“If you say tomato...” Negotiation songs
July 21, 2018 12:17 PM Subscribe
The rap battle/cabinet meetings in Hamilton and even more so “The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman are songs (from musicals natch) that are negotiations. I feel like there’s a whole sub-subgenre of songs like this, in hip-hop, in musical theater, in pop (maybe duets?). Can you help me identify more? Any genre!
Here’s what I’m not interested in: songs about negotiating, songs called “the negotiation”, songs about negotiations happening behind closed doors I’M LOOKING AT YOU, ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.
Here’s what I’m not interested in: songs about negotiating, songs called “the negotiation”, songs about negotiations happening behind closed doors I’M LOOKING AT YOU, ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.
Part of "Christmas Bells" from Rent involves haggling over the price of a coat (which is being bought to give back to the person it was stolen from).
Does "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun count?
posted by likedoomsday at 12:34 PM on July 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Does "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun count?
posted by likedoomsday at 12:34 PM on July 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Baby it's cold outside." Which has been the subject of some debate.
posted by adamrice at 12:46 PM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by adamrice at 12:46 PM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thenardier Waltz of Treachery from Les Mis
posted by evilmomlady at 12:51 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by evilmomlady at 12:51 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't know if this counts, but the first song that jumped to my mind was "Guilty Conscience" by Dr. Dre and Eminem, where they debate how to react to certain situations.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:57 PM on July 21, 2018
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:57 PM on July 21, 2018
"Do Me A Favor" from Carrie
"Barcelona" from Company , arguably
"Any Moment" from Into the Woods
Parts of "A Weekend Into the Country" from A Little Night Music
posted by Stacey at 12:57 PM on July 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Barcelona" from Company , arguably
"Any Moment" from Into the Woods
Parts of "A Weekend Into the Country" from A Little Night Music
posted by Stacey at 12:57 PM on July 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
There is a great back and forth in the bridge of Old Friends from Merrily We Roll Along, and Now You Know from the same show has always struck me as a negotiation.
posted by fairlynearlyready at 1:03 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fairlynearlyready at 1:03 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I kinda like Postal Service's "Nothing Better" where the dude gives a whole rundown on how hard done by he is and then Jen Wood jumps in saying "I feel I must interject here" and gives him her side of the story. Not sure if that qualifies though.
posted by media_itoku at 1:07 PM on July 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by media_itoku at 1:07 PM on July 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
Left Handed Kisses Andrew Bird and Fiona Apple
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:21 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:21 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Most of the songs from Chicago dance around this, but despite the entire musical being about tit-for-tat negotiations, none quite fit perfectly.
A one-sided negotiation to find a replacement for the partner & sister she murdered, where the other side's only input is to blow a raspberry: "I can't do it alone"
"We both reached for the gun" (where Billy Flynn creates a story for/as Roxie, based on the reactions of the press corps, making it something of a back-and-forth negotiation about the 'true story', and where Roxie thinks things have gone too far once and interjects)
Roxie, convincing her husband of the merits of devotion as her efforts fall apart because he figures out he's being double-timed: "Funny Honey"
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:50 PM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
A one-sided negotiation to find a replacement for the partner & sister she murdered, where the other side's only input is to blow a raspberry: "I can't do it alone"
"We both reached for the gun" (where Billy Flynn creates a story for/as Roxie, based on the reactions of the press corps, making it something of a back-and-forth negotiation about the 'true story', and where Roxie thinks things have gone too far once and interjects)
Roxie, convincing her husband of the merits of devotion as her efforts fall apart because he figures out he's being double-timed: "Funny Honey"
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:50 PM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think the Trial Before Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar might count. Pilate is basically attempting to negotiate with the crowd and with Jesus, though neither is having it. Trigger warning: this clip from the 1973 film opens with Judas hanging. I’m linking to it because I think it’s the best version.
posted by FencingGal at 1:57 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by FencingGal at 1:57 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Part of the song Paradise By The Dashboard Light. (You know the part I mean.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:05 PM on July 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:05 PM on July 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
“Go to Sleep” from the movie version of “On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever.”
posted by elphaba at 3:05 PM on July 21, 2018
posted by elphaba at 3:05 PM on July 21, 2018
At least part of Man from The Full Monty.
Come to a Party from Dogfight.
Not sure it's really a negotiation, but a back-and-forth about who admires each other more, is You're the Top by Cole Porter.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:06 PM on July 21, 2018
Come to a Party from Dogfight.
Not sure it's really a negotiation, but a back-and-forth about who admires each other more, is You're the Top by Cole Porter.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:06 PM on July 21, 2018
"People will say we're in love" from Oklahoma appears to be two lovers making an agreement though it's actually a love song.
posted by SemiSalt at 3:50 PM on July 21, 2018
posted by SemiSalt at 3:50 PM on July 21, 2018
Any Moment from Into The Woods- one of the Princes seduces the Baker's Wife.
The whole musical has lots of negotiations: make sure to watch the Broadway version I just linked to (it's so charming and funny) and not the recent Hollywood movie (it's so drab and melodramatic).
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:55 PM on July 21, 2018
The whole musical has lots of negotiations: make sure to watch the Broadway version I just linked to (it's so charming and funny) and not the recent Hollywood movie (it's so drab and melodramatic).
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:55 PM on July 21, 2018
Thenardier Waltz of Treachery from Les Mis
My first thought was Les Mis, too! The Confrontation was where my head went.
posted by solotoro at 4:07 PM on July 21, 2018
My first thought was Les Mis, too! The Confrontation was where my head went.
posted by solotoro at 4:07 PM on July 21, 2018
The whole musical [Into The Woods]has lots of negotiations: make sure to watch the Broadway version I just linked to (it's so charming and funny) and not the recent Hollywood movie (it's so drab and melodramatic).
I thought first of “Your Fault.” Though I’m not sure any consensus is reached at the end. Are you looking for a song where the back and forth between singers means something is changed between them at the end? Or is a song that’s basically unresolved bickering still in the theme?
posted by eirias at 5:27 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I thought first of “Your Fault.” Though I’m not sure any consensus is reached at the end. Are you looking for a song where the back and forth between singers means something is changed between them at the end? Or is a song that’s basically unresolved bickering still in the theme?
posted by eirias at 5:27 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I Got a Man by Positive K and the lesser known but infinitely better I’m Not Having It by MC Lyte featuring Positive K. Also, problematically, It’s a Man’s World by Ice Cube and Yo-Yo.
posted by chrchr at 5:54 PM on July 21, 2018
posted by chrchr at 5:54 PM on July 21, 2018
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:56 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:56 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Tinker of Rye
Madam, I Have Come A-Courting
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:01 PM on July 21, 2018
Madam, I Have Come A-Courting
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:01 PM on July 21, 2018
The Boy Is Mine? More of an argument than a negotiation.
posted by gideonfrog at 8:44 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gideonfrog at 8:44 PM on July 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jackson by June Carter and Johnny Cash
Too Good ft. Rihanna by Drake
You don't know me ft. Regina Spektor by Ben Folds
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 11:33 PM on July 21, 2018
Too Good ft. Rihanna by Drake
You don't know me ft. Regina Spektor by Ben Folds
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 11:33 PM on July 21, 2018
"Dobbe dobbe dobbe" (usually sung by Jasperina de Jong) is a Dutch song about a couple negotiating about where they'll spend the holidays, and then deciding just to stay at home. There is a version by Fay Lovski and Gerard Cox, singing it as a duet.
posted by Too-Ticky at 7:31 AM on July 22, 2018
posted by Too-Ticky at 7:31 AM on July 22, 2018
'The confrontation' in Les miserables?
posted by 92_elements at 7:50 AM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 92_elements at 7:50 AM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
There's a several really great ones in the original version of Chess, the musical!
Where I Want to Be
Quartet
Mountain Duet
Argument
The Deal (No Deal)
End Game
(link goes to playlist of the whole musical.)
posted by ApathyGirl at 12:04 PM on July 23, 2018
Where I Want to Be
Quartet
Mountain Duet
Argument
The Deal (No Deal)
End Game
(link goes to playlist of the whole musical.)
posted by ApathyGirl at 12:04 PM on July 23, 2018
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posted by FencingGal at 12:28 PM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]