Top Five Stephen Sondheim Ballads

[@ros8986]

The Road You Didn't Take from Follies, Being Alive from Company, Ladies Who Lunch from Company, Any One Can Whistle from Anyone Can Whistle (a simple but beautiful sone), Could I Leave You from Follies, I'm Still Here from Follies. I saw the original touring companies of these for which I am more grateful than I could ever express.

[@katetallentpcconsultant]

BEING ALIVE and Send in the Clowns

[@adamb3266]

Not While I’m Around is way up there for me. Darker tone but the music itself is so beautiful let alone lyrically

[@alanscopp1114]

You seem to have a very broad definition of "ballad" but it's your channel and who am I to quibble. I will add to the list of songs others have mentioned : "Anyone Can Whistle" from the show of the same name. It's beautiful.

[@ozzietadziu]

I thought that Dorothy Collins owned "Losing My Mind", but then I heard Barbara Cook.

[@LaLayla99]

I know I'm late, but the "Unknown" Audra McDonald performance of "So Many People" is from her "Live at the Donmar" concert.

[@lillianward2810]

I think my favorite version of So Many People is from the 2010 Sondheim on Sondheim show where Norm Lewis and Vanessa Williams sing it as a duet. And I love that you open with my favorite rendition of Losing My Mind. It’s my go-to karaoke song too. One favorite of mine that’s missing here? Anyone Can Whistle. I think I may be slightly biased but it really cuts deep to my insecurities.

[@bardboy18]

"Joanna" from Sweeney Todd wins my vote for #1. The music is lush, the lyrics are full of longing. My alternate would be the ballad which is surely Sondheim's most famous song, "Send In The Clowns."

[@josephsecker402]

What about Being Alive? Where does that fall?

[@randallcurb923]

Not a ballad

[@FMAkers-jq2kh]

When I was in high school, my favorite song of all time was "It's Only a Play" from THE FROGS. A brilliantly-written, blisteringly sad case for apathy in the face of the world's troubles. "Well, words are merely chatter And easy to say It doesn't really matter It's only a play It's only so much matter That somebody wrote And the world's still afloat, So it's hardly a note for today Anyway..."

[@alexcitron5159]

Great choices! I'm not sure if I'd put Losing My Mind at #1, but can't think of another contender. SO glad you put Finishing the Hat at #2; being a musician, son of a musician and an artist, it's right on!

[@PayamRPooya]

not to take anything from "Losing My Mind" , after all listening to Barbara Cook's Sally is part of my daily ritual , but for number 1 i have to go with first Sondheim song that shook me to my core and that is "Ladies Who Lunch" , and as far as performances go , Patti's Performance in 2011 Company is just bone chilling

[@ros8986]

Leaving aside the orginal performance Elaine Stritch, Barbara Walsh is brilliant.

[@joeevans5770]

7:57 GAH BABY JESS

[@MusicalswithCheese]

I recorded that at 3am as a high strung college student

[@juliasilles]

I’m still a newbie when it comes to musicals, and I recently discovered Sondheim through Into The Woods and Sunday In the Park with George and I must say I’m obsessed with both shows!! What do you recommend I watch/listen to next? Those are literally the only Sondheim shows I’ve listened to so far

[@MusicalswithCheese]

Honestly - Sweeney Todd, Passion, and Follies would be the next ones! :)

[@juliasilles]

@@MusicalswithCheese wow thank you so much I definitely will!!

[@theonellakats2443]

Sweeny Todd (Angela Lansbury version), A Little Night Music ( a stage version, not the movie--the movie is TERRIBLE!) , and Company (the Neil Patric Harris version) to name just 3. I think you can find them all on KZbin.

[@theonellakats2443]

They are all so beautiful, but there are so many more: "Every Day aLittle Death" and "Send in the Clowns" from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, "Joanna" from SWEENY TODD, "I Wish I Could Forget You" and "Loving You" from PASSION. And that's just off the top of my head. Maybe there should be a top 10 (15?).

[@chrisk5651]

One of my all time favorite Sondheim song is Last Midnight from Into the Woods. And the best version that I’ve heard of that song is by the one & only Ms. Bernadette Peters- who I totally love!)

[@asclepius3117]

Not the musical taste of someone I would pay attention to but I appreciate individualism and 2 of the 5 belong on the list IMHO.

[@NewsHistorian]

Barcelona from Company

[@poppyseeds1844]

A narrative form. It tells a story.

[@chrisk5651]

My all time favorite Sondheim song is I Remember Sky from Evening Primrose. And the best version that I’ve heard of that song is by the Jazz singer Dianne Reeves (so much so that I don’t really even like the version by Bernadette Peters- who otherwise I love!)

[@chrisk5651]

Loving You from Passions!

[@chrisk5651]

Losing My Mind from Follies!!! ❤❤❤

[@beethockmtee8565]

"Not a Day Goes By" would like a few words...

[@sofinaali9283]

Love unworthy of your love but prefer the putting it together version more. I would preferred being alive or not while I’m around on the list as well as not a day goes by or send in the clowns

[@irontown]

There are many great Sondheim ballads the one for me is Not A Day Goes By

[@tomorobo4472]

I was so hoping you'd say, 'Everyone's covered it, even Barbra Streisand' as like a little call back to the beginning and also Barbra Streisand is just the best.

[@harryorenstein1144]

Of course, choosing just five Sondheim ballads is an impossible task - virtually every one of his shows has a t least one candidate that you weren't able to include: Small World from Gypsy, Maria from West Side Story, Love I Hear from A Funny Thing..., Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music, just to mention a few.

[@dorisallen8759]

Going going gone Not While I’m Around Joanna As the Days go by Your choices are pedestrian

[@MusicalswithCheese]

Make your own video! It’ll be great! Compare notes.

[@allyson--]

[@Stage-byStage]

Without 'Not a Day Goes By' this is a misguided list!

[@Vidgirl8]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! NO SEND IN THE CLOWNS! It's a great song, but soooooo over used/ over done!

[@charleseuston2859]

I realize I'm late to the party here, but I have to mention one of my favorite ballads. It's "Too Many Mornings" from FOLLIES. Possibly one of the most beautiful theater duets ever that will both make your heart soar and break it at the same time.

[@katiemcdonough954]

Wait does Being Alive not count as a ballad??

[@ros8986]

yes

[@tannersebastian3675]

Might be a forced pun, but you could call this show the Charcuterie Board.

[@chrisk5651]

Not a Day Goes By is a great song!!!

[@sofinaali9283]

Love to see you do calamity jane or Annie get your gun on the podcast or more old musicals at least but I really love your content the podcasts get me through my nightshifts!

[@rixx46]

Great choices. You could certainly do another top five or 10 or 20… It’s all subjective, but I was sure “being alive” would make the least. It certainly would be on mine.

[@allisonbergh4429]

I’m at the very beginning of this video, and I’m already upset I Remember Sky from Evening Primrose won’t make this countdown.

[@chrisk5651]

Agreed! The best version that I’ve heard of that song is by the Jazz singer Dianne Reeves (so much so that I don’t really even like the version by Bernadette Peters- who otherwise I love!)

[@muzyqman]

I can't believe "Send in the Clowns" isn't in your top 5.

[@MusicalswithCheese]

Not a big fan of that one sadly 😭

[@suebob16]

Loving You from Passion is one of the loveliest songs from Sondheim's later years. Originally and beautifully sung by Donna Murphy, it was later covered by Barbra Streisand and Patrick Wilson as a duet from Streisand's album Encore. It should at least have been an Honorable Mention.

[@thedoodlefox5640]

Based choice in Unworthy of your love. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and disturbing at the same time, really forcing you into the headspace of these characters and making you empathize with them in a powerful but uncomfortable way, which is essentially what the whole show is about, and why it’s one of my all time favorite musicals!

[@neilchace1858]

Agree with some of these. My list: Fishing The Hat (a contender for best song ever written, IMO) Losing My Mind Being Alive Send In The Clowns Not A Day Goes By

[@stephenbressler3292]

Being Alive is my #]

[@jonathanrio6587]

Not a Day Goes By!!!! Yes! No More Questions from Woods too! And Sunday!!!!!!!!!