There are more musicals than any of us have ever even heard of. Only a fraction of these make it to Broadway, the ultimate destination for musical theater. And of these? Well, there are far fewer that become truly great. Choosing the best musical soundtracks is no small task. Here are our top five; let us know yours in the comments below (assuming, that is, you think we’re wrong about any of them?).
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1. Hamilton
We know, we know, everyone has been on the Hamilton train since it first hit stages in 2015. Consider us 21st century-biased if you must. But there’s a real reason why Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop-driven show has struck so many chords with fans from all around the world, not just in the U.S. It’s an incredibly compelling story, told deliberately and in a way that contrasts modern America and America at its founding. It’s drawn some criticism more recently for sidestepping real flaws in some of its characters (and for what it’s worth, composer Miranda says all those criticisms are valid).
But Hamilton’s electric energy comes from its storytelling through hip-hop and rap, making a point about what America is really supposed to be about. And, whatever your opinion of the Founding Fathers, we challenge you not to sing along to hits like “The Schuyler Sisters” and “You’ll Be Back.”
2. Fiddler on the Roof
It says something about how good Fiddler on the Roof is that it’s one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. The original production ran for a gobsmacking 3,242 shows, a record for the time (and that accounts for more than 10 years, in case you were wondering).
You wouldn’t think that a show about the Jewish pogroms in 1910s Russia would appeal to a wide audience. But the characters and the music are just that good. Almost everyone knows these invigorating tunes, from the dreamy “Matchmaker” to the playful “If I Were a Rich Man.” Fiddler on the Roof has been on Broadway intermittently since the ’60s, and there’s no sign of it going away anytime soon.
3. The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber has been Broadway royalty for some time now, and The Phantom of the Opera is probably his greatest creation. It holds the record for the longest-running musical on Broadway, hitting its 10,000th show in 2012.
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The story itself is as dark and compelling as it is romantic, but its real genius is in the music. Webber wove together classic opera with rock and roll and more modern operatic works by Gilbert and Sullivan. The result? A soundtrack that is instantly recognizable, down to the manic organ intro in the show’s first notes.
4. Les Miserables
Les Miserables is another play that seems like it never should have worked. Based on Victor Hugo’s (frankly pretty depressing) novel from 1862, the title literally means “the miserable ones.” But in this case, it’s the music that makes it so unbelievably compelling enough to have made it the longest-running show in London’s West End.
Les Miserables toes the line between musical and opera, since most of the show is sung. Songs like “I Dreamed a Dream” and “One Day More” have become some of the most famous pieces in musical theater history. The characters might be miserable, but what’s coming out of their mouths is certainly catchy.
5. Chicago
Did you know that Chicago was based on true stories of criminals in the 1920s? Although they probably didn’t sing jazz in prison like Roxie and Velma. That said, their stories inspired this utterly dynamic musical. Chicago earns second place behind Phantom for the longest-running Broadway show. Its characters are not exactly good people (actually, they’re textbook antiheroes), but it’s hard not to root for them when they’re singing “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango.” It makes for an audience as dazzled by the singing as the jury is in the show.
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