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.

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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

 

Overdone Audition Songs Not Associated With A Specific Show

• 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... right now it's Wicked
• 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
• 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"

Comments (19) >>

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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 Maria, June 20, 2007

Think of Me from Phantom is overdone, at least I think so. And basically anything from RENT...another "hot" musical, but especially Seasons of Love. I don't get why people do it, the range is like 6 notes...

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written by mezzo_soprano, July 01, 2007

is "i'm not that girl" from wicked overdone??

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written by Katy, September 03, 2007

Watch the Wicked songs, because just like the Over the Rainbow/Judy Garland association, Wicked and Idina Menzel/Kristen Chenoweth (sp?) are very closely associated. I'm Not That Girl is overdone, because people think "Oh, I can't do Popular because every does Popular. So if I pick a different song, I should be fine, right?" When in fact, I'm Not That Girl really doesn't show much other than a character that has no confidence in themself at all, and a limited range. There are much more powerful songs to be found in Wicked, and in time, they will be appropriate to use. In a long, long time. (IMHO)

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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 Rebecca Allison, November 09, 2007

legally blonde is getting too popualr too, dont do anything from that for an audition

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written by Lauren Wilson, November 14, 2007

I would say you should also involve certain composers, because of the overdone factor and also the difficulty to play in an audition. I say as a general rule, you should avoid Sondheim unless you are auditioning for a Sondheim show, in which case, your pianist should be able to handle the music. You should also avoid Jason Robert Brown because he can be difficult to play and he's also pretty overdone as well. Same for William Finn.

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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 Jessica, November 27, 2007

I think you should add Hannah Montana (LMAO), Hairspray, and Legally Blonde (A little kid did Bend and Snap at an audition with the dance and all, it was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen in my life!)

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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 JoeG, January 29, 2008

Even if a song is on the list, do you think that it could still be sung without sounding overdone? I was going to sing "Close Every Door" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat because it is something that I am very good at singing and it is on the edge of my vocal range without actually making me strain to hit the notes. So, even though the song itself might be overdone, should it still be sung if it's a good song for that person?

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written by Cory Damone Enriquez, February 13, 2008

Does "hot new show" qualify Spring Awakening as of now?

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written by Cory Damone Enriquez, February 13, 2008

Although this comment area maybe one of those: "if you are asking, you probably already know the answer..."

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written by Kimmer, March 04, 2008

Is it okay to sing an audition song from "All Shook Up?" It is a Broadway show I saw and I like the songs, but they are remix's of Elvis songs...

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written by Tim Lucier, March 16, 2008

I'd say spring awakening probably depends on location.
its probably overdone in some places, but say in canada its not as well known so still in bounds.

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