Musical/Structural Outline

Title	Lyrical content/the meaning	Character(s) singing	Brief musical description/related material
Move (You’re Stepin’ on My Heart)	Song Dreamlette’s sing in talent show	Effie, Deena, Lorrell	Repeated motives, the word,“move” is emphasized and repeated several times, fast, steady tempo
Fake Your Way to the Top	First song Jimmy Early and the Dreamlette’s sing together	Jimmy, Effie, Deena, Lorrell	Tempo and rhythm start slow and then get faster, male soloist and female chorus
Cadilac Car	First hit single that the Dreamlette’s that makes it to the top of the charts	Curtis, Jimmy, C.C. and Marty, Effie, Deena, Lorrell	Dialogue in the beginning, polyphony and polyrhythm because there are several layers.
Steppin’ to the Bad Side	This is the 2nd pop hit.  This song includes dialogue- speaking as disc jockeys on the radio.	Curtis, Jimmy, Wayne, C.C., Effie, Deena, Lorrell and company	Polyrhythm, polyphony, complex texture, “step” is punctuated in this song
Family	Effie does not like the idea of Deena being the lead singer instead of her.  Jimmy, the male soloist, is staying that it’s not about what she wants or what he wants.  They are doing what is best for the group.	Curtis, Jimmy, C.C., Effie, Deena and Lorrell	Dialogue in the beginning, slow tempo and rhythm, piano is heard, mainly male soloist is the vocal timbre, female soloist had harmony, chorus joins in
Dreamgirls	This is the theme song.  The Dreamlette’s sing this expressing who they are- the Dreamgirls.  They can make you happy and make your dreams come true.	Effie, Deena, Lorrell	Fast, upbeat tempo and rhythm.  Repeated motives, repeated melody, “We are Dreamgirls” is the most memorable repeated phrase in this song.  This song is sung in the last scene at the end.
Press Conference	The press wants to meet the Dreamgirls after their first single, Dreamgirls, is released.	Deena, Curtis and company	Polyrhythm and polyphony, starts with chorus singing, first male has melody, then female has the melody
And I’m Not Tellin’ You I’m Not Going	Effie expresses her strong determination to stay a part of the Dreams.  She does not want to leave the group.  She also does not want Curtis to move on from her and start a relationship with Deena.  She wants him to still love her.	Effie	Female soloist is accompanied by strings, brass and piano, slow, steady tempo-then it picks up, then slows down again, disjunct melody, wide range in soloist’s voice
When I first Saw You	Curtis is singing to Deena telling her not to leave him.  She is his “dream.”  Deena is singing to Curtis saying that she has her own dream-to become an actress.	Curtis and Deena	Male soloist alone and then with female soloist accompanied by piano and brass instruments, slow rhythm, smooth
I Am Changing	Effie is singing about her return to the stage.  She is making a show business comeback after taking a break and being home with her daughter in Chicago.	Effie	Slow, steady tempo and rhythm in beginning but then gets faster, female soloist is accompanied by piano and strings, wide range in voice, complex texture, polyrhythm, polyphony, “I am changing”- memorable phrase
Ain’t No Party	Lorrell and Jimmy get in a fight over their relationship.  Lorrell wants to know where they are in their relationship.  Is Jimmy going to tell his wife about their affair?	Lorrell and Jimmy	Fast, upbeat tempo, female soloist sings with accompaniment, “Ain’t no party” is the memorable phrase, repeated motives
I Meant No Harm	Jimmy apologizes to Lorrell and ends up getting emotional about it.  He confessed that she is the only woman he has ever loved.	Jimmy	Starts with brass instrument solo, then male soloist sings the whole time, slow tempo throughout
The Rap	Jimmy interrupts I Meant No Harm with this song.  The last song was too sad.  This more upbeat.	Jimmy	Emphasis on the percussion keeping the fast, steady pulse, male soloist heard throughout, short phrases
Firing of Jimmy	Curtis is firing Jimmy because he has displayed inappropriate behavior; he pulled down his pants while performing.  Jimmy is trying to defend himself.  Lorrell is breaking up with him.	Jimmy, Curtis, Lorrell and company	Call and response between soloists throughout, steady pulse held by percussion, dialogue
I Miss You Old Friend	C.C. apologizes to Effie, his sister, and wants her to come back and sing with them.	Les Styles, C.C., Effie	Call and response between male and female soloists, soloists sing together
One Night Only	This is originally C.C.’s song.  She is singing about only having one chance.  There is only one night “to give.”  “Something so right has no chance to live.”  Enjoy it while it lasts.	Effie and Company	Starts with a slow rhythm and tempo, then gets faster and more upbeat, “One night only”- most memorable phrase, soloist’s voice has wide range
Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love	The Dream’s farewell performance, they reflect on their fun times singing together.  The Dreams  are breaking up.	Deena, Lorrell and Michelle	Upbeat, steady pulse held by percussion, female vocalists sing same melody repeatedly