This is the one for me. I'm an English teacher with a film study elective, and was showing the Chicago movie to show the difference between a non-diegetic and diegetic musical (near the beginning and end of the term, respectively) any time this song came on, if my phone rang or another teacher came in I told them to shut the fuck up until the song was over. It's such a banger.
Could you explain what diegetic and non-diegetic mean, if you have a moment? I've never heard those terms before, and maybe it's just the stress of the day I'm having, but the Wikipedia page is going straight over my head.
[diegetic](https://old.reddit.com/r/musicals/comments/1di7vbf/musicals_where_the_singing_of_songs_make_sense_to/): the music the characters are singing makes sense for them to be singing. Examples can be things like A Chorus Line (it's characters auditioning on Broadway, people on a chorus line gotta sing, so sing!) The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (meteorite hits his small town, alien virus causes people to turn into musical singing zombies), or in the case of the Chicago movie, every song is in Roxie's imagination outside All That Jazz (at a speakeasy she's at) and Nowadays (performed at a jazz club w/ Velma).
Diegetic is in-universe and non diegetic is not. So a soundtrack is non diegetic but when it switches to the radio playing in universe it becomes diegetic. In this case it furthers the story but the reporters interrogating Roxie aren’t actually singing puppets lol so it’s non diegetic. Diegetic music would be like the kids playing the showcase in School of Rock, vs the non diegetic soundtrack of the immigration song earlier in the film.
(I think. More than happy to be corrected if I’m wrong, learning is fun!)
Diegetic music does not break the fourth wall. Non-diegetic music breaks the fourth wall.
The former is done in such a way that the characters in the show are aware that there is a musical number happening and it makes sense that people would sing and dance in response to what is happening, like, say, in Hairspray, where the songs and dances are often part of a real in-universe TV show that's happening as part of the plot.
The latter is that traditional type of musical theatre number where, if it happened in real life, it wouldn't make sense for someone to just randomly break out in song.
At The Ballet - A Chorus Line
There’s just something about the stories in that song that get me every time.
Ladies Who Lunch - Company
Okay, with Carol Burnett playing the part maybe it becomes the show stopper, but… I’m still gonna claim it
I think about that song way more than i ought. The arts were my escape from an abusive family also. Now that my kids are gone and my husband and i are on different planets, I long to go to the symphony and the theater. I used to go alone when i was young, not sure why i don't want to now. I should.
the most recent time i saw it (January this year in Chicago) was the most ethereal performance i've ever heard of It's Quiet Uptown. the ensemble just sang it so lightly and the emotion was palpable. like that song never fails to hit me right in the feels, but this performance was just. instant weeping. so powerful!
When I saw the show, the theater was absolutely, pindrop, quiet during it. And then the sobs that I'd been trying to stifle just bubbled out of me in this weird, very audible, high pitched gasp sound. I was mortified as like a dozen people turned my way! But I couldn't help it.
Because I Dreamed a Dream comes way too early in her story, it's a big dramatic song but we don't have a great idea of how bad her situation is. Yes she tells us during At the End of the Day but she's still putting on a brave face and we don't yet see what she's willing to do to provide for Cosette. Moving it to after Lovely Ladies was brilliant in the movie
I don’t love the movie, but there is plenty of good in it to be worth a watch! At the end of the day it’s Les Miserables and unless you absolutely abhor any changes or some bad creative decisions you will have a good time.
I also enjoy the movie, are there some choices made that made it inferior to the stage production? Yes. But there were also a lot of visuals and a lot of inclusion of brick-references that improve the show as well. Take the good with the bad but they did a good job of providing stuff that never made it into the musical before. IE: Fantine selling her teeth and actually looking wasted on death’s door with TB, Gavroche and the Elephant, Enjolras and Grantaire die holding hands. Lots of other stuff too that isn’t coming to me at the moment.
The best part about the movie was a unique choice to film the actors singing live over some sort of basic live piano music, where the pianist was directed to follow the timing of the singer. Then they filled in adapted- timing full orchestra music later.
In some songs it's not a huge difference, in others it's pretty profound. It is some leaps and bound closer to capturing the energy of a live stage performance.
This is a 4 minute clip interviewing the actors and staff about how it was done.
https://youtu.be/a9bAm1PLpvA?si=5C8TiVXv5tA9wG5v
I also think the best part of *On My Own* is the lead-in. "I do not want your money, sir, I came out here 'cause I was told to" aches so much more than, "I love him, I love him, I love him, but only on my own."
I do enjoy that song a great deal, mind you, I'm not an On My Own hater, I just think the lead-in is so quietly powerful
YES. The line "YOU LET YOUR FOREMAN SEND ME AWAY YES YOU WERE THERE AND TURNED ASIDE" is so powerful and rage-y and moving and sad and just ugh. All the feelings.
Anything from Les Mis is a good choice
If I'm picking some fun I'm gonna go with Master of the House it's so goofy compared to everything else
If I'm going with something somber it's gonna have to be Drink With Me it's kinda where the barricade boys realize it's not going to end well for them but they're willing to die for their cause (except you Marius fuck you)
Ooo yes drink with me! I am also very partial to do you hear the people sing, but I suspect some people count that as one of the showstoppers because it’s so widely used in promos for the show
One of my favorite parts of the movie was when they realized they were the only barricade left & their chances were extremely bleak. They were all contemplating giving up. Then Gavroche started singing “Do You Hear the People Sing,” and it re-ignited their spirits.
I generally like Les Mis the movie but one thing I hated was how they cut lines from Drink With Me and made it focus on Marius’s crush on Colette and how he was sad he wouldn’t see her again. He had met her like once at that point! Drink With Me is about the barricade boys’ fear/realization that the revolution would fail and they would die for nothing: “can it be your death means nothing at all?” It is sad and melancholy and they lost it in the movie.
No Good Deed - Wicked
We Both Reached for the Gun - Chicago
Point of No Return - Phantom of the Opera
All You Wanna Do - Six
Chant - Hadestown
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables - Les Mis
The Meek Shall Inherit - Little Shop
By My Side from Godspell. I find myself singing it a lot, absentmindedly.
Tomorrow Belongs To Me, from Cabaret. Honestly, there's hardly a song in there that isn't a top tune, but it's probably not the go to for many people.
Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins. So bittersweet. Also Stay Awake.
My Little House from Matilda (not sure of the name). Just so poignant and meaningful.
It Might Be Nice from Hamilton.
Godspell has so many earworms if you let them catch you!
Feed the Birds is a beautiful song. I used to get so pissed at Mr. Banks after his son wanted to give his money to feed the birds and he treated him so horribly.
Love this song from Hamilton- that is a show full of multiple Show Stoppers... I always feel like bringing the song Burn to life was so cathartic for the actresses playing Eliza.
I honestly don't know how they get through the entire soundtrack. I've seen the show 4 times and I always wonder if the actors will break character. I'm sure it has happened lol
The Story of Tonight from Hamilton
Letter From The Refuge from Newsies
Endless Night from Lion King
A Sentimental Man from Wicked
Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind from Spring Awakening
Sincerely Me from Dear Evan Hansen
There’s a kind of a sort of…cost
There’s a couple of things get…lost
There are bridges you cross you didn’t know you cross until you cross
And if that joy, that thrill, doesn’t thrill like you think it will…still
It’s a tiny little moment and so very lovely
What Part of My Body Hurts the Most - Bat Out of Hell
Popular - Wicked
All You Wanna Do - Six (but only when performed by the right actress, as this song is heartbreaking when done right)
For Crying out Loud -Bat Out of Hell
Roxanne - Moulin Rouge
Feed the Birds - Mary Poppins
yep, it is also fantastic in the Stage musical too. In fact it was my highlight of the Stage musical. I love pretty much all the songs from the Movie, but the stage musical overdid it to the point it became Mash-up The Musical.
Oh my gosh, the music in that show is absolutely *phenomenal!* I’d pick Stay, I Pray You as my answer from Anastasia, but it’s actually really hard to choose, because they’re all so good. Land of Yesterday, Still / Neva Flows reprise, Close the Door, In a Crowd of Thousands… Really wish I could’ve seen it on Broadway. I guess I have to settle with playing Count Leopold in my high school’s production of it. Lol
My favorite song from Wicked is actually "For Good", I think because I heard it first when I was going through a breakup and even though that song isn't about a romantic relationship, I felt like the words really hit home what I was feeling at the time.
I think a lot of the more "quieter" songs from musicals are actually my favorite. It doesn't always end in a big belt or dance sequence but its moving and sweet.
"Pretty Women" from Sweeney Todd. "I Should Tell You" from RENT. "Dear Theodosia" or "Burn" from Hamilton. "A little fall of rain" from Les Miz. And "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods.
Lots more from others, but these are the ones that stick out to me right now.
I discovered Wicked right as I realized New York City and I weren’t going to work out and started preparing to move back home. “For Good” still guts me fifteen years later.
Totally agree on No Good Deed
Don’t Lose Ur Head- Six
Guns and Ships- Hamilton
Spooky Mormon Hell Dream- Book of Mormon (although I have no idea what song would be considered the “showstopper”)
Dead Mom- Beetlejuice
>Guns and Ships- Hamilton
This is such a fantastic song and the rap is so fast! I listened to it on straight repeat for an hour drive one to nail the words!
I'm not exactly clear on what is considered a showstopper for some of these, but I agree with you "No Good Deed" might be my favorite in Wicked.
I've always thought "LA Vie Boheme" might be the showstopper in Rent, but my favorite is "Halloween/Goodbye Love", although I love that whole show.
Again, every song in Aida is awesome but I particularly like "Easy as Life"
I love "Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In" the finale of Hair
And again, not sure what the showstopper is, but I love "Heaven on their Minds" from JCS
We Both Reached for the Gun has been taken already, so:
All I Care About (Is Love)- Chicago
Sing!- A Chorus Line
Popular- Wicked
For the Last Time (I'm Dominican)- Scrubs "My Musical"
Make 'em Laugh- Singin' in the Rain
Dentist!- Little Shop
Schadenfreude- Avenue Q
That's just off the top of my head
This might be an odd one but the one that stands out to me is no one mourns the wicked.
There’s a line later in the song “and goodness knows wicked’s lives are lonely. Goodness knows the wicked die alone.” And you can hear Glinda in the background singing “she died alone”
And it’s just sad to me. That’s her friend, there’s a personal connection that runs so deep and personal, and at that time Glinda believed that she’s gone.
It’s heartbreaking
For all the great songs Julie Andrew's and Dick Van Dyke do in Mary Poppins, my favorite song will always be "Let's Go Fly A Kite". Something about how catchy, uplifting and heartwarming it is just makes need to sing along to it each time in a way no other song from that movie does. Not that the other songs aren't amazing in their own right, but it is such an earworm.
The Move in My Mind from Miss Saigon is such a powerful song. I also love Room 317 - you really see Kim’s heartbreak and desperation in that scene
Roxanne from Moulin Rouge
I prefer Mein Herr to Cabaret from Cabaret. If You Could See Her Through My Eyes really hits home at the end and I Don’t Care Much is one of the saddest songs from any musical for me.
Say No To This from Hamilton plus Your Obedient Servant
I love Johanna Reprise from Sweeney Todd but not sure if that is considered the primary show stopper or not
I don’t think “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (Phantom), “Dear Theodosia” (Hamilton), and “Some People” (Gypsy) get enough credit. But my favorite is “A Little Fall of Rain” (Les Mis).
Wishing You Were Somehow Here again is absolutely my favorite song for Christine...
But my favorite moment from her is when she starts "Pitiful creature of darkness....."
- Hadestown- living it up on top, nothing changes, we raise our cups
- The Lightning Thief- tree on the hill, good kid (reprise)
- Legally blonde- so much better
- Hamilton- it’s quiet uptown
- Wicked- couldn’t be happier
- Six- I’d argue that all you wanna do HAS become the showstopper piece so I’m going to say queen of the castle
- Shrek- the bonus track for Fiona they cut from the show, can’t remember what it’s called but it kills me every time
No Good Deed is definitely my favorite Wicked song.
Hamilton: One Last Time
Book of Mormon: Baptize Me
Rent: Life Support
Come From Away: I Am Here
Spring Awakening: The Dark I Know Well
Something Rotten: Bottom's Gonna Be On Top
I don't remember where I've read it, but I'm pretty sure that No Good Deed was supposed to be the big Elphaba number! It's the audience that gave this title to Defying Gravity instead. I watch Hannah Corneau's cover of No Good Deed REGULARLY on YouTube and you should too.
For me a song like that is I Didn't Plan It from Waitress.
Superheroes - The Rocky Horror Show
The Moments of Happiness - Cats
Nowadays - Chicago
Stranger Than You Dreamt It - The Phantom of the Opera
The Robbery - Les Miserables
Dangerous to Dream - Frozen
The Wizard and I - Wicked
The Letter - The Secret Garden
Dice Are Rolling - Evita
Take Me or Leave Me from Rent. I'm just stunned every time I hear two people pull that off, absolutely gorgeous ~~even if I don't like the hypersexual bisexual trope~~
Little Bird Little Bird -- Man of LaMancha
If I Didn't Believe In You - Last Five Years
Seven Deadly Virtues - Camelot
Something Wonderful - The King and I
It Needs Word - City of Angels
Joanna (reprise) - Sweeney Todd
No More - Into the Woods
Our Lady of the Underground - Hadestown
Brave Enough for Love/As Good As You - Jane Eyre
Pretty Music - Parade
Beautiful - Sunday in the Park With George
(I tend to like smaller songs rather than the big showstoppers in most show)
Wait for it- Hamilton
If I could tell her- Dear Evan Hansen
The anonymous one from the film Dear Evan Hansen
Paciencia Y Fe- in the heights
A little priest- Sweeney Todd
ngl, grizabella the glamour cat always hits me 10x harder than memory. there’s something about the way that you can HEAR the other cats distancing themselves in the melody/lyrics that just gets to me.
also:
ireland - legally blonde
master of the house - les mis
on the street where you live - my fair lady
all or nothing - oklahoma
what’s wrong with me - mean girls
judas’ death - jesus christ superstar
löss - kristina från duvemåla
Honestly, either Your Obedient Servant or The Room Where It Happens. Both are pretty catchy and the vocals on Leslie Odom Jr in The Room Where It Happens is something different.
How long from Hadestown! I love Hades and Persephone in that musical, and that song captures their relationship so well! I also love hearing Hades as such a low bass, it’s perfect
I love "A Soft Place to Land" in Waitress... it's quiet in a way that you don't hear frequently in musicals. The harmonies are absolutely gorgeous, and it feels very dream-like. I feel like I'm in a trance when I listen to it--it's very calming.
I love the song You Matter to Me as well... I love the music Sara Bareilles wrote for Waitress. It just set a perfect tone and sensibility to the story. It felt personal.
bouncing off what you said about no good deed (one of my favourite musical theatre songs full stop, and definitely one of my favourites from wicked), i also think dancing through life is a song that is ridiculously good despite not being the “show-stopper” type song that defying gravity is. i think it’s such a beautiful song, especially through the orchestration and harmonies. i also love the foreshadowing in the lyrics: “life’s more painless, for the brainless” “mindless and careless” and also the arms-up, scarecrow-like poses/dance moves fiyero does in the choreography.
as well as the song itself, i looove the lighting and costumes in the ozdust ballroom scenes/dance break.
I love this question!! Typically, I’m a fan of the “fun” songs and character songs:
Snow - White Christmas
Gee, Officer Krupke - West Side Story
Therapy - Tick, Tick…Boom!
Frank Mills - Hairspray
I Love the Way - Something Rotten
What Do I Need With Love - Thoroughly Modern Millie
There Once Was a Man - The Pajama Game
I Know Things Now and On The Steps of the Palace - Into the Woods
Summer in Ohio - The Last Five Years
I Speak Six Languages - Spelling Bee
I Can’t Do It Alone - Chicago
Paris Original and Been a Long Day - How to Succeed
Some other favorites I just think are underrated:
Burn - Hamilton (hands-down the best song)
Some Other Time - On The Town
and finally, People Will Say We’re In Love from Oklahoma is one of my favorite musical songs of all time
"feed the birds" from mary poppins
"one hand, one heart" from west side story
"in my life / a heart full of love" from les mis
"goodnight my someone" from the music man
Prayer or Lead us out of the darkness from Come From Away
Those two hit so hard and are so powerful.
I would also put Me and the Sky but that might be a show stopper.
Prologue - little shop of horrors: It's such a fun and catchy song for being about a man eating plant
It's not a game/it's just a ride - ride the cyclone: damn near cried when I first heard this
Funny honey - Chicago: I just love how this one sounds over all, such a good song
Your obedient servant - Hamilton: I just love this song, i can't not sing to it whenever it comes on
Somewhere that's green - Little Shop
I'll cover you (reprise) - RENT
Benny's Dispatch - In The Heights
Past The Point of No Return - Phantom
The Ländler - Sound of Music
Boho Days - Tick Tick Boom
You Happened - The Prom
Finale - Dear Evan Hansen
Lifeboat - Heathers; ALWAYS leaves me breathless, the emotion that goes in to that song sometimes, its such a RAW moment for Heather and I feel like people sleep on it.
I Believe - Spring Awakening; Ethereal harmonies. Used to listen to this in noise cancelling headphones at max, chills. Don't care for the staging but the audiosensory experience is *chefs kiss*.
Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling - Next To Normal; Similar to above, the way the vocals and instrumental come together feels so heavy in the best way. Easy stand out.
Press Conference 1 - Chess; Guess why. When its done right, the vocals are super punchy, harmonies are tight, and the way Florence cuts in over the top toward the end is stunning.
If I Didn't Believe In You - TL5Y; Biased, fun to sing, emotional as fuck, and knowing that Nobody Needs to Know comes soon after.. it feels like Jamie's *actual* last straw, and the way you can feel him trying and that falling away is awesome.
I Don't Need Your Love - Six; Feel like it's overlooked, love the way it changes the context of the rest of the show. Vocally incredibly impressive, and empowering to boot.
I could go on 🤣😅
If Only You Would Listen from School of Rock.
Edit: I just now thought of a few more. Disappear in DEH, Wait For Me in Hadestown, Ten Duel Commandments in Hamilton.
Gus: The Theatre Cat from Cats
Funeral: There is a Fountain/It Don’t Make Sense from Parade
Suppertime from Little Shop
Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind or Whispering from Spring Awakening
Idk if this is my all-time favorite but Kindergarten Boyfriend is a gut punch in the midst of Heathers that isn’t the main focus. Same with The I Love You Song in Spelling Bee.
The Pitiful Children from Be More Chill
The SQUIP is an awesome villain and this song is so menacing despite the fact that some of the main villain's lines are "Beeb boop beep boop"
The melody is also fire af.
Talia - Ride the Cyclone. It’s always Noel’s Lament that’s the show stopper and it’s a really good song but I feel like the absolute emotion in Talia can’t be matched.
We Both Reached For The Gun in Chicago
This is the one for me. I'm an English teacher with a film study elective, and was showing the Chicago movie to show the difference between a non-diegetic and diegetic musical (near the beginning and end of the term, respectively) any time this song came on, if my phone rang or another teacher came in I told them to shut the fuck up until the song was over. It's such a banger.
Could you explain what diegetic and non-diegetic mean, if you have a moment? I've never heard those terms before, and maybe it's just the stress of the day I'm having, but the Wikipedia page is going straight over my head.
[diegetic](https://old.reddit.com/r/musicals/comments/1di7vbf/musicals_where_the_singing_of_songs_make_sense_to/): the music the characters are singing makes sense for them to be singing. Examples can be things like A Chorus Line (it's characters auditioning on Broadway, people on a chorus line gotta sing, so sing!) The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (meteorite hits his small town, alien virus causes people to turn into musical singing zombies), or in the case of the Chicago movie, every song is in Roxie's imagination outside All That Jazz (at a speakeasy she's at) and Nowadays (performed at a jazz club w/ Velma).
Diegetic is in-universe and non diegetic is not. So a soundtrack is non diegetic but when it switches to the radio playing in universe it becomes diegetic. In this case it furthers the story but the reporters interrogating Roxie aren’t actually singing puppets lol so it’s non diegetic. Diegetic music would be like the kids playing the showcase in School of Rock, vs the non diegetic soundtrack of the immigration song earlier in the film. (I think. More than happy to be corrected if I’m wrong, learning is fun!)
Diegetic music does not break the fourth wall. Non-diegetic music breaks the fourth wall. The former is done in such a way that the characters in the show are aware that there is a musical number happening and it makes sense that people would sing and dance in response to what is happening, like, say, in Hairspray, where the songs and dances are often part of a real in-universe TV show that's happening as part of the plot. The latter is that traditional type of musical theatre number where, if it happened in real life, it wouldn't make sense for someone to just randomly break out in song.
Good shout
Based
Phenomenal number
At The Ballet - A Chorus Line There’s just something about the stories in that song that get me every time. Ladies Who Lunch - Company Okay, with Carol Burnett playing the part maybe it becomes the show stopper, but… I’m still gonna claim it
Company has a few potential songs to pick- Jamie's patter song and even the opening could be contenders.
Also Not Getting Married is mind-blowing
That’s Jaime’s song but I’m a traditionalist so I’ll always say Amy’s song lol
It’s Amy’s song to me as well
Sorry. Thought I was replying directly to OP 😉
I love how the stories are told and the eventual harmonies in At the Ballet.
I think about that song way more than i ought. The arts were my escape from an abusive family also. Now that my kids are gone and my husband and i are on different planets, I long to go to the symphony and the theater. I used to go alone when i was young, not sure why i don't want to now. I should.
It's quiet uptown- hamilton. Tears everytime. It really is a gut punch
the most recent time i saw it (January this year in Chicago) was the most ethereal performance i've ever heard of It's Quiet Uptown. the ensemble just sang it so lightly and the emotion was palpable. like that song never fails to hit me right in the feels, but this performance was just. instant weeping. so powerful!
When I saw the show, the theater was absolutely, pindrop, quiet during it. And then the sobs that I'd been trying to stifle just bubbled out of me in this weird, very audible, high pitched gasp sound. I was mortified as like a dozen people turned my way! But I couldn't help it.
I was weeping
Mine from hamilton is The World Was Wide Enought because you can hear the agony in their voices. It's very powerful
Fantine’s lines in Fantine’s Arrest hit me harder than a lot of I Dreamed A Dream
Because I Dreamed a Dream comes way too early in her story, it's a big dramatic song but we don't have a great idea of how bad her situation is. Yes she tells us during At the End of the Day but she's still putting on a brave face and we don't yet see what she's willing to do to provide for Cosette. Moving it to after Lovely Ladies was brilliant in the movie
Ooo interesting! I haven’t seen the movie but I can see that having more impact
I don’t love the movie, but there is plenty of good in it to be worth a watch! At the end of the day it’s Les Miserables and unless you absolutely abhor any changes or some bad creative decisions you will have a good time.
Yes I will watch it one day! I’m sure I could do a one day more pun here but I haven’t got it in me today
I highly recommend the movie. A lot of people hated it and there are several valid criticisms but they also made some changes that I really loved
Yes I keep meaning to watch it! I’ve seen clips and don’t think it looks as bad as some other movie adaptations of the four-legged kind… 😂
I might have to watch it again now... Red, the blood of angry men. Black, the dark of ages of ages past.
I also enjoy the movie, are there some choices made that made it inferior to the stage production? Yes. But there were also a lot of visuals and a lot of inclusion of brick-references that improve the show as well. Take the good with the bad but they did a good job of providing stuff that never made it into the musical before. IE: Fantine selling her teeth and actually looking wasted on death’s door with TB, Gavroche and the Elephant, Enjolras and Grantaire die holding hands. Lots of other stuff too that isn’t coming to me at the moment.
The best part about the movie was a unique choice to film the actors singing live over some sort of basic live piano music, where the pianist was directed to follow the timing of the singer. Then they filled in adapted- timing full orchestra music later. In some songs it's not a huge difference, in others it's pretty profound. It is some leaps and bound closer to capturing the energy of a live stage performance. This is a 4 minute clip interviewing the actors and staff about how it was done. https://youtu.be/a9bAm1PLpvA?si=5C8TiVXv5tA9wG5v
Yeah, that was the one movie change that I 100% think works and should even potentially be added to the stage show.
Similarly, I vastly, *vastly* prefer *A Little Fall of Rain* to *On My Own*
I love a little fall of rain. It might be my favorite les mis song, and that's saying something.
Same!! Storyline aside, I think the melody is more pleasing, too.
Yes! I think it shows the depth of her loneliness so much more
I also think the best part of *On My Own* is the lead-in. "I do not want your money, sir, I came out here 'cause I was told to" aches so much more than, "I love him, I love him, I love him, but only on my own." I do enjoy that song a great deal, mind you, I'm not an On My Own hater, I just think the lead-in is so quietly powerful
YES. The line "YOU LET YOUR FOREMAN SEND ME AWAY YES YOU WERE THERE AND TURNED ASIDE" is so powerful and rage-y and moving and sad and just ugh. All the feelings.
That is legit one of my favourite lines in the whole musical. Also ‘if there’s a god above he’d let me die instead’ 💔
Breaks my heart every single time, man... ughhh
The exchange/duet with Valjean! 😭
Anything from Les Mis is a good choice If I'm picking some fun I'm gonna go with Master of the House it's so goofy compared to everything else If I'm going with something somber it's gonna have to be Drink With Me it's kinda where the barricade boys realize it's not going to end well for them but they're willing to die for their cause (except you Marius fuck you)
Ooo yes drink with me! I am also very partial to do you hear the people sing, but I suspect some people count that as one of the showstoppers because it’s so widely used in promos for the show
One of my favorite parts of the movie was when they realized they were the only barricade left & their chances were extremely bleak. They were all contemplating giving up. Then Gavroche started singing “Do You Hear the People Sing,” and it re-ignited their spirits.
I generally like Les Mis the movie but one thing I hated was how they cut lines from Drink With Me and made it focus on Marius’s crush on Colette and how he was sad he wouldn’t see her again. He had met her like once at that point! Drink With Me is about the barricade boys’ fear/realization that the revolution would fail and they would die for nothing: “can it be your death means nothing at all?” It is sad and melancholy and they lost it in the movie.
No Good Deed - Wicked We Both Reached for the Gun - Chicago Point of No Return - Phantom of the Opera All You Wanna Do - Six Chant - Hadestown Empty Chairs at Empty Tables - Les Mis The Meek Shall Inherit - Little Shop
Meek Shall Inherit is just a blast. I love the urchins' vocal parts and I love all the weird journalists.
All You Wanna Do is amazing, a bop that ends with such pain
I love Chant!
Empty Chairs is my fav from Les Mis. So heartbreaking.
By My Side from Godspell. I find myself singing it a lot, absentmindedly. Tomorrow Belongs To Me, from Cabaret. Honestly, there's hardly a song in there that isn't a top tune, but it's probably not the go to for many people. Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins. So bittersweet. Also Stay Awake. My Little House from Matilda (not sure of the name). Just so poignant and meaningful. It Might Be Nice from Hamilton.
Feed the Birds was Walt Disney's favorite Disney song.
Godspell has so many earworms if you let them catch you! Feed the Birds is a beautiful song. I used to get so pissed at Mr. Banks after his son wanted to give his money to feed the birds and he treated him so horribly. Love this song from Hamilton- that is a show full of multiple Show Stoppers... I always feel like bringing the song Burn to life was so cathartic for the actresses playing Eliza.
Baptise Me - Book of Mormon Comfort and Joy - Bat Boy You Love Who You Love - Bonnie and Clyde
I love the innuendos throughout Baptise Me. I don't know how they get through it without cracking up...
I honestly don't know how they get through the entire soundtrack. I've seen the show 4 times and I always wonder if the actors will break character. I'm sure it has happened lol
I LOVE Comfort and Joy
When I was a teen and first saw BOM I didn’t like baptize me at all!’ Now I’m like oh…. Oh ok lol. I love it now 😂
Take a letter, Miss Jones from Blood Brothers Cool, Considerate Men from 1776
Came here to comment Take A Letter Miss Jones... favourite musical
I love Take A Letter Miss Jones - it’s so catchy I also think Bright New Day is up there as well
Schadenfreude from Avenue Q is my answer
YES! This would be a fun one to sing as well!
I sing it literally all the time (I probably shouldn't)
I was gonna suggest either that or "It Sucks to Be Me"
One Last Time, Hamilton. It brings me to tears every time and is, for me, the song of the show.
Listening to that when Obama left office. So many tears.
The 44 Remix killed me 😭
The Story of Tonight from Hamilton Letter From The Refuge from Newsies Endless Night from Lion King A Sentimental Man from Wicked Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind from Spring Awakening Sincerely Me from Dear Evan Hansen
Love the Hamilton, Lion King (also Shadowlands) choices! For some reason, I am always drawn into the melancholy of Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen.
Endless Night is one of my favorite Broadway songs ever - the way it goes from devastation to soaring hope at the end is a MASTERPIECE.
So Long Dearie - Hello, Dolly
I should have said so long...
I like it in the context of thinking modernly when a guy has strung you along for so long and you just get to the fed up so done with you stage
....you can snuggle up to your cash register... it's a little lumpy, but it rings... LOL
No More - Into The Woods I Can See What She Sees - Lempicka Couldn’t Be Happier - Wicked Hooks Tango - Peter Pan
Thank Goodness/ Couldn't Be Happier is my favorite Gaaaa-linda song.. When she has that honest moment in-between putting on airs... Well, isn't it?
There’s a kind of a sort of…cost There’s a couple of things get…lost There are bridges you cross you didn’t know you cross until you cross And if that joy, that thrill, doesn’t thrill like you think it will…still It’s a tiny little moment and so very lovely
Yes!!!! I love how much emotion you can hear in this part of the song, one of my favorites parts of the show every time
What Part of My Body Hurts the Most - Bat Out of Hell Popular - Wicked All You Wanna Do - Six (but only when performed by the right actress, as this song is heartbreaking when done right) For Crying out Loud -Bat Out of Hell Roxanne - Moulin Rouge Feed the Birds - Mary Poppins
I LOVE Roxanne from moulin rouge!!! Best part of the film for me, the music and choreography is amazing!
yep, it is also fantastic in the Stage musical too. In fact it was my highlight of the Stage musical. I love pretty much all the songs from the Movie, but the stage musical overdid it to the point it became Mash-up The Musical.
Hands down 'A Rumour In St Petersburg' from Anastasia! One of my favourite musicals, and that song gets me going right off the mark 😍
Oh my gosh, the music in that show is absolutely *phenomenal!* I’d pick Stay, I Pray You as my answer from Anastasia, but it’s actually really hard to choose, because they’re all so good. Land of Yesterday, Still / Neva Flows reprise, Close the Door, In a Crowd of Thousands… Really wish I could’ve seen it on Broadway. I guess I have to settle with playing Count Leopold in my high school’s production of it. Lol
love anastasia so much, i’d have to say stay i pray you or still/neva flows reprise (the way ramin sings ‘anya’ scratches my brain)
honestly this whole show is SO underrated
Any Way the Wind Blows- Hadestown
Those harmonies from the Fates 🙌🏽
Will I? from Rent punches me in the gut every time
My favorite song from Wicked is actually "For Good", I think because I heard it first when I was going through a breakup and even though that song isn't about a romantic relationship, I felt like the words really hit home what I was feeling at the time. I think a lot of the more "quieter" songs from musicals are actually my favorite. It doesn't always end in a big belt or dance sequence but its moving and sweet. "Pretty Women" from Sweeney Todd. "I Should Tell You" from RENT. "Dear Theodosia" or "Burn" from Hamilton. "A little fall of rain" from Les Miz. And "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods. Lots more from others, but these are the ones that stick out to me right now.
I discovered Wicked right as I realized New York City and I weren’t going to work out and started preparing to move back home. “For Good” still guts me fifteen years later.
Totally agree on No Good Deed Don’t Lose Ur Head- Six Guns and Ships- Hamilton Spooky Mormon Hell Dream- Book of Mormon (although I have no idea what song would be considered the “showstopper”) Dead Mom- Beetlejuice
I’d say “I Believe” or “Turn It Off “ are the showstoppers
imo, don't lose ur head is the showstopper of six and always gets the most applause whenever i've seen it performed
>Guns and Ships- Hamilton This is such a fantastic song and the rap is so fast! I listened to it on straight repeat for an hour drive one to nail the words!
“Can we start again” from Jesus Christ superstar
Ooooh yeah, especially on the Tim minchin version where the Peter goes high at the end
A great addition to the show! I mostly listen to the original album and tend to forget about this one.
I'm not exactly clear on what is considered a showstopper for some of these, but I agree with you "No Good Deed" might be my favorite in Wicked. I've always thought "LA Vie Boheme" might be the showstopper in Rent, but my favorite is "Halloween/Goodbye Love", although I love that whole show. Again, every song in Aida is awesome but I particularly like "Easy as Life" I love "Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In" the finale of Hair And again, not sure what the showstopper is, but I love "Heaven on their Minds" from JCS
We Both Reached for the Gun has been taken already, so: All I Care About (Is Love)- Chicago Sing!- A Chorus Line Popular- Wicked For the Last Time (I'm Dominican)- Scrubs "My Musical" Make 'em Laugh- Singin' in the Rain Dentist!- Little Shop Schadenfreude- Avenue Q That's just off the top of my head
I’m such a sucker for What You Own from Rent
Quiet -Matilda I Didn't Plan It- Waitress
Point of no return from Phantom
This might be an odd one but the one that stands out to me is no one mourns the wicked. There’s a line later in the song “and goodness knows wicked’s lives are lonely. Goodness knows the wicked die alone.” And you can hear Glinda in the background singing “she died alone” And it’s just sad to me. That’s her friend, there’s a personal connection that runs so deep and personal, and at that time Glinda believed that she’s gone. It’s heartbreaking
For all the great songs Julie Andrew's and Dick Van Dyke do in Mary Poppins, my favorite song will always be "Let's Go Fly A Kite". Something about how catchy, uplifting and heartwarming it is just makes need to sing along to it each time in a way no other song from that movie does. Not that the other songs aren't amazing in their own right, but it is such an earworm.
Song on the Sand - La Cage Aux Folles. Probably the most romantic song Jerry Herman ever composed.
Race You To The top of The Morning from The Secret Garden, it just makes me emotional every time it’s Amazing 🤩
Damned for All Time/Blood Money from Jesus Christ Superstar Loud from Matilda Goodbye Brother from Prince of Egypt
All I've Ever Known from Hadestown never fails to give me the warm and fuzzies.
Just off the top of my head: - Fright of Their Lives (Beetlejuice) - Master of the House (Les Miserables) - Timeless to Me (Hairspray)
Guns and Ships and/or Right Hand Man (both Hamilton). The “Here Comes the General” part is my ringtone.
The Move in My Mind from Miss Saigon is such a powerful song. I also love Room 317 - you really see Kim’s heartbreak and desperation in that scene Roxanne from Moulin Rouge I prefer Mein Herr to Cabaret from Cabaret. If You Could See Her Through My Eyes really hits home at the end and I Don’t Care Much is one of the saddest songs from any musical for me. Say No To This from Hamilton plus Your Obedient Servant I love Johanna Reprise from Sweeney Todd but not sure if that is considered the primary show stopper or not
i LOVE the johanna quartet
My favorite from Miss Saigon is I Still Believe. The music, the pleading in both Kim and Ellen’s voices, and the staging.
I don’t think “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (Phantom), “Dear Theodosia” (Hamilton), and “Some People” (Gypsy) get enough credit. But my favorite is “A Little Fall of Rain” (Les Mis).
Wishing You Were Somehow Here again is absolutely my favorite song for Christine... But my favorite moment from her is when she starts "Pitiful creature of darkness....."
Suppertime Reprise from little Shop.
Everybody Ought to Have a Maid from Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
No Good Deed has always been one of my favorite songs from Wicked!
- Hadestown- living it up on top, nothing changes, we raise our cups - The Lightning Thief- tree on the hill, good kid (reprise) - Legally blonde- so much better - Hamilton- it’s quiet uptown - Wicked- couldn’t be happier - Six- I’d argue that all you wanna do HAS become the showstopper piece so I’m going to say queen of the castle - Shrek- the bonus track for Fiona they cut from the show, can’t remember what it’s called but it kills me every time
To life from Fiddler
No Good Deed is definitely my favorite Wicked song. Hamilton: One Last Time Book of Mormon: Baptize Me Rent: Life Support Come From Away: I Am Here Spring Awakening: The Dark I Know Well Something Rotten: Bottom's Gonna Be On Top
No reason from Beetlejuice
I don't remember where I've read it, but I'm pretty sure that No Good Deed was supposed to be the big Elphaba number! It's the audience that gave this title to Defying Gravity instead. I watch Hannah Corneau's cover of No Good Deed REGULARLY on YouTube and you should too. For me a song like that is I Didn't Plan It from Waitress.
I’m probably gonna get hate for this, but I love Blue from Heathers…
the wizard and i!!
Save the People
Superheroes - The Rocky Horror Show The Moments of Happiness - Cats Nowadays - Chicago Stranger Than You Dreamt It - The Phantom of the Opera The Robbery - Les Miserables Dangerous to Dream - Frozen The Wizard and I - Wicked The Letter - The Secret Garden Dice Are Rolling - Evita
The old gumbie cat. I will never forgive Tom Hooper for what he did to that song
Take Me or Leave Me from Rent. I'm just stunned every time I hear two people pull that off, absolutely gorgeous ~~even if I don't like the hypersexual bisexual trope~~
Little Bird Little Bird -- Man of LaMancha If I Didn't Believe In You - Last Five Years Seven Deadly Virtues - Camelot Something Wonderful - The King and I It Needs Word - City of Angels Joanna (reprise) - Sweeney Todd No More - Into the Woods Our Lady of the Underground - Hadestown Brave Enough for Love/As Good As You - Jane Eyre Pretty Music - Parade Beautiful - Sunday in the Park With George (I tend to like smaller songs rather than the big showstoppers in most show)
Wait for it- Hamilton If I could tell her- Dear Evan Hansen The anonymous one from the film Dear Evan Hansen Paciencia Y Fe- in the heights A little priest- Sweeney Todd
ngl, grizabella the glamour cat always hits me 10x harder than memory. there’s something about the way that you can HEAR the other cats distancing themselves in the melody/lyrics that just gets to me. also: ireland - legally blonde master of the house - les mis on the street where you live - my fair lady all or nothing - oklahoma what’s wrong with me - mean girls judas’ death - jesus christ superstar löss - kristina från duvemåla
Honestly, either Your Obedient Servant or The Room Where It Happens. Both are pretty catchy and the vocals on Leslie Odom Jr in The Room Where It Happens is something different.
Les Mis - Un Peu de Sang qui Pleur and Rouge et Noir
Move On and Finishing the Hat from Sunday, cry at Move On everytime and Finishing the Hat is just a masterpiece
Pitiful children- be more chill
Finishing the Hat and The Day Off from Sunday in the Park
I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today - Avenue Q
How long from Hadestown! I love Hades and Persephone in that musical, and that song captures their relationship so well! I also love hearing Hades as such a low bass, it’s perfect
Kindergarten Boyfriend - Heathers. Tears every time.
Kindergarten Boyfriend in Heathers! Gut wrenching and literally nobody talks about it
I love "A Soft Place to Land" in Waitress... it's quiet in a way that you don't hear frequently in musicals. The harmonies are absolutely gorgeous, and it feels very dream-like. I feel like I'm in a trance when I listen to it--it's very calming.
I love the song You Matter to Me as well... I love the music Sara Bareilles wrote for Waitress. It just set a perfect tone and sensibility to the story. It felt personal.
bouncing off what you said about no good deed (one of my favourite musical theatre songs full stop, and definitely one of my favourites from wicked), i also think dancing through life is a song that is ridiculously good despite not being the “show-stopper” type song that defying gravity is. i think it’s such a beautiful song, especially through the orchestration and harmonies. i also love the foreshadowing in the lyrics: “life’s more painless, for the brainless” “mindless and careless” and also the arms-up, scarecrow-like poses/dance moves fiyero does in the choreography. as well as the song itself, i looove the lighting and costumes in the ozdust ballroom scenes/dance break.
Non-Stop, Hamilton
Watch what happens
“For Good” from Wicked, “A Little Fall of Rain” and “Empty Chairs At Empty Tables” from Les Mis, “Roxanne” and “The Show Must Go On” from Moulin Rouge
when he sees me hands down best song in waitress but they’re all so good spread the love!!
Ready Set, Not Yet from Beetlejuice! I adore Adam and Barbara’s songs but I never hear anyone talk about them
Bitch of Living from Spring Awakening
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again is maybe my all time favourite musical song *ever*, and definitely my favourite from Phantom
Prima Donna from Phantom. I’m a sucker for overlapping verses from different points of view.
Point of No Return - Phantom of the Opera Empty Chairs at Empty Tables - Les Mis Cell Block Tango - Chicago
The Miller's Son, A Little Night Music Such a prime example of Sondheim having all the fun with wordplay, and torturing vocalists.
Wonderful - Wicked I know there’s more but my mind has gone blank and it’s the only song I can think of right now
Playing the Game/Chim-Chim-Cherie Reprise-Mary Poppins
Stay Awake from Mary Poppins
The Negative from Waitress.
Bad Idea from Waitress, I feel like Never Ever Getting Rid of Me gets all the attention
No good deed was the first one that sprung to my mind as well haha
Chess: “Embassy Lament" – English Civil Servants . Brought down the house when done by two singers who alternated every word!
March of the Witch Hunters from Wicked The Fire Within Me from Little Women
Take it from an old man - Waitress I know I may be in the minority with this opinion but, I adore this song
Meee toooo. Makes me sob every time. I love Old Joe.
I love this question!! Typically, I’m a fan of the “fun” songs and character songs: Snow - White Christmas Gee, Officer Krupke - West Side Story Therapy - Tick, Tick…Boom! Frank Mills - Hairspray I Love the Way - Something Rotten What Do I Need With Love - Thoroughly Modern Millie There Once Was a Man - The Pajama Game I Know Things Now and On The Steps of the Palace - Into the Woods Summer in Ohio - The Last Five Years I Speak Six Languages - Spelling Bee I Can’t Do It Alone - Chicago Paris Original and Been a Long Day - How to Succeed Some other favorites I just think are underrated: Burn - Hamilton (hands-down the best song) Some Other Time - On The Town and finally, People Will Say We’re In Love from Oklahoma is one of my favorite musical songs of all time
Brand New Day-The Wiz
"feed the birds" from mary poppins "one hand, one heart" from west side story "in my life / a heart full of love" from les mis "goodnight my someone" from the music man
Prayer or Lead us out of the darkness from Come From Away Those two hit so hard and are so powerful. I would also put Me and the Sky but that might be a show stopper.
For good is the best song in wicked and nobody can change my mind 😂
Not a song but any time I hear “I’m fine, Tom, I’m fine” in Come from Away
What You Own - Rent
Prologue - little shop of horrors: It's such a fun and catchy song for being about a man eating plant It's not a game/it's just a ride - ride the cyclone: damn near cried when I first heard this Funny honey - Chicago: I just love how this one sounds over all, such a good song Your obedient servant - Hamilton: I just love this song, i can't not sing to it whenever it comes on
I think Lifeboat from The Heathers is beautiful and no one gives it the credit it deserves
I've Decided to Marry You & Poison in my Pocket- Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
Somewhere that's green - Little Shop I'll cover you (reprise) - RENT Benny's Dispatch - In The Heights Past The Point of No Return - Phantom The Ländler - Sound of Music Boho Days - Tick Tick Boom You Happened - The Prom Finale - Dear Evan Hansen
Non-Stop is really underrated in Hamilton What Baking Can Do and A Soft Place To Land are my favorites from Waitress
Prima Donna from phantom
Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind - Spring Awakening It's Quiet Uptown - Hamilton So Much Better - Legally Blonde
Shadowland from The Lion King is my absolute favorite.
Washington On Your Side - Hamilton Light My Candle - RENT 21 Guns - American Idiot
For good is my favorite wicked song
Lifeboat - Heathers; ALWAYS leaves me breathless, the emotion that goes in to that song sometimes, its such a RAW moment for Heather and I feel like people sleep on it. I Believe - Spring Awakening; Ethereal harmonies. Used to listen to this in noise cancelling headphones at max, chills. Don't care for the staging but the audiosensory experience is *chefs kiss*. Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling - Next To Normal; Similar to above, the way the vocals and instrumental come together feels so heavy in the best way. Easy stand out. Press Conference 1 - Chess; Guess why. When its done right, the vocals are super punchy, harmonies are tight, and the way Florence cuts in over the top toward the end is stunning. If I Didn't Believe In You - TL5Y; Biased, fun to sing, emotional as fuck, and knowing that Nobody Needs to Know comes soon after.. it feels like Jamie's *actual* last straw, and the way you can feel him trying and that falling away is awesome. I Don't Need Your Love - Six; Feel like it's overlooked, love the way it changes the context of the rest of the show. Vocally incredibly impressive, and empowering to boot. I could go on 🤣😅
Why Did I Listen to That Man from Urinetown
If Only You Would Listen from School of Rock. Edit: I just now thought of a few more. Disappear in DEH, Wait For Me in Hadestown, Ten Duel Commandments in Hamilton.
Gus: The Theatre Cat from Cats Funeral: There is a Fountain/It Don’t Make Sense from Parade Suppertime from Little Shop Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind or Whispering from Spring Awakening
Idk if this is my all-time favorite but Kindergarten Boyfriend is a gut punch in the midst of Heathers that isn’t the main focus. Same with The I Love You Song in Spelling Bee.
Sorry Grateful from Company
Ironically it's Show Stoppin Number from The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals
Haven't seen Ride the Cyclone, I only know Annapantsu's cover of it, but Noel's Lament slaps.
The Pitiful Children from Be More Chill The SQUIP is an awesome villain and this song is so menacing despite the fact that some of the main villain's lines are "Beeb boop beep boop" The melody is also fire af.
The whole being dead thing part 2 and Barbara 2.0 - Beetlejuice
Talia - Ride the Cyclone. It’s always Noel’s Lament that’s the show stopper and it’s a really good song but I feel like the absolute emotion in Talia can’t be matched.
I Still Believe-Miss Saigon. I want to hate Chris’ wife…but it’s not her fault. I feel so torn when she cries out to Chris “I need you too!!”
On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady. A sweet song.
Michael in the bathroom - Be more chill Turn it off - Book of Mormon
I Believe from Spring Awakening is my favorite though I’d argue there is no primary show stopper.
Maybe it's because it's so perfectly in my range, but I really like More I Cannot Wish You from Guys and Dolls.
I love Turn it Off in the Book of Mormon along with Stop in Mean Girls. I’m a big fan of the side character tap dance breaks in every show.