Top 10 Broadway Songs to Listen to When You Feel Like the Main Character
#10: “Good Morning Baltimore”
“Hairspray”
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From the moment you hear those drums, it’s time to get ready for your close-up. “Good Morning Baltimore” is one of the greatest opening numbers ever. It’s also basically the definition of an “I Want” song. The protagonist of “Hairspray,” Tracy Turnblad, spends it telling us all about her day-to-day life, as well as her wants and desires. And what she wants is to be a star. If you’re ever in a bad mood, or doubting your ability to make it to the top, “Good Morning Baltimore” is the song for you. How can you feel down when the rats on the street are dancing around your feet?
#9: “I'm the Greatest Star”
“Funny Girl”
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We know, we know. The more famous tune from “Funny Girl” is “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” and that’s got a fair amount of main character energy to it. But truly, does it get more “main character” than “I'm the Greatest Star”? It’s one of the first numbers we see Fanny Brice sing in “Funny Girl,” and for anyone who has ever dreamed of stardom, it’s the blueprint. Not only does it let you wax poetic about all your skills and dreams, it’s also got a fair amount of quirk to it. If Barbra Streisand taught us anything, it’s that when you want to be the main character, you can’t be just like everyone else.
#8: “Journey to the Past”
“Anastasia”
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Who among us hasn’t taken a long, arduous journey? Sure, maybe ours wasn’t marred by amnesia, but still! In “Anastasia,” the titular character fittingly sings “Journey to the Past” at a pivotal moment in her journey. It encompasses her choice to move forward in her quest to find out more about her heritage and identity. But even for us regular folk, the number rings true. If we’re gearing up to do something difficult, sometimes we need a little courage. Thankfully, with its inspirational lyrics, “Journey to the Past” can give us all the bravery we need.
#7: “Waiting for Life”
“Once on This Island”
Being a main character is often about being on a path, in control while going after your destiny. But it can also be about waiting for something, anything, to come your way. “Once on This Island” is one of the most underrated musicals of the past few decades. Its main character, Ti Moune, performs “Waiting for Life” toward the beginning of the show. It’s a gorgeous piece about hope, desire, and feeling like you’re on the cusp of something great, even though you’re not quite there. There’s an anticipation and excitement within “Waiting for Life” that makes it perfect for those pivotal transitional moments.
#6: “What You Want”
“Legally Blonde”
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Of course you got into Harvard! What, like it’s hard? “Legally Blonde” is essentially all about main character energy. Elle Woods uproots her whole life for a guy, but then eventually finds more love for herself than any man could give. Even though “What You Want” comes when Elle is still in her Warner stage of life, she remains the main character of her story. And you can be too! “What You Want” has a great beat and energy. Plus, it’s all about overcoming obstacles and having the confidence to go after what you want. Blast this one aloud, and you’ll always be what they want.
#5: “Seize the Day”
“Newsies”
“Newsies” is ultimately a show about protesting and standing up for yourself. So there are a lot of tracks on its song list that make us feel like the main character. “The World Will Know” motivates us to kick down the door and go on strike. But “Seize the Day” just has that little extra oomph that we’re looking for. It starts off with melancholy, which feels really true to life. It isn't always easy to stand your ground or fight for what you believe in. But as the song goes on, and that beat picks up, we start to feel more empowered. Whenever the road ahead looks difficult, we trust “Seize the Day” to help us face it.
#4: “Roxie”
“Chicago”
It’s time to be a superstar. If there is one person in musical theater history who made herself the main character no matter the cost, it’s Roxie Hart. The song of hers that most embodies this idea and essence has to be “Roxie.” The lyrics see her imagining herself as the most famous person in the world – the person that everyone is talking about, the one absolutely everyone adores. We all need to feel that way sometimes, and this is the tune that can help us get there. Just replace Roxie’s name with your own, and you’ll be the star of the show.
#3: “My Shot”
“Hamilton”
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When a song is prompted by everyone asking one character, “who are you?”, you know things are about to get wild. With “My Shot,” Lin-Manuel Miranda essentially turns Alexander Hamilton into the main character of American history. Of course, his friends get a chance to shine too. So if you’re ever looking to feel really important, this is the number for you. Throughout, Hamilton doesn’t just rap about his hopes for the future, but about how he’s certain he’ll play a direct and important role in creating it. If you ever want to remember what you’ve got to say matters, just go ahead and press play on this one.
#2: “I Am What I Am”
“La Cage aux Folles”
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A lot of a protagonist’s journey revolves around discovering who they are. But that story can also be about staying true to yourself. If that’s how you feel about your main character energy, then look no further than “I Am What I Am” when creating your playlist. It comes at the end of the first act of “La Cage aux Folles,” sung by Albin in response to others’ apparent embarrassment regarding his drag career and personality. It’s exactly what you think it’s going to be – a proud, defiant statement of individuality. If you want people to know that you don’t care what they think of you, “I Am What I Am” is the perfect choice.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Not for the Life of Me,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
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“I Feel Pretty,” “West Side Story”
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“It Won’t Be Long Now,” “In the Heights”
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“Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Gypsy”
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“I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night),” “Annie Get Your Gun”
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#1: “Defying Gravity”
“Wicked”
Stephen Schwartz might be the king of crafting main character songs, and “Wicked” might be his opus in this regard. From “Wonderful” to “The Wizard and I,” there are so many songs in this 2003 musical that make us feel like it’s all about us. But only one can take the crown, and it’s near impossible to beat “Defying Gravity.” The part-solo part-duet between Elphaba and Glinda comes at the end of the first act, as the former finally comes into her own as the Wicked Witch of the West. Belting at the top of her lungs, she takes a story most of us historically associate with Dorothy and makes it her own. Hey, changing the narrative is a super main character thing to do.
If we missed any of your favorite main character bangers, let us know in the comments below.
