Overdone Audition Songs

The following is a list of overdone audition songs, compiled from a variety of sources. If you are struggling to find a song that isn't overdone, learn how to build a singer's musical theatre repertoire or search our audition song database.

If everyone who went to a musical theatre audition spent the time and effort choosing an audition song that best fit the audition, their vocal range and personality, the world would be a happier place. Unfortunately, there are many that still believe that a "good song" automatically makes a good audition piece, regardless of age or vocal range or the type of show you are auditioning for. But a "good song" isn't neccessarily a good song for you. As a result, there are some very excellent musical theatre songs that must be used with caution because too many people have used them, and many have used them badly.

However: Some people get so obsessed about overdone songs that they will pick an audition song simply because it is obscure. It's important to remember that the whole point of the audition is to show the audition panel that you are right for the show. This means choosing a song that shows off your voice to the best of your ability as well as embodies the style/theme of the show you are auditioning for.

If you are trying to decide between two pieces that both have the characteristics above, then by all means choose the one that is less overdone, but if you're only criteria is that the song "isn't overdone" then you are not doing yourself justice. Remember - it's you that is auditioning, not the song.

Should you use an overdone song? Do it only if:

- you are the right age and gender for the role the song is written for
- it fits the style of the show you are auditioning for
- it suits the character you are auditioning for
- you honestly feel you can sing it better than anyone else (because you WILL be compared to the other people singing it!)

Have I missed an overdone audition song or show? This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Individual Overdone Audition Songs from Musicals

• Good Morning Baltimore from Hairspray
• On My Own from Les Miserables
• Adelaide's Lament from Guys and Dolls (why are teenagers always singing this? the character has been engaged for 14 years!)
• Memory from Cats
• I Hate Men from Kiss Me Kate
• All That Jazz from Chicago
• Wash That Man... from South Pacific
• Can't Help Lovin'... from Show Boat
• Big Spender from Sweet Charity
• You Can Always... from City of Angels
• Shy from Once Upon a Mattress
• Tomorrow from Annie
• I Enjoy Being A Girl from Flower Drum Song
• Broadway Baby, Hard Hearted Hannah, Hit Me With a Hot Note from Follies
• Surrey With The Fringe On Top & I Can't Say No from Oklahoma
• They Call the Wind Mariah from Paint Your Wagon
• Corner of the Sky from Pippin
• Summertime from Porgy & Bess
• The Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera
• Hero & Let's Hear It For The Boy from Footloose
• Seasons of Love from Rent
• Big Spender from Sweet Charity
• Part Of Your World from The Little Mermaid
• In My Own Little Corner from Cinderella
• Popular from Wicked
• Anthem from Chess
• This Is The Moment from Jekyll & Hyde
• I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables
• Think Of Me from Phantom Of The Opera
• Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita
• Astonishing from Little Women

Overdone Audition Songs Not Associated With A Specific Show (Or More Than One)

• I Get a Kick Out of You
• Miss Bird
• Embracable You
• New York, New York

Entire Overdone Shows That Directors Are Sick Of

• Any show that the company you are auditioning for has done in the last five years.
• Whatever the "Hot New Musical" is (Wicked, Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde...)
• The Sound of Music
• A Chorus Line
• Rent
• My Fair Lady
• Titanic
• Footloose
• Grease
• Jekyll & Hyde
• Little Shop of Horrors
• The Fantastiks
• Les Miserables
• Phantom of the Opera
• Evita
• Wicked
  
• Almost everything by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Watch Out For... Songs that are Problematic

(These songs may not necessarily be overdone, but have something that may make them inappropriate for auditions)

• Over The Rainbow fom The Wizard of Oz (this song belongs to Judy Garland)
• Any other "Signature Song"
• Pretty much anything Kristin Chenoweth has recorded (Newsflash... you're not her. Sorry.)
  

Comments (14) >>

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written by Sheridan Culp, April 30, 2007

I would add anything from High School Musical

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written by Sophia, May 19, 2007

What about "I Dreamed a Dream" from Le Miz

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written by Phanato, September 18, 2007

What about "Give My Regards to Broadway" from George M?!

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written by Arielle Kook, September 28, 2007

What about "A Quiet Thing"?

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written by Amanda Hibshman, October 29, 2007

I love "A Quiet Thing" it's a great ballad for an audition. I would say any "Classic" show tunes (Give my regards to Broadway, any Rodgers and Hammerstein, etc) would also be in the overdone category, just for the sheer fact that they have been around forever. You would have to do something really original with it to attract a director's eye.

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written by Kaitlyn, November 25, 2007

Hairspray in general ... especially with the new movie out

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written by musicalsguru, December 31, 2007

Please add "Till There Was You" and "Goodnight My Someone" from Music Man (I was at an addition and in a span of 1 hour 4 girls sang Till There Was You), "My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music, and "Matchmaker" from Fiddler. If it's in every anthology out there, then chances are everyone will sing it!

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written by Marla Oppenheim, January 01, 2008

What about anything from"Sweeney Todd", now that the movie has hit theatres?

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written by Rebekah, July 07, 2008

Urgh I hate it when people walk into an audition thinking that they can do the high whistle tone thing in "Seasons Of Love". I want to know what it proves to an casting director that you can go "oooo" really high.

I regrettably sang "On My Own" at an audition in May. Not only is it too over rated to sing, but considering I have a stronger head voice than I do a belt it wasn't good sounding at all.

Would "My Funny Valentine" from Babes In Arms be on this list as well?

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written by grace-e, July 15, 2008

Is Cabaret from Cabaret out? All my theatre friends go and sing that song all the time. So is that just my friends or is it that popular?

And is there anything wrong with singing a song for the oposite gender, but the song doesn't have and thing to do with gender? (Like a girl singing Very Soft Shoes from Once Upon A Mattress)

I also think that ALL disney songs or songs that disney has done should be on this list. Disney is soooooooooo over done.

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written by Lauren, August 30, 2008

i was amazed to walk into a regional theatre audition and see that EVERY SINGLE PERSON was carrying wicked sheet music!!! i used to love that show, but have gotten exceedingly sick of it. there are so many better songs and shows, guys....i sang something from the scarlet pimpernel, and every body looked at my music and was like, wha?

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written by Lacey , February 19, 2009

Is I'd Give My Life for You from Miss Saigon considered over done?

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written by Lauren Benton, July 23, 2009

surely joseph and the technicolour dreamocte is on here too - close every door....

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written by Natasha, August 21, 2009

I would add "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady. It was mentioned in an interview I read in Audition, by Michael Shurtleff as overdone.

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