Song from musical that starts with argument?

August 16, 2007 10:19 AM

I'm looking for a song from any musical that starts off with two people arguing. Not a specific song, but any song like that.

Two people getting into a regular verbal argument, and then they start singing (at which point other people can/should join in). Ideally, there would be a few main singers, but parts for a "chorus", too (so, no songs that just have two or three singers). Any genre/gender/time period is fine. Even Disney/animated movies. My experience with musicals is limited enough where I don't feel like I have enough options.

posted by duckierose to media & arts (27 comments total)

Almost the entirety of Avenue Q would fit this description.

Everyone's a Little Bit Racist, in particular, is one running argument mixed in with a song.
posted by jammer at 10:27 AM on August 16, 2007

The Confrontation from Les Mis, but it's just the two singers.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:38 AM on August 16, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

America from West Side Story
posted by spec80 at 10:39 AM on August 16, 2007

Anything you can do I can do better!
posted by boo_radley at 10:49 AM on August 16, 2007

Another Day from Rent.
posted by fallenposters at 10:51 AM on August 16, 2007

IIRC, there's an argument scene in Chess, but I couldn't tell you which track on the album(s) it was. I don't remember if the full chorus joins it or not, though.
posted by jquinby at 10:52 AM on August 16, 2007

This one doesn't have more than 2 people, but "Therapy" from Jonathan Larson's show Tick... Tick... Boom (produced posthumously on Broadway) is a great and hilarious argument song.
posted by elkerette at 10:55 AM on August 16, 2007

"Your Fault" from Into the Woods is a huge argument!
posted by advicepig at 10:59 AM on August 16, 2007

"Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent
posted by bryanzera at 11:00 AM on August 16, 2007

You've set some pretty strict guidelines; there are few songs that match all of your descriptions. Also, is this for a school production? If so, that probably limits your pool more, since not all shows are appropriate for all age groups (I'd hesitate to assign any Jonathan Larson to anyone younger than 16).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:03 AM on August 16, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

ThePinkSuperhero,

This is definitely *not* for a school production. It will be adults, and there will likely not be any youngins nearby when it's being performed.
posted by duckierose at 11:06 AM on August 16, 2007

I love this duet from the 1942 Rodgers & Hart musical "By Jupiter!"
posted by Evangeline at 11:18 AM on August 16, 2007

If it wasn't for the number of singers requirement, "Tramp" by Carla Thomas and Otis Redding would be a good one.
posted by rfs at 11:22 AM on August 16, 2007

"The Argument" from Chess
posted by jdroth at 11:26 AM on August 16, 2007

IIRC, there's an argument scene in Chess, but I couldn't tell you which track on the album(s) it was. I don't remember if the full chorus joins it or not, though.

On the concept album it's track 5 on disc 1, "The American and Florence/Nobody's Side," and it does briefly include a chorus. Most of the song is sung by the heroine, though, so I'm not sure it's what you're looking for. I'm not familiar with the Broadway cast album, but I'm assuming track 7, "You Want to Lose Your Only Friend?" is more or less the same thing.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:26 AM on August 16, 2007

And, um, "The Argument" also fits. Preview!
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:27 AM on August 16, 2007

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (G . & I. Gershwin) might fit the bill?
posted by Aquaman at 11:29 AM on August 16, 2007

I've heard a version of "There's a hole in the bucket" that starts of with snippy dialogue.
posted by letahl at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2007

"Boy Meets Girl" from Sunset Boulevard. (There's a few other "arguing" songs from that musical, as well.
posted by Zosia Blue at 11:45 AM on August 16, 2007

"Sue Me" from Guys & Dolls -- definitely an argument in song, and I think that it gets a verbal lead-in.
posted by dryad at 11:57 AM on August 16, 2007

Rock Island from The Music Man
posted by lohmannn at 12:09 PM on August 16, 2007

I can't get behind that. By William Shatner & Henry Rollins. Produced by Ben Folds. Awesome song!
posted by ijoyner at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2007

It's All Over from Dreamgirls
posted by jroybal at 5:15 PM on August 16, 2007

"Mama I'm A Big Girl Now" from Hairspray starts off with 3 sets of mother-daughter arguments.
posted by divabat at 7:03 PM on August 18, 2007

"Dotty and Caroline" from Caroline, or Change is worth checking into. Lyrics by Tony Kushner!
posted by roger ackroyd at 9:23 PM on August 18, 2007

"Sit Down, John" from 1776. Although the argument is a bit one-sided.
posted by ericales at 11:04 PM on August 18, 2007

"The Little Things You Do Together" from Company.
posted by deliriouscool at 1:27 PM on September 17, 2007