If you’re a theatre kid like me, you’ll know that we have the ‘classics’ in the likes of ‘One Day More’, ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘Seasons Of Love’, but there a hundreds of musicals and hundreds of songs out there that are equally as terrific. Whether they’re hidden gems in hit productions or from an underrated show all together, here’s my list of songs I believe never quite get the love they deserve.
1. 1. Wait A Bit – Just So
Just So follows the adventures of Elephant’s Child, who is
always asking questions, and the Kolokolo Bird, who has all the answers, as
they travel to the banks of the Limpopo River in search of the giant crab, Pau
Amma. (It confuses me to...) Set to an eclectic, upbeat score; Kipling’s Just So Stories are filled
with wit and imagination into a song-filled journey through the jungle.
‘Wait A Bit’ is sung by the Kolokolo bird, near the
beginning of Act II, shortly after having an argument with Elephant's Child in
which they both blame each other for their lack of success in finding the river
yet and he makes fun of her for her fear of flying.
Just So is a musical that I don’t think a lot of people know
about, I’ve never really heard anybody mention it before. I’m yet to listen to
the full musical myself, but this song is one of the best musical theatre songs
I’ve heard in a while. The number has a beautiful melody, elegant lyrics and is
hugely moving and up-lifting. It’s definitely one to add to the repertoire.
2 2. Right Hand Man – Something Rotten
Something Rotten is the story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom
who are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of Shakespeare
himself. But when a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre
involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the brothers set out to
write the world's very first musical.
Something Rotten opened on Broadway at the St.
James Theatre for previews on March 23, 2015 and has been a huge Broadway
it. The show was due to make its UK premiere in Birmingham in September 2020, however I believe it has recently been postponed, but whenever it does happen, I’m certain the show
will be just as a hit over here too. Despite its success, I don’t hear about
this show too often, but it has some terrific songs. ‘Right Hand Man’ comes
towards the start of Act I when Nick’s wife Bea tells him how she could be of
help, but Nick is unsure. This is another great song to add to the rep. It’s perfect
for altos and has great comedy elements paired with a catchy tunes and witty
lyrics.
3. 3. I Can Do Better Than That – The Last
Five Years
The Last Five Years composed by Jason Robert Brown
tells the story of Cathy, a struggling actress, and Jamie, a budding novelist as
they meet, fall in love, marry, and divorce over the course of five years. Cathy
tells the story from the end of their marriage and Jamie begins from when they
first met.
I’ve become obsessed with this show recently and I’m gutted I
didn’t get the chance to see its recent revival at the Southwark Playhouse
earlier this year. I did however buy the DVD lately and loved the film
adaptation. I think the entire score is beautiful, but ‘I Can Do Better Than That’
really stood out to me and is probably my favourite on this list. The lyrics
tell Cathy’s story brilliantly and I especially love Anna Kendrick’s version. You
can really feel her grit and determination to make something 'more' of her
life, and her voice is so pure and shines throughout the whole score. I urge
you to have a listen to this one and the whole show for that matter. The songs
are well balanced throughout, with the upbeat more humorous songs balancing out
the slower sadder ones, making the show a joy to listen to.
4. 4. Take What You Got – Kinky Boots
Adapted from
the 2005 film, Kinky Boots is the story of Charlie Price as he tries to save the
Northampton shoe factory he inherited when his father died. When he meets a
drag queen named Lola, Charlie soon realizes that he can save the factory by
catering to a niche market: transvestites. He brings Lola on as a designer and
they put together a line of ladies' footwear (for men) in time for a
big fashion show in Milan.
‘Take What You
Got’ is the second musical number in the show and see Charlie returning to
London, as he meets his friend and fellow shoe salesman, Harry, in a pub to ask
for help with the factory. Harry tells him he can only offer a temporary
solution and advises Charlie not to fight the inevitable
I don’t
quite know what it is about this song, but I just can’t stop listening to it. It’s
one of the lesser known songs from a popular show that certainly deserves more
attention. An uplifting, feel good song with an unforgettable
melody that I could never get bored of.
5. 5. Who Will Love Me As I Am – Sideshow
Based on the
true story of conjoined twins and famed entertainers Violet and Daisy Hilton, Sideshow is a musical about acceptance, love, and embracing
one’s uniqueness. ‘Who Will Love Me As I Am’ is the power-ballad
that closes the first act of the musical as the twins wonder if
they will find someone to love and accept them both. A stunning reminder
of the importance of accepting and celebrating what makes us unique.
6. 6. It Roars – Mean Girls
Based on the
classic film, Mean Girls see Cady Heron entering a new school in Chicago,
desperate to fit in and find friends. Janis and Damian befriend the new girl,
and when The Plastics set their sights on Cady, Janis convinces her to be their
“friend” in order to bring down Regina George’s reign.
‘It Roars’ is
the second number in the show and our first introduction to Cady and her
parents who have moved to a Chicago suburb from Kenya, but Cady soon realizes
that her high school classmates don’t really accept others who differ from them.
Mean Girls has become widely popular since it hit Broadway in 2018 but this
song is one that’s not often talked about that much. Erika Henningsen in particular has a fantastic voice. The tune
is catchy, and the lyrics are very funny in places - the timing of certain lines
strike particularly well. Another one I find myself singing all the time.
7. 7. Unworthy of Your Love – Assassins
Assassins is the telling
of nine individuals who try to assassinate the President of the United States,
in a one-act musical that explores the dark side of the American experience.
‘Unworthy of Your Love’ comes in the middle of the show and features John Hinckley, Jr. and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme singing about their unworthy love (Jodie Foster & Charles Manson) as their drive to assassinate Ronald Regan & Gerald Ford. Now I don’t really know much about this musical at all, and I first heard this song sung by Ben Platt and Zoey Deutch from the Netflix show The Politician. However, this duet is simply beautiful. Sondheim uses the simple melody in contrast to the true meaning of the lyrics to powerful effect.
8. In – Carrie
Carrie The Musical follows a young woman with telekinetic powers who is dominated by her oppressive and religious mother.
The music in this show is excellent, but the opening number ‘In’ is so powerful. The singing is superb, and it’s got some great harmonies! The vocal arrangements, orchestrations and edits for the recording bring the story and characters to vivid life.
9. 9. No Reason – Beetlejuice
After Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, they
find themselves stuck haunting their old house, unable to leave. When Charles
and Delia Deetz buy the home, the Maitland’s attempt to scare them and their
teen daughter Lydia away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice, a boisterous
spirit whose "help" quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitland’s and
innocent Lydia.
Beetlejuice has become a huge success since it debuted on
Broadway in 2019 and is probably in my top 3 shows I’m desperate to see! It’s
got an incredible score and some songs have become huge hits, but there’s many
that are talked about frequently that are just as great. ‘No Reason’ comes mid-way
through Act I and sees Delia telling Lydia that everything happens for a reason, but fails to get
her in a positive state of mind. Leslie Kritzer as Delia gives a
wonderful comedic performance during this melodious song, along with Sophia
Anne Caruso who has an amazing voice for someone so young. If you’ve not yet heard
the score to Beetlejuice The Musical I 100% recommend it.
10. The Last Real Record Store On Earth –
High Fidelity
This show
follows the adventures of Rob, a record store owner who knows almost everything
there is to know about pop music, but almost nothing about how to keep a girl.
When his girlfriend Laura leaves him, he goes through a painful re-evaluation
of his life and lost loves, and slowly learns that he must grow up before he can find
real happiness.
‘The Last
Real Record Store on Earth’ begins the show and introduces us to Rob and other
characters. I could have picked any song from this show to end
this list as the whole show is simply incredible. The music soars and the
lyrics are well-written and comedic. It’s such an underrated show and if you
listen any of the score, its opening number gives you a real insight to the rest
of the show. This really is a hidden gem of the
musical theatre world.
There are so many more songs I could have included in this list and I’m sure there’s loads I haven’t yet heard myself. A part 2 to this will most likely be on its way soon. What are your favourite underrated musical theatre songs? I’d love to hear your list!
Mia x
