These Are A Few of My Favourite Songs

 In a different sort of post, I thought I would let people know what my most listened to musical songs are and why, and what I would recommend you listen to, even if you may never ever see the musical it's from. 

These are in no particular order, and I hope you give them a listen at some point if you're a theatre or musical fan. I am under no illusion that every theatre show I love will be universally loved or appreciated, but that's the beauty of theatre : there are shows for everyone, but not every show is for everyone. 

Seize the Day - Newsies 

This is a song I feel that is even more relevant today than it's ever been. It's a song that starts off slow but has a rousing chorus that can't help but make you feel connected to your fellow human beings, particular those in similar struggles to yourself. The Broadway version is I think the only one available (for now) so please do check this out, and just the Newsies soundtrack in general, as there isn't a skippable song on there (in my view). 

Dying Ain't So Bad - Bonnie and Clyde 

If you're familiar with the musical of Bonnie and Clyde, you know this comes at a particular poignant moment towards the end, and it is an eerie foreshadowing of what's to come. What I love about this particular song is that it's a very slow and sad ballad, but there are some uplifting moments in it that can't help but inspire to live your life with passion and excitement. The line I'd rather breathe in life than dusty air, encompasses not only the spirit of the musical but also I think an attitude we should all have. 

Any Dream Will Do - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

This is one of those songs that even if you're not a musical fan, you may well recognise, as this musical has become so well ingrained into our culture that it always is playing or touring somewhere in the world. I must admit the reprise of Any Dream Will Do always makes me feel choke up whenever I see it on stage. I will never be able to explain why this musical touches me the way it does, except it makes up a lot of childhood memories, and I suspect it's one I could recite in my sleep, I know it that well.

A Little Life - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This musical is a gorgeous little piece of theatre, and this song is one of my favourites because it is all about seizing the day and living life, what little we have, to the fullest. The whole soundtrack is now available on streaming services, and if you like music with a west country and folkie twang to it, this is a soundtrack for you.

Heart of Stone - Six 

It's hard to pick just one song from Six to represent my love for this show, but this is a song that calls to me time and time again. This is centered around Jane Seymour's story, and her love for Henry and her son, and every time I see this show in a theatre, I am always transfixed whenever this song comes on. It's just so raw and beautifully composed. 

Wait for It - Hamilton

Hamilton boasts an impressive repertoire of songs, but this one is such a powerful gem of a song. With powerful lines such as I am inimitable, I am an original, and I am the one thing in life I can control, I think this is a song that anyone could relate to and be inspired by, because it is true: we can't control other people's actions, just how we respond and react. 

Born to Lead - Operation Mincemeat 

This is also a musical with multiple amazing songs, and is a true inspiration of the theatre world as not only has it gone from the Fringe festival to the West End, it is now in America on Broadway and has been nominated for Tony Awards! This particular song was the first one I really loved, which is handy as it's the opening song, but I think it sort of sums up the personality of all the characters quite nicely as we are introduced to them, but also is a very upbeat composition, which I think always makes for a strong opener in any musical

I Say No - Heathers

Heathers has become a really popular musical over the years. A lot of the soundtrack is very angsty, but very much reflective of the high school experience. This is a powerful song about reclaiming back the power of "no" and using it to end a very dysfunctional relationship. Considering it wasn't in the original version of the musical and was added in way down in the process, it has become a staple of the musical and easily a fan favourite. 

Wait for Me -  Hadestown

This song is a mix of spoken narrative and singing, that echoes the main character, Orpheus's, deep desire to be with Eurydice and to find her in the underworld. Lyrically, there's not much to the chorus, but the reason I think it's become a fan favourite, and why I really like it, is it's a song that creeps into your brain and settles there as an earworm. It's a gentle chorus but it's juxtaposed with the narrator telling the story to the audience in between, and creates quite a nice balance between story and song. 

Defying Gravity - Wicked

An iconic song that needs no explanation as to why it's a masterpiece of a song. Yes people have tried and failed to master that last riff, but it's a culmination of everything that makes a musical epic: a great build up, powerful lyrics, and a melody that can transcend you to that moment on stage, no matter where and when you listen to it. 

Dancing Queen - Mamma Mia 

A bit of a cheat here, because it's an ABBA song rather than a musical song, but I feel it deserves a place here because I always feel seventeen when I hear this, no matter whether I am on a dancefloor or at the theatre. This will never be a skippable song for me. 

I Am Me - Starlight Express 

For Andrew Lloyd Webber fans you may observe this wasn't on the original soundtrack. This was added to the new show launched in 2024, but the reason this song makes the list is because now, more than ever, I feel it's very relevant because it celebrates individuality, and champions being exactly who you are and holding your head up high. It's also catchy and could easily be a pop single on its own. 

Waving Through a Window - Dear Evan Hansen 

If you have ever felt invisible, or like the world would forget about you if you ever fell out of viewpoint, this song is for you. It's a heartbreaking number in a show that has a number of angsty and emotional songs in its score, but the reason this makes the list is that it's a show I have related to many times in the past, but not so much anymore, and sometimes it's good to reflect on those low moments to remind yourself that things can get better, will get better, or have gotten better, depending whereabouts in your life you sit mentally. 

Honorable mentions:

You Will Be Found - Dear Evan Hansen 

Six - Six 

Everything's Alright - Jesus Christ Superstar 

Carrying the Banner - Newsies

I Am The Starlight - Starlight Express 

Freeze Your Brain - Heathers

I hope this post gives you a little insight into what I listen to, pretty much on a daily basis musical theatre score wise. Some of these resonate with me, others are just great songs to belt out, but they all are just fantastic reminders of why theatre, musicals in particular, will always be, for me, my greatest love (apologies in advance to any future partner of mine!) 

If I've introduced even one of these songs / shows to one person, I will be happy, but otherwise thank you for reading and hopefully this list will only increase as the years go on!

Jesus Chris Superstar - A Superstar Show and a Superstar Cast

 To a casual observer, when you think of musicals, it's hard not to think about Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jesus Christ Superstar is probably up there amongst his very well known, and so it was a surprise to me, as a musical nerd, that I had never been to see it before, or even heard much of its soundtrack before. When I heard it was being put on in my home town, I just couldn't resist seeing it, and hopefully learning to fall in love with a whole new soundtrack which, to be honest, is one of the major perks of musical theatre!

The Amateur Operatic Society of the Concordia Theatre, based in Hinckley,  put on, as an amateur company, what was frankly an outstandingly professional piece of theatre. So much so, you could put the exact show on, with the exact same cast and crew in any west end theatre, and they would not look out of place. 

If the powerful voices of Daniel Morrison (Judas) and Tommy Guest (Jesus) weren't enough of a selling point, I would urge you to see it because every single member of the show was an unstoppable force of nature. The harmonies were powerful, the dancing was slick and quick paced, yet nobody looked out of breath or exhausted, and the set was astonishing in setting the scene of the story. 

The story of Jesus Christ Superstar is centered around the last days of Jesus before his crucifixion, and you see everything from the last supper, to the inner torment of Judas before he ultimately betrays Jesus, to the rise and fall of a messiah, all within a roughly 2 hour show that packs a lot of power and emotion in every song, from hopefulness and love, to despair, anger and fear. 

I am by no means a religious person, but even I could not help but be awed by the story that was being told, and was moved by it like I've never been moved before, and this is why I will always stand by my fierce opinion that there is no better medium for telling a story than the theatre. Because you are there in the theatre, you are in some ways part of the narrative, and it makes it more real, and when you see the cross come out, my jaw was on the floor. Full props have to go the set designers and prop team for pulling off easily the most raw moment of the show, as well as the actors that had to endure taking it on and off the stage, and for Tommy, who had to be in an undoubtedly uncomfortable position and still give a powerful performance to rival any west end cast today. 

Ben Burgess was another stand out for me, both as an ensemble member but also as Herod, and he easily gave a crowd pleasing performance, really making King Herod's Song his own, and owning that stage. 

Honestly, I could write paragraphs and paragraphs on how amazing this show was, but I think this was a crucial piece of evidence that amateur theatre can and does rival professional theatre, but no matter whether you are paid for your performance, or do it just for the love of the art, theatre remains the absolute crown jewel of entertainment. 

There are still tickets available at https://concordiatheatre.co.uk/ however this show must end on the 17th May, so if anybody does wish to go I would grab them before they are gone. 

I would like to commend all the directors and crew of this particular show for not only your sublime casting choices, but also for putting together a show that was just bursting with energy from the start, with a set that created the atmosphere to match the score, with every bit of the stage being used to its full potential. 

As for the cast, I hope you know that I have followed a lot of your journeys through different shows, and this honestly was an absolute triumph for all of you, and I have no doubt you will continue to soar in whatever you do next. I cannot wait to have my jaw dropped again. Enjoy your last couple of shows and thank you for bringing this amazing show to life.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐