Top 20 Songs You Should NEVER Audition With 

Do you agree with our picks? Be sure to also check out our list of the Top 10 BEST Songs to Audition With - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oQvQGqQMlGA.html and let us know if you agree!

Basically, if Idina Menzel has sung it…don’t sing it.

If it’s in Les Miserables or Hamilton, you probably should avoid it. Along with anything sung by Idina Menzel. Not to say you can’t sing. Idina is just one of a kind.

I just saw Rachel Berry and I started laughing. Rachel chooses the most obnoxious songs to sing on glee but she has a great voice.

Actual advise: A) pick songs that fit the musical style of the show you are auditioning for while highlighting your own voice. You want to show the casting directors that you have the technical skill to support your performances. And by picking songs that fit your natural timbre (regardless if it’s over-sung or not) is a more accurate representation of yourself. B) During practice, experiment with the character you want to embody. Often times, directors cast the actor who best portrays a character in that role instead of the most technically advanced singer. In the professional world, everyone can play anyone. That’s the level we’re working with. But if you can convince others that you ARE the character and you are willing to play, then you’ve got it.

Agreed, but see… every theater kid THINKS they can do these songs perfectly. Therein lies the issue that every casting call faces 😅

There is only one reason to sing "Satisfied" in an audition: Your name is Renée and you sang this song daily for over a year on broadway (edit: of course everyone else who had this role in official hamilton would propably be good with this song too)

When I auditioned for my high school’s show choir in 2010, there was maybe 15-20 girls who auditioned. We were currently singing Think of Me and Defying Gravity in concert choir, so they were the ones EVERYONE went for. Literally every other girl picked either Think Of Me or Defying Gravity. My vocal coach picked Bring Him Home for me, and my choir director told me that just the fact that I chose something entirely different and nailed it was the entire reason I got into show choir. 😅

My go to audition song is “There are worse things I could do” from Grease. Hasn’t failed me yet!

Kurt threw the note from Defying Gravity. We saw him hit the note while rehearsing, and he even confessed to Rachel in Season 4 that he threw it.

20. This is the moment (Jekyll& Hyde) 0:57 19. On the steps of the palace (Into the woods) 2:32 18. If I were a rich man (Fiddler on the roof) 3:45 17. Let it go (Frozen) 5:08 16. Anything goes (Anything goes) 6:27 15. I dreamed a dream (Les Misérables) 7:35 14. Seasons of love (Rent) 9:02 13. A song from the show you're auditioning for 10:29 12. Defying gravity (Wicked) 11:39 11. Think of me (The phantom of the opera) 13:04 10. Satisfied (Hamilton) 14:36 9. On my own (Les Misérables) 16:15 8. Bring him home (Les Misérables) 17:19 7. Waving through a window (Dear Evan Hansen) 18:46 6. Tomorrow (Annie) 20:20 5. Don't rain on my parade (Funny girl) 21:44 4. Being alive (Company) 23:14 3. And I am telling you I'm not going (Dreamgirls) 24:57 2. Any Jason Robert Brown song 26:32 Honorable mentions She used to be mine (Waitress) 27:51 Mama who bore me (Spring awakening) 28:06 Dead girl walking (Heathers: the musical) 28:31 This is me (The greatest showman) 28:47 Maybe this time (Cabaret) 29:03 1. Memory (Cats) 29:36

My high school choir teacher said using "Whistle a happy tune" is a good audition song to use if your really nervous that way any visible nerves can look like an acting choice.

Just by the sheer amount of Glee covers on this list tells you everything you need to know about how overhyped these selections are.

I safely predicted your number one! As a career accompanist, I can say you've compiled a list I completely agree with but could easily add another 20 songs to it! CHEERS!!!

I actually use Think of Me as an audition song BECAUSE of my vocal range. If I’m auditioning for a high soprano part, that is my go-to song.

I auditioned with 'Memory' and 'Send in the Clowns' and earned a music scholarship.

Lea Salonga’s audition piece for Miss Saigon is “On My Own.” She got the part and later on played Eponine and sang “On My Own” on stage.

Gold star advice: Pick a song so unknown that nobody knows how it really sounds ;)

I was very impressed with Adam Driver's singing chops in "Marriage Story", having not known that he could sing that well. "Being Alive" really fit the character's mindset. 🥰

True story. I once auditioned for a production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera"; hoping to snatch the role of Macheath (Alias "Mack the Knife"). Instead of sining a piece from the show itself, my parents insisted I sing Phantom's "Music of the Night", must to my resistance. To get them off my balls I did it (& I belted it). Afterwards, I did get cast, but as ensemble. Later on the director confessed to me that had I sung ANYTHING ELSE except "that fucking Webber tune", the role of Macheath would've been mine. Lesson of the story: For all you theatre kids out there, NEVER USE WEBBER! I don't care how well you may be able top sing it, don't sing it. WEBBER SONG = AUDITION SUICIDE.

Since then, other Greatest Showman songs have spiked in popularity as well in particular, 😄😄😄the very challenging “Never Enough.” Not only does “Never Enough” take a considerable range and incredible endurance to conquer, but to sing it the way Loren Allred does, you need to be able to shift comfortably between a head-mix. 😄😄😄

They are still good songs to listen to, even if it's not for audition

My go to is ‘when he sees me’ from waitress… it’s easy enough to sing and it shows a lot of character and acting ability while still sounding impressive.

..."Seasons of Love" requires more than one voice to get the harmonies right anyway, it wouldn't be good in a solo audition setting.

Jesus, Jennifer Holliday brings me CHILLS anytime I hear her sing that - that growling "you're gonna love me"... Lordy be

Never audition with anything from Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Mis, Wicked, Hamilton or other musicals that everyone is familiar with.

Theater major here, and I grew up doing children's community theater in the '90s-2000s. To this day, if I hear a girl under the age of 10 is going to sing "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music", "Reflection" from "Mulan", or "Castle on a Cloud" from "Les Mis" because she wants to present herself as a preciously sweet/sad character, I scream inside and want to slice my ears off. Parents and guardians, please have your little daughers sing LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE.

I didn't expect to be brought to tears by seeing Robin Williams in this one 🥺

Yes, great point: even if you can mail it, maybe the accompanist can’t. Happened to my daughter once and she wasn’t cast.

I had a voice student who loved to do pageants. She has a beautiful operatic lyric soprano voice that can sing just about any big solo piece, but I tried to steer her away from most of these. She stubbornly refused. I think it's one of the main reasons she kept coming in second. I know I was bored after the 3rd or 4th girl sang it each time. It didn't matter if hers was the best, the judges attention wasn't there anymore. Keep your pieces fresh. Find the hidden or forgotten gems from off-broadway or light opera. Maybe grab a great B-side piece that never got the recognition it deserved.

I would be curious if MsMojo does musical theatre herself or is just using assumptions as to what to avoid based off how popular a song is or its nature. In general this advice is accurate but not always. Some auditions allow you more than 16 bars, and some auditions ask you to do a song from the show.

Idk why I, a person who loves musicals but has no interest in acting and can't sing, am watching this. But I'm enjoying the vid.

I was in the stage crew of my high school’s performance of Fiddler on the Roof, and I feel like I’ve heard “If I were a rich man” way too many times.

HELLO THEATER PRACTITIONER HERE TO LET YOU KNOW TO SING WHATEVER FITS YOUR VOICE AND THE PRODUCTION BEST. :) Although if you're genuinely looking to Ms Mojo for audition advice, you probably do need to improve your repertoire anyway :) That said, this is a great compilation of overused/overplayed musical songs

"You better be sure of your skills under pressure" *shows **12:29** where HE THREW THE NOTE ON PURPOSE* I will never not be mad about that

I'm surprised "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" wasn't included

auditioner: I brought a little number by Stephen Sondheim accompanist: OH GOD!!!!

I'd also add "Popular" from Wicked and "Gimmie Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie

I’m a soprano and the toughest song I sang at an audition was Part of Your World from the Disney movie the Little Mermaid.

If done right emotionally, "I don't care much" from Cabaret is a good audition piece for both low and high range singers. Also offers you the chance to showcase some of your acting ability. IF done right! *Sidenote:* I'm kinda surprised nothing from 'Chicago' made this list. Lord knows I've heard it used plenty of times in auditions! Lol

If you know the song backward and forwards and have been working to perfect it then by all means, do it! Shoot for the stars!

I did "On My Own" in an audition and nailed it! I say go for what you love and what suits your voice/acting ability.

Basically: 1- Choose a song that fits the character (and show) you are auditioning for 2- Choose something you know you can manage 3- Don’t choose a popular song (or a popular show) because you’ll look like a rookie 4- Simple accompaniment, otherwise people are not gonna like you 5- Don’t choose a song from the same show you are auditioning for 6- Something impressive for your vocal strength and maybe not a giant dance break in the middle Then again, there ARE exceptions

it's always best to leave songs created for actors of color to those who they were intended for" I'm sorry but what does that even mean?? I understand this reasoning in songs like several from In The Heights, whose lyrics were obviously from the point of a latino, so it would make little sense coming from a non-latino. But for satisfied? Does this mean only black women can sing it because it was written for a black woman? I thought music was a universal thing that brings us together, why should it be segregated??

I'm surprised that 'Summertime' was not on this list. Amazing how many performers 'think' they can sing this song.

If “On my own” isn’t on this list…

If it’s for a school play there’s a chance you’ll be required to sing a song from the show (that was how it always worked at my school). If that’s not the case, definitely choose a song that’s not too overused & shows off your strengths as a vocalist. I got into a community theater production by auditioning with “Home” from Beauty and the Beast.

So glad to hear that Part of You World from the Little Mermaid isn’t on this list!! That was my audition song in high school ;) I killed it

I’m really surprised “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” didn’t make the list.

The narration and back up clips here are HILARIOUS. The best MsMojo I've seen.

A few painful truths: Do not use anything even slightly out of your vocal range. If you are a mezzo soprano, stay away from the aria types, I don’t care how close to a first you are Don’t even take the slightest chance on speak singing (as in Watch What Happens from Newsies). Pick a song from a character whose personality or story is close to yours. It always makes me feel a lot more comfortable.

Pretty good advice. I always try to audition with something by the same composer, but a different show. Or something similar in style. Of course, I have 1 ballad and 1 up tune as backups, in case I chicken out on trying out something new for an audition.

I have auditions next week. Thank you for this post!

It’s hard to cover any truly iconic song as people can’t help comparing your performance to the original, so unless you’re sure you can kill it, choose something else!

you missed one "The Impossible Dream." I think Brian Stokes Mitchell sang it best in the Man of Lanacha. He had great breath control and precise delivery.

That's why I always audition with the theme to All in the Family. Archie's part shows my depth Edith's shows my range.

What I learned as a musical theatre major in college is never sing anything en vogue, meaning anything that's currently playing on Broadway or is just popular. This unfortunately means Six and Hadestown are kind of no-go's right now. On the other hand, the one Sondheim song you can probably get away with (that's also worked for me multiple times) is "What More Do I Need" from Saturday Night as it's the most conventional Broadway-sounding song and the accompaniment is easier to play. I'm also surprised that "Astonishing" from Little Women didn't make this video's cut. It's been overdone to the max. Personal Favorite Cuts I've Done: Spark of Creation - Children of Eden The Life I Never Led - Sister Act Mister Snow - Carousel Sweet Thursday - Pipe Dream Super Boy and the Invisible Girl - Next to Normal

We love longer videos!!! KEEP EM COMING!!!

I just auditioned for a show yesterday, i sang Heaven's light from hunchback. I know disney songs are generally frowned upon due to their popularity and how overplayed they tend to be, but it fits my voice and vocal style very well and is a very good showcase of my range, I think I did well with it, and people told me I did it well. Keeping your voice and range in mind is very important. If there's a song on this list (or any list of bad audition songs) you can nail that shows off your range very well, go for it.

Oh God, this just took me back to a dinner theater audition my mom took me to on a whim when I was 10. My song? Memory 🤦‍♀ To be fair, I was actually obsessed with CATS at that time and was totally unprepared for a professional acting gig of any kind. Thankfully I landed a role there many years later in a production of Steel Magnolias, and it was a blast. As big of a musical theater nerd as I am, I think plays will always be more my speed!

With Sing as the example, I would also say that if you're auditioning for a singing competition, don't sing a song you'd wanna sing in the actual competition. Sing something that maybe isn't your favorite, but you know you can sing really well

Twenty years ago when I was doing musical theater professionally, I used to do 16 bars from “Too Much in Love to Care” from Sunset Boulevard, the ending to “From This Day On” from Brigadoon, and “Use What You Got” from The Life. I was/am a first tenor.

I don’t know why they’re being so negative on some of these… if I want to audition with “I dreamed a dream”, knowing I can sing it, I’m gonna do it. It shows one’s range both in the upper and lower registers and it can show one’s ability to sing while “crying”.. I know that its a lot of us altos “go to” song for auditioning, and it’s just par for the audition course for those listening to the auditions.. but that’s their job.. regardless of how they feel about hearing “on my own” or “Music of the night” for the umteenth time.. You do you, boo and give it your all, is what I say. As long as you put your heart and soul into your audition.. and make it your own.. don’t try and sound like the original artist.. THATS what will stand out the most.. Oh! And break a leg! 🎭

Beginning with the Hoff's version of "This Is the Moment" was a pretty good way to show how it can go wrong without forcing us to hear his attempt at the climax. Well played. Cuccioli is always fantastic, but Constantine Maroulis' version is nicely epic in a different way.

I haven't seen that scene of Kurt throwing the final note of "Defying Gravity" in forever and good grief I forgot how bad it sounded, but how funny it was at the same time. The look on Mercedes' face cracks me up.

Hi Ms Mojo!!! Fabulous list!! I saw Renee Elise Goldsberry at the Phoenix Symphony, a few months ago!! She sang “Satisfied” sooooo beautifully!! AND I saw Leslie Odem Jr on New Year’s Eve, at the Symphony, too!! (Soooo great to volunteer!!) anyways, Leslie sings a song that’s WAY complicated!!! Maybe nobody auditions with it because they KNOW not to!!! Anyways, another super video!! You guys are GREAT!! Happy weekend to the Ms Mojo team!! Film on!! 🎥

I think you could have covered "any song supported by a chorus in the show" under one number. I'd also never pick "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman.

Positive statement. If you have a teacher trust them. If you don''t, go for something which covers the range announced that you can sing easily. At a first audition sing well rather than impressive

So basically, if it was covered by Glee, skip it! ;)

I visit these videos because my 13 year old son does musical theater. I put a lot of thought into his songs for auditions and over the last few years I have got better. But often these videos contradict each other. I will see a song highly recommend on one video and another video will have it in the do not use list. He is about to audition for Into the Woods at a teen community theater. I had him sing a few songs and perhaps against my better judgement I had him watch Josh Groban sing Finishing the Hat. After a few times singing it he began to totally nail it. I feel extremely confident that he can blow the judges away with it. A little over a year ago I chose How Lucky You Are for his Godspel audition and he got the lead. His voice has improved greatly since then. So I guess we will see how Finishing The Hat goes. 0:52

A wee, shy, quiet blond girl of about 11-12 did Defying Gravity on BGT (I think, one of those shows maybe X Factor?) a few years ago & absolutely NAILED IT. Search for it if ur interested she blows it out of the water

148: Ever since I was a teenager, I became a huge fan of Jennifer Hudson. Got a response from her, from my fan mail. Literally the best day of my life

One time i auditioned with think of me from phantom of the opera. Surprisingly i got a pretty good part. Looking back after a few years, I don’t even think my audition was that good honestly.

141: I love I Dreamed a Dream. Haven’t performed it like Susan Boyle did but I did it in front of a few students and nailed it

I think a really hard songs would be Worst Pies in London and By The Sea from Sweeney Todd

Thank You Ms Mojo for featuring Andrea Mcardle as Annie. Far and away, the best Annie

I sang imaginary by evanescence just once and I don't think I had to audition for singing roles after for theater in high school until I went to a new school and sang zipadeedodah.

Wow, this video had some good timing! I have an audition today

One person managed to sing "I am telling you I am not going": That was Bianca Ryan. Season 1 winner of AGT. She was 11 at the time and it was her first song.

When auditioning for acting courses at uni we often only got the first verse and chorus so you've got to take that into account

I cannot believe that The Phantom of the Opera title song is not on this list. Especially for Christine's part. I mean the climb to the E6. Many actresses struggle to reach that note, especially night after night. So that note tends to be prerecorded or heightened if the actress cannot reach that note on her own. I know they put "Think of Me" in the list, but that final note is not as high as the Phantom of the Opera final note. In fact, the E6 is the highest note Christine sings in the whole show.

This list is reminiscent of a certain RU-vid channel’s repertoire, a channel that shall remain nameless here. But I’ll tell you one thing, Charlie! She can do all of these songs well and then some.

Many years ago, I heard an entire men's glee club (I think Ohio State, but I don't remember exactly that long ago) sing Bring Him Home in unison. It was impressive, but I'm sure that many of those guys didn't want to do it. Many clips from Glee in this video. I guess those kids did a lot of wrong things.

For 30+ years I’ve heard “ No Sondheim” at auditions. This is not wrong.

I have auditioned at my college with the following songs in the chronological order: 1. "As Long as (S)He Needs Me" from _Oliver!_ for the musical revue _Side by Side by Sondheim_ (I had no bars and didn't really understand at the time, so I sang it acapella) for the Spring 2015 semester. 2. "Pilate's Dream" from _Jesus Christ Superstar_ for _Oklahoma_ (that was at the college's big theater, physically off-campus; they only do that for one show a year, and for the fall semester) (I also took part in a dance audition then) for the Fall 2015 semester. 3. "Funny Honey" from _Chicago_ (which had been performed at the college's big theater for the Fall 2014 semester) for _Little Women the Musical_ for the Spring 2016 semester. I didn't make it to either show... except that for _Side by Side by Sondheim,_ I operated the lights.

So what I’m gathering is to stay away from anything Idina Menzel. And honestly, for good reason. Cause I would sound like Kurt for sure.

I auditioned doing "Lithium" by Nirvana and got the part

IVE HAD YEARS TO PPERFECT SATISFIED AND AS A BLACK WOMAN, DAMN IT I WILL PERFORM THIS UNTIL MY TONSILS DIE

False: my friend sung ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ for Legally Blonde and got Elle Woods

I love how half of this video is a Glee throwback

Just curious why the original Broadway production of Cats wasn’t shown for Memory at #1. Betty Buckley’s iconic performance still resonates 40 years later. She minted it.

I can attest to the rage inducing quality of Tomorrow. I was casting a musical once and thought if I heard that song one one more time I would vault the table and throat punch the person the poor unfortunate singing it

142: And for good reason. I love Wicked. It’s my favorite musical of all time and Defying Gravity is my favorite song

If you want to blow someone away, then “I need to know” is an alternative that is great. Not to many high notes, but has a great low range.

Betty Buckley set the benchmark for "Memory" and has the Tony Award as proof.

i just did burn from hamilton for an audition for a scholarship lol, honestly, it went well

Corner of the Sky - AMAZING song! They heard it 37 times already today.

I'm really glad nothing from Chicago was on this list but to be honest I didn't know the majority of the songs on this list and I'm kind of thankful now because these are not the song that usually sing for theater beyond the obvious biggest biggest ones like cats rent and stuff like that

What I did for Love (Chorus Line); Reflection (Mulan); Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas); anything by Judy Garland or Whitney Houston

With “Wicked” I’d probably stick to friends for good, it’s sweet & easy to follow.