Line #65 Main/QuarrelingSong


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6	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/AnnieGetYourGun https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anythingyoucando.png]]]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350:♫"No, you can't, can't, can't!"\
8	"Yes, I can, can, can, can!"♫]]
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10	->''"When two doughty heroes thunder,\
11	All the world is lost in wonder;\
12	When such men their tempers lose,\
13	Awful are the words they use!"''
14	-->-- Creator/GilbertAndSullivan, finale to Act 1 of ''Theatre/TheGrandDuke''
15
16	A {{Musical}} trope, and subtrope of LetsDuet. Two characters, or occasionally more, get into an argument which they conduct in song, possibly by VolleyingInsults. In keeping with the genre conventions of musicals, the quarrel will normally be a major plot point, else why would it merit a song? A sister trope to CounterpointDuet and CallAndResponseSong, with which it may overlap.
17
18	Although mainly confined to musicals, {{opera}}s and adaptations thereof, a Quarreling Song may appear in other media as part of a MusicalEpisode. A Quarreling Song will rarely, if ever, be a work or episode's only song. BattleRapping can be this.
19
20	----
21	!!Examples:
22
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Advertising]]
26	* Australian UsefulNotes/{{Cricket}} anthem "C'mon Aussie C'mon" is a PatrioticFervor BraggingThemeTune, but some seasons' versions allow the Australan team's opponents to put forth their case as well, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XP1iKhL5yc this one with the West Indies team]].
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Fan Works]]
30	* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73x8V1LrEwI Stayed Gone (Lute & Lilith Ver.)]]'' by [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCouD8uM_hrbWtVdDIWf4LFg MilkyyMelodies]]: A reprise of the canon ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'' number featuring Vox and Alastor, which is sung by Lute and Lilith in Heaven at the ending of Season 1 as they butt heads over Lute's demands that Lilith return to Hell, which Lilith chafes at and threatens Lute for.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
34	* "Humans" from ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToasterGoesToMars'', which is sung between Toaster and Supreme Commander over their opinions of humans and Earth.
35	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZyWuFsGcgg "Life's Too Short"]], a CutSong from the development stages of ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', devolves into an argument between Elsa and Anna about Elsa's AloofBigSister tendencies and Anna's tendencies towards foot-in-mouth syndrome and [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness impulsiveness]].
36	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTimeIVJourneyThroughTheMists'' has "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu5T0t9CKBM Who Needs You]]", which consists of the BigBadDuumvirate griping at each other.
37	* "If I Didn't Have You" from ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot'' where it has the two headed dragon Devon and Cornwall bicker back and forth, [[SnarkToSnarkCombat and throwing snarky comebacks at each other in one verse.]]
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
41	* ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse'' has two of these. The first is "Which Side Are You On?", a duet between Tony and Mr. Savage on whether they should go out and help any stranded survivors outside. The second one is "Give Them A Show", [[spoiler: another duet sung by Anna and Mr. Savage during the climax of the movie, as they argue their own personal philosophies while Anna battles a horde of zombies to save her dad]].
42	* "I Can Do Without You" from ''Film/CalamityJane'' is VolleyingInsults with Bill and Jane.
43	* "A Lovely Night" from ''Film/LaLaLand'' starts with Mia and Sebastian bickering over their [[{{Tsundere}} supposed not-attraction]] to each other.
44	* "Duel Duet" from ''Film/ShockTreatment'', in which Brad and Farley argue that the other one is worthless, giving reasons why.
45	* "Ah Still Suits Me," a ''Theatre/ShowBoat'' MovieBonusSong for the 1936 version. In it, Queenie nags her husband Joe about his persistant laziness, while he laughs it off. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lIOvZXDUAA link]]
46	* Twice in ''Film/SundaySchoolMusical'', first "In My Shows" between Zachary and Aundrea and then "You're Not the Boss" between Miles and Savannah.
47	* "A Fine Romance" in ''Film/SwingTime.'' First Penny criticizes Lucky for not contributing to the relationship; then after he decides to go for it and she snubs him, he returns the sentiment.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
51	* In the MusicalEpisode of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Anya and Xander have a song like this. Most of it consists of complaints.
52	* ''Series/HorribleHistories''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZsueUBvdU Norman family tree song]] is about the conflict between Matilda and Stephen over who would be Henry I's successor.
53	* ''Series/{{Galavant}}'' has "I Don't Like You", between the BigBad and the LoveInterest. A good chunk of it has them BattleRapping and getting some sick burns in.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Music]]
57	* "Lucky Stars" by Music/DeanFriedman is a classic about a couple arguing about his white knight fantasies about saving an ex-girlfriend of his. He thinks he's just being nice, she's thinking the ex is getting in the way. TheyGetBetter by agreeing to forget it.... for the time being.
58	* "The Boy is Mine" by Monica and Music/{{Brandy}}
59	* Also "The Girl is Mine" by [[Music/PaulMcCartney Paul [=McCartney=]]] and Music/MichaelJackson.
60	* "The Irony of It All" by ''TheStreets'' as an argument between the thuggish drinker Terry and the quiet pot-smoker Tim as to which drug, alcohol or weed, causes more problems and is the more deserving to be illegal.
61	* "It Tango" by Music/LaurieAnderson
62	* "Romance Is Boring" by Music/LosCampesinos is a bitter dialogue between two "lovers" -- long past their initial honeymoon period -- who realize how dissatisfied and tired they've become of each other, throwing snarky-to-vitriolic jabs towards their partner for not even attempting to improve their relationship.
63	* "Not In Our House" from ''[[{{Music/Hero}} !HERO: The Rock Opera]]'' is an argument between the main character and Chief Rabbi Kai.
64	* "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Music/{{Gotye}}, specifically Kimbra's rebuttal to the narrator.
65	* "Well It's True That We Love One Another" from ''Music/{{Elephant\|Album}}'' by Music/TheWhiteStripes, where Jack White, Meg White and guest singer Holly Golightly bicker about.
66	* "Fairytale of New York" by Kirsty [=MacColl=] and Music/ThePogues is essentially a blazing row in the form of a song.
67	* "I Need a Little Time" by Music/TheBeautifulSouth consists of the male singer explaining his reasons for needing space in the relationship, and the female singer shooting them down. "I Keep It All In" is about the ''aftermath'' of a blazing row leading to it starting up again.
68	* Music/TheHumanLeague's "Don't You Want Me" is a bitter breakup between a sleazy agent and the starlet he discovered "working as a waitress in a cocktail bar".
69	* "ifuleave" by Musiq Soulchild and Music/MaryJBlige is partially this and partially them agreeing to work things out.
70	* ''Guilty Conscience'' by Music/DrDre and Music/{{Eminem}} is an interesting take on the idea, with the two rappers in the role of the proverbial [[GoodAngelBadAngel angel and devil]] on the shoulder of characters caught up in a variety of situations. Subverted at the end (at least on the uncut version) where [[spoiler:the "angel" Dre agrees with the "Devil" Em that the "protagonist" should kill both his cheating wife and the [[MurderTheHypotenuse guy the protagonist just found her in bed with.]]]]
71	* ''Stuck With You'' by Music/{{Voltaire}} is sung by a recently-married couple who bicker [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple like they've been married far longer]] throughout the song. However, by the end, when they've both died and are in the AfterlifeAntechamber, it turns out [[TheyReallyDoLoveEachOther they actually loved each other quite a lot.]]
72	* "A Reason For It All" by Music/EricBogle and John Munro is two people discussing the death of an old lady, with Eric's character wondering what it all means, and John's replying that bad things just happen.
73	-->'''Eric''': We are not born just so we can die,\
74	There must be an answer and we've gotta try,\
75	To make some sense of it, to try to find a reason for it all.\
76	'''John''': From the moment we're born, we've started to die,\
77	A man can go crazy if he keeps asking why,\
78	That's just how it is, don't look for a reason for it all.
79	* "Baby, It's Cold Outside" written by Frank Loesser, often recorded as a {{Christmas Song\|s}}, gives a flirtatious variant. A guest (dubbed "Mouse" in the score) tries to make excuses to go home, while their host ("Wolf") argues that it's too cold to go outside (the implication being that therefore they should spend the night together).
80	* "Hit the Road Jack" by Music/RayCharles is about a woman arguing with a man that he "ain't got no money" and he "Ain't no good" and thus he should leave. The man argues that she is "the meanest old woman that (he's) ever seen." and she shouldn't "treat (him) this-a way 'Cause (he'll) be back on my feet some day.". He does realize eventually that he lost this argument and accepts that he'll "have to pack (his) things and go.".
81	* "Jackson" a duet by Music/JohnnyCash and his wife June Carter Cash, has Johnny singing about how he will go down to Jackson, Tennessee and make a name for himself and she arguing that all he will do in Jackson is "wreck (his) health" and "Make a big fool of (him)self". She also argues "they'll laugh at (him) in Jackson"  And "lead (him) around town like a scolded hound  With (his) tail hung between your legs", all of which he agues otherwise.
82	* Music/TheLivingTombstone has the song "No Mercy" which is about a male ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' player blaming a female player on his team for causing them to lose because she didn't pick Mercy as her character and the female player responds by making fun of him for getting so mad.
83	* Music/KendrickLamar's "We Cry Together" is an infamously brutal take on the trope, consisting of Kendrick introducing the song as "what the world sounds like," kicking off a loud, messy argument between a couple (played by himself and Taylour Paige). Both of them are so heated and the language so [[ClusterFBomb profane]] and ''angry'' that the only stylisms that keep it a Quarreling ''Song'' is the flow and the fact it rhymes -- it otherwise plays out like a genuinely toxic domestic dispute set to music.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Theater]]
87	* "You're Not Fooling Me" from ''Theatre/OneTenInTheShade'', for Lizzie and Starbuck.
88	* "Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve", from ''[[Theatre/SeventeenSeventySix 1776]]'', towards the end of which John Adams quarrels with his wife Abigail as they correspond through letters. John wants Abigail to organize the local ladies to make saltpeter for the war, while Abigail wants John to do something about the local pin shortage.
89	* "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" from ''Theatre/AnnieGetYourGun'' where Annie and Frank argue about many, many things such as drinking liquor, shooting better, and singing higher.
90	** "Old-Fashioned Wedding", a CounterpointDuet where Frank wants to have a quiet simple wedding and Annie wants it at the Waldorf with all kinds of fancy stuff.
91	* ''Theatre/CesareIlCreatoreCheHaDistrutto'' has a leitmotif of this, with Cesare arguing complex viewpoints against other characters. It first comes up in the classroom scene, where he gets into a debate, first with Giovanni, then with Angelo, about the story of Ugolino from Dante's Inferno. Later, the same melody comes up when he and Giovanni are discussing the merits and drawbacks of their respective positions -- Cesare being noble but illegitimate, Giovanni being rich but without title. Near the end, when Giovanni is being questioned in order to become a cardinal, Cesare brings up points he discussed in the previous scene when they were alone, and plays devil's advocate, making Giovanni defend himself. He's gained just enough depth to do it, but the 1990's-ballad style of his solo shows that he's still more or less an airhead.
92	* ''{{Theatre/Chess}}'': "A model of decorum and tranquility" is a four-way argument between Florence, defending Freddie's walk-out, Molokov harshly attacking the American, Anatoly trying to hold Molokov back but showing concern for the integrity of his opponent and the competition, and the Arbiter, who is just trying to get the match back on track.
93	* In ''Theatre/CityOfAngels'', "You're Nothing Without Me" has Stine trying to put Stone back in his fictional place and Stone countering that Stine is living proof that WritersSuck.
94	* "Fandango" from ''Theatre/CloserThanEver'' has a {{Yuppie}} couple arguing over whose career is more important and which of them ought to look after the baby.
95	* ''Theatre/{{Evita}}'' has a lot: "Eva, Beware of the City": Eva wants to go to the Big City, Magaldi says she's too young. "A New Argentina": Eva thinks her husband should be politically ambitious, he's less sure. "The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)": Aristocrats don't approve of the lower-class Eva. "Waltz for Eva and Che" has Eva arguing with her narrator about whether the ends justify the means.
96	* The Act 1 finale in ''Theatre/TheGrandDuke'' centers around a staged quarrel of the VolleyingInsults type, sung in duet with chorus, between the titular Grand Duke and a man who is scheming to overthrow him. This leads to an equally staged [[CookingDuel nonlethal duel]], which in turn sets the stage for the events of Act II.
97	* "Fugue for Tinhorns" from ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'' is three guys arguing about the different tips they have on horse racing.
98	* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' has several (probably not surprising, considering [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderHamilton the protagonist's]] [[HotBlooded personality]]):
99	** Cabinet Battle #1 and Cabinet Battle #2 are classic BattleRapping between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about federal debt assumption and America's foreign policy of neutrality, respectively (It's SugarWiki/BetterThanItSounds).
100	** "Meet Me Inside" is an argument between George Washington and Hamilton about military command (and [[YoureNotMyFather Hamilton's daddy issues]]).
101	** "Your Obedient Servant" is the PassiveAggressiveKombat version of this between Hamilton and Aaron Burr.
102	** "Farmer Refuted" has Hamilton trying to debate Samuel Seabury and his opposition to the revolutionary war, but when the guy just keeps repeating himself without responding to him Hamilton gets bored and just starts mocking him outright instead.
103	* "Your Fault" from ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' has all the fairy-tale characters arguing in a PatterSong.
104	* There was also a song called "Confrontation" in ''Theatre/JekyllAndHyde'' where Jekyll and Hyde argue over who should be in control of their body. An interesting scene to watch, as Jekyll and Hyde are played by the same actor.
105	* ''Theatre/JesusChristSuperstar'': in "Everything's Alright", Mary Magdalene tries to stop Jesus and Judas from arguing, telling Jesus to relax. Judas says that they should be helping the poor instead of relaxing. Mary tries to get Jesus to ignore him, but he won't. And then the same thing happens during "The Last Supper", with Jesus shrieking for Judas to get out, and Judas, needing the last word, giving him a few lines of the title song, the solo he'll sing once they're both dead.
106	* In the song "See I'm Smiling" from ''Theatre/TheLastFiveYears'' Cathy argues with Jamie about how he never seems to have time for her anymore.
107	* In ''Theatre/{{Lestat}}'', TheMusical of ''Film/InterviewWithTheVampire'' and ''The Vampire Lestat'', "Embrace It" is an argument song between Louis and Lestat about giving in to vampirism.
108	* "Confrontation" from ''Theatre/LesMiserables''. Javert has come to take Valjean to prison but Valjean has to find Cosette.
109	* ''Theatre/MidnightChannelTheMusical'' has a rare five-way example in "Captain, Oh Captain", where the heroes argue over whether or not to kill Namatame.
110	* ''Theatre/NatashaPierreAndTheGreatCometOf1812'' has a couple:
111	** "Sonya & Natasha", where Sonya tries to convince Natasha to be rational and not [[FourthDateMarriage run off with a strange man she barely knows]].
112	** "Pierre & Anatole", where Pierre tries to convince [[TheCasanova Anatole]] to leave Moscow to save [[TheIngenue Natasha's]] reputation.
113	* "All Or Nothing" from ''Theatre/{{Oklahoma}}'', Will and Ado Annie argue about her being a {{Good Bad Girl}}.
114	* Jason and Claire bicker on the way to visit Claire's cousin in the song "Fine" from ''Theatre/OrdinaryDays''. It ends with [[SlapSlapKiss him proposing]].
115	* ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'' has two operatic quarreling duets:
116	** The first act has "Oh, false one, you have deceived me," for Frederick and Ruth, when he realizes that she is old and no longer beautiful, which is treated as SeriousBusiness.
117	** The second act has "Stay, Frederick, stay," in which Mabel unsuccessfully tries to persuade Frederick from putting HonorBeforeReason and making a FaceHeelTurn.
118	* ''Theatre/PokemonLive'' has "You Just Can't Win," sung by Ash and Giovanni. After Pikachu's defeated, Ash tries to fight Giovanni himself, leading to a fistfight/argument.
119	* In ''Theatre/PokemonTheMewsical'', Ash and his rival, Gary, have at least three arguing songs.
120	* "Another Day" from ''Theatre/{{Rent}}''. Mimi wants to go out and party with Roger and some heroin, but he wants to stay home and brood with his guitar. Also "Take Me Or Leave Me". Maureen is slutty and her girlfriend Joanne is controlling.
121	* "I Think I Got You Beat" from ''Theatre/ShrekTheMusical'' is an argument between Princess Fiona and Shrek over [[MiseryPoker who had the most unhappy childhood]].
122	* ''Song And Dance'' has several, including the oft-reprised "Take That Look Off Your Face", though this is a one-woman show and all the responses to her arguments are unheard by the audience.
123	* The ''Theatre/{{Titanic}}'' musical has "The Blame", in which the captain, designer and owner of the ship argue over who is most responsible for the situation they're in.
124	* The "Act One Finale" from ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'' has [[WideEyedIdealist Bobby]] insisting that the poor have a right to pee for free, while [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Mr. Cladwell]] argues that doing so would dry up the water supply and cause worse suffering in the future.
125	* "A Boy Like That / I Have a Love" from ''Film/WestSideStory1961'' - Anita warns Maria that white boys are no good in the wake of [[spoiler:Tony's killing of Bernardo]], but Maria loves Tony.
126	* ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'':
127	** "What Is This Feeling?": Glinda and Elphaba, who really dislike each other, have just learned they're going to be roommates at campus.
128	** The beginning of "Defying Gravity" starts with Glinda furious at Elphaba for running off and ruining her chance with the Wizard, while Elphaba is furious at her for being willing to support him in exchange for power.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Video Games]]
132	* In ''VideoGame/StrayGods'', the Freddie and Pan song revolves around Freddie and Pan both vying for Grace's favor in a duet. Grace can choose one or the other, or reject both.
133	[[/folder]]
134
135	[[folder:Web Original]]
136	* ''WebVideo/RandomEncounters'' has "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8zk_8uRLQk Medics Don't Heal Scouts"]], which is about a [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Scout trying to convince a Medic]] to heal her, while he claims she's not worth his time.
137	* In "Better Than You" from ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'', the two counselors argue about which one of them is better suited for the counselor's job.
138	* The full album version of "Red Like Roses, Pt. II" from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', the daughter being bitter about her mother's death and the late mother trying to justify herself. Furthermore, [[RealitySubtext the singers are mother and daughter in real life.]]
139	* ''WebAnimation/IfTheEmperorHadATextToSpeechDevice'' features one in episode 28 between [[spoiler: Kitten - backed by his assembled forces - and the Fabricator-General]].
140	* For the second entry in Robbie Daymond's "Cover Quest" series, he and Xander Mobus covered [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlmZKvvMbEw "You're Nothing Without Me"]] (see Theater above).
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Western Animation]]
144	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': In "[[Recap/AnimaniacsEpisode69 I'm Mad]]", Dot and Yakko argue, and with them being Warner siblings, they of course do it in song.
145	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Centaurworld}}'': In "[[Recap/CentaurworldS1E2FragileThings Fragile Things]]", the titular song begins with Wammawink singing that she has to protect her herd, but Horse argues that they can protect themselves. The song turns into an argument about what's best for the herd and which of them should be the leader.
146	* ''WesternAnimation/CentralPark'':
147	** "[[Recap/CentralParkS1E3HatLuncheon Hat Luncheon]]": In "The Park Is Mine", Bitsy gets the politicians and socialites into a musical argument over the Park League's contract being frozen by city hall.
148	** "[[Recap/CentralParkS1E6RivalBusker Rival Busker]]": Griffin and Birdie sings "Too Close", where Griffin argues that Birdie's "way too close" to the Tillermans and should keep himself at a distance, giving examples of how getting "too close" physically (a window washer and an undressed person on the other side of the glass) or emotionally (a farmer's son who loves a pig that ends up being taken away by the father to be slaughtered for bacon) leads to discomfort and heartbreak. Birdie claims that none of the examples apply to him, the Tillermans are his family, and that he’s "never too close".
149	* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'':
150	** "Radio Killed the Video Star" has [[https://youtu.be/MzUCtEwkXu8?si=xGvFhgv6bLwD0EYF Stayed Gone]], in which Vox reacts to Alastor's return by putting out a news report claiming the older demon Overlord is a washed-up hack, while Alastor puts out his own radio broadcast that manages to provoke a blackout-inducing temper tantrum from Vox in just a couple verses.
151	** "Scrambled Eggs" has [[https://youtu.be/0OP3IJREkW0?si=1bvGyCeeUCcsLLES Respectless]] where Velvette tries to goad the Overlords into open war with the Exorcists while Carmilla advises caution and dismisses her as an arrogant upstart.
152	** "Dad Beat Dad" has Hell's Greatest Dad, which starts as Lucifer singing about how he can help his daughter Charlie before Alastor butts in and starts competing for the role of "father figure". [[spoiler: Towards the end, things have degenerated enough that they're on the brink of simply trading insults when a new figure, Mimsy, intrudes and promptly hijacks the song into her introducing herself as having arrived]].
153	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': "Your Heart Is in Two Places" from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E6SurfAndOrTurf Surf and/or Turf]]" has Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle disagree over which should be Terramar's permanent place of residence: Seaquestria or Harmonizing Heights.
154	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': In "Which Moon is Best?", Carrot and Celery argue, in song, about which moon is better -- Enceladus or Europa.
155	[[/folder]]

Context Main / QuarrelingSong