Wednesday, June 24, 2020

BEST OF THE DECADE: The Broadway Top 40 Countdown: # 10 - 1

Well, this is it! Over the past few weeks we've been counting down our 40 favorite songs from new Broadway musicals from the past decade! In case you missed it: #40-31 HERE, #30-21 HERE, and #20-11 HERE

Now, without further ado, our ten favorite Broadway songs from the past ten seasons!




THE BEST OF THE DECADE:
The Broadway Top 40 Countdown:
#10 - 1



10. "She Used to Be Mine" - Waitress
        MUSIC and LYRICS by Sara Bareilles
            SUNG by Jessie Mueller
We had some problems with the show itself, but a great song is a great song. It captured national attention with hundreds of people posting their own renditions on YouTube, and fans of the show debated who sang it best.



9. "Days and Days" - Fun Home
        MUSIC by Jeanine Tesori   LYRICS by Lisa Kron
            SUNG by Judy Kuhn
This heartbreaking song was beautifully rendered by Judy Kuhn, and was just as lovely when Rebecca Luker was in the show. 



8. "Wait For Me" - Hadestown
        MUSIC and LYRICS by Anaïs Mitchell
            SUNG by Reeve Carney, Andre De Shields, the Fates and the Workers
This is one beautiful song, enhanced by a visually stunning staging. The test of how wonderful this song really is, though, is that it has as much impact just listening to it.



7. "Selling Out" - American Psycho
        MUSIC and LYRICS by Duncan Sheik
            SUNG by Benjamin Walker and Company
It still galls me that a Broadway Cast Recording wasn't made for this show, one of my all-time favorites. Thank goodness this catchy, scary number (done on The Late Show) can still be seen on You Tube!



6. "Welcome to Nowhere" - The Band's Visit
        MUSIC and LYRICS by David Yazbek
            SUNG by Katrina Lenk, John Cariani and Etai Benson
Has any other song so perfectly captured the setting, characters and tone of a show all at once? Maybe. But this extremely catchy number has three great actors and superb musicians delivering the goods.



BONUS TRACK: "Smiling" - Jagged Little Pill
        MUSIC by Michael Farrell   LYRICS by Alanis Morissette
            SUNG by Elizabeth Stanley and Company
When we compiled this list, we didn't consider jukebox musicals, but this song was written specifically for the show. This haunting, troubled song is gorgeous all on its own and just amazing to watch as the cast performs it. Elizabeth Stanley has never been better.



5. "Why We Build The Wall" - Hadestown
        MUSIC and LYRICS by Anaïs Mitchell
            SUNG by Patrick Page and Company
Although this song was written well before the Trump era, its implications for today's nightmare are impossible to miss.



4. "Answer Me" - The Band's Visit
        MUSIC and LYRICS by David Yazbek
            SUNG by Adam Kantor and Company
This song is so beautiful and emotional it brings tears to my eyes at just the memory of it. And that wondrous moment when the entire company blends and their voices rise gives me goose bumps every single time I hear it.



3. "Omar Sharif" - 
The Band's Visit
        MUSIC and LYRICS by David Yazbek
            SUNG by Katrina Lenk
Her performance of this song cemented my Katrina Lenk fandom. This sensuous, evocative song carries us away like a warm jasmine scented breeze to another time and place.



2. "Ring of Keys" - 
Fun Home
        MUSIC by Jeanine Tesori   LYRICS by Lisa Kron
            SUNG by Sydney Lucas
What could we possibly add to the discourse of this masterpiece of a song? 



1. "When I Grow Up" - Matilda: The Musical
        MUSIC and LYRICS by Tim Minchin
            SUNG by the Company
This brilliant song gives us all the feels. Sure, the staging of this number is breathtaking, but the music and lyrics are just so innocent and meaningful. Tears flowed. It is so brilliant, they made a book out of it!

We can't wait to see what great music Broadway will produce in the next ten years!

#2348

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