Who doesn’t like musicals? From the swell of excitement in the opening song or the emotional highs of the closing curtain, a good musical is completely unmatched. Thankfully, there’s no end to the amount of amazing musicals in London in 2021. We’ve pulled together our top six songs from some of our favourite musicals along with videos so you can have a sing-along while choosing which musical to book! Go ahead, get those vocals warmed up…
River Deep, Mountain High – Tina – The Tina Musical
What better way to kick off our list than with a Tina Turner classic? Perfectly suited to the musical stage, the Tina Turner Musical setlist is packed with wall-to-wall, swinging melodies. Our favourite? The sensational River Deep, Mountain High. Featured in Glee and part of the Royal Variety Performance in 2018, this classic will make you want to get off your seat and sing more than any other song on our list. Have a sing along with the previous cast members of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical as they perform the song at the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard in the video above- it’s truly showstopping!
And You Don’t Even Know It – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
If you haven’t seen Everybody’s Talking About Jamie we’re guessing you’ve probably been living under a rock for the last few years. First performed in 2017, ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ is the stand out song of this totally unique and inspirational musical. With the line ‘I’m a superstar and you don’t even know it’, Jamie speaks for all those kids with dreams of becoming a superstar.
Defying Gravity – Wicked
We’ll be honest, there’s way too many incredible Wicked songs to pick just one. But this time, we’ll go for the Act One closer ‘Defying Gravity’. A back and forth between Elphaba and Glinda, the classic song is one of the many high points of Wicked: The Musical. Throughout the song, each witch begs the other to change their course, with the tune ending with both characters parting ways and the citizens of Oz joining in with the chorus. If you haven’t belted this one out while making breakfast – you’re missing out.
I Believe – The Book of Mormon
A stirring ballad if ever there was one, ‘I Believe’ from the hit musical The Book of Mormon is the perfect example of why musicals are amazing. In this classic song, the Mormon missionary sings to convince himself to commit to his religion and carry out his duties. Written by the creators of South Park, it’s no surprise that the whole song and musical is sprinkled with hilarious lines. Our favourite? ‘A warlord who shoots people in the face, what’s so scary about that?’ Keep an eye out on dates for The Book of Mormon in London in 2021.
You Will Be Found – Dear Evan Hansen
If a tear isn’t falling down your cheek to ‘You Will Be Found’ from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, you’ve got a heart of stone. As the final song of Act One, ‘You Will Be Found’ tracks the growth of Evan’s viral speech online. If you’ve ever felt as if you haven’t fit into your workplace or school, this beautiful song is one of many in Dear Evan Hansen that will give you inspiration by the bucketload. There’s no doubt that this emotional ballad has already made its way into the Musical Hall of Fame.
Do You Hear the People Sing? – Les Misérables
Could we end our list with anything else? ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ is as rousing a song as you could find in any musical. Sung at the climax of the masterpiece Les Miserables musical, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ perfectly condenses all that the story stands for into one incredible song.
So, there you have it – our top six favourite musical performances! If you’re as big a fan of musicals as us, make sure to check the Official London Theatre listings and snap up your tickets for 2021 before it’s too late.