Musicals have the magical ability of taking the audience on a journey through a landscape of sound and visuals. They celebrate storytelling in a way that blends instrumental themes with lyrical arcs, and character development. Through song and dance, the characters communicate their deepest wants and desires. A song that allows the audience to get such an introspective of the character and their story is called an “I Want” song. Such a song holds great power — it can truly move the audience, make them root for the character, and bring them to truly care about their journey. Such an important category of song deserves a proper ranking. Here are the most well-known “I Want” songs (“topdog”) and those that deserve more attention (“underdog”).

Topdog:

1.“The Wizard And I” from “Wicked”

Perhaps one of the most iconic musical theater songs and certainly the poster child for an “I Want” song, “The Wizard and I” perfectly encapsulates the lead character Elphaba’s longing for acceptance from the wizard and society at large. The song introduces the audience to Elphaba, her biggest dreams and her fears, in a detailed and musically engaging way. As such, the song perfectly lays out the stakes of the show, while overall being simply iconic.

2.“Wait For It” from “Hamilton”

This song blends storytelling with impeccable rhythm and instrumentals. “Hamilton” has undeniably had the mainstream musical theater scene in a chokehold since its Broadway premiere in 2015. “Wait For It” is the first time the audience is able to get a deeper understanding of antagonist Aaron Burr’s beliefs and desires. A usually rather reserved character, he doesn’t express his feelings in the same way Hamilton does throughout the play. However, this song finally outlines his inner struggle of realizing that in order to get what he truly wants he has to be patient and “wait for it.” The song not only allows the audience to understand how Burr’s past experiences and complicated relationship with Hamilton shape his behavior, but it also secretly foreshadows the final duel in which he shoots Hamilton.

3.“Don’t Rain On My Parade” from “Funny Girl”

The song is an anthem of standing up for yourself and being proud of the person you are. The lead character, Fanny Brice, is determined to live her life to the fullest and refuses to let others deter her from doing what she wants to do with her life. The song highlights the journey of a confident and determined woman ready to carve her own path through life with powerful vocals and storytelling. The song represents a kind of fairytale dreaming of a young woman newly in love. After all, despite its empowering nature, Fanny uses the song to assert her determination to leave her dream job for a man she just met — but it is simply too good of a song to let that concept cloud its overall quality.

4.“What You Want” from “Legally Blonde”

“What You Want” is a fantastic song that lays out the quirky character of Elle Woods with charm and great musical harmonies but does not necessarily fit the standard idea of an “I Want” song. In fact, the audience learns about Elle Woods’s drive through her attempt to fit her ex-boyfriend’s version of an ideal wife. Since one could argue that growing into her own person is Elle Woods’s big journey throughout the show, ranking a song that is essentially about changing who you are for a man seems difficult to justify in today’s society — but it certainly deserves to be a part of this ranking.

Topdog Honorable mentions:

“My Shot” from “Hamilton”

“Santa Fe (Prologue)” from “Newsies”

“Waving Through a Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen”

Underdog:

1.“Gimme Gimme” from “Thoroughly Modern Millie”

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is not just a great musical that people nowadays seem to have forgotten about due to its culturally offensive elements, but “Gimme Gimme” perfectly fits the mold of an “I Want” song. After all, the lead character, Millie, literally says “Gimme, gimme that thing called love / I want it.” The song introduces Millie as a young, naive ingénue desperately looking for love while bringing audiences to root for her throughout the entire show.

2.“Corner of the Sky” from “Pippin”

Perhaps the most controversial ranking on this list, “Corner of the Sky” could arguably rank higher. One could argue it even introduced the original format and structure of an “I Want” song while also showcasing a great musical and lyrical buildup as well as an arc that resonates with audiences. However, it has not been consistent in its popularity throughout the years, and while being a popular audition song for tenor voices, it did not quite transcend the mainstream musical theater scene.

3.“Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret”

This song is about more than just lead character Sally Bowles’s longing for love: it blends her past and future together in a heartbreaking arc that underlines her deep desire to be finally seen for who she is. While the song is more well-known than other “Underdog” songs thanks to the famous movie adaption of the musical starring Liza Minnelli, it might not be the first song people think of today when it comes to popular “I Want” songs — but it should be!

4.“The Beauty Is” from “The Light In The Piazza”

“The Beauty Is,” is a song that represents the idea of discovery and realization of what the character, Clara, wants and who she loves. The light represents the idea of enlightenment and the ability to finally see her own desires clearly, often the first step to realizing them. The poetic writing beautifully goes hand in hand with the melodic arrangement of the song, which is simply stunning.

Underdog Honorable mentions:

“Somewhere That’s Green” from “Little Shop Of Horrors”

“Out There” from “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame”

“It Might as Well Be Spring” from “State Fair 1945”

—Staff writer Amelie Julicher can be reached at amelie.julicher@thecrimson.com.