The song that even its lyricist found embarrassing
In short: A masterpiece of musical theater, "Somewhere" is a duet of hope from the 1957 musical West Side Story. Yet, despite its status as an American classic, its lyricist Stephen Sondheim famously expressed dissatisfaction with the words, even calling them "embarrassing" due to a specific rhythmic flaw.
Composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim for the 1957 Broadway debut of West Side Story, "Somewhere" serves as a pivotal duet. In the stage production, the song follows "I Feel Pretty" and provides a moment of hope for Maria and Tony. Interestingly, the original stage direction by Arthur Laurents suggested the scene be a ballet, but Bernstein's melody was so compelling that it was transformed into a song. To avoid distracting from the dance, Jerome Robbins requested it be sung from off-stage, though it is eventually reprised by the full company. In the original Broadway production, Reri Grist performed the piece as the character Consuelo. Later, Maria sings a few lines as Tony dies in her arms.
The song's melodic DNA is a subject of musical observation. Both composer Edward Barnes and critic Alex Ross have pointed out how the melody echoes various classical pieces: Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto slow movement, the second theme in Richard Strauss's Burleske for piano and orchestra, and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake main theme's second part. The melody's structure has also been noted for its resemblance to the second theme of Strauss's Burleske.
The song has left a massive cultural footprint, appearing in film versions in 1961 and 2021. Its enduring legacy is reflected in various accolades, including a 2004 ranking by AFI where it reached #20 on their list of the top 100 songs in American cinema. It has been covered by a vast array of artists, from Barbra Streisand and the Supremes to Phil Collins and Pet Shop Boys, proving its versatility across genres ranging from disco to jazz. The Pet Shop Boys' disco version reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, the song was included in a 2026 list of essential American tunes by CBS News.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Somewhere (song)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-somewhere-song.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Stage musicals · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
