The Most Amazing Broadway Musicals to Listen to Everyday
Honestly, I’ve been meaning to get more Broadway musical reviews on my website (because who doesn’t love a good musical??), so what better way to do that than to tell you guys about the MOST amazing (in my opinion) Broadway musicals to listen to everyday. For this post, I literally just went through my Broadway playlist to see which ones I’ve listened to the most 😂. I’ll even give you guys some of my top songs from each one as well as links to where to watch the ones that have been adapted for screen. So, go ahead and check out below Broadway musicals to listen to everyday (according to my Apple Music playlist).
Waitress
This musical was hilarious, sweet, sad, and full of sugar, flour, and butter! It’s about a woman who is stuck in an unhappy marriage, secretly saving money to leave him, but finds herself pregnant instead. Her coping mechanism? Baking pies.
Favorite songs: “Opening Up”, “What Baking Can Do”, “When He Sees Me”, and “She Used to Be Mine”.
Shrek the Musical
I’ve never actually watched this one live (the only reason I got to watch it is because it was on Netflix at the time and places to watch that version are linked below). From watching its adapted version, I fell in love with the quirky soundtrack and meeting all of our favorite characters all over again. You also get some more depth to our original characters, which has always been a plus for me when watching these movies get adapted into musicals. Shrek is about an ogre who goes to rescue a princess for a short man wanting to be a king. The only reason Shrek is going on this mission is to get his swamp back because all fairytale creatures have been banished to his home.
Favorite songs: “I Know It’s Today” and “Who I’d Be”.
Wicked (not the movie version, y'all, sorry!)
This musical has surged in popularity since the new movie adaptations with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, but I loved it WAY before that (and honestly feel no need to watch the movies in case it ruins the live experience for me). Watching this one live is a must on any Broadway lovers list. With music that will literally make you want to fly and a story that sheds light on the original Wizard of Oz, Wicked is a wonderful musical with music that will keep you captivated for years.
Favorite songs: “Popular”, “Defying Gravity”, and “For Good”.
Legally Blonde: The Musical
This one is probably a contender for one of my all time favorite Broadway musicals to listen to. The music is upbeat, peppy, and full of so much personality. Stemming from an already classic movie, Legally Blonde: The Musical is something I’ve seen live and as a recording (I think there’s an MTV recording on YouTube if you want to watch it!). I’ve listened to this one all the way through at least five times, and then my favorites after that? At least hundreds of times.
Favorite songs: “Omigod You Guys”, “So Much Better”, “Legally Blonde”, “Legally Blonde (Remix)”, and “Find My Way/Finale”.
Hamilton
Obviously a musical that everyone has on their list, Hamilton became a phenomenon almost immediately upon its release. With music that mixes rap, pop, hip-hop, and traditional Broadway songs, Hamilton follows the founding father, Alexander Hamilton, as he makes his way up in the world. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to and watched this musical. Not only have I seen the Disney Plus recording, but I’ve also watched it live.
Favorite songs: “Satisfied”, “Wait for It”, “The World Was Wide Enough”, and “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”.
Heathers: The Musical
Literally such a powerful musical with the music being explosive, angry, and so fun. I’m actually not sure if this one ever ran on Broadway, but Heathers: The Musical is based on the 1988 movie about Veronica, a girl who is on the outside of all things popular, but is adopted by the most popular group of girls who are all named Heather. When you want a musical with angry music, spunky beats, and lyrics that will make you scream-sing, this is the musical for you.
Favorite songs: “Beautiful”, “Candy Store”, “Dead Girl Walking”, “Lifeboat”, “Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)”, and “I Say No” (which is actually from the revival).
Dear Evan Hansen (also not the movie version....)
Don’t get me wrong, the movie is still really good, but that Broadway musical? Wow. There’s something special about this soundtrack. One of my favorite songs is actually not even included in the actual musical (crazy because it’s amazing). This is about a boy who gets his cast signed by a boy who commits suicide the next day. Somehow, the boy’s family is convinced that Evan’s cast is evidence that he and the boy were best friends. So, the grieving family looks to Evan for an explanation as to why their son killed himself. I linked places to watch if you want to see the movie. Like I said, it’s still really good and all the music is absolutely beautiful.
Favorite songs: “Waving Through a Window”, “You Will Be Found”, and “Part of Me (Bonus Track)”.
Maybe Happy Ending
I actually got to see this one in New York with the original cast and, let me tell you, I laughed, I cried, I bought a signed posted, and as soon as I got home? I added the ENTIRE soundtrack to my Broadway playlist. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Maybe Happy Ending, and I’ve literally recommended it to anyone who will listen. My full review is linked here, but basically, this is a musical about two robots who have been “retired” and end up falling in love.
Favorite songs: “The Way That It Has to Be”, “Hitting the Road, Pt. 1”, “When You’re in Love”, “Then I Can Let You Go”.
The Outsiders
So, here is one of those ones I’ve only listened to the soundtrack for (the only reason I have a playbill is because my mom went without me and brought me home a pity playbill 🥲😂). I already adored the book, LOVE the movie, and so I figured I’d love the musical, too. This was actually one of those ones that took a little more to grow on me. The country-sounding songs aren’t something I’d normally listen to, but they DEFINITELY grew on me. Now, I listen to like three of the songs on repeat just because of how emotional they are. If you don’t know what this is about, The Outsiders (book, movie, and musical) are about rivaling sides of a town (rich against poor basically). You get the POV from the poorer side and it’s so impactful and honestly hurts me to think about how they were treated.
Favorite songs: “Death’s at My Door”, “Throwing in the Towel”, and “Little Brother”.
Next to Normal
Another that I haven’t seen and only have heard the music for. This one is honestly so unique and brings up so many important questions about grief and mental illness. It’s basically about this woman who lost her son a long time ago and now deals with many different mental issues. It also follows her teenaged daughter and husband as they try to navigate life with her in it.
Favorite songs: “Wish I Were Here”, “Maybe (Next to Normal)”, and “Light”.
