Go
Saints!

Friday
March 29th, 2024

broadway collage spotlight pageCourtesy photoELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

As I’ve mentioned in this column before, I’m a big musical theater fan and while I’m working, I like to seek out cast recordings to shows in order to help pass the time as well as help with the creative juices. 

I was watching a video by one of the YouTube personalities I follow, Katherine Steele, about songs in musical theater that are sad and overall gut-punchers and after watching that video, I got to thinking, ‘There are a TON of songs in musical theater I haven’t entirely gotten over either!’ So I decided this week to make a list of some songs in musical theater I can’t listen to very often lest I become a sobbing, messy puddle at work and/or at home. Like with all of my lists, I am not out to push aside one show or another, these are just my personal thoughts. 

 

“For Good” (Wicked)

I got introduced to “Wicked” back when I was in middle school since we were playing a medley of songs from the show in band, and even back then, the show’s next-to-last song was like an emotional gut punch, and it was even more so when I finally saw it performed live back in 2013. In this scene, our main witches Glinda and Elphaba are saying their final goodbyes to each other, and the music and lyrics are so well done and so well crafted, and the emotion and passion in the scene are so well performed, you can’t help but shed some ugly tears for these two former best friends say goodbye. I choke up literally every time I hear this song and that will probably be the case forever. 

“No Good Deed” (Wicked)

This second entry from “Wicked also never fails to stir up some emotion in me whenever I hear it. This is the song’s “screw the universe” number and the scene sees Elphaba saying “If they want a wicked witch, they’ll GET a wicked witch” after she’s lost so much while chasing her goal of trying to make things better in Oz for everyone, particularly the talking animal population. I always get a little sad and angry at the same time during this song because all Elphaba’s tried to do is make things right and prove she’s a good person, but the world is against her. The lyrics are powerful, the score is fierce and the scene overall is one that makes you feel sad for Elphaba and want to root for her at the end. 

 

“All Grown Up” (Bare: A Pop Opera)

I was introduced to this show via some comments on YouTube and overall, the show is one I’ve only listened to a few times because it’s so sad as it follows a group of seniors at a Catholic boarding school as they work to navigate the world, but this number from leading lady Ivy is the most gut-wrenching one, in my opinion. In this scene, Ivy finds out she’s pregnant and comes to terms with it as well as other things going on in her life. It’s fierce and poignant at the same time and your mouth can’t help but be agape at not only what Ivy’s saying, but how she’s portraying it. It’s a very powerful song and I’ve gotten choked up each of the times I’ve listened to the original cast recording. 

 

“She Used to Be Mine” (Waitress)

This is another show I was inspired to listen to via some YouTube comments. It’s based on the 2007 movie of the same name and tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert piemaker in an abusive relationship with her husband Earl. When Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her doctor, Dr. Jim Pomatter and works to find ways out of her abusive situation. This song takes place near the end of the show and it’s a very lilting ballad about how the very pregnant Jenna wishes she could take control of her life again like when she was young. Especially on the original cast recording, this song is so emotional and deep and you can’t help but cry along with Jenna and root for her to find a better life. Like the other entries, this song has made me choke up with many feelings the times I’ve listened to it. 

 

“One Last Time” (Hamilton)

This entry in the list is actually a bit of a mystery to me because it’s not a sad song  in the conventional sense (i.e. it’s not written specifically to make you cry), but for whatever reason, this song gets to me every time I hear it. This song takes place during Act 2 and follows George Washington as he tells Alexander his plans to resign from the presidency after his term finishes and tells him the country will still be fine after he is gone. The lyrics are very sweet and solid and the score is also done very well. Both the original Broadway cast rendition and the rendition I heard when I saw the show back in August brought me to ugly tears and like “For Good,” that will probably be the case forever.