Top 20 Hauntingly Beautiful Songs in Musicals
video description
Date: 2023-11-21
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 30
Emily
I was deeply preoccupied by unrequited love as a young person, so the first songs I thought of in connection with this topic were the title song from Funny Girl and also the fairly simple Love Look Away from Flower Drum Song, which are, like, basically burned into my personality, haha. (The latter is hardly a hinge on which the story turns; at least in the version of the musical I saw growing up, the poor woman who sings it is literally as forgotten by the story itself as she is by the man she wishes loved her back) I would also describe The Sweetest Sounds from Cinderella as quite haunting. It's optimistic, but so fragile, and the music tinkles and drifts like it's coming from a secret music box.
In more recent music I've encountered for the first time, tiny Alisha Weir singing Quiet in Netflix's Matilda haunts me in nearly the literal sense. I hear it, and it follows me for days. I was so taken by this song that I looked up other recordings, and the film version is actually the only one I've found that has this shattering emotional impact for me. I think it's a combination of the specific actress's remarkable talent and the film medium setting her free from the need to belt to a full auditorium. (In some ways, Still Holding My Hand, the new finale song written for the film version of Matilda is also haunting to me, despite it's being a basically happy and triumphant pop song, because the dream it expresses is so utterly simple and sincere: just someone who will still be there with you, right beside you, holding onto your hand.
Completely agree about Quiet Up Town. I haven't seen Hamilton that many times in any form, but that song took me to an emotional place I wasn't anticipating and didn't easily come back from. Also, should we be considering Old Man River? Like You'll Never Walk Alone, it can be so familiar that it gets taken for granted, but when you've been away and come back to it after a while, the ache and the weariness and the dark sense of inevitability in that song go SO deep. It gets ahold of you and it won't let you go.
reply
I was deeply preoccupied by unrequited love as a young person, so the first songs I thought of in connection with this topic were the title song from Funny Girl and also the fairly simple Love Look Away from Flower Drum Song, which are, like, basically burned into my personality, haha. (The latter is hardly a hinge on which the story turns; at least in the version of the musical I saw growing up, the poor woman who sings it is literally as forgotten by the story itself as she is by the man she wishes loved her back) I would also describe The Sweetest Sounds from Cinderella as quite haunting. It's optimistic, but so fragile, and the music tinkles and drifts like it's coming from a secret music box.
In more recent music I've encountered for the first time, tiny Alisha Weir singing Quiet in Netflix's Matilda haunts me in nearly the literal sense. I hear it, and it follows me for days. I was so taken by this song that I looked up other recordings, and the film version is actually the only one I've found that has this shattering emotional impact for me. I think it's a combination of the specific actress's remarkable talent and the film medium setting her free from the need to belt to a full auditorium. (In some ways, Still Holding My Hand, the new finale song written for the film version of Matilda is also haunting to me, despite it's being a basically happy and triumphant pop song, because the dream it expresses is so utterly simple and sincere: just someone who will still be there with you, right beside you, holding onto your hand.
Completely agree about Quiet Up Town. I haven't seen Hamilton that many times in any form, but that song took me to an emotional place I wasn't anticipating and didn't easily come back from. Also, should we be considering Old Man River? Like You'll Never Walk Alone, it can be so familiar that it gets taken for granted, but when you've been away and come back to it after a while, the ache and the weariness and the dark sense of inevitability in that song go SO deep. It gets ahold of you and it won't let you go.
reply
Meru
Uh, no, we don't need any more movie-musicals. I love musicals and unfortunately, the only movie version that was worth watching was Rent. Every other movie musical has been a pale shadow to the broadway. And that's not just because of missing content. The movie version of Into the Woods (my favorite musical behind Wicked) was near blasphemy. They just don't take the care like they used to turning anything into a movie--book, musical or play. Also, shocked that With You from Ghost isn't included, as well as If I Can't Love Her from Beauty and the Beast. Heaven's Light from the Hunchback of Notre Dam was also beautiful. Surprised the list didn't include any of these.
reply
Uh, no, we don't need any more movie-musicals. I love musicals and unfortunately, the only movie version that was worth watching was Rent. Every other movie musical has been a pale shadow to the broadway. And that's not just because of missing content. The movie version of Into the Woods (my favorite musical behind Wicked) was near blasphemy. They just don't take the care like they used to turning anything into a movie--book, musical or play. Also, shocked that With You from Ghost isn't included, as well as If I Can't Love Her from Beauty and the Beast. Heaven's Light from the Hunchback of Notre Dam was also beautiful. Surprised the list didn't include any of these.
reply
John
One was excited in finding out that Dame Judi Densch sang Send In the Clowns. The immensity of her talent continually to delight and amaze. That face, those eyes. On the other hand, the must beautiful ballad in Sweeny Todd is the much less hackneyed and far more moving offering, Nothing Can Harm You. There is no real knowledge in this video IMHO, but nevertheless a helpful review of some but not all notable musicals over the past several decades.
reply
One was excited in finding out that Dame Judi Densch sang Send In the Clowns. The immensity of her talent continually to delight and amaze. That face, those eyes. On the other hand, the must beautiful ballad in Sweeny Todd is the much less hackneyed and far more moving offering, Nothing Can Harm You. There is no real knowledge in this video IMHO, but nevertheless a helpful review of some but not all notable musicals over the past several decades.
reply
Gregory
As usual Ms. Mojo interrupts all too frequently, describing and then interrupting again, as if the watching public were of below plant life intelligence; Its in all of her descriptis interruptis, on all of her postings, not just the one. Frustrating. .. Why wouldn't such an intelligent woman not know this of herself? I critique so that she may grow and get better at this.
reply
As usual Ms. Mojo interrupts all too frequently, describing and then interrupting again, as if the watching public were of below plant life intelligence; Its in all of her descriptis interruptis, on all of her postings, not just the one. Frustrating. .. Why wouldn't such an intelligent woman not know this of herself? I critique so that she may grow and get better at this.
reply
vjhreeves
I will never forget the first time I heard Music of the Night. Michael Crawford was making a guest appearance on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. The tv was on as I came into the room and he had just started to sing. I was instantly captivated and immediately sat down in awe at what I was hearing. His rendition gave me chills and will always be the best to me.
reply
I will never forget the first time I heard Music of the Night. Michael Crawford was making a guest appearance on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. The tv was on as I came into the room and he had just started to sing. I was instantly captivated and immediately sat down in awe at what I was hearing. His rendition gave me chills and will always be the best to me.
reply
Donald
I can't see how anyone could disagree. However, there are a few omissions that are nagging. Can't believe nothing from South Pacific, Oklahoma, or Evita made at least honorable mention.
Just a side note; Waitress has been done by so many greats, but do yourself a favor and listen to Lucy Jones. An English singer who is fantastic.
reply
I can't see how anyone could disagree. However, there are a few omissions that are nagging. Can't believe nothing from South Pacific, Oklahoma, or Evita made at least honorable mention.
Just a side note; Waitress has been done by so many greats, but do yourself a favor and listen to Lucy Jones. An English singer who is fantastic.
reply
Bill
I love Send in the Clowns (when sung by Judy Collins, but my pick is Time Heals Everything. Mac and Mabel' had wonderful songs all through it. I had the honor of playing William Desmond Taylor in one production and it was my favorite, along with most all the other cast members. The song gave us goose bumps every night.
reply
I love Send in the Clowns (when sung by Judy Collins, but my pick is Time Heals Everything. Mac and Mabel' had wonderful songs all through it. I had the honor of playing William Desmond Taylor in one production and it was my favorite, along with most all the other cast members. The song gave us goose bumps every night.
reply
Jack
I always thought that Something Wonderful, from The King and I, when Lady Thiang sings to Anna about how she feels about the king, even though he has many wives and concubines, and often seems cruel and uncaring (and often quite ignorant about many things. It always touches something inside me whenever I listen to it.
reply
I always thought that Something Wonderful, from The King and I, when Lady Thiang sings to Anna about how she feels about the king, even though he has many wives and concubines, and often seems cruel and uncaring (and often quite ignorant about many things. It always touches something inside me whenever I listen to it.
reply
Jeff
Glad there was a preponderance of Sondheim, but most of the other shows I'd never heard or heard of. And you really missed a bet by not even giving a nod to Make Our Garden Grow from Bernstein's Candide. Not surprisingly, however, this like so many Mojo videos is geared to those under 40. sometimes under 30!
reply
Glad there was a preponderance of Sondheim, but most of the other shows I'd never heard or heard of. And you really missed a bet by not even giving a nod to Make Our Garden Grow from Bernstein's Candide. Not surprisingly, however, this like so many Mojo videos is geared to those under 40. sometimes under 30!
reply
vjhreeves
You overlooked the meaning of the phrase send in the clowns. Back in the days of circuses, clowns were sent in to distract the audience when there was an accident in the ring. The spotlight would focus on the clowns and their antics while the tragedy was dealt with and taken away in the dark.
reply
You overlooked the meaning of the phrase send in the clowns. Back in the days of circuses, clowns were sent in to distract the audience when there was an accident in the ring. The spotlight would focus on the clowns and their antics while the tragedy was dealt with and taken away in the dark.
reply
ruth
Wow. Bravo! What a wondrous sampling of my life of being a theater queen. Thank you. The song that gave me goosebumps was the only one I never saw, She used to be mine from Waitress. What a golden opportunity I missed because I misinterpreted the title, thinking it was probably a silly play.
reply
Wow. Bravo! What a wondrous sampling of my life of being a theater queen. Thank you. The song that gave me goosebumps was the only one I never saw, She used to be mine from Waitress. What a golden opportunity I missed because I misinterpreted the title, thinking it was probably a silly play.
reply
AJELLIOTT04
One song that I wish was on the list is Theres a World from Next to Normal. It is hauntingly beautiful. I mean of course its basically a lullaby sung by Gabe trying to get his mother to kill her self but its still a gorgeous song if you ignore the underlying texts.
reply
One song that I wish was on the list is Theres a World from Next to Normal. It is hauntingly beautiful. I mean of course its basically a lullaby sung by Gabe trying to get his mother to kill her self but its still a gorgeous song if you ignore the underlying texts.
reply
Carl
1776 Look Sharp. And I'll close your eyes my Billy, eyes that cannot see, and I'll bury you my Billy underneath the maple tree. And never again will you Whisper to me. Hey, hey hey, mama, look sharp. every time makes me cry.
reply
1776 Look Sharp. And I'll close your eyes my Billy, eyes that cannot see, and I'll bury you my Billy underneath the maple tree. And never again will you Whisper to me. Hey, hey hey, mama, look sharp. every time makes me cry.
reply
Ciarn
I saw A Little Night Music at the Stratford Festival in 2016 and I'll never forget how you could hear a pin drop in a 1000 seat theatre after Send in The Clowns. The whole audience was floating in stillness.
reply
I saw A Little Night Music at the Stratford Festival in 2016 and I'll never forget how you could hear a pin drop in a 1000 seat theatre after Send in The Clowns. The whole audience was floating in stillness.
reply
Kate
I wish there were foreign musicals here. Ich Gehor Nur Mir from Elisabeth always sends chills down my spine, as does the final song, Der Schleir Felt, not to mention Rebecca (reprise) from Rebecca!
reply
I wish there were foreign musicals here. Ich Gehor Nur Mir from Elisabeth always sends chills down my spine, as does the final song, Der Schleir Felt, not to mention Rebecca (reprise) from Rebecca!
reply
Admin
There is nothing natural about any of the faces in this advert - they should be advertising botox not peddling scams feeding of the vulnerable. How can we get this toxicity out of our feeds?
reply
There is nothing natural about any of the faces in this advert - they should be advertising botox not peddling scams feeding of the vulnerable. How can we get this toxicity out of our feeds?
reply
Dennis
Stephen Sondheim wrote seven of the lyrics and composed the music for six. Leonard Bernstein wrote the music for West Side Story. Sondheim was an amazingly talented, friendly human being.
reply
Stephen Sondheim wrote seven of the lyrics and composed the music for six. Leonard Bernstein wrote the music for West Side Story. Sondheim was an amazingly talented, friendly human being.
reply
Marti
All the Wasted Time from Parade. Hauntingly beautiful especially with the audience knowing what's to come and Leo and Lucille blissfully ignorant that it's all going to end so horribly.
reply
All the Wasted Time from Parade. Hauntingly beautiful especially with the audience knowing what's to come and Leo and Lucille blissfully ignorant that it's all going to end so horribly.
reply
Julie
Since you went back as far as Carousel I was sure you would end with The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha. Music of the Night would have to be included as well though.
Reply
reply
Since you went back as far as Carousel I was sure you would end with The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha. Music of the Night would have to be included as well though.
Reply
reply
Meredith
You'll Never Walk Alone is a favorite of mine. It was one of my mother's favorites, amd I feel that she's near me everytime I hear it. Bring Him Home is another favorite of mine.
reply
You'll Never Walk Alone is a favorite of mine. It was one of my mother's favorites, amd I feel that she's near me everytime I hear it. Bring Him Home is another favorite of mine.
reply
Capt
My Top three out of this list is:
1: all the songs of Les Mis
2: anything from the Phantom
3: b anything from Miss Saigon. why you did not mention it, is beyond me!
reply
My Top three out of this list is:
1: all the songs of Les Mis
2: anything from the Phantom
3: b anything from Miss Saigon. why you did not mention it, is beyond me!
reply
Sam
It's Hard to Speak my Heart from Parade is one of the most beautiful and haunting songs I know. The desperate show of innocence falling on deaf ears. I cry every time
reply
It's Hard to Speak my Heart from Parade is one of the most beautiful and haunting songs I know. The desperate show of innocence falling on deaf ears. I cry every time
reply
fanjoy
I don't agree with the majority of this list, esp with no 1 being no 1. . Although I like the musical a lot, I've never liked The music of the night that much.
reply
I don't agree with the majority of this list, esp with no 1 being no 1. . Although I like the musical a lot, I've never liked The music of the night that much.
reply
Mark
I go along with Music of the Night, but think that the same composer's Memory has a haunting melody
that deserves a place in the previous Top 20 selections.
reply
I go along with Music of the Night, but think that the same composer's Memory has a haunting melody
that deserves a place in the previous Top 20 selections.
reply
Arianna
Surprised Someday from Hunchback wasnt on here. A song about hope and knowing that there are better days ahead, even if theyre centuries after youre gone
reply
Surprised Someday from Hunchback wasnt on here. A song about hope and knowing that there are better days ahead, even if theyre centuries after youre gone
reply
Janet
The expression hauntingly beautiful automatically brings to mind Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, though so many songs from that musical fit the bill.
reply
The expression hauntingly beautiful automatically brings to mind Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, though so many songs from that musical fit the bill.
reply
wickedphant0m
My favorite part of this video is how we hear twice as much of the narration vs the actual songs that the video is supposed to be about.
reply
My favorite part of this video is how we hear twice as much of the narration vs the actual songs that the video is supposed to be about.
reply
lucy
Valjean asks a higher power to protect Marius. Not really. He blatantly asks God on high. hear my prayer, not just some generic higher power.
reply
Valjean asks a higher power to protect Marius. Not really. He blatantly asks God on high. hear my prayer, not just some generic higher power.
reply
Tripp
What happened to The Last Five Years or Memphis-Memphis Lives in Me. And why always Elaine Page for Memory when Betty Buckley won the Tony.
reply
What happened to The Last Five Years or Memphis-Memphis Lives in Me. And why always Elaine Page for Memory when Betty Buckley won the Tony.
reply
Benjie's
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again always makes my mother cry. After 73 years, she still misses her father as much as thevday he died.
reply
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again always makes my mother cry. After 73 years, she still misses her father as much as thevday he died.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
