100 Best Songs from Musicals

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Written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns – later to produce Van Morrison’s early solo recordings – ‘Twist And Shout’ would of course become best known for The Beatles’ moptop-shaking version. Here The Isley Brothers continue their own shouting theme (after 1959’s ‘Shout’), taking The Top Notes’‘Shake It Up, Baby’ and giving it some welly, eventually climbing into the US Top 20.

Released as a film in 1939, The film was not an initial success although it did win Academy Awards for Best Song (Over The Rainbow) and Best Score (Herbert Slothart). It has grown in stature since that time with numerous theatrical re-releases, and several stage productions, the most recent of which was presented by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the London Palladium. This production also featured new songs by Lloyd Webber. 97. Sunny Afternoon Bette Midler lent her acting talent and vocal chops to 1988's "Beaches," a film about the on-and-off relationship between two close friends. While her cover of oldies tune "Under the Boardwalk" was used to promote the film in advance, it was "Wind Beneath My Wings" that took the world by storm, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's still considered one of Bette Midler's most popular songs. From its brassy train whistle to the evocative lyrics, few tunes encapsulate a sense of travel and wonder as this early ‘50s classic. Where’s it coming from? Where’s it going? It remains a mystery but we’re very much on board for the ride. You may not be familiar with all the entries on this list, but trust us: You’ll love them. Maybe they’ll introduce you to a new Broadwayshow to put on your list of must-sees. Maybe you’ll find one to add to your karaoke rotation. Either way, you’ll get an earful of tunes that are sure to stir your heart. Nina Simone’s hepcat jazz cut was a cover of a number from the 1930 musical Whoopee! that appeared on her debut album but only made megahit status when it was used for a 1987 Chanel No.5 advert. The walking bass and skipping keys found favour with the late 80s jazz vampires who sent it top 5 in the UK.Cry Me A River’ made its big screen debut in Jayne Mansfield’s The Girl Can’t Help It, with London performing it as the sultry, unattainable siren. It’s remarkable for its minimalist presentation, with London accompanied only by Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Leatherwood on double bass. London’s cool, seductive vocal carries it. Proclaimed as a watershed moment in musical theatre history, Show Boat (originally staged in 1927) with a score by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Edna Ferber’s novel, was the first time that the music worked together with the play driving the story, rather than being a review. It’s themes of racial prejudice and tragic enduring love and its score that included songs like Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, Make Believe and Ol’Man River made it a hit that continues to entertain audiences today. Beggars Banquet’’s opener was Jagger and Richards at their finest; the former swiping bits of Baudelaire for a dance with the devil and the latter suggesting it be set to a samba rhythm. “ Please allow me to introduce myself / I’m a man of wealth and taste”. As invitations to the dancefloor go, they don’t come more compelling.

Hammond organs, Milton-inspired lyricism (“ trip the light fandango”) and nods to Bach might not seem the perfect recipe for a hit, but 1967 was a more forgiving place than 2012, and Procul Harum’s debut single was a mega, mega hit. Since covered over 1,000 times, it’s the most played song in public places as well as the most played song on British broadcasting ever. That towering riff – for one thing, it came to Keith Richards in a moment of clarity after briefly coming round from an alcoholic stupor; for another, Richards always planned to replace it with a horn section. In the meantime he hepped up his riff with a fuzzbox to keep it warm until the real players came along. Well, thank goodness they never did. On the heels of the Madonna EP came "Glee: The Music, Journey To Regionals," which included six songs from the season one finale. Released on the same day the episode aired, the album contains covers of three Journey songs, one Queen song, a Lulu song, and "Over the Rainbow" from the "The Wizard of Oz." Needless to say, fans were all over it. The new addition of a stage version of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Charlie And The Chocolate Factory pushed the Gene Wilder movie version of the musical by Bricusse and Newley, out of the Top 100 by just a few votes. The stage adaptation which is currently playing in the West End, and opens on Broadway in 2017, features a score by Marc Shaiman and Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman with a book by David Greig. The production opened in London in 2013 starring Douglas Hodge. Over the course of six seasons, the hit TV show "Glee" paid tribute to a slew of popular artists, including Madonna. On the adjoining EP release—which reached #1 on the Billboard 200—the cast covered classic tunes "Like a Prayer,""Express Yourself,""Vogue," and "Like a Virgin." It was the first EP released from the show, followed by 10 others.Weepy Johnnie Ray found his signature tune here, swamping Churchill Kohlman’s song with his sobbing tones and topping the Billboard chart too. It later became a standard, providing teen idol David Cassidy with a bit of emotional heft and giving Crystal Gayle a country chart No.1. For Ray, ‘Cry’ was the start of a long, successful career in music and film.

This one came from the end of Graham Gouldman, later one quarter of 10cc, who was inspired by gazing at the – yes – bus stop on his way to work. It’s performed on a bleak scale by Manchester’s finest The Hollies but is an ever-turning song of hope about the nice young lady in the queue who, by August, “ was mine“. The seventh "Fast and Furious" movie delivers no shortage of exotic locales, jaw-dropping action sequences, and explosive showdowns. The music is similarly guaranteed to get the adrenaline flowing, featuring a range of contemporary hip-hop and electronic dance music superstars like Flo Rida, David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa, and DJ Shadow. This one is a guaranteed party pleaser. French composer Maurice Jarre produced iconic instrumentals For 1965's "Doctor Zhivago," including "Lara's Theme," a tune that would later provide the basis for the hit song, "Somewhere, My Love." The film won five Oscars at the 1966 Academy Awards, including Best Original Music Score. Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy. 52. "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home. 53. "For Forever" from Dear Evan Hansen. 54. "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin. 55. "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess. 56. "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles. 57. "I Know Him So Well" from Chess. 58. "If I Loved You" from Carousel. 59. "La Vie Boheme" from Rent. 60. "Take Me Or Leave Me" from Rent. 61-70Is it a harpsichord? Is it a half-speed electric piano? Is it… actually, yes, it’s a half-speed electric piano. One of George Martin’s few purely musical contributions to the Beatles canon adds a strange, but successful, touch to John Lennon’s understated piece of whimsy about his childhood – in Lennon’s view, the most mature piece he’d written by that point.