The Playlist Series: Happy Musical Theatre Songs

Okay, so first of all an introduction to this series of blog posts. I think that it would be lovely idea for us to have playlists to listen to. I have created a happy playlist and I would like you guys to make the next ones. For each playlist that I make I am going to justify my choices because it will be a great way for us to get to know each other as readers and writers. If anyone wants to make the next playlist then get in touch by leaving a comment.

So, the first playlist is a happy playlist because sometimes I think we all need a bit of a pick me up! If you want to skip the waffle and get straight to the playlist then click here. But I am going to explain why each song is there and what it means to me.

'Opening Up' from Waitress
A fabulous song to put on in the morning to get you up and going in the morning. I love waitress so I had to put a song in there from it. And I think 'opening up' is a real good happy song to get the day started. (Please can have a Kat McPhee version).

'What Baking Can Do' From Waitress
I think this song just makes me happy because I love singing it! And if you've heard the song sung by Kat Mcphee then how can you not love it! Although, the cast recording version is also stunning! I hpe Waitress London continues to run for a long time.

'Times are hard for dreamers' from Amelie
Literally today I has been announced that Amelie will be getting a London transfer after the UK tour! I don't know when this post will be uploaded but you can now work out the date when I wrote it. Let's see if this does get posted the day I wrote it! 'Times are hard for dreamers' was the first song that was released from the cast recording and is sing by the lead character. The lead character in the musical on Broadway by Philippa Soo (Hamilton0. The song 'Times are hard for dreamers' is happy in a sort of calm way. If I ever do a calm playlist then it will probably appear in there as well! It's such a shame that Amelie didn't continue it's Broadway run because it was such a sweet show that given time could have done very well.

'The Wizard and I' from Wicked 
This is literally my favourite song to sing when I'm alone in the house and want to have a sing song. As much as I love the version on the cast recording, have you seen the videos of Rachel Tucker singing it on YouTube? She is sensational and really adds to the character. The song just makes me happy because it is the first time Elphaba realises that she does have a special talent that can be used
for the good.

'Dancing through Life' from Wicked
Another song from Wicked! But this song is so varied and joyful. All the main characters are in it and it's just seven and a half mins of joy! I love it! There are other songs from Wicked that I could have included in the playlist but that would run the risk of me just adding the whole of the Wicked cast recording.

'38 planes (Reprise)/Somewhere in the middle of nowhere' from Come From Away
I don't like to have favourites because I really do love so many musicals but I can't lie, Come From Away has to be my favourite musical. And I think that this has to be one of my favourite songs from the show. It  This song comes just as the Come From Aways are getting ready to leave Gander. They're over the moon because they are finally getting to go home. They are also so grateful for all the help that they have received from the people of Gander. It really is just so happy. This song will never get old. And if you listen carefully towards the end of the song you can hear them saying 'Hope in America'. I think this sums up the whole musical so well. I shows that no matter how bad things are, there is always hope!

'Finale' from Come From Away
It's my favourite musical, so please let me include another song. I could literally include all the upbeat songs from the musical in the show. The finale, as the title suggests, is the final song in the show. It is set as the Come From Aways come back to Gander for the 10th anniversary and it tells you what the characters have done in the 10 years since the attack. It really does show that even though the worst thing did happen, the things that came from it were good.

'You and Me (But Mostly Me)' from The Book of Mormon

I'll admit, The Book of Mormon is not a musical I know very well but it's a show that am planning on seeing a bit later in the year! But this song really does make me laugh. Admittedly I think the reason why I like it so much is because Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf from Frozen is singing it.




'Holding out for a Hero' from Footloose
I'm sure like many others, I often forget that 'Holding out for a Hero' is in footloose. This song is so
good because it's just a musical version of a pop song. I'm a fan of pop music and musicals so a combination of them both sounds like pure heaven for me!

'I See Stars' From Mean Girls 

The end of Kady Heron's story where she has finally come to the realisation that people in their natural form are more beautiful than anything else. I really think that this sing is uplifting! God I hope that Mean Girls transfers to the West End some time soon.



'And you don't even know it' From Everybody's Talking About Jamie
I'm a superstar and you don't even know it! Is what I think to myself when I'm walking down the street on a good day! Everybody's talking about Jamie is a relatively new musical written by Tim Mcrae! I absolutely love it! I started listening to the cast recording just over a year ago an then it was announced that there would be a live cinema screening if it and I thought that I had to go. So I roped in 2 of my friends and off we went. 'And you don't even know it' is the opening song of the musical

and what a way to start the show! So feel good! This musical just has it spot on!

'Out of the Darkness (A place where we belong) From Everybody's Talking About Jamie
The musical starts with a brilliant song, as mentioned above and then ends with a brilliant song! This song is particularly special to me because it's the friend that me and best friend dance to drunk! 'Well you've come pretty far but you know where you are, you're home. And the friends that you chose want to walk in your shoes' is the opening line of the song and really does show that the journey that Jamie has gone on during the show. This song really is the true definition of feel good and happy. I love the fact that  the show has had a journey as well. It started in Sheffield and then transferred to London's West End. Now it is being developed into a film starring Sarah Lancashire and Richard E. Grant. This musical is truly getting the recognition that it deserves!

'Go Eugenius!' from Eugenius

An 80s inspired space show? Doesn't sound like a combination that would work but from listening to the cast recording, it really does work! 'Go Eugenius' is so uplifting. Go and give it a listen!! I really hope that one day this show returns. It was at the other palace in 2018 and was meant to be transferring to the Ambassadors theatre but the investors pulled out. One day, I hope that Eugenius gets the West End transfer that it deserves.


'Six' From Six
The new Hamilton? The writers of Six have said that their musical about Henry VIII's wives is not the new Hamilton but many would argue differently. This musical has truly taken the West End and now Chicago by storm. Who knows, there may be a Broadway transfer soon?? I hope so!!! Six is the
final song of the show and suggests what the queens would have done if they hadn't died. I'm planning on seeing Six next year and I cannot wait! It looks absolutely incredible and each song on the cast recording is good and all the songs are all so different from each other. It's similar to Hamilton in the sense that the writers have used modern influences to write the music!

'I Whistle a Happy Tune' From The King and I
I saw a cinema screening of The King and I, at first I was unsure of what I was going to think of it because it's quite an old show but I loved it. It was one of those shows that anyone of any age could love. The children in it were incredible and I can't not talk about Kelli O'Hara. She really is pure class! 'I Whistle a Happy Tune' is the first song of the musical and is about how when she's lacking confidence Anna just simply whistles and fools people into thinking that she has confidence. The King and I should be seen by all. If you can't see the musical, then go and watch the Disney film!

'We Own the Night' From Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland is a show that I first came across a few years ago but couldn't really get into. But in January I tried again and loved it. I think that there is always a right time to listen to music and when you need the music it will find you. Although there are some really quite sad songs in Finding
Neverland, there is also 'We Own the Night' which I think is what every child had dreamed of! Being able to freeze reality and have a party right under the noses of all the adults! Finding Neverland is such a beautiful show and I think the voices of Matthew Morrison and Laura Michelle Kelly work so well on the cast recording!

'Shine' from Billy Elliot
I couldn't do a playlist and not have some Billy Elliot in it. I love the show. The whole piece is so full

of energy! The song 'shine' is so full of energy and involves all of the kids and Mrs Wilkinson!

'Born to Boogie' from Billy Elliot
This song is in the second act of Billy Elliot and is so high energy! When this song is performed in the show it involves Mrs Wilkinson, Billy and the piano player!! Part of the fun of the song is the fact that no one expects the piano player to get up and start dancing.


I hope that you have enjoyed reading why I have chosen each song for the playlist. If you would like to listen to playlist then click here.
Happy Listening! :)