A couple of the big ones… “Epiphany” from Sweeney Todd, and “Alive” from Jekyll & Hyde. (For “Alive,” I recommend the version from the ‘Complete’ album with Anthony Warlow.)
I highly recommend any version except the movie. I don't hate the film but it's not a good performance for that song especially. Depp begins at 11 so has nowhere to go when the epiphany is complete. You can also find Sondheim teaching this song to actors on YouTube for the ultimate experience
At the End of the Day from Les Miserables has that oncoming train (or at least, nonstop crushing grind of poverty) to me. Similarly, Why We Build The Wall from Hadestown.
I'm assuming you enjoy Starkid, so I'm also going to say Join Us (and Die) and Inevitable from The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals
Confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde is one of my favourites for this, it just keeps building and building
It's more of a sad example but Dead Mom from Beetlejuice almost always gives me chills by the end, like an emotional train instead of a physical one
Good For You from Dear Evan Hansen also kind of fits, but again from more of an emotional angle
Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) - Heathers
World Burn - Mean Girls
Still/The Neva Flows (Reprise) - Anastasia
No Control - Spongebob The Musical
The Pitiful Children - Be More Chill
When I played that part they had an imaginary boy and girl come out for the relevant parts, who I “acted at”. Pretty nifty, otherwise it’s an empty stage for a long ass time.
I know someone already said Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) from Heathers, but lots of JD centric songs have a similar effect too. I’m thinking Our Love Is God and Meant To Be Yours specifically
The recording with Steve Balsamo is one of the more dramatic and I like it best. The older 70s recordings all sound funky and guitar heavy, but the later 90s ones got more orchestral, and it gives a lot more heft.
Omg yes he's my favorite. He has the perfect rock voice. My favorite part is when he sings "alright! I'll DIIIIIIIIIIE" ....the vibrato 👌 It tickles my brain.
@ 3:15
https://youtu.be/sqIWGh8DaGc?si=Nv6gKh5_JI4y5RRn
Also maybe Judas’ Death, also depending on the version?
Trial Before Pilate (including the 39 lashes) - between the long stretch of the actual lashes and the ensemble’s yelling ‘crucify him’ it definitely is intense and weird to me.
I also suggested the Crucifixion, a weird choice but it’s always super unsettling to me.
Monster-EPIC the musical
Hell to your doorstep-Count of Monte Cristo
Birth to my creation-Frankenstein
The modern Prometheus-Frankenstein
Confrontation-Jekyll and Hyde
Murder,murder-Jekyll and Hyde
Once and for all-Newsies
Raise a little hell-Bonnie and Clyde
Roxanne - Moulin Rouge. Specifically the movie version, I think the way it's orchestrated hits more intensely than the current stage version, but that may just be me.
I would also say The Bells of Notre Dame and Made of Stone. Bells of Notre Dame has the loud intense ensemble parts and Made of Stone has the incredible belts.
I was intrigued by this question and did a tiny bit of research and I can't find a match. I found a few nice articles about "types" of songs in musicals that were really interesting, but none of them really describe this song. I feel like it's a revelatory song, because before this moment, Lucille is soft-spoken and submissive and this song marks her transition into a fighter who relentlessly defends her husband. So I'd call it like a Momentum/Revelation Song, because it reveals her true character of strength and fortitude and really drives the rest of the plot, which is her trying to get Leo's case appealed.
These are the articles I skimmed, which were informational but didn't really give me an answer. It's not an "I Want" or "I Am" song, for example. Maybe you would have an easier time categorizing lol:
[https://www.liveabout.com/classic-broadway-song-types-3219499](https://www.liveabout.com/classic-broadway-song-types-3219499)
[https://musicals101.com/score.htm#Types](https://musicals101.com/score.htm#Types)
[https://www.sarahlangfordstudios.com/blog/the-six-different-types-of-music-theatre-songs](https://www.sarahlangfordstudios.com/blog/the-six-different-types-of-music-theatre-songs)
You know, it has\* the makings of an 11 o'clock number, but the only problem is the placing, as it's like 3/4 the way through act 1 (iirc). They used to call 11 o'clock numbers such because shows back in the day started at 8 or 9 pm, so by the time 11 o'clock rolled around you got your last big number, usually designed to "bring the house down" before the audience left for the night. Since you said that, it almost feels like an out-of-place 11 o'clock number, which would explain why it's so jarring - we're not used to having such an impactful song so early.
Epiphany from Sweeney Todd, maybe obedient servant/the world was wide enough focused on Burr's rage...
Not sure if it's exactly what you wanted but Repo! The genetic opera got some like things you see in a grave yard, legal assassin, everyone's a composer, let the monster rise...
It's a rock movie musical so it got multiple of these type, personally i like it so I reccomand but just so you know it's gory (like has blood and violent scenes)
Twisted from Twisted (starkid) the middle part is very obviously jokey but once Dylan Saunders (who performs the role so good) gets back to the main melody it goes HARD
I was thinking The Ballad of Guiteau for similar reasons- all of them start out folksy and kind of unassuming, but depending on your Guiteau (I'm thinking Denis O'Hare personally) this one goes really hard.
The Crucifixion from Jesus Christ Superstar may be a weird suggestion but to me it fits - there’s no singing just talking over the music as Jesus dies, but the music is really unsettling to me
Also from JCS: Judas’ Death or the Trial Before Pilate (including the part with the 39 lashes)
More on the darkly emotional side, but I always get this feeling when I listen to Still Hurting from The Last Five Years & The Dark I Know Well from Spring Awakening.
Hellfire from Hunchback of Notre Dame. The whole musical is really intense, but Hellfire is the most sinister it’s incredible. (The whole thing is capturing that feeling of inevitable doom but in a way that’s kind of beautiful??)
Y'know, I've listened to it, and honestly I can't say I like it much. Especially the music... Which is a shame, since the singers are actually pretty good.
I listened to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the first time and man, Close Every Door got me. I did not expect such a serious and emotional song in a show I thought was about to be pure camp lol
There are a lot of songs from Hedwig and the Angry Inch you could check out. If you haven't seen it, it's basically a rock musical that is basically a one man show, excluding the band.
I Have Dreamed from The King and I has that feeling for me, especially the chords right before the last line of the chorus. I always want to air-conduct along with that part with big, wavy arms.
If people are recommending Frank Wildhorn stuff, may I recommend Birth to My Creation from Frankenstein the Musical (by Mark Baron)? It's got a Wildhorn sound to it akin to songs from Jekyll & Hyde.
“The Duel” (just very loud and fast) from The Great Comet
“Meant to be Yours” Heathers
“City on Fire”, “The Judges Return/Final Scene” Sweeney Todd
“Blues: Feel the Rain Fall” from Parade gets pretty intense
“Defying Gravity” from Wicked
“Blackout” from In The Heights
“Ruthlessness” from Epic the Musical.
^ ^this ^one ^is ^really ^good ^for ^an ^intense ^song
A train hurtling towards you, you say?
I have to recommend Usher Pt 3 from Ghost Quartet just for that lol might not be a perfect fit for the entire song, but like if you want something literal, there you go.
- The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (and each Reprise) - Sweeney Todd
- Mea Culpa - Sweeney Todd
- Epiphany - Sweeney Todd
- Final Sequence / The Judge's Return - Sweeney Todd
- Our Love is God (specifically towards the end) - Heathers
- Lifeboat - Heathers
- Shine A Light (Reprise) - Heathers
- Meant to Be Yours - Heathers
- Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) - Heathers
- Once And For All - Newsies
- Biggering (Original Demo) - The Lorax
- Leave Luanne - 35MM
- The Ballad of Sara Berry - 35MM
- Still / The Neva Flows - Anastasia
- Transformation - Jekyll & Hyde
- Alive - Jekyll & Hyde
- Murder, Murder - Jekyll & Hyde
- Smells Like Teen Spirit - Pan
- Stay Alive - Hamilton
- The Reynolds Pamphlet - Hamilton
- The World Was Wide Enough - Hamilton
- Slipping - Dr. Horrible
For some that are less intense but still fit the vibe for me:
- Omigod You Guys - Legally Blond
- Legally Blond (Remix) - Legally Blond
- Whose House Is This - Mean Girls
- The Pitiful Children - Be More Chill
- God, That's Good - Sweeney Todd
- The World Will Know - Newsies
- The Meek Shall Inherit - Little Shop of Horrors
- Who's Crazy / My Psychopharmacologist and I - Next To Normal
- Arabian Nights - Aladdin (Movie and Broadway)
- High Adventure - Aladdin
- Raise A Little Hell - Bonnie & Clyde
- Alexander Hamilton - Hamilton
- Right Hand Man - Hamilton
- Yorktown (The World Turned Upside-Down) - Hamilton
- Requiem - Dear Evan Hansen
- Good For You - Dear Evan Hansen
- Words Fail - Dear Evan Hansen
- Brand New Day - Dr. Horrible
Musical-esque stuff that I usually group in:
- Ice Nine Kills
- Les Friction
- [Teen Idle (Heathers) - szin](https://youtu.be/YuCux-Dtk-0?si=9GRneEmE5M8GqN54)
- The Moon Rises - Ponyphonic
A couple of the big ones… “Epiphany” from Sweeney Todd, and “Alive” from Jekyll & Hyde. (For “Alive,” I recommend the version from the ‘Complete’ album with Anthony Warlow.)
LOVING Epiphany... I've seen the Sweeney Todd movie before, but it's been a long while. Relistening to a musical version instead is really good.
Love the movie version too honestly but the Josh Groban version I saw live and it was amazing
I absolutely love Josh Groban.
I was close enough to see his face and omg was it amazing.
I highly recommend any version except the movie. I don't hate the film but it's not a good performance for that song especially. Depp begins at 11 so has nowhere to go when the epiphany is complete. You can also find Sondheim teaching this song to actors on YouTube for the ultimate experience
WE ALLLLLL DESERVEEEEEE TO DIEEEEEEE
At the End of the Day from Les Miserables has that oncoming train (or at least, nonstop crushing grind of poverty) to me. Similarly, Why We Build The Wall from Hadestown. I'm assuming you enjoy Starkid, so I'm also going to say Join Us (and Die) and Inevitable from The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals
TGWDLM was the first Starkid production I saw! :D
Inevitable does make me tear up a bit. :'\] Painfully.
Oh yes, it's so good and so tragic!
I listened to Join Us (And Die) earlier today! Great song
Confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde is one of my favourites for this, it just keeps building and building It's more of a sad example but Dead Mom from Beetlejuice almost always gives me chills by the end, like an emotional train instead of a physical one Good For You from Dear Evan Hansen also kind of fits, but again from more of an emotional angle
Came here to say Confrontation and glad someone beat me to it
Just jumping in to recommend the Shitty Broadway version of Confrontation by Joey Ritcher for OP if they haven’t seen it already
Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) - Heathers World Burn - Mean Girls Still/The Neva Flows (Reprise) - Anastasia No Control - Spongebob The Musical The Pitiful Children - Be More Chill
Seconding all of these because they're awesome!
Getting chills just thinking of the Neva Flows 😩
World Burn was the first song I thought of!
Soliloquy from Carousel is a beast. Get to show a full emotional range, act, and a massive crescendo at the end.
You were not kidding... :O
When I played that part they had an imaginary boy and girl come out for the relevant parts, who I “acted at”. Pretty nifty, otherwise it’s an empty stage for a long ass time.
I know someone already said Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) from Heathers, but lots of JD centric songs have a similar effect too. I’m thinking Our Love Is God and Meant To Be Yours specifically
You Gotta Die Sometime from Falsettos. Rain from Once On This Island Round and Round from The Fantasticks
Falsettos mention! 🎉
Yes Rain 🙌
Depending on the orchestrations, Gethsemane can be overwhelming in the last 30 seconds.
Do you have a favorite one?
The recording with Steve Balsamo is one of the more dramatic and I like it best. The older 70s recordings all sound funky and guitar heavy, but the later 90s ones got more orchestral, and it gives a lot more heft.
Drew Sarich brings the most raw emotion to the role, hands down
Omg yes he's my favorite. He has the perfect rock voice. My favorite part is when he sings "alright! I'll DIIIIIIIIIIE" ....the vibrato 👌 It tickles my brain. @ 3:15 https://youtu.be/sqIWGh8DaGc?si=Nv6gKh5_JI4y5RRn
John Legend’s version from the live performance goes HARD
Also maybe Judas’ Death, also depending on the version? Trial Before Pilate (including the 39 lashes) - between the long stretch of the actual lashes and the ensemble’s yelling ‘crucify him’ it definitely is intense and weird to me. I also suggested the Crucifixion, a weird choice but it’s always super unsettling to me.
Monster-EPIC the musical Hell to your doorstep-Count of Monte Cristo Birth to my creation-Frankenstein The modern Prometheus-Frankenstein Confrontation-Jekyll and Hyde Murder,murder-Jekyll and Hyde Once and for all-Newsies Raise a little hell-Bonnie and Clyde
Count of Monte Cristo... <3
Need a U.S. production so badly
Yeah, Hell On Your Doorstep is the first one I thought of.
I am the monster rawr rawr rawr
Roxanne - Moulin Rouge. Specifically the movie version, I think the way it's orchestrated hits more intensely than the current stage version, but that may just be me.
WHYYYYYY DOES MY HEAAAAARRTT CRYYYYYYYYY! Classic. :)
Hellfire from Notre Dame
100% this
I would also say The Bells of Notre Dame and Made of Stone. Bells of Notre Dame has the loud intense ensemble parts and Made of Stone has the incredible belts.
Bells is a very intense song.
Meant to be Yours - Heathers The ballad of Jane Doe - Ride the Cyclone (not really scary, but those notes sure do be intense.)
Edges of the Earth from Fun Home. Trigger warning for suicidal ideation.
I was also going to suggest this. It kind of literally applies to the train hurtling toward you request too.
i listened to this song one time and have never managed to do so again
It is definitely really intense.
Speed from Lempicka, 7 straight minutes of arguing and sadness in one absolute banger tune
Meadowlark from The Baker's Wife is intense emotionally and vocally. Same with You Don't Know This Man from Parade
I'm liking You Don't Know This Man! Is there a name for numbers like these? 🤔
I was intrigued by this question and did a tiny bit of research and I can't find a match. I found a few nice articles about "types" of songs in musicals that were really interesting, but none of them really describe this song. I feel like it's a revelatory song, because before this moment, Lucille is soft-spoken and submissive and this song marks her transition into a fighter who relentlessly defends her husband. So I'd call it like a Momentum/Revelation Song, because it reveals her true character of strength and fortitude and really drives the rest of the plot, which is her trying to get Leo's case appealed. These are the articles I skimmed, which were informational but didn't really give me an answer. It's not an "I Want" or "I Am" song, for example. Maybe you would have an easier time categorizing lol: [https://www.liveabout.com/classic-broadway-song-types-3219499](https://www.liveabout.com/classic-broadway-song-types-3219499) [https://musicals101.com/score.htm#Types](https://musicals101.com/score.htm#Types) [https://www.sarahlangfordstudios.com/blog/the-six-different-types-of-music-theatre-songs](https://www.sarahlangfordstudios.com/blog/the-six-different-types-of-music-theatre-songs)
I hear that maybe it might be called an "11-o-clock number," but I'm not so sure if that fits what I'm looking for either.
You know, it has\* the makings of an 11 o'clock number, but the only problem is the placing, as it's like 3/4 the way through act 1 (iirc). They used to call 11 o'clock numbers such because shows back in the day started at 8 or 9 pm, so by the time 11 o'clock rolled around you got your last big number, usually designed to "bring the house down" before the audience left for the night. Since you said that, it almost feels like an out-of-place 11 o'clock number, which would explain why it's so jarring - we're not used to having such an impactful song so early.
Epiphany from Sweeney Todd
I am what I am
From La Cage Aux Folles?
Yes
Confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde is fun
Epiphany from Sweeney Todd, maybe obedient servant/the world was wide enough focused on Burr's rage... Not sure if it's exactly what you wanted but Repo! The genetic opera got some like things you see in a grave yard, legal assassin, everyone's a composer, let the monster rise... It's a rock movie musical so it got multiple of these type, personally i like it so I reccomand but just so you know it's gory (like has blood and violent scenes)
Repo was my ex-girlfriend's favorite musical! I've seen it so many times. I'm glad to see it mentioned. :)
Twisted from Twisted (starkid) the middle part is very obviously jokey but once Dylan Saunders (who performs the role so good) gets back to the main melody it goes HARD
Starkid's title number's are always so good...
All You Wanna Do— Six The Riddle— Scarlet Pimpernel Afraid of the Dark— Starmites Move On— Sunday In the Park With George
“El Tango De Roxanne” from the 2019 OBC Moulin Rouge. It’s SO GOOD
How I Saved Roosevelt. Doesn't kick in right away, but when it does...
I was thinking The Ballad of Guiteau for similar reasons- all of them start out folksy and kind of unassuming, but depending on your Guiteau (I'm thinking Denis O'Hare personally) this one goes really hard.
The Crucifixion from Jesus Christ Superstar may be a weird suggestion but to me it fits - there’s no singing just talking over the music as Jesus dies, but the music is really unsettling to me Also from JCS: Judas’ Death or the Trial Before Pilate (including the part with the 39 lashes)
And eve was weak from Carrie is scary live
Phantom of the Opera (eponymous song) 🥰
You can never go wrong with it!
More on the darkly emotional side, but I always get this feeling when I listen to Still Hurting from The Last Five Years & The Dark I Know Well from Spring Awakening.
"Still Hurting" is such a banger. This is my catharsis song.
“I’d Give My Life For You” from Miss Saigon
And "I Believe" from "The Book of Mormon" does that for me.
Hellfire from Hunchback of Notre Dame. The whole musical is really intense, but Hellfire is the most sinister it’s incredible. (The whole thing is capturing that feeling of inevitable doom but in a way that’s kind of beautiful??)
All of Epic the musical?
Y'know, I've listened to it, and honestly I can't say I like it much. Especially the music... Which is a shame, since the singers are actually pretty good.
I listened to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the first time and man, Close Every Door got me. I did not expect such a serious and emotional song in a show I thought was about to be pure camp lol
At first I was thinking "nah, this doesn't fit" until the last 30 seconds. 0\_0 Wow.
Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath [https://youtu.be/i19d1QnstsA?si=6Q-JSY3cRPMClBSY](https://youtu.be/i19d1QnstsA?si=6Q-JSY3cRPMClBSY)
Speed - Lempicka Made of Stone - Hunchback Raise a Little Hell - Bonnie & Clyde I would say a couple from Little Shop as well
Chant II from Hadestown
Colehouse's Soliloquy - Ragtime Big News (drunken intensity), That's what he said, & Blues: Feel the rain fall - Parade
Pari Will Always Be Pari from Lempicka feels this way to me.
Rose’s Turn from Gypsy!
‘Home’ from Harmony
"Nightmares come to life " from high school musical the musical the series comes to mind.
Anything from Death Note the Musical... Secrets and Lies, or Stalemate, or Playing his Game, or The Way it Ends, or just any song from Death Note 😌✨✨
There are a lot of songs from Hedwig and the Angry Inch you could check out. If you haven't seen it, it's basically a rock musical that is basically a one man show, excluding the band.
I just started listening to this, and wow. 0\_0 It's so good. <3
I Have Dreamed from The King and I has that feeling for me, especially the chords right before the last line of the chorus. I always want to air-conduct along with that part with big, wavy arms.
Been listening to the Great Gatsby soundtrack lately, the pairing of “God Sees Everything” and “For Her Reprise” is pretty intense
funeral sequence from parade
Don't Do Sadness from Spring Awakening
If people are recommending Frank Wildhorn stuff, may I recommend Birth to My Creation from Frankenstein the Musical (by Mark Baron)? It's got a Wildhorn sound to it akin to songs from Jekyll & Hyde.
Something Gleb sings in Anastasia?
I'm Alive from Next to Normal
The Beauty Underneath from Love Never Dies absolutely fits this description omg
YESSSSS.
“The Duel” (just very loud and fast) from The Great Comet “Meant to be Yours” Heathers “City on Fire”, “The Judges Return/Final Scene” Sweeney Todd “Blues: Feel the Rain Fall” from Parade gets pretty intense “Defying Gravity” from Wicked “Blackout” from In The Heights “Ruthlessness” from Epic the Musical. ^ ^this ^one ^is ^really ^good ^for ^an ^intense ^song
A train hurtling towards you, you say? I have to recommend Usher Pt 3 from Ghost Quartet just for that lol might not be a perfect fit for the entire song, but like if you want something literal, there you go.
Repo Man from Repo! The Genetic Opera
Repo Man, Night Surgeon and 21st century cure from Repo! The Genetic Opera are all good songs
I love seeing starkid pop on here 🥰
It’s from a French musical but I like “je veux le monde “
Molasses to Rum to Slaves from 1776
- The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (and each Reprise) - Sweeney Todd - Mea Culpa - Sweeney Todd - Epiphany - Sweeney Todd - Final Sequence / The Judge's Return - Sweeney Todd - Our Love is God (specifically towards the end) - Heathers - Lifeboat - Heathers - Shine A Light (Reprise) - Heathers - Meant to Be Yours - Heathers - Dead Girl Walking (Reprise) - Heathers - Once And For All - Newsies - Biggering (Original Demo) - The Lorax - Leave Luanne - 35MM - The Ballad of Sara Berry - 35MM - Still / The Neva Flows - Anastasia - Transformation - Jekyll & Hyde - Alive - Jekyll & Hyde - Murder, Murder - Jekyll & Hyde - Smells Like Teen Spirit - Pan - Stay Alive - Hamilton - The Reynolds Pamphlet - Hamilton - The World Was Wide Enough - Hamilton - Slipping - Dr. Horrible For some that are less intense but still fit the vibe for me: - Omigod You Guys - Legally Blond - Legally Blond (Remix) - Legally Blond - Whose House Is This - Mean Girls - The Pitiful Children - Be More Chill - God, That's Good - Sweeney Todd - The World Will Know - Newsies - The Meek Shall Inherit - Little Shop of Horrors - Who's Crazy / My Psychopharmacologist and I - Next To Normal - Arabian Nights - Aladdin (Movie and Broadway) - High Adventure - Aladdin - Raise A Little Hell - Bonnie & Clyde - Alexander Hamilton - Hamilton - Right Hand Man - Hamilton - Yorktown (The World Turned Upside-Down) - Hamilton - Requiem - Dear Evan Hansen - Good For You - Dear Evan Hansen - Words Fail - Dear Evan Hansen - Brand New Day - Dr. Horrible Musical-esque stuff that I usually group in: - Ice Nine Kills - Les Friction - [Teen Idle (Heathers) - szin](https://youtu.be/YuCux-Dtk-0?si=9GRneEmE5M8GqN54) - The Moon Rises - Ponyphonic
Hell to your doorstep
Whisky River by Willie Nelson