Top Ten Requests - Rock n Roll Showtunes

Today marks the 75th anniversary of one of the most beloved musical films of all time - The Wizard Of Oz. In honor of this classic, and the many other musicals it spawned (The Wiz, Wicked) this week's top ten list delves into that dangerous arena for the Dueling Pianos shows and piano bars around the country - Rock N Roll show tunes.

Dueling Pianos excels at the Rock N Roll songbook, and the traditional piano bar (especially here in NYC) eats its lunch in the standards of American musical theater, but when the two genres crossover, the results can be ummm...interesting.

Many dueling shows will not tread into the realm of Broadway, and the classic piano bar songbook shrieks in horror when confronted with an 80s rock staple.

So, here are those songs that seem to find one foot in each world, with an occasional ruby slipper.

#10 - DEFYING GRAVITY - Wicked

Might as well kick things off with Dorothy's latest descendants - the lovely ladies of Wicked, and the showstopping anthem made famous by Idina Menzel. While this one doesn't show up at Dueling Pianos shows all that much, it's never dull when two (usually) dudes have to belt this one out.

#9 - UNDER THE SEA - The Little Mermaid

Okay, okay, so technically this is more calypso than rock, but hey, at least it's not a waltz (ahem, ahem, piano man...) and if you squint your eyes, this song is practically RING OF FIRE. Sorta.

#8 - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL, PART 2 - The Wall

While this one won't show up too often at the neighborhood piano bar, get some teachers a martini or two and this song is definitely going to be on the playlist. And when else do we get to ponder the eternal question - If you don't eat your meat, how can you have any pudding?

#7 - TEAR ME DOWN/ORIGINS OF LOVE - Hedwig & the Angry Inch

Haven't heard these two songs yet? Give it a little time. With the success of Neil Patrick Harris and the Broadway run of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, these songs will show up more and more at the dueling pianos bar. Punk rock showtunes. It's the other white meat.

#6 - YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - Grease

The battle of the sexes continues in the most popular rock musical of all time - Grease. The gals like pretending they're Olivia Newton John all tarted up in skintight black. And the men like thinking they're John Travolta, being serenaded by a gal in skintight black. Win. Win.

#5 - LET IT GO - Frozen

Yeah, this is a movie musical. For now. But this song has taken over the piano books of singalong aficionados nation-wide, and has earwormed it's way into every piano player I know. This song is not going away. Possibly ever. But on the bright side, it makes a great mashup with DON'T STOP BELIEVIN. Or LET IT BE. Or WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. Or any other Axis Of Awesome song. And it's Idina Menzel's second appearance on this list.

#4 - SEASONS OF LOVE - Rent

Holy Idina Menzel hat-trick. And a sentimental favorite for spontaneous singalongs, wherever you happen to be.

#3 - PINBALL WIZARD - Tommy

The master of the rock opera, Pete Townshend gives us this ode to those kids who lose their minds inside the machinery of the pinball game, and give up any interest in interpersonal connection or communication. Just think of it as a really big iphone.

#2 - TIME WARP - Rocky Horror Picture Show

There are few songs that catch fire in a piano bar faster than this one. Everyone can sing the chorus, and do the dance. And it all begins with a jump to the left...

And the undisputed #1 -

SUMMER NIGHTS - Grease

Grease is still the word. And piano players have known it for more than thirty years.

#topten #requests #showtunes #littlemermaid #underthesea #pinkfloyd #anotherbrickinthewall #thewall #hedwigandtheangryinch #tearmedown #originoflove #idinamenzel #wicked #defyinggravity #rent #seasonsoflove #tommy #pinballwizard #grease #youretheonethatiwant #summernights #timewarp #rockyhorror #duelingpianos #pianobar