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Tuesday Top Five: A Whole Song and Dance
May. 20th, 2025 10:03 pmInspired by one of my favorite podcasts (This Ends At Prom) celebrating “May-usical Month,” I decided to list my top five songs from live-action musicals. Perhaps sacrilegiously, I haven’t necessarily seen all of the shows in question – although I have a lot of respect for musical theater as a medium, much of my understanding comes from cultural or social osmosis – but I like the songs on their own.
1. “Nobody’s Side” (Chess)
My summer camp staged Chess during my last year, and while I thought that the story was pretty interesting, it was the music that especially stuck in my memory, especially this number. Not only is it lyrically and musically compelling, but it has some strong fandom associations for me, including the use of one line to title a crossover fic (“No Contract Truly Signed”) in a series that preoccupied me for the better part of a year.
2. “Confrontation” (Jekyll & Hyde)
I’ve seen this musical on stage, as well as a recording of the David Hasselhoff production, but I primarily associate this particular song with my friend Brad at karaoke gatherings.
3. “For Good” (Wicked)
My initial connection with this song – which has made me teary-eyed more than one time – was likewise through fandom: a friend of mine connected it strongly to the Ninth Doctor/Jack/Rose OT3 in Doctor Who, and when we listened to it together, I agreed. It also inspired Nancy Werlin’s Extraordinary, a YA novel about faeries, Jewish history, and teen girl friendships, that I quite like (it’s technically the middle part of a trilogy but can stand on its own).
4. “Wait For It” (Hamilton)
By the time I got around to watching Hamilton on Disney+, both the fannish hype and the fannish discourse had been raging for years. I don’t have a position on whether this musical is an artistic triumph or problematic trash, but I like a lot of the songs, and “Wait For It” is probably the one I enjoy listening to the most.
5. “This Is Me” (The Greatest Showman)
I have only the vaguest idea of what this musical is about, but “This Is Me” (or, rather, the cover by MALINDA) is in my rotation of songs to play when I need a self-esteem boost.
1. “Nobody’s Side” (Chess)
My summer camp staged Chess during my last year, and while I thought that the story was pretty interesting, it was the music that especially stuck in my memory, especially this number. Not only is it lyrically and musically compelling, but it has some strong fandom associations for me, including the use of one line to title a crossover fic (“No Contract Truly Signed”) in a series that preoccupied me for the better part of a year.
2. “Confrontation” (Jekyll & Hyde)
I’ve seen this musical on stage, as well as a recording of the David Hasselhoff production, but I primarily associate this particular song with my friend Brad at karaoke gatherings.
3. “For Good” (Wicked)
My initial connection with this song – which has made me teary-eyed more than one time – was likewise through fandom: a friend of mine connected it strongly to the Ninth Doctor/Jack/Rose OT3 in Doctor Who, and when we listened to it together, I agreed. It also inspired Nancy Werlin’s Extraordinary, a YA novel about faeries, Jewish history, and teen girl friendships, that I quite like (it’s technically the middle part of a trilogy but can stand on its own).
4. “Wait For It” (Hamilton)
By the time I got around to watching Hamilton on Disney+, both the fannish hype and the fannish discourse had been raging for years. I don’t have a position on whether this musical is an artistic triumph or problematic trash, but I like a lot of the songs, and “Wait For It” is probably the one I enjoy listening to the most.
5. “This Is Me” (The Greatest Showman)
I have only the vaguest idea of what this musical is about, but “This Is Me” (or, rather, the cover by MALINDA) is in my rotation of songs to play when I need a self-esteem boost.
