My Top 50 Broadway Songs, Part 1 Quiz

Answer: "Chess"

From the song "Someone Else's Story." This song shows a woman saying that, in afterthought, she would have done things differently.

Answer: "Sunset Boulevard"

From the song "With One Look." "Sunset Boulevard" is the story of Norma Desmond, an old, out-of-work actress determined to make a return to Hollywood. This song has Norma singing of how great an actress she was.

Answer: "Into the Woods"

From "Hello, Little Girl." "Into the Woods" is a classic Sondheim musical, a merging of five different fairy tales. In this song, the wolf speaks to Little Red Riding Hood, persuading her to enjoy the beauty of the forest around her. In the quote, he is savoring the thought of eating her and her grandmother.

Answer: "Beauty and the Beast"

From the song "Home." Everyone knows the story of "Beauty and the Beast" -- how Belle wins the heart of the Beast when she takes her father's place as a prisoner. "Home," from the Broadway production, shows Belle saying that even though she may be locked up in the Beast's castle, she is still free at heart.

Answer: "Les Miserables"

From "Drink With Me." "Les Miserables," one of my favorite shows of all time, boasts several heartbreakingly sad tunes, including this, a farewell song sung by young men who know they will probably die in battle the next day.

Answer: "Into the Woods"

From "No One Is Alone." Another from "Into the Woods," this song is about how no one is ever truly alone -- you always have the advice of your loved ones to guide you.

Answer: "Fiddler on the Roof"

From "Far From the Home I Love." "Fiddler on the Roof" is about a Jewish village in Russia, and their ways. In this song, a Jewish girl, Hodel, explains to her father why she feels the need to go be with her husband in Siberia.

Answer: "Phantom of the Opera"

From "All I Ask of You." "Phantom of the Opera" is my favorite musical of all time. Based on the book by Gaston Leroux, it's the tragic story of a deformed genius who seeks the love of the beautiful Christine Daae. This song is sung by Christine and her sweetheart, Raoul, a pledge of love to each other.

Answer: "Song and Dance"

From "Nothing Like You've Ever Known." This song is touching, lamenting the loss of a loved one.

Answer: "West Side Story"

From "Cool." "West Side Story" is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet about a young couple who fall in love despite the rivalry of those around them. In this song, a group of juvenile delinquents talk about how to get by the police -- by playing it "cool."

Answer: "Les Miserables"

From "On My Own." Another one from "Les Miserables." This song is sung by young Eponine, who desperately loves a man she knows does not love her.

Answer: "Cats"

From "Macavity." "Cats," the longest-running Broadway show, really doesn't have much of a plot, but with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics taken from T.S. Eliot poems, how can you go wrong? This song is about a criminal cat named Macavity who always has a knack of disappearing when he needs to.

Answer: "Oliver!"

From "Where Is Love?" "Oliver!" is the musical story of Oliver Twist, an orphan who makes his way in the city by pickpocketing. This song, sung by Oliver, begs for someone who will love him.

Answer: "Les Miserables"

From "Come to Me." Yet another from "Les Miserables." While it has the same tune as "On My Own" (number 40 on my countdown), this song portrays the death scene of a young prostitute.

Answer: "Miss Saigon"

From "I'd Give My Life For You." "Miss Saigon," loosely based on "Madame Butterfly," is the story of a Vietnamese girl who finds love with an American soldier, but then is separated for him for several years. This song is sung by the girl, Kim, to her son, wondering if her husband will ever return and swearing to do anything she can for her son.

Answer: "Cats"

From "The Addressing of Cats." This is the very last song in "Cats," and talks about how you should speak to a cat.

Answer: "Into the Woods"

From "On the Steps of the Palace." This funny little song is sung by Cinderella, pondering why she's running from the prince.

Answer: "Starlight Express"

From "Only You." A virtually unknown ALW musical. This song is a typical duet love song with a beautiful tune, where the two characters pledge their love to each other.

Answer: "Sweeney Todd"

From "Not While I'm Around." I always found it funny how the gruesome "Sweeney Todd," the story of a woman who loves a barber and helps turns his customers into pies, has such a beautiful song in it. "Not While I'm Around" has one character, Toby, swearing to protect his employer, Miss Lovett from anything.

Answer: "Oliver!"

From "As Long As He Needs Me." This song is sung by Nancy, the young girlfriend of Bill Sikes, a thief and burglar and general all-round jerk. In this song, she swears that she'll stick with him even when he treats her wrong, because he really needs her.

Answer: "Fiddler on the Roof"

From "Do You Love Me?" This song shows a husband and wife realizing that an arranged marriage has blossomed into love.

Answer: "Les Miserables"

From "Bring Him Home." And yet another song from "Les Miserables." This song has an older man asking the Lord to save a friend of his from death.

Answer: "Phantom of the Opera"

From "Point of No Return." This song is part of a musical within a musical. The Phantom wrote an opera for the managers to put on, but when the opera was performed, Erik took the place of the male lead, so this song is sung between Erik and Christine.

Answer: "Aspects of Love"

From "Love Changes Everything." "Aspects of Love" is another lesser-known ALW musical. This song shows a young man, amazed at how completely love transforms his world.

Answer: "Miss Saigon"

From "Last Night of the World." Another from "Miss Saigon." This is of Kim and her American husband, Chris, fearing what tomorrow will bring but knowing they will survive if they have each other.