I just saw Spring Awakening and it was pretty bad. [Review follows.] So, what better time to think about the good examples from the Musical world (which are of course plenty)?

I tried to limit myself to one musical per writer, which is sometimes very hard and sometimes I cheated. But you’re probably used to that by now anyway. :)

10. The Producers

I remember the first time I saw The Producers (the new movie). I didn’t expect much but I was rofling within minutes. It’s just the perfect mixture of silliness and brilliance. [My favourite joke? “Quick, honey, back into the closet!”]

Here’s Springtime for Hitler, the biggest hit:

9. Elisabeth

Elisabeth is one of two Austrian musicals on this list. It tells the (highly romantisised story of Elisabeth of Bavaria or Sissy. It’s all very tragic.

Here are some Highlights. The guy in black you see in the video is Death himself, who is rivalling with Francis Joseph I (Elisabeht’s husband) for Sissy’s affection.

8. Yellow Submarine

Yellow Submarine is just completely bonkers and therefore absolutely great. Of course it helped that the Beatles wrote the music to it. [Also, check out Help! and A Hard Day’s Night.]

Here’s the trailer:

7. Grease

Do I need to explain why Grease is awesome? Just put the music on.

Here’s Summer Nights:

6. Sweeney Todd / Into the Woods

Stephen Sondheim Double Feature! Sweeney Todd got the clear advantage of a Tim Burton movie. And Into the Woods wins because I love fairy tale retellings. But apart from that, I just love the music of both and I couldn’t possibly decide which one I liked better.

Here’s Epiphany from Sweeney Todd:

And here’s some highlights from Into the Woods:

5. Jesus Christ Superstar

I’m not much of Andrew Lloyd Webber girl, but Jesus Christ Superstar is great, especially because of Tim Rice’s lyrics, which are ironic (“Always hoped that I’d be an apostle”) and touching at the same time.

And it was also most of my religious education. No wonder I didn’t become a devout Christian, when you got Judas as the misunderstood good guy. ;)

[And yes, I know that technically it’s an opera. Don’t bother me with details.]

Here’s Gethsemane (not the most famous song from the musical, but my favourite):

4. Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog / Buffy: Once More, With Feeling

Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon and Jed Whedon – a dream team in musicals. I hope they make more than these two 40 minutes ones.
Both are awesome, warm, funny and very touching (I still get goosebumps listening to either). And the music’s just amazing.

Here’s On the Rise from Doctor Horrible:

And here’s What You Feel from the Once More, With Feeling episode (unfortunately, I couldn’t find a version with a video from the show):

3. Hair / Moulin Rouge!

Okay, putting these two together in one spot might be a little weird, but I love them both equally.

Hair is great, the music, the story, the movie, it’s just *sigh*. And I always cry. The same can be said about Moulin Rouge!, so maybe it’s not so weird after all that they are in the same spot here. ;)

Here’s I Got Life from Hair:

And here’s the Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge.

2. Dance of the Vampires

Dance of the Vampires is the second Austrian musical, written by Michael Kunze, who also wrote Elisabeth. It’s loosely based on the Polanski movie and it’s funny and dark and it’s got vampires.

But above all, who couldn’t love a musical that sings a love song to logic?

Here are some Highlights (it’s in German, but you can easily find English versions on youtube):

1. Rocky Horror Show

Okay, admit it – who’s surprised by me choosing the Rocky Horror Show in the top spot? No-one? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Though I have to admit that it’s not only the great music that makes me love this musical, it’s also Tim Curry’s legs. ;)

Here’s Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite:

—

Honourable Mentions:
Little Shop of Horrors
Evita
Chicago
and basically all Disney Movies I love.