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Top 50 Musicals: By the Numbers
- Thread starter Johnny Unusual
- Start date
I also left Moana off in an effort to not over-represent Disney, but it had a spot on the list at one point. The songs are great. Its beautifully animated. The story does a good job of balancing multiple audience types. It feels like there's some effort to bring some awareness to the Polynesian culture and history.
I don't totally like Hei Hei, but that's only because my nephew thinks that chicken screaming is hilarious and imitates it at max volume.
I don't totally like Hei Hei, but that's only because my nephew thinks that chicken screaming is hilarious and imitates it at max volume.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Originators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse
Time: 1928
Place: An American city, not sure if they ever elaborate
Chorus girl Roxie Hart is a killer. Murdering her lover after he tries to break off the relationship with her, Roxie tries to get her husband to take the fall until he realizes that he’s been cheated on. Things look dim for Roxie but soon she finds herself a star! A celebrity! It turns out that being a killer gets a LOT of media attention and with the help of her new lawyer, the joyfully cynical Billy Flynn, he might be able to get her off. But does Roxie want to get away with murder… or does she want to be a star.
Whimsically nasty social satire of celebrity, Chicago is much more about having fun with it’s impishness than being a social commentary. That’s not a complaint, because while there are messages, first and foremost it’s about letting us have fun with Billy Flynn and Roxie as they game the system and having the fun of Roxie figuring out she’d much rather be a famous folk antihero than a free woman. I feel like this is where musicals were heading in the 70s, using the fun of musical theatre to get a bit darker but while some used it to make a point, others were just plain gleeful about turning to the dark side.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): …in what? What is this child in?
Time: 1928
Place: An American city, not sure if they ever elaborate
Chorus girl Roxie Hart is a killer. Murdering her lover after he tries to break off the relationship with her, Roxie tries to get her husband to take the fall until he realizes that he’s been cheated on. Things look dim for Roxie but soon she finds herself a star! A celebrity! It turns out that being a killer gets a LOT of media attention and with the help of her new lawyer, the joyfully cynical Billy Flynn, he might be able to get her off. But does Roxie want to get away with murder… or does she want to be a star.
Whimsically nasty social satire of celebrity, Chicago is much more about having fun with it’s impishness than being a social commentary. That’s not a complaint, because while there are messages, first and foremost it’s about letting us have fun with Billy Flynn and Roxie as they game the system and having the fun of Roxie figuring out she’d much rather be a famous folk antihero than a free woman. I feel like this is where musicals were heading in the 70s, using the fun of musical theatre to get a bit darker but while some used it to make a point, others were just plain gleeful about turning to the dark side.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): …in what? What is this child in?
Ah Chicago... A great story about a lot of people who are the worst. Love the music, hate the characters.
The one truly decent person gets shafted in the worst way because "Damn immigrant!" I will definitely relisten to the songs but I'm not watching these jerks again, if I can help it.
The one truly decent person gets shafted in the worst way because "Damn immigrant!" I will definitely relisten to the songs but I'm not watching these jerks again, if I can help it.
Yeah the animal companion bait and switch was seemingly there to put a smile on parents' and adult viewers' faces haha
But yes, excellent musical through and through. Best thing the 3D Disney era's put out.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Originators: Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Burny Mattinson, Roger Allers, Daan Jippes, Kevin Harkey, Sue Nichols, Francis Glebas, Darrell Rooney, Larry Leker, James Fujii, Kirk Hanson, Kevin Lima, Rebecca Rees, David S. Smith, Chris Sanders, Brian Pimental, Patrick A. Ventura, Alan Menken, Howard Ashman
Time: A long time ago
Place: Agrabah
Aladdin is s poor thief with incredible skills. After a run-in with the overprotected Princess Jasmine, Aladdin falls in love and wishes to be a prince. Unfortunately, that same run-in has landed him in the royal dungeon but freedom is allowed if Aladdin agrees to find a treasure, an old oil lamp. When Aladdin is betrayed by his employer, he finds himself trapped in a cave with the lamp, only to learn that inside is the opportunity to get everything he ever wanted… as well as a friend.
Disney was on an incredible hot streak and I remember thinking as a kid, they weren’t going to be able to top it purely because of the incredible visual and comedic extravaganza that is Genie. Seeing it again, it’s a movie that is more than that, and has winning characters. I complain about the Disney animal sidekicks doing much either in the story or being interesting and there are three solid animals. Yes, I consider Carpet an animal. But man, Alan Menken really outdid himself with this one. The songs are all solid, memorable and fun to sing and they also do a great job of utilizing Robin Williams talent and folding it into some numbers.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): Well, it’s not quite a mop, not quite a movie…
Time: A long time ago
Place: Agrabah
Aladdin is s poor thief with incredible skills. After a run-in with the overprotected Princess Jasmine, Aladdin falls in love and wishes to be a prince. Unfortunately, that same run-in has landed him in the royal dungeon but freedom is allowed if Aladdin agrees to find a treasure, an old oil lamp. When Aladdin is betrayed by his employer, he finds himself trapped in a cave with the lamp, only to learn that inside is the opportunity to get everything he ever wanted… as well as a friend.
Disney was on an incredible hot streak and I remember thinking as a kid, they weren’t going to be able to top it purely because of the incredible visual and comedic extravaganza that is Genie. Seeing it again, it’s a movie that is more than that, and has winning characters. I complain about the Disney animal sidekicks doing much either in the story or being interesting and there are three solid animals. Yes, I consider Carpet an animal. But man, Alan Menken really outdid himself with this one. The songs are all solid, memorable and fun to sing and they also do a great job of utilizing Robin Williams talent and folding it into some numbers.
Showstopper
This is an understatement. The entire city knows what he's done.
Next time, gotta use a nom de plume!
FelixSH
(He/Him)
I love the specific artstyle of Aladdin. Hard to explain, but how the smoke looks, and generally how curvy lines are. But it's also deeply enwoven with my childhood. Love the color tones too, that soft blue they tend to use there, it feels good to me. And yeah, all three, Abu, Yago and Carpet are great. It's incredible, how expressive a being without a head can be. Really amazing animation.
You could even cound four animal companions. Radja isn't much of a presence, but he isn't a non-entity.
Like with the Little Mermaid, I love the villain. Jaffar has such a great presence and style, and he and Yago play off each other so well.
As a kid, I found the Djinnis entrance hilarious (except the song). It's not my humor anymore, but I still like him a lot. And now, I also like the song, though only the English version. As a kid, I always fast-forwarded through the songs in Disney movies. I'm not sure when, I think I was already 17 or so, when I watched the Simpson episode with the We Put the Spring in Springfield song, and suddenly realized that it was amazing. Before that, I found these musical numbers annoying.
Part of it is probably, that the German translations aren't great. They would prioritize rhyming before making sense. Which is sensible, because it's more catchy, but there are just too many bits that are nonsense words, just so they fit into the melody.
It's probably not the only reason, but there is a reason, why I watch Disney movies in English now, despite prefering the German dub. I need a good version of the songs.
Granted, I always liked the songs of Mulan, so I guess they got better, as time went on.
Anyway, the songs are great. And Jasmin is a very, well rounded character. I appreciated that more, as I got older.
You could even cound four animal companions. Radja isn't much of a presence, but he isn't a non-entity.
Like with the Little Mermaid, I love the villain. Jaffar has such a great presence and style, and he and Yago play off each other so well.
As a kid, I found the Djinnis entrance hilarious (except the song). It's not my humor anymore, but I still like him a lot. And now, I also like the song, though only the English version. As a kid, I always fast-forwarded through the songs in Disney movies. I'm not sure when, I think I was already 17 or so, when I watched the Simpson episode with the We Put the Spring in Springfield song, and suddenly realized that it was amazing. Before that, I found these musical numbers annoying.
Part of it is probably, that the German translations aren't great. They would prioritize rhyming before making sense. Which is sensible, because it's more catchy, but there are just too many bits that are nonsense words, just so they fit into the melody.
It's probably not the only reason, but there is a reason, why I watch Disney movies in English now, despite prefering the German dub. I need a good version of the songs.
Granted, I always liked the songs of Mulan, so I guess they got better, as time went on.
Anyway, the songs are great. And Jasmin is a very, well rounded character. I appreciated that more, as I got older.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Originators: James Frawley, Jerry Juhl, Jack Burns, Paul Williams, Jim Henson
Time: Sometime before 1979
Place: The American highways and byways. Full disclosure, I don’t actually know what a byway is.
Kermit is an average frog with a penchant for music who has been told by a Hollywood agent that he has the chops to be a star. Curious to see if he has what it takes, he begins a journey to Hollywood and along the way makes and inspires friends to join him down the same path. But Doc Hopper, a frog’s legs chain restaurant owner, wants Kermit’s star power for his advertising campaign and will stop at nothing to force him to do so. Even without this impediment, the journey will be difficult but Kermit finds that his curiosity has blossomed into a shared dream.
Boy, do I love this one. Paul Williams’ songs are etched into my soul and I sing two of them as lullabies. It’s a showcase for the Muppets on film and it could have been easy for the film to be overwhelmed by its countless cameos but instead is not just a good Muppet story but is really a secret autobiopic of how Jim Henson made the Muppets and his family of players came together. Highly fictive beyond the metaphor, perhaps, but the deeper meaning rings true that Henson is a guy who just wanted to entertain and his journey took on a bigger significance.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): The movie with the ski lift?
Time: Sometime before 1979
Place: The American highways and byways. Full disclosure, I don’t actually know what a byway is.
Kermit is an average frog with a penchant for music who has been told by a Hollywood agent that he has the chops to be a star. Curious to see if he has what it takes, he begins a journey to Hollywood and along the way makes and inspires friends to join him down the same path. But Doc Hopper, a frog’s legs chain restaurant owner, wants Kermit’s star power for his advertising campaign and will stop at nothing to force him to do so. Even without this impediment, the journey will be difficult but Kermit finds that his curiosity has blossomed into a shared dream.
Boy, do I love this one. Paul Williams’ songs are etched into my soul and I sing two of them as lullabies. It’s a showcase for the Muppets on film and it could have been easy for the film to be overwhelmed by its countless cameos but instead is not just a good Muppet story but is really a secret autobiopic of how Jim Henson made the Muppets and his family of players came together. Highly fictive beyond the metaphor, perhaps, but the deeper meaning rings true that Henson is a guy who just wanted to entertain and his journey took on a bigger significance.
Showstopper
So upset I forgot this
Question for @Johnny Unusual : The Pirate Movie was on my list. It's essentially #45 The Pirates of Penzance under a different name. Did it get counted towards PoP's standing?
I had the Muppet Movie at #2. What needs to be said about it? It's fantastic. Everything in it is great but I have a particular fondness for the surreal groove of Can You Picture That?
I also had both Moana and Aladdin as two of the handful of Disney 'toons I kept on my list. Both wonderful films with some great songs.
And also Dr Horrible, which, yeah, suffers from the unfortunate trope of "woman dies to further a man's character development" - I mean, it's totally lampshading it, but it's still doing it - but has such fun lyrics and great delivery from a wonderful cast.
I also had both Moana and Aladdin as two of the handful of Disney 'toons I kept on my list. Both wonderful films with some great songs.
And also Dr Horrible, which, yeah, suffers from the unfortunate trope of "woman dies to further a man's character development" - I mean, it's totally lampshading it, but it's still doing it - but has such fun lyrics and great delivery from a wonderful cast.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Which has the same rhythm in the refrain as the Fraggle Rock theme
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Oh man yeah I can see most of Robin William's best lines in that movie being impossible to translate. So much of his humor was the delivery of words and the stress on specific syllables too.
This is very true. But there's something interesting about it being exactly what the villain/protag didn't want to happen. It's not quite enough to be subversive but there is a spark of something there in terms of realizing that this isn't how it should work.
I had Once More With Feeling at #17. An enjoyable episode of an enjoyable series that regrettably has been retroactively tainted by its creator.
In a weird coincidence I also had Chicago at #11. Like others have said it's full of damn catchy tunes from some awful damn people.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is both joyful and dark. Perhaps you could say that is a perfect metaphor for childhood (especially how children will often act the sweetest after they have just done the most rotten things).
I don't know what to say about The Wizard of Oz that hasn't really been said. Are there other musicals that have become annual TV spectacles / events? Probably but Oz beat them all out.
Oz and Chocolate Factory are also two more to add to the "referenced by everything" pile.
In a weird coincidence I also had Chicago at #11. Like others have said it's full of damn catchy tunes from some awful damn people.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is both joyful and dark. Perhaps you could say that is a perfect metaphor for childhood (especially how children will often act the sweetest after they have just done the most rotten things).
I don't know what to say about The Wizard of Oz that hasn't really been said. Are there other musicals that have become annual TV spectacles / events? Probably but Oz beat them all out.
Oz and Chocolate Factory are also two more to add to the "referenced by everything" pile.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Originators: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Shane Morris, Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Time: A long time ago
Place: Arendelle
Since she was born, Elsa was born with a power over ice, but when she hurt her sister Anna at a young age, Elsa’s parents encouraged her to keep her powers secret. The day she is to be coronated, Anna meets the handsome and charismatic Hans and the two immediately agree to get married. This results in an argument that pushes Elsa to her emotional limits and results in her secret being revealed. She flees to the mountains, leaving Arendelle in eternal Winter. Anna quests to patch things up with her sister and save Arendelle, only to learn along the way that love doesn’t quite work the way it does in fairy stories.
Disney’s 21st century comeback in animation after a string of fumbles upon entering the 3D era (ugh, Chicken Little is bad but The Wild is worse) began with Tangled. But nothing hit harder than Frozen, particularly as a culture force. Everyone knew Frozen. I met a 2-year-old Chinese girl who couldn’t speak English but could sing the song in its entirety in English phonetically. And its place is well-deserved. It’s a movie that toys with the idea of what we expect in true love in a Disney movie but not in a cynical or joking way but showing how the storytelling of such films can change.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): Pop in what?
Time: A long time ago
Place: Arendelle
Since she was born, Elsa was born with a power over ice, but when she hurt her sister Anna at a young age, Elsa’s parents encouraged her to keep her powers secret. The day she is to be coronated, Anna meets the handsome and charismatic Hans and the two immediately agree to get married. This results in an argument that pushes Elsa to her emotional limits and results in her secret being revealed. She flees to the mountains, leaving Arendelle in eternal Winter. Anna quests to patch things up with her sister and save Arendelle, only to learn along the way that love doesn’t quite work the way it does in fairy stories.
Disney’s 21st century comeback in animation after a string of fumbles upon entering the 3D era (ugh, Chicken Little is bad but The Wild is worse) began with Tangled. But nothing hit harder than Frozen, particularly as a culture force. Everyone knew Frozen. I met a 2-year-old Chinese girl who couldn’t speak English but could sing the song in its entirety in English phonetically. And its place is well-deserved. It’s a movie that toys with the idea of what we expect in true love in a Disney movie but not in a cynical or joking way but showing how the storytelling of such films can change.
Showstopper
It’s been kind of encouraging that although Frozen was the cultural juggernaut on release, Moana has been racking in more views on Disney+ multiple years in a row now. Frozen has several good songs but one obviously truly great song that the whole film builds up to and supports. It’s a neat structure that enhances not just that show-stopping number but the whole as well.
Still, its annoying merchandisable sidekick and a couple of weaker songs+sequences (Fixer Upper, ehhh) put it below Moana for me.
Still, its annoying merchandisable sidekick and a couple of weaker songs+sequences (Fixer Upper, ehhh) put it below Moana for me.
Issun
(He/Him)
Muppet Movie was my #4. Such an important film and so beautifully crafted. Probably the greatest thing Henson ever did.
Frozen was #10 for me. It felt like Disney would ever have another phenomenon after The Lion King and Frozen proved me wrong and then some. I go back and forth between it and Moana but Moana probably wouldn't exist without Frozen. Plus, Let it Go is the definitive Disney showstopper of the 21st Century. There really is no equal.
Frozen was #10 for me. It felt like Disney would ever have another phenomenon after The Lion King and Frozen proved me wrong and then some. I go back and forth between it and Moana but Moana probably wouldn't exist without Frozen. Plus, Let it Go is the definitive Disney showstopper of the 21st Century. There really is no equal.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Originators: Robert Stevenson, Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Time: 1910
Place: London
The Banks children can’t seem to keep a nanny. Mr. Banks, a banker, is at his wits end and with his wife fighting for women’s suffrage, it seems like no one has time to take care of the children. The Banks children have their own idea of what is needed and though their father won’t hear of their ideas, they eventually get through to Mary Poppins, a nanny who appears out of nowhere and gives the children the exact kind of care they need. Also, she is magic, taking children to faraway lands along with her friend Bert. Mary does much for the family but slowly Mr. Banks learns he needs to be doing something for them… and himself.
Mary Poppins is a film I saw fairly young and a lot of the number and scenes stuck with me. And yet, it’s a big movie, watching it again I’ve forgotten so much. It’s a fantasy but like Roald Dahl even the non-fantastical stuff is silly and fantastical (I’m thinking in particularly about the number in the bank). Poppins is an interesting character because while she does bring joy and whimsy, she’s also a bit less patient than I remember in some ways. But the message still works, the message to cherish time with family and the little things, the moments of silliness. Mary is great but she’s only there because something faltered in the family and when it came back, she disappears because the children’s real hero has returned.
Showstopper
Next show (based on the title): Black Friday?
Time: 1910
Place: London
The Banks children can’t seem to keep a nanny. Mr. Banks, a banker, is at his wits end and with his wife fighting for women’s suffrage, it seems like no one has time to take care of the children. The Banks children have their own idea of what is needed and though their father won’t hear of their ideas, they eventually get through to Mary Poppins, a nanny who appears out of nowhere and gives the children the exact kind of care they need. Also, she is magic, taking children to faraway lands along with her friend Bert. Mary does much for the family but slowly Mr. Banks learns he needs to be doing something for them… and himself.
Mary Poppins is a film I saw fairly young and a lot of the number and scenes stuck with me. And yet, it’s a big movie, watching it again I’ve forgotten so much. It’s a fantasy but like Roald Dahl even the non-fantastical stuff is silly and fantastical (I’m thinking in particularly about the number in the bank). Poppins is an interesting character because while she does bring joy and whimsy, she’s also a bit less patient than I remember in some ways. But the message still works, the message to cherish time with family and the little things, the moments of silliness. Mary is great but she’s only there because something faltered in the family and when it came back, she disappears because the children’s real hero has returned.
Showstopper
I understand that the author of the original book was on set as a consultant and clashed repeatedly with the filmmakers. per Biography.com,
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
All the Step Ups except Revolution. Too woke.