborhood's resident adorable old Cuban grandmother. Abuela has lead a difficult life full of hard work and recounts her struggles in this song. At the end of the song she reveals to the audience that she has won the lottery, after a life of "paciencia y fe", which is patience and faith. I must confess, I cry a bit every time I hear this song. The cast album and original Abuela Claudia is the awesomely talented Olga Merediz (see the video below for an incredible performance!). I will definitely be posting more from this 2008 Tony-Award winning musical soon. Until then, gimme your best Cuban grandma! There are some moments when the company sings, but I'm posting it as a solo.
Here are the lyrics:

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Calor! Calor! Calor!
Calor! Calor! Calor!
Ay Mama!
The summer's hottest day
Paciencia y fe
Paciencia y fe
Ay carajo, it's hot!
But that's okay
Mama would say,
"Paciencia y fe"
It was hotter at home in La Vibora
The Washington Heights of Havana
A crowded city of faces the same as mine
Back as a child in La Vibora
I chased the birds in the plaza
Praying, Mama, you would find work
Combing the stars in the sky for some sort of sign
Ay, Mama, so many stars in Cuba
En Nueva York we can't see beyond our streetlights
To reach the roof you gotta bribe the supa
Ain't no cassiopia in Washington Heights
But ain't no food in La Vibora
I remember nights, anger in the streets, hunger at the windows
Women folding clothes, playing with my friends in the summer rain
Mama needs a job, Mama says we're poor, one day you say, "Vamos a Nueva York"
And Nueva York was far, but Nueva York had work, and so we came
And now I'm wide awake
A million years too late
I talk to you, imagine what you'd do
Remembering what we went through
Nueva York! Ay Mama!
It wasn't like today, you'd say,
"Paciencia y fe

NEW YORKERS
Paciencia y fe

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Paciencia y fe."

NEW YORKERS
Paciencia y -

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Fresh off the boat in America
Freezing in early December
A crowded city in 1943
Learning the ropes in America
En espanol I remember
Dancing with Mayor Laguardia
All of society welcoming Mami and me! Ha!

EMPLOYERS
You better clean this mess!

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Paciencia y fe...

EMPLOYERS
You better learn ingles!

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Paciencia y fe...

EMPLOYERS
You better not be late
You better pull your weight
Are you better off then you were with the birds of La Vibora?

ABUELA CLAUDIA
Sharing double beds, trying to catch a break, struggling with English
Listening to friends, finally got a job working as a maid
So we cleaned some homes, polishing with pride, scrubbing the whole of the upper east side
The days into weeks, the weeks into years, and here I stayed

NEW YORKERS
Paciencia y fe...
Paciencia y fe...
Paciencia y fe...

ABUELA CLAUDIA
And as I fed these birds
My hands begin to shake
And as I say these words
My heart's about to break
And ay Mama
What do you do when your dreams come true?
I've spent my life inheriting dreams from you
What do I do with this winning ticket?
What can I do but pray?
I buy my loaf of bread
Continue with my day
And see you in my head
Imagining what you'd say
The birds, they fly away
Do they fly to La Vibora?
Alright, Mama, Okay.
Paciencia y fe!

NEIGHBORS
Calor! Calor Calor!

Here's Olga Merediz! She's got some serious pipes!

I Want the Good Times Back -The Little Mermaid

And I'm BACK! New year, new look on the Mezzanine!
It has been a very great holiday season for myself as I have gotten a hold of certain tracks I've been wanting for some time now. I thought I'd kick off this brand new year by posting one of my recently acquired songs. This one is from the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid. The show is essentially the adaptation of Disney's 1989 animated hit, The Little Mermaid. As child of the "Disney Renaissance" this movie resonated with me at a very young age, and continues to be one of my favorites, despite some of the questionable lessons it presents. The stage version, I must admit I adore. It has a few new songs that weren't in the movie, such as this one, sung by Ursula the sea witch. In this one, we get some backstory for her character and discover that she is Ariel's aunt who wants to dethrone her brother and "get the good times back". Ursula is sung on the cast album by the fantastic Sherie Rene Scott. (See video below). So, I hope you join and have fun with it! Here are the lyrics:

URSULA:
When daddy dear was floating on his deathbed
He divvied up the kingdom into two
I got his magic shell
And half the sea as well
His trident went to--

(Spoken)
You know who his trident went to--don't you, babies!

(Sung)
My reign--why, it was blissfully delicious!
And glamour, glitz and style were au courante
Did I use some black magic?
Well, oopsie--my bad!
Did I mutilate, maim and destroy?
Just a tad!
And for that, I get banished!
But me, I'm not mad
There's just one little thing that I want...
Just one teensy thing that I want:

I want the good times back!
I want those grand ol' days!
I want the twisted nights
The sick delights
The wild soirees!
I want those trembling crowds of shellfish
Cracked and peeled for me to dine
Not because I'm mean or selfish--

FLOTSAM & JETSAM(Spoken):
No!

URSULA (Sung):
I only want what's mine!
I want disgusting wealth!
I want exquisite sin!
Want the entire sea
To worship me
On bended fin!
I want to greet my loving subjects
And then have them as a snack!

Remember those good times?
I want them back!

(Spoken)
Picture it, my sucklings. Pretty soon, we'll be back on top! Sipping bubbly... eating caviar before it hatches! King Triton
is the only thing that stands in our way. If only I can find his Achilles heel... the soft quivering underbelly, beneath all
that armor... I'll dethrone him! De-bone him! And then boys... oh, boys... we're back in business!
All together now:

FLOTSAM, JETSAM & EELS (Sung):
You'll bring the good times back!
Resume your wacky fun!
Restore the joyful charm
Of causing harm
To everyone!

URSULA:
I want to make the merfolk cower
Like they did in days of yore
Sure, it's sheer abuse of power--

FLOTSAM, JETSAM & EELS(Spoken):
So?

URSULA (Sung):
Ain't that what power's for?
I want to taste their tears!
I want to hear their screams!
I want the special rush
You get from from crushing 
Hopes and dreams!

FLOTSAM, JETSAM & EELS:
It's more than simply sentimental--

URSULA:
It's an aphrodisiac!

FLOTSAM, JETSAM & EELS:
Remember those good times!

URSULA:
Oh God, were they good times!

FLOTSAM, JETSAM & EELS:
It's time for more good times!

URSULA:
Let's get 'em back!
If only I had a way
To make him pay
I'd set ol' Triton straight!

FLOTSAM:
Poison?

JETSAM:
Sure...

FLOTSAM:
Blackmail?

JETSAM:
Or...

FLOTSAM:
His daughters...

JETSAM:
Maybe--

URSULA:
WAIT!

(Spoken)
Why didn't we think of that before? His youngest!

FLOTSAM (Spoken):
The one with the beautiful voice?

URSULA (Spoken):
Which she takes for granted! A woman doesn't know how precious her voice is until she's been silenced. Ha! Perhaps we could
teach them both a lesson...

(Sung)
I want the little girl!

FLOTSAM (Spoken):
Oh

URSULA:
And boys, I want her bad!

JETSAM (Spoken):
Ah?

URSULA:
I want her sitting here
To lure her dear
Devoted dad!

FLOTSAM & JETSAM (Spoken):
Mmm!

URSULA:
I want my goody-goody brother
To come rescue her - the sap!
And then one way or another--

FLOTSAM & JETSAM (Spoken):
Surprise!

URSULA:
I'll spring the trap!
And get the good times back!
I mean with all the perks!
The trident, crown, the throne--
All mine alone!
The whole damn works!

But most of all, I want ol' Triton
Pinned and wriggling on the rack
Then, fellas, it's my time!
And frankly, it's high time!
Those fabulous good times...
They're coming back!

Here's that scene from the show. This is Sherie Rene Scott in what looks like the funnest costume I've ever seen:

Seventeen -Heathers the Musical

Here's a rather new one I hope at least some people know or join! Thanks to my Broadway radio station I have become rather well acquainted with Heathers the Musical, which is the musical adaptation of the 1988 high-school cult classic movie Heathers. Essentially, Heathers was the original Mean Girls...but with a much darker plot. I fully invite you all to check out the movie if you've never seen it (available on Netflix Instant or you know, somewhere on the internet) as it's pretty great. The musical is actually not half bad either, which given my general distrust of movie-to-musical adaptations is saying quite a bit. In this number Veronica (or main hero) desperately wants the life of a normal seventeen year old with her (sociopath) boyfriend, JD, given all the drama and tragedy they have experienced (no spoilers, I promise!). It's a love power ballad if I ever heard one, and I'm looking for a JD to sing with me...gentlemen? or awesome gender-bending ladies? 
Here are the lyrics:

VERONICA: 

Fine, we’re damaged
Really damaged
But that does not make us wise
We’re not special, we’re not different
We don’t choose who lives or dies
Let’s be normal, see bad movies
Sneak a beer and watch tv
We’ll bake brownies or go bowling
Don’t you want a life with me?

Can we be seventeen?

That’s all I want to do
If you could let me in
I could be good with you

VERONICA: People hurt us

JD: Or they vanish

VERONINCA: And you’re right that really blows
But we let go, 

JD: take a deep breath

VERONICA: Then go buy some summer clothes
We’ll go camping 

JD: play some poker

VERONICA: And we’ll eat some chili fries
Maybe prom night

JD: Maybe dancing

BOTH

Don't stop looking my eyes (Your eyes)

Can we be seventeen
Is that so hard to do?
If you could let me in
I could be good with you

Let us be seventeen
If we still got the right
So what’s it gonna be
I wanna be with you (Wanna be with you)
I wanna be with you tonight

VERONICA:

Yeah we’re damaged,
JD: Badly damaged

BOTH: But your love’s too good to lose

VERONICA: Hold me tighter

JD: Even closer

VERONICA: I’ll stay if I’m what you choose

JD: Can we be seventeen?

VERONICA: Cause I am what you choose

JD: If we still got the right

VERONICA: Cause you’re the one I choose

JD: You’re the one I choose

BOTH: You’re the one I choose.

Here's that scene from the show, starring Barrett Wilbert Weed (whose voice is to die for!) and Dan Domenech. The song starts at about 2:40:

And here's a video with the lyrics:

Happy Working Song -Enchanted

Now this here song is from a movie that I completely adore and is probably way too underrated. I am referring to Disney's 2007 movie Enchanted starring Amy Adams. For those unfamiliar with the movie, in a nutshell it's about a young woman, Giselle who gets sent from her magical cartoon forest into modern day Manhattan in our world. The movie pays tribute to all the great Disney movies, as you will see in this scene (see video below) where Giselle cleans up the Manhattan apartment she is staying at (in a manner similar to Snow White cleaning the dwarves' cabin). She does so of course with help from her animal friends, which in this case are rats, roaches and pigeons. I hope you sing along! 
Here are the lyrics:

All right everyone, time to tidy things up

Come my little friends
As we all sing a happy little working song
Merry little voices clear and strong
Come and roll your sleeves up
So to speak, and pitch in
Cleaning crud up in the kitchen
As we sing along

And you’ll trill a cheery tune in the tub
As we scrub a stubborn mildew stain
Lug a hairball from the shower drain
To the gay refrain
Of a happy working song

We’ll keep singing without fail
Otherwise we’d spoil it
Hosing down the garbage pail
And scrubbing up the toilet
Ooh!

How we all enjoy letting loose with a little
La-da-da-dum-dum
While we’re emptying the vacu-um
It’s such fun to hum
A happy working song
Oo-ooh
A happy working song

Oh, how strange a place to be
Till Edward comes for me
My heart is sighing
Still, as long as I am here
I guess a new experience
Could be worth trying
Hey! Keep drying!

You can do a lot when you've got
Such a happy working tune to hum
While you’re sponging up the soapy scum
We adore each filthy chore
That we determine
So friends even though you're vermin,
We're a happy working throng

Singing as we fetch the detergent box
Or the smelly shirts and the stinky socks
Sing along
If you cannot sing then hum along
As we’re finishing our happy working song!

Ah...wasn’t this fun?

Here's that scene! (I want that poofy dress so badly!)

Go the Distance -Hercules

This one goes out to all of those finishing up midterm exams and papers! I used it as a kind of anthem to get through my semester and I hope it motivates you too. This song is of course from Disney's 1997 movie Hercules, featuring music by the great Alan Menken. In this song the young god Hercules sings about how he must prove himself and "go the distance" if he is to earn entry back into Mount Olympus. The voice of Hercules is sung by Broadway veteran Roger Bart (whom I adore). I hope you sing along, I know you can go the distance! 

Here are the lyrics:

I have often dreamed
Of a far-off place
Where a great warm welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I will find my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
I would go most anywhere
to feel like I belong

I am on my way
I can go the distance
I don't care how far
Somehow I'll be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
I will go most anywhere
to find where I belong

(Reprise)

I will beat the odds
I can go the distance
I will face the world
Fearless, proud and strong
I will please the gods
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome
Right! where! I belong!

Here's that scene from the movie!

Morning Person -Shrek the Musical

Here's a fun one for you Sutton Foster fans. This one's from Shrek the Musical which I must admit was a show I was initially skeptical about (as I am with most any musical adaptation of a movie, Disney movie or jukebox musical). However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. For those of you who have Netflix, you can actually watch a recorded performance of this show which is pretty excellent. In this number Princess Fiona sings about how optimistic she is, now having been saved from the fire-breathing dragon, as she is about to meet her husband-to-be. Needless to say, Sutton plays it brilliantly, with the perfect blend of physical comedy, kickass tap-dancing, and vocal chops to bring any house down. So please sing as Fiona! I sang the roles of the little birds and there is some dialogue in there with the Pied Piper. Have fun!
Here are the lyrics:

Good morning, birds, good morning, trees
Oh, what a lovely day?
The sun's so big, it hurts my eyes
But really that's okay

A brand new day with things to do
So many plans to make
I've had six cups of coffee
So I'm really wide awake!

I've always been a morning person
A morning girl, hurray

LITTLE BIRD: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep
Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep
FIONA: hurray
LITTLE BIRD: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep
Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep 
FIONA: hurray
LITTLE BIRD: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep
Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep!
FIONA: hurraaayyy!!!

[BIRD EXPLODES!]

FIONA: Good morning, deer
Say, have you heard today's my wedding day?
I haven't met my husband yet
But I'm hopeful anyway

I'll wear a gown, we'll have a ball
And dance for ever more
He'll take me in his massive arms
And spin me around the floor

I've always been a morning person
A morning girl, hurray!

[DIALOGUE]
FIONA: Why good morning, Pied Piper!

PIPER: Bah! What's so good about it? I can't get these 
rats to follow me

FIONA: Well, I think you may need to change your tune, mister

PIPER: Hey! give me my flute back! Hey!

[DANCE BREAK]

[SINGING]
FIONA:
A brand new start, a pallet cleanse
As fresh as lime sorbet
Last night I was a monster but this morning, this morning
This morning I'm okay, this morning I'm okay!!!

Here's Sutton in this number as Fiona. I'm so jealous of her skills:

(Sorry for the quality, but for a better video, check out Shrek the Musical on Netflix)