Songs to sing for a talent show?

[Eldora]

I have to start practicing my song for the school talent show in October.

Thing is, I have no clue what to sing!

I need something that I can play piano two. I have a pretty good reach on the piano, and can learn things fairly quickly. However, I can't read sheet music very well, and have no funds for sheet music to begin with.

I'd like to have something soft, but maybe something sort of like Fiona Apple or Muse or Evanescence. Extra points for jazziness or quirkiness or songs that require the singer to have a pretty good range -- I like to show off, lol. Something pretty popular, so someone will actually know what I'm singing this year.

I like pretty much any kind of music, and I can add my own twists to music to make it suit me more if I like the song well enough.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[lazy daze]

If you like Evanescence, try Lithium, Call Me When You're Sober, The Last Song I'm Wasting on You, or Good Enough. The first two are available as acoustics, which means that they're just amazing Amy Lee singing and playing piano. The Last Song I'm Wasting on You has a pretty wide vocal range, and it's really good as far as just...singing goes

[eunoia]

If you're looking for something kind of different, try listening to "Skinny Love" (I prefer the cover by Birdy, although the original is great, too) or "Turn to Stone" by Ingrid Michaelson. I don't guess those songs are well known, though both require some range and sound great accompanied by the piano. I know "If I Die Young" by the Band Perry is a bit country, but it is such an open song that you could take anywhere, especially with the piano.

If you want a bit of quirk with some shock factor, take a page from Dia Frampton's book--her cover of Kanye West's "Heartless" is both unexpected and brilliant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEuST9BbRvk Not a great deal of range in this song, but that's only an example of what kind of fun you could have, the idea being that you can take ANY song and make it yours.

I'd suggest, honestly, you go with something that is either not (as) well-known or can provide that shock--what fun is it for the audience to hear a top 40 song exactly like you'd hear on the radio? There are some great sites where you can find new music (YouTube of course) like We Are Hunted. Good luck!

Edit: As an afterthought, Azure Ray might be worth a listen, too. (:

[TheBabyEater]

Do a female version of this

Or this. You could make the chords last longer, since it'd sound awkward without the drums. I think it'd be complete class, a hit that everyone would both recognize, enjoy, and laugh with. Has a good vocal range later on in the song anyway toward the end. (Where you'll need to beep yourself for extra, G rated giggles. )

This is a good, notable piano song as well. Not sure on the showing off vocal range though. Has some nice whistling though.

[Eldora]

Well, after a long period of contemplation, I've decided I'm going to finish the song I wrote about a year ago, and sing something of my own. I've already got the lyrics for the chorus finished; I just need the verses. And I need to add some more frills to the piano accompaniment, and I'm currently working on a piano solo, as well.

I forgot to say something, too: My main goal with the talent show this year is not winning (though that would be nice), but showing off for the school in the hopes of impressing future band members -- as I want to start a band of my own. I think the best thing to go with, for that purpose, would be something that I myself wrote. To show people that I really can write music.

[eunoia]

Good luck, that's awesome! I hope we get to hear it? *hint*

[Eldora]

Hehe, I'll post it as soon as I get it finished. I'm really excited about this.