The Best Songs From Musicals

Those who love musicals tend to really. love. musicals. Musicals range from period pieces about French riots to fun-loving jukebox musicals about a girl named Sophie in Greece just trying to find her dad. No doubt this list will be controversial- so if your favorite wasn't mentioned, leave a comment. In the meantime, turn up the volume and get ready to jam, here are 10 of the best songs from musicals.

Two stars got their start with this classic musical, do you know who they are? That would be Kristin Chenoweth (Glee, Pushing Daisies, Bewitched), and Idina Menzel (voice of Elsa in Frozen, Rent, Enchanted). If any two powerhouse ladies were ever meant to perform together, it's these two. Thank goodness the stars aligned and Kristin and Idina came together to produce the absolute classic, Defying Gravity. If you ever need the song equivalent of a power pose, this is it.  

When Disney released Hamilton to the public, it truly was like Christmas in July. For those who have longed to see the smash Broadway hit, getting to watch it from the comfort of your own home felt oh so good. The cast reportedly said that one of the most difficult scenes is the song "Satisfied." In this, they had to learn choreography backward while singing and dancing. The song is emotional, compelling, and woah- Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica) left us, well, speechless.

A mouth-full for sure. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is known to nearly any kid who grew up with the story of Mary Poppins. It's catchy, whimsical, and kind of confusing, to be honest- but something about it just works. Major bonus points to those who have listened to it enough to have it memorized. Did you know this word actually has a meaning? That's right- it means extraordinarily good or wonderful.

Composer Alan Menken is responsible for many of your favorite songs from musicals- this includes Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Newsies. That's a lot of talent for one man alone! Prince Ali is a beloved favorite from Aladdin- ripe with jokes, activity, and demands a wide range from the Genie. It's also the first time we see Aladdin posing as a prince. So the question remains- do you prefer the Robin Willimas or Will Smith version of this catchy tune?

The sign of a great musical might just be when the songs cross over into TikTok fame. That's what happened with "From Now On" from the musical, The Greatest Showman. The song starts slow and really builds before it bursts into something so unique you can't help but feel moved. Millions have copied the dance that goes along with this song and posted their own versions to TikTok. Can Hugh Jackman do no wrong?

For those who live under a rock, West Side Story is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story. West Side Story takes place in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City- which was at this time a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood. Through some of the most memorable songs in musical history, the show explores the rivalry between the Jets (a white gang) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans). The story of Tony and Maria is one for the ages. (Sigh).

This might be a controversial choice with so many great song options from Grease, but Frankie Avalon's ballad "Beauty School Dropout" is sweet, catchy, and hilarious all at the same time. The heartthrob serenades Frenchy alongside angelic ladies with curlers stacked sky-high in their hair, and Frenchy's pink hair really pulls it all together. If ever there was a reason to stay in school, this song has got it to be it.

Sister Act first debuted in May of 1992, so you might have to be of a certain age to fully appreciate this one. Whoopi Goldberg played a lounge singer that gets forced to join a convent after being placed in a witness protection program and what happens from there is musical gold. She eventually transforms the choir into something incredible, giving us numbers like this one. We will follow Whoopi, for sure.

Mamma Mia! is a beloved jukebox musical that uses the songs of ABBA to tell the story of a girl, Sophie, in search of her real father. That certainly took some serious creativity to string together smash hits from the 1970s into a wildly popular Broadway show. In 2008, the well-known show reached even wider audiences when it premiered as a movie starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfriend. The sequel, which debuted in 2018, took our love for Super Trouper even further by introducing Cher to the scene.

The deeply musically obsessed with appreciate this one. One More Day from the musical Les Miserables. The film version is based on the well-known 1862 French novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. Hugo's world in mid 19th century France is powerfully brought to life through incredible music, though this song is one of our favorites. With the likes of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, and Aaron Tveit lending their talents- can this song do no wrong?