NOTE: You'll need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view the sample arrangements
| Song Title | Description | Categories | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bigger Isn't Better | From "Barnum." Most clever lyrics you'll ever sing. Perfect if you've got a short guy who doesn't mind being kidded. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| Brigadoon Medley | All the great tunes of this musical - a tour de force and not for the light of lung. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, difficult | |
| By the Time I Get to Phoenix | Jimmy Webb favorite from the 70's. Strong bass pulse and neutral syllables, melody in baritone. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, moderately easy | |
| Dream a Little Dream of Me | Depends on rhythmic propellants. | novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, moderately difficult | |
| Exodus | Stirring patriotic song. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| God Bless the Human Elbow | Barbershop in a Baroque harmonization. "If it bent too long we'd be dry, I fear; if it bent too short we'd be drinking through our ear" | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, easy | |
| Goody, Goody | Peformers must have a strong sense of syncopation. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, moderately difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| Goofus | Unskilled musician makes it big. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, easy | View Sample (PDF) |
| Grizzly Bear | How to do one of those crazy dances of the 20's. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately easy | |
| Hand Medley | A marvelous intertwining of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand" | up-tune, novelty/show tune, strongly rhythmic, difficult | |
| Hour-Month-Day Medley | I love you/I fall in love with you every day. There's not an instant of time I'm not in love with you! | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately difficult | |
| If There's Anybody Here from My Home Town | Step up! | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| I'm in the Mood for Love | Bass melody almost all the way. Got a bass who wants to project an Iglesias-type image? | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| I'm Making a Study of Beautiful Girls (and I'm Still in My Abc'S) | A lot to this powerhouse ... need leather lungs! | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, difficult | |
| In My Harem | Very early Irving Berlin. This guy's got lots of girls. Clever and amusing lyric. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately easy | |
| It's a Sin to Tell a Lie | Patter chorus second time. Arranger's delight. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| King of the Road | Remember this Roger Miller tune? "I'm a man of means by no means." Great rhythm number, finger snaps, etc. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, moderately difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| Let Me Be There | On-beat bass accents strong syncopation in other parts. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, moderately difficult | |
| Maharajah of Magador, The | Needs tenor with reedy voice who can project; lots of bass melody. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| Makin' Love Ukelele Style | Have one or more play the uke - chord symbols provided. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately easy | |
| Man on the Flying Trapeze, The | Very easy.... make something of it! | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, easy | |
| Milwaukee's Finest | A tribute to the beers that made Milwaukee famous ... familiar commercial melodies. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| Muppet Show Theme | Open your act with this; all the "boomers" know it! | up-tune, novelty/show tune, show closer, moderately easy | View Sample (PDF) |
| My Sugar Is So Refined | Very much like the Hi-Los! did it. Demanding. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, strongly rhythmic, difficult | |
| Naughty Lady of Shady Land, The | And she's only ten days old! Remember when the Ames Brothers did this? | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| Oklahoma Medley | All the great tunes from this classic musical. Be prepared to sing seven minutes straight. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, difficult | |
| Old Man River | Bass melody most of the way. Got a bass who can do it justice? Rangy (bass low F to D). | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | View Sample (PDF) |
| Once in Love With Amy | Great bass propellants. Soft shoe. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| Play Ball! | Great to start a baseball game ... have your chours or quartet sing it right after the Star Spangled Banner! | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately easy | |
| Portrait of My Love | Tenor melody. Got a tenor with a solo voice? | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately easy | |
| Tain't No Sin | ... To take off your skin and dance around in your bones. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately easy | |
| Take Me Out to the Ball Game | Delays words on second chorus | up-tune, easy, novelty/show tune | |
| Thank You World | Gospel-like, the Statler Brothers did this. Melody passed around so requires four strong voices. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, difficult | |
| There's No Business Like Show Business | This one sparkles! Great to open your show. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, show opener, easy | |
| They Say It's Wonderful | From "Annie Get Your Gun" Great Berlin ballad—a sleeper. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| This Little Light of Mine | Starts easy, ends driving. Great gospel. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, easy | |
| Twelve Days after Christmas, The | Spoof on the more familiar Twelve Days of Christmas. Clever. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, easy | |
| Unchained Melody | Shows off the lead. Opportunities for stylizing. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately easy | |
| When the Bell in the Lighthouse Rings | Great song to show off your bass. Low E or E-flat required. | ballad/up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, moderately difficult | |
| Who? | Jerome Kern's. Captivating patter in second chorus. | up-tune, novelty/show tune, not contestable, difficult | |
| You Gotta Have Skin | Parody on "You Gotta Have Heart." | novelty/show tune, contestable, moderately easy | |
| You'll Never Walk Alone | Lead down to C and up to G. Very effective if done just right. | ballad, novelty/show tune, not contestable, show closer, moderately easy |
Note: Questions about contestability of arrangements should be directed to a qualified Music category judge. Standards are constantly changing, so ask before you sing!
Updated 5/2008