7 Broadway Soundtracks That Make Me Want to Cry

I love music. I love stories. I love theater. Simple math states:

Music+Stories+Theater=Broadway Musicals.

Therefore:

Broadway Musicals=Happiness.

Unfortunately, I do not live in close proximity Broadway (not that I would really want to. I mean… big city=me freaking out. Maybe digging hole or inventing a hovercraft house to escape other humans). Also, I do not have an unlimited supply of money (This truly is unfortunate). As a result, viewing Broadway shows does not occupy a large amount of my life.

However do I come to terms with this sad reality?

BROADWAY CAST RECORDINGS!

Because I can buy them from the safety and remoteness of my own home and I can scrounge up $13 dollars for a good cause. And this is indeed a good cause.

As with most things, the best Broadway soundtracks are the emotional ones. Because doesn’t everyone want to listen to something that will reduce them to a crumpled, shivering lump on the floor?

Of course you do.

So. Here are 7 Broadway Soundtracks that Make Me Want to Cry.

 

7. Tale of Two Cities

The song(s): “Finale: I Can’t Recall”

Do you know what Tale of Two Cities is?! Do you know how it END?!?!?!

Well, I will tell you. It ends with a guillotine. And DEATH. And me wanting to sob my eyes out (as long as they are easy to put back in because I need them for important things like reading and generally living my life).

 

6. Hamilton

 

The Song(s): “Stay Alive reprise”, “It’s Quiet Uptown”, “The World Was Wide Enough”, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”

Oooooooohhhhh, Phillip when you DIE I am undone. My son. LOOK AT MY SON.

Sorry for the spoiler. But 1) it’s probably not a spoiler because you probably already knew that and 2) it’s not really a spoiler because it happened more than 200 years ago. Go study history people. (Or just listen to historical Broadway musicals like me.)

And Alex, my man. Your death is sad too.

And the FINALE. It’s so BEAUTIFUL.

 

5. Jane Eyre

The Song(s): “Brave Enough For Love”

Because finales are AMAZING. Or they should be. The part when they have their first child and there’s this silence and then Mr. Rochester sings way up high and his voice is BEAUTIFUL and the murmur of the waterfall that is my tears makes a lovely background.

 

4. The Secret Garden

The Song(s): “How Could I Ever Know?”

The music is so beautiful and the words are so tragic and heartbreaking. I once cried into the dishwater while listening to this song.

 

3. Newsies

The Song(s): “Santa Fe”, “Letter From the Refuge”

The placement of “Santa Fe” is SO PERFECT. I still haven’t quite gotten over it. And the last note just smashes me flat as a pancake (in the best possible way).

“Letter From the Refuge” is so amazing, I feel great sorrow for all the people who saw it on Broadway and missed out, because it was added for the touring production. And it was the most wonderful and brilliant addition possible. The music is beautiful, the words are perfect, and Crutchie is amazing.

 

2. Dear Evan Hansen

The Song(s): “Words Fail”

I’d like to tell you my feelings about this song but… words fail. (I’m sorry. That’s not even funny.)

Firstly, he is crying and you can HEAR IT.

Secondly, the self-loathing in his voice when he says, “Pretend I’m something other than this mess that I am.”

Thirdly, when he says, “Would they like what they saw, or would they hate it too?”

Fourthly, Ben Platt’s voice.

Fifthly, EVAN.

Sixithly…. Just go listen to it.

 

1. Les Miserables

The Song(s): … All of them? Ok, but particularly “The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche)” and, of course, “Finale.”

Why, you ask? Do you see the words “Death of Gavroche”? Do you know who Gavroche is? Clearly you do not or you would be unable to continue reading this through your tears.

And the finale…. I mean, it’s the finale. To a very emotional show. It’s where all the dead people come out and sing. How could this not be emotional?

 

Now go forth and listen to all of the above mentioned songs and cry yourself enough tears to water all the poor plants that are dying in the merciless summer heat.

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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