What could be the safest bet or measurement when it comes to identifying the top musicals today? It doesn’t have to be new as all musicals listed below have revivals. Performed worldwide to universal acclaim, the key for spotting them is in the kind of playlist worth saving to your mp3 player.

Sure, a nice libretto would need a solid storyline to go with the LSS-inducing tunes. But after listening to the songs on repeat mode, do you still feel like reliving that day when you first saw these musicals? Let’s analyze the list that I came up with.

– Les Miserables

The story of a bread thief that found salvation, Les Miserables dared question the definition of a good person. While addressing the fact that being a good person does not automatically erase the criminal record aggravated by violation of the parole conditions, it also addressed the kind of law enforcement done in France in the past. Jean Valjean did what he can to repay the kindness that the benevolent bishop did for him by paying it forward to Fantine and later on to Cosette. But these are nothing to Javert who chose to focus on the letter of the law. Confrontations and the precursor to the French Revolution were set to music that stays within your consciousness long after you have watched your first show.

– The Phantom of the Opera

One of the first romance-thriller musicals that became a major hit, “Phantom” was less of a morality play and more into examining Christine Daae’s mind. She has Daddy issues for sure – a weakness that the Phantom easily exploited. The grand orchestral sound looming above this magnificent musical gives me goosebumps from that first notes pressed on the organ to the blasting score produced to complement the falling chandelier. Every time you watch it again, you end up realizing that the Phantom is such a charmer. It might have been the mask that really provided the trick. With music that resonated through the halls reverberating up to the ceiling, sometimes the fallen chandelier can be viewed as an after effect of the booming orchestral sound just waiting for that hanging set of lights to drop.

– Cabaret

One of the earliest musicals that dared tackle edgy themes, Cabaret did not shy away from the roots of Nazism while performing upbeat tunes. If Les Miserables used the rising disappointment of the proletariat towards the ruling class as a subplot, Cabaret used the depressing state of Germany months before the Nazis came to power. Sometimes you end up viewing the song-and-dance numbers as attempts to lighten up the mood until you see the Master of Ceremonies performing “If You Could See Her Through My Eyes” with a dancer wearing an ape mask. It even ended up supporting the perception about its lead character, Sally Bowles. The happiness ends up looking like a facade for Sally while the happiness is used as a tool by the Master of Ceremonies to comment on issues like racism and changing social norms through songs performed. The ending struck a nerve at how things have changed the moment the Nazis have secured their hold on political power.

– Chicago

Upbeat music sung with lyrics leaning towards sex and violence, the song-and-dance numbers end up as commentary about the justice system. Billy Flynn was spot on in referring to the system as a circus. So why bother pretend to be serious about the trial of 2 of his clients, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart? Just “Razzle Dazzle” them and “they’d be begging for more”. Little wonder “Chicago” ended up as one of the musicals with the most reruns today. For a musical score that is heavily dependent on jazz, even the casual musical fans accustomed to contemporary pop music end up enjoying the Prohibition-era genre through this musical.

– Miss Saigon

Miss Saigon attracted controversy even during its premiere due to its “depiction” of Asian women as sexpots. It even angered some conservatives at how Vietnam War was used as a background for this edgy musical. But did the upbeat tracks cover up the stench and squalor of Saigon at the height of the Vietnam War? No. If ever there was a musical that addressed the melancholy and depression felt across the country through music, it was Miss Saigon.

It also presented well the point of view that each character harbored in these war-torn territories. “Dreamland” and “The American Dream” presented best the delusions of The Engineer. “Sun and Moon” and “The Last Night in the World” presented the genuine love between Kim and Chris. 2 of the most depressing songs in the repertoire are “I Still Believe” and “The Sacred Bird”, both sung by Kim. The only song maybe where almost everyone pretended to be happy is “The Heat is on at Saigon”. Music not only gave us LSS-worthy hits but it served as an effective tool to push the story forward.

You may have noticed how all of the musicals listed here involved themes that were edgy. It broke the myth that musicals tackle only happy themes. Obviously, some of the musicals listed used upbeat tunes to push the story forward. But it does not make the theme any less heavy. You get to realize that the moment you read the lyrics. Do you agree? Feel free to share on the comments’ section below. Don’t forget to like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!