In honor of Cats coming out this weekend, I decided to dive back into my Broadway playlist, aptly titled “Broadway SING IT.” Often I judge a musical based on how many songs I want to go home and listen to again right after having just seen it; those are the songs that usually end up on this playlist. In order to try to fairly assess my feelings about the musicals, I decided to see how many songs from each musical I actually have and rank them that way. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to a lot of Broadway plays but that doesn’t mean all of them will necessarily be on this list if I wasn’t quite obsessed with the music enough to add them (sorry Come From Away, Aladdin, Hadestown, School of Rock, etc…). Doesn’t mean I didn’t love those musicals or experiences, I just don’t want to scream the music in my shower on a daily basis.
11. Mean Girls
Songs On My Playlist: I’d Rather Be Me (1)
Total Songs on the Album: 21
Spotlight Song: I’d Rather Be Me
There is only song on the album where someone really got to show off their voice and I’m thankful it was by the woman who played Janis (Barrett Wilbert Weed). A song that you can tell the writer was like “this is going to be an Anthem” which it was. A fight song for the unfair things women have to deal with and how we’re taught to react / behave when we’re young.
General Commentary: I know only one song is really low, but this musical just didn’t have the best music. This doesn’t mean I didn’t love it, because I actually did. However, I think that’s more because I love the movie Mean Girls. It has its own jokes too – I love the “I’m Regina George and I’m a massive deal” – it just felt true to the character and made the whole theater laugh, but it just wasn’t the best song. Would recommend this play to anyone who loves Mean Girls, but I wouldn’t expect Wicked-esque talent.
10. Phantom of the Opera
Songs On My Playlist: All I Ask Of You, The Point of No Return, The Mirror, The Music of the Night (4)
Total Songs on the Album: 14
Spotlight Song: All I Ask Of You
There’s nothing more I love than a bursting key change final chorus in a Broadway show. Something I love about the theater is that it gives extremely talented performers the chance to completely show off their voices. Often, normal music doesn’t provide that burst of all out performance. This play is extremely dark and twisted but it’s also extremely romantic. This song, and specifically the reprise when the Phantom is begging Christine to be with him instead of Raoul, encapsulates this play so well. Deep pain in the form of soaring music is perhaps not seen anywhere better than in this song in this play.
General Commentary: One of the first musicals I fell in love with. I actually saw the 2004 movie first before seeing it on Broadway. The Broadway experience was special though. The set design was complete with the crashing chandelier over the audience’s head and to hear the songs in person was so much more powerful. It’s just worth noting that Andrew Lloyd-Webber can create a story through song like no one else.
9. The Lion King
Songs on My Playlist: I Just Can’t Wait To Be King, Circle of Life, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, He Lives In You (Reprise) (4)
Total Songs on the Album: 18
Spotlight Song: He Lives In You (Reprise)
Often times when someone is recreating something you love, you don’t want things to change because you’re so used to it being a certain way. Obviously The Lion King was a movie before it was a Broadway play. “He Lives in You” is a song created by the Broadway musical, not the movie and yet it’s my favorite song in the musical. I’m simply am a sucker for a gigantic chorus, backup vocals, repeating verses over each other. This song has all of that and makes the musical stand out in my mind.
General Commentary: This is the first Broadway play I ever went to and it has a special place in my heart because of that. I remember sitting on the aisle seat when I was 8 years old and the hyenas came crawling down the aisle and one shook his head in my face and I shrieked in fear and made my mom switch places with me. I find it difficult to relate as much to the Broadway versions of the music because the movie versions are so ingrained in my mind, which is why there aren’t more songs on this particular playlist. I have essentially the whole movie soundtrack on my Disney playlist, but that’s a different story. It’s the perfect play to attend with a family or if you’re a new to Broadway because it puts a fun, authentic twist on a familiar story.
8. In the Heights
Songs On My Playlist: In the Heights, Benny’s Dispatch, When You’re Home, 96,000, Blackout, When the Sun Goes Down (6)
Total Songs on the Album: 27
Spotlight Song: In The Heights
This song is an incredible introduction to the characters, the style of music, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the story as a whole. Miranda is able to immediately set the tone for the rest of the musical, demonstrating his ability to fuse different styles of music into something magical to the ear that hasn’t been heard exactly like this before. The Latin overtones mixed with some rap and upbeat pop music is singular to Lin-Manuel and is such a joy to listen to. Plus, he essentially gives the whole mission statement for the story and the characters; his community has something to stand and sing for: each other, their dreams, and their music.
General Commentary
This is the only musical on this list that I have not seen in person. As you’ll come to read if you stick with me through the end of this article, I am obsessed with Miranda. In The Heights was the first work of his to reach Broadway and ran from 2007-2011. Unfortunately I didn’t see it in then, but I have listened to the soundtrack a lot after discovering my love for Lin after seeing Hamilton, and there are a lot of familiar names. One is Christopher Jackson, who plays George Washington in the original version of Hamilton and plays Benny in the original version of In The Heights. I am absolutely in love with his voice and attitude and pretty much all the songs I included on this playlist have him singing. Clearly Lin is loyal to talented people who believe in each other. In The Heights is being turned into a movie and will be released June 2020. I have watched the trailer approximately 96,000 times – pun intended. The movie will star Anthony Ramos as Usnavi (played by Lin himself in the original version of the Broadway play), who is Phillip Hamilton / John Laurens in the original version of Hamilton. Moral of the story is there’s no one more fun and talented at telling stories in such a modern way and I can’t wait to see this movie so I can fully experience the characters that I’ve come to love through the music. *I reserve the right to add more songs and move this up the list once this movie comes out.
7. Cats
Songs On My Playlist: Prologue: Jellicle Song for Jellicle Cats, The Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Memory, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, The Journey to the Heaviside Layer (6)
Total Songs on Album: 21
Spotlight Song: Memory
Is there any other option here? This is the most famous song from this musical for a reason. Andrew Lloyd-Webber induces that haunting beauty that can’t help but show itself in all his work. Having been ostracized by her fellow Jellicle cats, Grizabella looks back on her life as a once glamorous cat, providing the climax of the entire musical.
General Commentary
People don’t understand this musical as there isn’t a strict plot. The musical is based on the poet T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”. Despite its unusual premise, and Twitter’s insistence that no one even likes Cats that much, the play ran for 21 years in London’s West End and for 18 years on Broadway in New York. The musical won 2 Olivier Awards (British Theater Awards) in 1981, including Best New Musical and won 7 Tony’s (American Theater Awards) in 1983 including Best Musical. The soundtrack even won a Grammy. The changing tones of the musical, from upbeat songs like “Rum Tum Tugger” to softer, darker songs like “Old Deuteronomy”, the musical is extremely fun and gives you something new with each cat that we meet. I can’t wait for the movie.
6. The Book of Mormon
Songs On My Playlist: Hello!, Two by Two, You and Me (But Mostly Me), Hasa Diga Eebowai, Sal Tlay Ka Siti, I Believe, Baptize Me, I Am Africa (8)
Total Songs on the Album: 16
Spotlight Song: Baptize Me
This play introduced many to the genius hilarity of Josh Gad, who originated the role of Elder Cunningham, the annoying and slightly obnoxious sidekick to Elder Price, the supposed golden boy of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Although everyone now knows Gad as Olaf from Frozen, I really like his work on this soundtrack. This song makes me laugh every time I listen to it while also having a great beat with the ability to really sing too. “Baptize Me” is a play on losing your virginity, with the character’s singing that they’re “so happy you’re about to be my first”. Featuring hilarious lines like “I’m wet with salvation, we just went all the way” while being expertly sung, this song is one of my favorites.
General Commentary
In a play that feels comfortable calling God a cunt, not much was off limits in this depiction of two Mormons going on mission in Africa. South Park creators Trey Parker and Max Stone wrote this musical with their familiar brand of “we make fun of everyone equally so no one can be offended” comedy. With enough innuendos to make anyone blush, I’m pretty sure there is no other play like it, nor will there ever be. This musical is not only supremely funny, entertaining and inappropriate, but also has excellent music really allowing the performers show off their range in almost every song.
5. Chicago
Songs On My Playlist: Cell Block Tango, We Both Reached For The Gun, When You’re Good to Mama, Roxie, I Can’t Do It Alone, Mister Cellophane, Razzle Dazzle, Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag (8)
Total Songs on the Album: 18
Spotlight Song: Cell Block Tango
This has always been my favorite song – it’s the telling of the stories of all the inmates Chicago’s women’s prison at the time. In Chicago in the 1920’s the city’s newspaper was littered with salacious stories of women committing homicides, and the musical uses this time period and satirizes the corruption of the justice system and the notion of a “celebrity prisoner”. Some might say this issue is still extremely timely. Each story is about how the man in their lives did them wrong and that no one else would hold them accountable besides themselves, with the conclusion for each being “if you’d have been there, if you’d have seen it, I bet you, you would have done the same.” I’ve seen the movie a million times, as it is one of my favorites, but it’s even more fun to see this scene in person. The outfits are incredible and the set is completely red with each woman a silhouette, dancing in a jail cell.
General Commentary: Chicago first debuted on Broadway in 1975 with its initial run only lasting two years; it was revived in 1996 and then ran until 2014, making it the longest running Broadway play other than Phantom of the Opera, just surpassing Cats. In 2002, the movie version of the musical starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellweger, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere was nominated for 13 Oscars, winning 6, including Best Picture. Chicago is a scintillating tale with untrustworthy leading characters with lots of sex and almost no morals; extremely entertaining.
4. Legally Blonde
Songs On My Playlist: Omigod You Guys, Serious, What You Want, Positive, Chip On My Shoulder, So Much Better, Take It Like A Man, Whipped Into Shape, Bend and Snap (9)
Total Songs on the Album: 18
Spotlight Song: Chip On My Shoulder
I know some of you are probably surprised I didn’t choose “Omigod You Guys” or “Positive”, since those are probably the more popular jams than the 8 minute Elle / Emmett saga. However, besides Laura Bell Bundy (Elle), my favorite singer to listen to on this soundtrack is Christian Borle’s Emmett. The song tells the saga of Emmett helping Elle get her shit together to buckle down and start taking law school seriously, rather than just using it to get Warner back. The last minute of this song makes it all worth it to me – if you aren’t screaming at the top of your lungs to LITTLE MISS WOODS COMMA ELLE, then I can’t help you.
General Commentary
This show was only on Broadway for one year (2007-2008) and is probably the least successful musical on this list. I do not understand why because it’s based on an insanely popular story and has some amazing songs. There isn’t much of an explanation besides some negative reviews that criticize the bland and silly script. This doesn’t really make sense to me since it’s a pretty close adaptation of the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, which has stood the test of time as an iconic movie that’s both entertaining and feminist. I have very fond memories of singing “Positive” in my middle school Spanish classroom, rocking out to the guitar solo towards the end of the song. It’s a great soundtrack to sing and dance to and I’ll defend having it this high on my list to anyone.
3. Dear Evan Hansen
Songs On My Playlist: Anybody Have A Map?, Waving Through A Window, For Forever, Requiem, If I Could Tell Her, You Will Be Found, Good For You, Disappear, Only Us (9)
Total Songs on the Album: 14
Spotlight Song: Only Us
This song helps you forget how odd the premise of this play is; ignoring the fact that it’s messed up that Ben Platt’s character is seducing the sister, this song is extremely romantic. Both of them are trying to start over with each other. They can’t believe someone else wants to be with them fully. Both Platt and Laura Dreyfuss have incredible voices and in a song that just is aimed to showcase them, it makes it my favorite in an album full of great songs.
General Commentary
I remember walking out of this play not really knowing how to feel – it’s a pretty messed up premise. A guy takes advantage of a classmates suicide to basically become popular and get closer to the deceased kid’s sister who he’s always had a crush on. He ends up admitting his mistakes and loses everyone before having a happy-ish ending. There is no doubt though – the songs are excellent. They’re mostly in higher keys and are very poppy, even in songs that have dark lyrics, like “Requiem”. I feel like this album also has a song for every emotion. If you’re feeling angry and unappreciated listen to “Good For You”, if you’re feeling confused and unable to break through to someone listen to “Anybody Have a Map?” if you want to just dance and pretend you’re in a music video listen to “Waving Through a Window”. There are few albums that have such an emotional depth as this, which is why it’s in my top 3. Also Ben Platt.
2. Wicked
Songs On My Playlist: The Wizard and I, What Is This Feeling?, Dancing Through Life, Popular, I’m Not That Girl, One Short Day, Defying Gravity, As Long As You’re Mine, No Good Deed, For Good (10)
Total Songs on the Album: 19
Spotlight Song: Defying Gravity
“Defying Gravity” is one of the most famous Broadway songs of all time. It birthed a ture star in Idina Menzel. I’ve seen Wicked 4 times on Broadway and no one can hit the note quite like she can. She’s gone on to be extremely successful; “Let it Go” from Frozen was and continues to be a legitimate phenomenon. This song embodies everything I love about Broadway. You fall in love with a character and a story and then they get their moment to shine and it’s everything you wanted it to be. It’s just different on Broadway. When you’re listening to a song on your headphones or in the car or the shower, you can appreciate how impressive the singer is and you can try (and fail miserably) to reach what they’re doing, but when you see it in person it takes on a whole other meaning. When you see Elphaba rise and go her own way and just belt out everything she has for the last minute and 20 seconds of the song starting with “SO IF YOU CAN’T FIND ME, LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY” and ending with a quick reprise of “no one mourns the wicked” while she lets out that last note. It gives me chills every time. If Hamilton weren’t such a complete masterpiece, this song alone would push Wicked to number one. It’s still my favorite song to witness in person. Not to mention the actual message of the song, explaining that no matter who you are or what you look like, you can still achieve greatness if you put your all into it. It’s an anthem for the ages that can never be topped.
General Commentary
I’ve seen Wicked more times than any other show and I’d love to go again. I’ve already gushed over Idina Menzel but almost as important to the show was Kristin Chenoweth. The two were the perfect foils – Menzel’s dark, ambitious Elphaba to Chenoweth’s bubbly, somewhat oblivious Glinda. Their push and pull is the lifeblood of the show, beginning with a favorite “What is this Feeling?” to the iconic “Popular” where they become friends, through “Defying Gravity” where they’re forced to part and ending with “For Good”. “For Good” is one of those songs that’s so packed with meaning so obvious that it’s become a go-to for graduations. It’s a goodbye that acknowledges how meaningful and important both the journey and the past are. It acknowledges the importance of friendship and love, but that moving on is okay. Honestly, this song makes me cry almost every time I listen to it. It was the 15th anniversary last year and they put on an hour long show to commemorate it. Part of that included all of the Elphabas and Glindas that have performed on stage together singing “For Good” together. It was magical and to say I ugly cried is a huge understatement. Also shoutout to Ariana Grande who performed my second favorite Wicked song “The Wizard and I” and crushed it – Idina was proud. There isn’t a show (including Hamilton) on this list that makes me as emotional as these Wicked songs make me. There’s something about them that makes you feel like you can do anything but also makes you reflect on yourself and your life and friendships. Isn’t that what truly great art is for?
1. Hamilton
Songs On My Playlist: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Sir, My Shot, The Story of Tonight, The Schuyler Sisters, You’ll Be Back, Helpless, Satisfied, Wait For It, That Would Be Enough, Guns and Ships, History Has Its Eyes On You, What Comes Next?, Dear Theodosia, Non-Stop, What’d I Miss, Take a Break, Say No to This, The Room Where It Happens, Schuyler Defeated, Washington On Your SIde, One Last Time, I Know Him, We Know, Hurricane, Burn, Blow Us All Away, The Election of 1800, Your Obedient Servant, Best of Wives and Best of Women, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story (31)
Total Songs on the Album: 46
Spotlight Song: Satisfied
Choosing my favorite song to spotlight for this play was very difficult. I almost chose “Wait For It” which is Leslie Odom Jr.’s showcase or “One Last Time” which is Christopher Jackson’s showcase, but I opted for “Satisfied” which was Renee Elise Goldsberry’s showcase. It’s probably because I remember it so specifically when I saw it in person; it directly follows “Helpless” where we see Hamilton and Eliza fall in love. “Satisfied” follows this and shows everything we just saw in “Helpless” and learn that Angelica actually met and immediately connected with Hamilton first, but she knew she couldn’t be with him. The stage reflects this with a rotating circle; so the stage rewinds with the timeline of the story to show us how things played out from Angelica’s point of view instead of Eliza’s. My favorite part of the song is when she lists the three reasons why she knew she couldn’t be with him despite knowing they were so perfectly suited for each other. I also love how this song showcases Miranda’s ability to weave in other songs and melodies that we’ve heard before; for example, he features “Helpless” in this song and it adds so much. And then we get Goldberry’s incredible voice and surging music at the end as she wishes her sister and Hamilton a happy wedding, only for it to slow down at the very end so we can understand her heartbreak. I feel this song really reflects a lot of the themes of the whole play musically and story-wise; we get both rapping and classical Broadway singing in this song plus all the themes of rich vs. poor, immigrant vs. established citizen, and duty vs. desire. It’s all there and I absolutely love it.
General Commentary
With 31 songs on my playlist, Hamilton blows every other show out of the water – no others exceed 10. I’ll start with this: I first saw Hamilton in early 2017. I’ve had Spotify since 2012 and they just released their Decade wrapped pulling all the data from my Spotify from the past 8 years. My artist of the decade (!!) was the Hamilton soundtrack. I’ve listened to this entire album thousands of times. From beginning to end, the musical is a true masterpiece by Lin-Manuel Miranda. I usually just play press on Alexander Hamilton and listen all the way through – I love a musical that doesn’t have a second of non-singing dialogue. We bought my dad the book “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, which this play was based on and let me tell you it’s gigantic and I can’t imagine reading that and then coming up with a soaring musical, filled with modern day hip-hop and crammed with chances no one had ever taken on Broadway before. The amazing thing is how generous Miranda is throughout the play, giving the other characters other than Hamilton room to shine. Specifically, Miranda has stated that he thinks “Wait for It” is the best song and he can’t believe he gave it to Odom Jr., but it was just so perfect for Odom Jr. and his character, the antagonistic Aaron Burr. It takes a brave, talented writer and actor to believe so completely in their vision that they feel comfortable giving some of the best work to someone else. It’s what makes this entire play so complete; making songs like “What Comes Next?” or even “Schuyler Defeated” stand out and so worth listening to on every re-listen. I’m not sure anything has been created that is quite as complete, courageous and magnificent as Hamilton and I would urge everyone to go see it to be a part of this special creation.
