Pulp Ranked: Top 10 Motivational Musical Theatre Songs for When You’re Having a Breakdown
By Jake Parker
Mid-Sem break has come and gone, the mountains of work you said you would do have remained untouched. You need some motivation songs and stories to take you away from the stress of uni life and your ever-looming exams and assignments. Come into the world of musical theatre! It doesn’t matter if you’re a Muse die-hard, a musical cynic or you’ve just watched one episode of Glee there’s something for every mid-mental breakdown student here.
10. Something’s Coming - West Side Story
Okay, Tony is an actual inspiration. This is a musical classic that fills you with hope and excitement for the unknown. This is all a song about wanting a better future for yourself, changing your lifestyle and bad habits and knowing that it’s possible if you just hope!
9. Stick It to the Man - School of Rock
It’s hard following in the footsteps of the immortal childhood classic, School of Rock but the broadway hit did it and smashed it. This is a song that glorifies rebelling against being told what to do and rising up against adversity to live your best life.
8. Raise You Up / Just Be - Kinky Boots
If dancing drag queens singing about loving yourself and each other won’t motivate you to try your best I’m not sure what will. This high tempo song is all about being willing to accept help and working through prejudice to find acceptance of others and yourself. As the song preaches, ‘just be, who you wanna be, never let ‘em tell you who you ought to be’ - do you! Live your best life!
7. Naughty - Matilda
Another bop about self actualisation and rebelling against the things that get you down in life! This song is guaranteed to have you going: ‘Wow, I’m not going to live to somebody else’s expectations, I want to write my own story!’ and ‘How the hell does a ten-year-old sing this so well?!’
6. Defying Gravity - Wicked
This show-stopping signature song of Wicked will have you finding power in your hardship, rising above heartache and struggles and embracing being an outsider. It is about accepting yourself and the power that comes from this and it will have you wanting to fight back against anybody who wants to keep you down.
5. She Used to Be Mine - Waitress
The slowest, arguably most intense song on this list but it would be amiss without this inclusion. Waitress at its heart is a musical about finding yourself and striving to be your best self. This beautiful self reflection may bring you close to tears but it’ll remind you to stick true to yourself and that no matter how lost you may find yourself feeling that you can still find yourself.
4. Don’t Rain on My Parade - Funny Girl
It’s 2009, you’re watching Glee. Rachel Berry has just belted out ‘I march my band out’ and the rest of the cast moves onto stage. And now in 2019 you’re listening to this song again and Barbara Streisand has you feeling unstoppable. This is your world. You’re marching down eastern avenue and daring anyone to try and bring around a cloud to rain on your parade.
3. My Shot - Hamilton
Hamilton. Hamilton. Hamilton. Can I say anymore? Lin Manuel Miranda’s iconic song is about taking what you want in life and not being afraid to be ambitious. Be MOTIVATED by Hamilton, a real story about rising up and not letting self-doubt get in your way. Back yourself and the world will remember you.
2. Times Are Hard for Dreamers - Amelie
Amelie was only on Broadway for three months but it’s left us with this absolute banger of an anthem. This is a light-hearted song that goes off and if you haven’t heard it I cannot recommend it more. This is for anyone that’s going through a low point and needs to be reminded that everything will be okay. Its a solid and sweet reminder about sticking to your dreams and not being afraid of change.
Before we get to our number one pick, some honorable mentions:
You Will be Found (Dear Evan Hansen), Suddenly Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors) and Light (Next to Normal) will all fill you with a sense of warmth and hope.
And finally….
1. So Much Better - Legally Blonde
There has been no greater inspiration for motivation in my life than the story of Elle Woods. From the movie’s montage set to ‘Watch me Shine’, her perfectly crafted exposure of Chutney Windham’s perm based lies and my favourite moment in the musical when Elle discovers she has been accepted into a coveted internship. This is THE amalgamation of her efforts, of her studies and dedication and this close to the first act will have you feeling validated. So many songs from Legally Blonde could be on this list, it is the ultimate feel good musical, but this one will have you feeling pumped. It’s an anthem for everyone, showing that you don’t need a man or any other validation beyond your own and a reminder that no matter what you’ve been through you are so much better than before.