My top 10 Favorite Musical Numbers from Classic Musicals

On By CarolIn Uncategorized

Who doesn’t love a good musical? They’re fun, joyful, lovely and they warm your heart. Some of them break your heart as well. But the song-and-dance numbers are usually so good, that you don’t really mind. So I’ve decided to compile a list of my top 10 favorite musical numbers. Mind you, these aren’t necessarily my favorite musicals in the order they will appear on this list, just my favorite numbers from those musicals.

CRITERIA

  • – I have to have some degree of love for the musicals these numbers appear in, not just the numbers themselves
  • – There are certain numbers that I’ve seen the clips but not the entire film, so they won’t appear on the list
  • – Only one number from each musical will appear and it is the one I consider to be my favorite from that musical. Some of these were very hard, so bear with me
  • – There will be an honorable mention, and it will be my second favorite number from that musical
  • – These are my personal favorites, so the list is VERY subjective

 

Here we go!

10. Make ‘Em Laugh (Singin’ in the Rain, 1952)

Honorable mention: Good Morning

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This was a tough one. I had to go with Make ‘Em Laugh in the end, because it’s just too funny to overlook.

9. Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)

Honorable mention: We’re off to see the Wizard

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This is probably the most iconic song on the list. How can you not love it?

8. The Sound of Music (The Sound of Music, 1965)

Honorable mention: My Favorite Things

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As soon as it starts, you know it’s going to be good. It excites you and it fills you with nothing but joy. There is probably no better opening sequence to a musical.

7. Cover Girl (Cover Girl, 1944)

Honorable mention: Long Ago and Far Away

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Rita Hayworth never looked lovelier. She shines in this movie and this particular number is majestic.

6. The Man That Got Away (A Star is Born, 1954)

Honorable mention: Swanee

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The emotion, the feeling, the power, the words… This song is just too much. Judy Garland gives it her all, like always, and it’s magnificent.

5. Well Did You Evah (High Society, 1956)

Honorable mention: True Love

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I love the lyrics and I love how natural Frank and Bing make it seem. I’d love to just randomly start singing this at a party one day. Remind me to do that.

4. Pick Yourself Up (Swing Time, 1936)

Honorable mention: Never Gonna Dance

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I’d love to know how to tap-dance. This movie made me want to learn (which I still haven’t), and this number, particularly, has always fascinated me.

3. Bye Bye Baby (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953)

Honorable mention: Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend

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I love this movie so much, and this has always been my favorite number. Absolutely lovely and Jane Russell is awesome.

2. Get Happy (Summer Stock, 1950)

Honorable mention: You, Wonderful You

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When Judy Garland tells you to get happy, you jolly well get happy! It’s impossible not to.

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1. The Trolley Song (Meet me in St Louis, 1944)

Honorable mention: The Boy Next Door

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It could not be anything else, it will never be anything else. Not only is it my favorite musical number, it’s one of my favorite scenes from any movie ever. It’s perfect.

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There you have it folks! Hope you enjoyed it, and as always, feel free to share your favorites in the comments!

Happy weekend, everyone!

26 thoughts on “My top 10 Favorite Musical Numbers from Classic Musicals”

  2. maddylovesherclassicfilms

    That is a terrific song list there. These are some of my favourites. Put On Your Sunday Clothes and Hello Dolly from Hello Dolly. 16 Going On 17 from The Sound Of Music. Mandy from White Christmas. I’m Gonna Wash That Man Out Of My Hair from South Pacific.

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  3. Randall Green

    What would be your gateway recommendation for someone who, dare I say it, doesn’t so much like musicals? I’ve been thinking maybe The Young Girls of Rochefort.

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    1. Good choice!
      I think Cover Girl is quite nice. Not top of the list, but very lovely. Also, anything with Judy Garland (Meet Me in St Louis is my favorite). And then there’s the big Busby Berkeley ones from the 30s!

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  4. Oooh I haven’t seen all these films, but there are some amazing choices here!
    Singin’ in the Rain has so many great numbers! I think my favourite one would be Moses Supposes.
    I love the Song of Music theme song. Always makes me emotional because Julie Andrews’ voice is sooo beautiful
    I’m glad that you pick a number from High Society! And a good choice! By the way the other day I found by coincidence a version of
    Well Did You Evah sang by Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop! It was quite good actually.
    I think I would have a lot of difficulties to do such a top and admire you for sticking to only 10 😉

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  7. I agree with you on many of the songs, especially in High Society, Summer Stock, Swing Time and Meet me in St Louis. However, my favorite song in Singin’ in the Rain is Moses Supposes!
    Kisses!
    Le

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  8. caracoleta07

    Your number one is no surprise to me 😀

    2003 was my year of musicals.
    On Easter break I caught Mary Poppins on TV and to this day I can’t pick a favourite musical number from that one. When I try it, I end up naming no less than 7 songs. I mean, there’s ‘Feed the Birds’, and ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’, ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite, … Impossible.

    Then, during Summer holidays I got The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly (I’d watch it everyday) and My Fair Lady from the library. I already knew a Portuguese translation of ‘Do Re Mi’ that our Music teacher had taught us at school but I fell in love with that song all over again. That number encompasses the kids entire Summer with Salzburg and the beautiful Alps as the backdrop to their adventures. As the lover of dance that I am ,the other scene that I love from TSoM is the ‘Laendler’.

    Hello Dolly made me smile from the very first moment, or Gene Kelly’s touch did, by I didn’t even know about him then. The opening of the movie showing only the feet of each passerby, each in their own rhythm and together creating a melody, from the girl skipping beside her father, to the street sweeper, is unforgettable. I love how Gene Kelly (similarly to Jackie Chan) would use what was around to create a choreography or even sound. My favourite songs from this one are ‘Put On Your Sunday Clothes’ and ‘Hello Dolly’ (Isn’t Louis Armstrong so adorable in it?)

    In My Fair Lady ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly?’ caught my attention first. There’s a bit of tap dancing in it. ‘Nuff said. Then it was probably ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’.

    Some time later I caught Singin’ in the Rain on TV. It made me fall in love with tap dancing and especially with Gene Kelly tap dancing. ‘Moses’ is, to me, as funny as ‘Make’em Laugh’. Second place would probably go to ‘Good Morning’, for me as well 🙂

    Thoroughly Modern Millie is another one that makes it hard to choose. I like ‘Baby Face’ because Julie is so damn funny in that scene and the song is only heard as her inner thoughts. ‘Trinkt le Chaim’ (the Jewish wedding song) is also a delight.

    In Funny Girl I loved the ‘Roller Skate Rag’ (I have a thing for skating as well, especially if it’s on ice). And who can forget ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’?

    My favourite Gene Kelly dancing scene can be found in Anchors Aweigh. It’s La Cumparsita. I think I watched that movie in its entirety only once but every so often I have to go an watch that number and be delighted. The scene where he dances with the little girls is one of the sweetest as well. Sidenote, 30 y.o. Frank Sinatra looked like 18 y.o. tbh.

    The best parts from State Fair are the songs ‘It’s a Great Night for Singing’, that gets stuck in your head the first time you listen to it, and ‘It Might as well be Spring’, which is just lovely. How are the DVDs, Carol? ^_^

    The ballet sequence from An American in Paris in which it’s revealed that Gene Kelly’s character is dancing with a bouquet of flowers instead of with Leslie Caron’s character is so beautiful… And ‘I Got Rhythm’ is another lovely scene with Gene interacting with the kiddies.

    A very honourable mention goes to another Gene Kelly number that I regularly watch (usually right after I finish La Cumparsita). It’s from the musical It’s Always Fair Weather, which I haven’t watched yet and it’s called ‘I Love Myself’. As if tap dancing in itself wasn’t impressive enough, that crazy man did it on roller blades… Whoah!
    In Summer Stock Gene Kelly also did a memorable number in which he uses a newspaper page and a squeaking floorboard to create sound and rhythm.
    The ‘Alter Ego Dance’ from Cover Girl is also another of my favourite dancing scenes.
    I wonder if anyone can sense a pattern here. Mmmm… ^_^

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    1. Love, love, love it!!
      I know what you mean about Mary Poppins, cause I feel the exact same way about Cabaret. It’s actually frustrating that I can’t pick a favorite number from that one. Every single one of them is pure magic. I’ve narrowed it down to four: Money Money, Mein Her, Maybe This Time and Wilkommen.
      Singing in the rain-wise, I ALMOST said Moses, but I just had to go with Good Morning! But Moses is sooo good!
      I love Don’t Rain on my Parade! Wonderful song, but I actually prefer the Bobby Darin version.
      I’ll have to watch Anchors Aweigh again! Gene Kelly is just absolutely brilliant in everything!
      State Fair! ‘It Might as well be Spring’, yes! Thanks for the DVD, booboo 😀
      You have no idea how hard it was to do this list! There are just TOO MANY!

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      1. caracoleta07

        😀
        I’m a very undecided person in general eheh so I’m very familiar with this feeling but it’s nice to do this kind of exercise.
        I love ‘Good morning’ as well. I love that musical…!
        I have to listen to that version again. I’m not as familiar with it.
        Yeahm I should too ^_^ He definitely was.
        Right? That song strikes a chord. And you’re absolutely welcome 😀 I loved having you over during Christmastime
        I know, I know. Even with my 3 honourable mentions I left things out. I had True Love and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for High Society, for example. And yet another musical I watched in 2003 ^_^

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