With all the craziness in our young lives like parties, work, and exams, we look to music to help us get through our day and relax. You have probably heard the same old mainstream songs on Pandora or Spotify so I thought I’d add a little Broadway to your playlist this week. To those of you who are trying to find your way in college or those of you who are continuously going through the struggles of being a college student, here are 5 Broadway musical songs that you can definitely relate to at one point or another in your college life.
What is this feeling? – Wicked
Context: Our main characters Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (The Good Witch of the South) have just been unfortunately assigned as roommates, but their first feelings towards each other can only be described as one word: loathing. So for any of you dealing with a roommate/suitemate/classmate that you loathe, this one goes out to you.
I Hope I Get It – A Chorus Line
Context: This is the opening number to Broadway’s A Chorus Line in which each of the characters are expressing their hope to get a part in the musical they are all auditioning for. If you look into the lyrics, they basically describe the thought process and worries of any student trying to get a job in the real world.
“I really need this job.
Please God, I need this job.
I’ve got to get this job.”
Don’t worry. You’ll get it.
I Wish I Could Go Back to College – Avenue Q
Context: Why would anyone want to go back to college? Right now, you may be thinking that college sucks, but for the main characters of Avenue Q, these are the best days of your life. Every reference they make is probably something you’ve encountered (or thought of encountering) yourself.
My Shot – Hamilton
Context: If you haven’t heard of the smash hit musical Hamilton, have you been living under a rock? Hamilton has taken the world by storm, and you could pull out almost any line from it and relate to it back to yourself. I’ve specifically chosen this song not only for it’s notoriety but for it’s level of relatability. The titular character Alexander Hamilton, played by the show’s genius writer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, shows us how he is young and ambitious and hopeful just like the rest of us. Let this song serve as your motivation to get through to tomorrow or just as a tune to bop to. Don’t throw away your shot at doing something amazing in life.
Breathe – In the Heights
Context: Another Lin-Manuel Miranda masterpiece, “Breathe” introduces one of the main characters, Nina, who comes back from college with intentions to drop out. This number gives us insight to the pressure she has felt from her family and community to do well in college. For a lot of us, that can hit home to our own pressures from our loved ones. This song is just a reminder that you’re not the only one going through this. You will get through college.