Tuesday 17 December 2019

My Favourite Musical Theatre Songs

If you've been reading my blog over the last few years then you know I am utterly obsessed with anything musical theatre. I saw my first West End show in 2016, that being Wicked and since then I have just fallen more and more in love with all things theatre and I genuinely don't know what my life would be like without it. Upto now I've seen Wicked twice, Kinky Boots twice, Heathers, Hamilton, Come From Away, Waitress and most recently & Juliet. In just a few weeks time I'll be seeing Les Miserables for the first time which I am SO excited for and then next year so far we have Dear Evan Hansen and & Juliet planned (again) so it's safe to say musicals are a big part of my life. Some shows I have found a huge comfort for certain reasons, some have just been all out fun and others have taken a real moment in history and found a beautiful way to share the story.
collage - Kinky Boots, Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, The Phantom Of The Opera, Come From Away, Hamilton
Of course each show I've seen has been full of amazing music but there are certain songs that have really stood out to me and have become special over time. Some from shows I've seen, some from others I haven't got round to yet but all favourites of mine regardless. I've chosen 10 songs from a variety of musicals that are my overall faves, the ones I go back and listen to over and over. Let me know if you're a fan of any of them too!

Defying Gravity - Wicked

Well, this had to be at the top of the list didn't it? One of the most powerful songs in any musical I think, Defying Gravity. The song that leads into the interval, it's a real stand out moment in act 1 of Wicked and packs such an emotional punch as Elphaba has just discovered the Wizard is not the man she once thought he was and she finds the courage to go out on her own. I will never ever forget both times I saw Rachel Tucker performing as Elphaba, the second time especially which was her final show was honestly one of the most memorable nights of my life. 

You Will Be Found - Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen is a musical that stole my heart last year and still hasn't given it back. I am utterly obsessed with everything about this musical. I've actually read the book this year and I can't quite put into words how much of a comfort I found it. Dear Evan Hansen is about some really tough topics - anxiety, loss, suicide and many more so it's not a light-hearted show really but for people like me who have suffered with anxiety for years, it just makes you feel a little less alone. There are lots of songs that get me but You Will Be Found is a real moment and I'm not sure I'm emotionally prepared to see this live next year. It shows you really aren't alone and no matter how bad you might feel, there is always hope.
Dear Evan Hansen

Wait For It - Hamilton

It's coming upto a year since we saw Hamilton, I have no idea how that's flown by so fast and still Wait For It is a song that stands out to me from that day. In fact, this song felt really special from the first time I listened to it. I've written a few blog posts on my fave Hamilton songs so I've said before that it's so relatable as often it can feel like you're behind everyone else and never quite where you want to be.

Everybody Say Yeah - Kinky Boots

I just adore Kinky Boots. We've seen it twice so far and it's actually unfortunately closed in the West End now and it's just finished a UK tour but I have everything crossed that one day it will return. It's one of the most fun musicals around, the music is BRILLIANT but it's also full of heart. Everybody Say Yeah is the song just before the interval and it is the perfect choice to end act 1. Everyone's part of it, it's so much fun to watch and it leaves you on such a high. I will never forget seeing it for the first time and turning to George at the interval saying 'I don't want it to end' ðŸ˜­

All I Ask - The Phantom Of The Opera

The Phantom Of The Opera is one of the most famous musicals there is and I am incredibly excited to see this one day. I tend to be much more about the modern musicals e.g Kinky Boots, & Juliet but you can't deny that the classic ones are incredibly special. I love how dramatic the whole soundtrack is to this and I imagine it's such a spectacle to see live. All I Ask has become a firm favourite after finally watching the film this year. I adore the lyrics.
The Phantom Of The Opera

What Baking Can Do - Waitress

A show about baking, how could I not love it? Waitress was everything I hoped it would be and more and hearing all the songs that I've been addicted to for years was just amazing. I love this moment in the show when Jenna is doing what she always does, baking her way through life, ups and down, through sadness & happiness, it's the biggest comfort to her and I totally relate to that.

Welcome To The Rock - Come From Away

Finally a song from the incredibly uplifting musical Come From Away. I said in my review of the show earlier this year that you would never expect a show based on the aftermath of 911 to be something positive but trust me, it will make your heart soar. I left wanting to be a better person and if a show can make you feel that with it's message, it's doing something right. There are many moments that stand out to me but Welcome To The Rock kicks things off perfectly. As soon as the drums start, the cast walk out and it's just nothing like I've seen in a musical before. So simple but so effective.

She Used To Be Mine - Waitress

Back to Waitress and I will never forget (how many times will I say that in this post) seeing the Katharine McPhee singing this. It's the most powerful moment in the show where Jenna realises how much she's lost herself over the years - staying with an abusive husband, now pregnant with a baby she didn't plan and dreams she hasn't fulfilled. It's extremely emotional, very relatable at times and honestly she brought the house down with it when we saw it, just incredible.

Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story - Hamilton

The amount I cried at Hamilton was not normal. During that second act, I was basically a puddle. Whilst I obviously knew what was going to happen and it's not a spoiler because it's real life history, Philip & Alexander's deaths hit me like a fricking train. I COULDN'T SEE I WAS CRYING SO MUCH. Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story is the final song and it's where Eliza Hamilton sings about what she went onto do after Alexander's death and the legacy they all left behind and it's just beautiful in every way. The lyrics, the whole cast singing together one final time, Alexander appearing, it ends the show in the most perfect way.
Hamilton

Raise You Up/Just Be - Kinky Boots

To end this post, let's talk about the final song in Kinky Boots, Raise You Up/Just Be. God this show is just so empowering! It shows that everyone can really be who they want to be, we should all do our best to accept ourselves and be happy with who we are and I think it's such a positive message to spread. It genuinely feels like you've just left a concert afterwards because it's a song where everyone can get involved, everyone's on their feet and you all feel like you're part of something together. I can't see a musical ever topping this one for me.

Whilst there are so many songs I love from a myriad of musicals, these are the ones that really stand out to me and always leave me wanting to see the show either for the first time or a repeat visit. I just can't quite put into words how special some of these are to me. I'd absolutely love to know if you have a fave musical theatre song? Have you seen many shows or are there any you hope to see one day?

Similar - My honest opinion on each musical I've seen so far

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8 comments

Heather Nixon said...

I've only been to see Wicked - I need to see more x

rewuest said...

My favorite Kinky Boots song is Sex Is In the Heel! Some of my other favorites are One Night In Bangkok (from Chess), Stronger (from Finding Neverland) and One Day More and Stars (from Les Mis) x

Rachel || http://anotherstationanothermile.com

Michelle said...

I knew the whole soundtrack to Wicked years before I seen it ahaha, every time I hear Defying Gravity it gives me goosebumps. Mamma Mia is my absolute favourite. I'd love to get the chance to see anything on the West End it'd be amazing.

jennyinneverland said...

The only one I know here is Defying Gravity and it is the ultimate theatre song isn't it? I love all the songs from We Will Rock You but they're Queen songs, so that's obvious haha! x

Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com

Daisy said...

I really wish I could see Dear Evan Hansen but it's too triggering at the minute so I just enjoy the songs! My two favourite MT songs have to be Popular from Wicked and Little Lamb from Gypsy!

Daisy xoxo | TheDeeWhoLived

Lady Writes said...

Anything from Wicked gets my vote I think x

Sophie said...

I definitely haven't seen enough musicals to comment on my favourite songs but so many bloggers I know have been reviewing shows recently and it's made me want to see a few x

Sophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk

Amy said...

Defying Gravity is definitely one of my top musical theatre songs! I'm ashamed to say though that I've never actually seen Wicked, but if it's ever on near me then I will be changing that! I'd love to see Waitress too as I loved the movie!

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