Playing Favorites: The music edition (Part One)

As someone who thrives on listening to songs, it’s pretty difficult for me to pinpoint only one (or a few) favorites. So to make this prompt easier for myself, I’ve decided to pick favorites from certain genres or artists every once in a while. And since I’ve had a very theatrical weekend, let me share ten of my favorite songs from theater productions here and abroad.

Also, let me tell you that I’ve tried my best not to pick two songs from the same production, even if I could easily name almost every song in certain musical OSTs as favorites. I’m obsessive, okay? Bear with me.

1. I’ll Cover You (Rent)

I think they meant it when they said you can’t buy love,
Now I know you can rent it, a new lease you are, my love, on life

Rent is a Jonathan Larson penned musical that tells the story of a group of friends (who are also struggling artists) who live under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. It was first staged in 1994, and a motion picture version was released in 2005. I have never seen the musical even as it had been staged here in 2011, but I have almost the entire (film) OST committed to memory because I <3 it so damn much. I’ll Cover You is a love theme between two characters–Angel and Collins, seen above–and I don’t even have some huge explanation why I love this song so much. I just do. I mean, just listen to it.

Okay, let me also add that this song may sound really cute and peachy, but it has one of the saddest fucking reprises ever. Ever.

Other favorite songs in this musical: Seasons of Love, One Song Glory, Life Support, Will I? (basically the entire thing)

2. Lakambini (Rock Supremo)

Another musical I’ve never seen, Rock Supremo is a Ballet Philippines production, a modern retelling of Andres Bonifacio’s life as he experiences love. The first time I heard Lakambini was last year, during the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Musikal, a celebration of Filipino theater productions, and I fell in love with it just like that. Fact: Ebe Dancel’s songwriting is genius.

3. For Good (Wicked)

And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend

I had the most wonderful time ever watching the staging of Wicked here in Manila last year, and the production also has one of the most beautiful soundtracks ever. There are lots and lots of memorable songs, but I am completely and utterly in love with For Good mainly because it’s a song that celebrates an unlikely friendship that ultimately became a strong bond. This is a song that Glinda and Elphaba sing to each other as they are about to part ways, and damn if this doesn’t get me all choked every time I listen to it.

Trivia: I’ve used this song in a piece of fiction somewhere on Wattpad. <3

4. Run Away With Me (The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown)

Let me be your ride out of town, let me be the place that you hide
We can make our lives on the go, run away with me

Nope. Haven’t seen this musical either, but this man–Aaron Tveit, ladies and gentlemen–can sell me anything and I WILL BUY IT. (Because come on. That face. Those pipes.) There’s a Jeremy Jordan version of this song too, which is as equally drool-worthy. Plus points for his cuteness when he messes up in the beginning.

5. A Little Fall of Rain (Les Miserables)

You’re here; that’s all I need to know
And you will keep me safe, and you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow

AKA Eponine’s death song. Samantha Barks did a good job in the 2012 Les Miserables adaptation, but no one beats Queen Lea Salonga for me, so you get her version.

Other favorite songs in this musical: I Dreamed a Dream, A Heart Full of Love, On My Own, Do You Hear the People Sing?

6. You Don’t Know / I Am the One (Next to Normal)

And if you think that I just don’t give a damn,
Then you just don’t know who I am

I swear, if Next to Normal were ever staged here again, I’d be lining up for tickets. The musical is about a woman with a mental illness (depression, delusion, among others) and how her condition affects her family. This is one of the most intense scenes in the musical, and I cannot wait to be able to actually see this live. Because feels.

Other favorite songs in this musical: Just Another Day, I’m Alive, There’s a World, I’ve Been, Light in the Dark, Aftershocks

7. Heaven / More Than Words / To Be With You (Rock of Ages)

I’m the one who wants to be with you,
Deep inside I hope you feel it too

I love a good mashup, and Rock of Ages delivered. (If Atlantis ever staged Rock of Ages again, I strongly suggest you watch it instead of the Tom Cruise starrer. It’s so much better on stage, I swear to you.)

Other favorite songs in this musical: Can’t Fight This Feeling, The Search is Over

8. Seven Wonders (Catch Me If You Can)

I’ve been a lot of places, but I know now near and far
There’s no need to roam ’cause home is where you are

So are you noticing a trend yet? Oh yes, it’s Aaron Tveit again! And there’s a better audio version of this song here, but I thought I’d share a video instead. For science. Catch Me If You Can is a musical about famous con-man Frank Abagnale, Jr. Yes, that Leo Di Caprio-Tom Hanks movie? They made a musical out of it, and it’s glorious. Mostly because Aaron Tveit. <3

Other favorite songs in this musical: Live in Living Color, Someone Else’s Skin, Butter Outta Cream, Fly Fly Away, Goodbye

9. Three Little Words (Ghost, The Musical)

People may say it every day,
But it’s really not the only the only way to reveal it

I missed the Manila staging of this musical, which was such a shame because one of my favorite Korean actors was cast in the Korean run and I wanted to at least catch a glimpse of how the production went about. This is him singing the Korean version of Three Little Words and Here Right Now. <3

10. Sun and Moon (Miss Saigon)

You are sunlight, and I, moon — joined by the gods of fortune
Midnight and high noon, sharing the sky
We have been blessed, you and I

Do I even need to explain why this song is here? <3

Other favorite songs in this musical: Last Night of the World, Fall of Saigon, I Still Believe, Please

There you go, my first Playing Favorites post! I’ll probably try making this a regular thing here in my blog, because there are just so many songs, right? And as a side note, I really, really wanted to put in more Filipino musical songs, but they are very difficult to find on Youtube or anywhere else. I hope I could share some with you soon, though, because I know Maxie: The Musicale has their songs on Spotify, and Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady has already released their OST. (I wonder when Rak of Aegis will follow suit, because I am DESPERATE to blast those songs here at home.)

1,242 words
#promptoftheday response to the prompt “favorite songs”
sent in by pachi <3

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