Can anyone clarify how to identify a song as uptempo or a ballad?

Question:I know this sounds stupid but i cannot figure out any up-tempo songs for my upcoming audition and i think its because i am not sure how fast a song needs to be considered up tempo. I also wanted some examples of up tempo songs in my range (alto) to look at.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I know this sounds stupid but i cannot figure out any up-tempo songs for my upcoming audition and i think its because i am not sure how fast a song needs to be considered up tempo. I also wanted some examples of up tempo songs in my range (alto) to look at.

One would think that this is such an easy question, but it baffles so many of us.

Literally speaking, a ballad is a slow, sometimes dreamy, sometimes romantic, sometimes dramatic song. An up-tempo is a faster, lively, rhythmic song, sometimes a march, sometimes a patter song, etc.

I can best clarify by examples.

Some uptempos:
“Stepsisters’ Lament” – Cinderella (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
“I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy” – South Pacific (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
“Don’t Rain On My Parade” – Funny Girl (Merrill & Styne)
“I Got The Sun In the Morning” – Annie Get Your Gun (Berlin)
“Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm” – How To Succeed… (Loesser)
“Moments In The Woods” – Into The Woods (Sondheim)
“Learn Your Lessons Well” – Godspell (Schwartz)
“I’m Not Waiting” (Lippa)
“Hold On” – The Secret Garden (Norman & Simon)
“The Honeymoon is Over” – I Do! I Do! (Jones & Schmidt)
“Celebrate” – Elegies for Angels, Punks & Raging Queens (Russell & Hood)
"The Miller's Wife" – A Little Night Music (Sondheim)
"Somethin's Gotta Give" – (Porter)

Some ballads:
“They Say It’s Wonderful” – Annie Get Your Gun (Berlin)
“Something Wonderful” – The King & I (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
“My Funny Valentine” – Babes In Arms (Rodgers & Hart)
“The Sweetest Sounds” – No Strings (Rodgers)
“Where Or When” – Babes In Arms (Rodgers & Hart)
“Since You Stayed Here” – Brownstone (Rubins & Larson)
“Sweet Dreams” – It’s Only Life (Bucchino)
“Autumn” – Starting Here, Starting Now (Maltby & Shire)
“I Won’t Mind” – The Other Franklin (Blumenkrantz, Kesser & Saines)
“I’ll Forget You” – cut from The Scarlet Pimpernel (Wildhorn & Knighton)
"Losing My Mind" – Follies (Sondheim)
"The Man That Got Away" – A Star Is Born (Arlen & Gershwin)

If these examples aren't ones you're familiar with, feel free to message me and ask for better examples. :)

If it makes you want to dance, it's uptempo. If it makes you want to kiss someone, it's a ballad.

Give a listen to One Fine Day by Carole King for something uptempo.

In my opinion up tempo doesn't need to be super fast, but still faster than a regular song.
Something that gives you an upbeat feeling.

Ballads are typically slow, but are usually defined by the sappy lyrics and the way of singing, so probably wouldn't come into your situation.