WhatsOnStage announce poll on nation’s favourite showtunes

Leading theatre website, WhatsOnStage, launched a poll to find the nation’s favourite showtunes.

Les Miserables had 7 songs in the top 100, only eclipsed by the US phenomenon Hamilton with 8 songs – the latter opens next month in London at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Wicked also performed strongly, with 4 songs in the top 100. The top composers were Lin Manuel Miranda with 10 songs, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber both with 9 songs, followed by Stephen Sondheim and Alan Menken with 5 songs each.

WhatsOnStage’s Chief Operating Officer Sita McIntosh said today, “We had an unprecedented response to our top 100 showtunes of all time poll and the result shows that people’s favourite musical songs are a wonderfully varied mix. Tunes from shows such as Les Miserables and Hamilton, Wicked and Company, In the Heights and Matilda sit happily side by side.

“There were several appearances of songs from shows that have been recently revived – including Follies and Gypsy – as well as old school classics such as West Side Story. The list also clearly demonstrates the appetite for Hamilton, which is due to open in London next month. And isn’t it great to see a tune from new American musical Dear Evan Hansen – which hasn’t yet made it over to these shores – alongside veteran towering greats in the top ten? “

THE TOP 100:

1 “One Day More” from Les Miserables

2. “Defying Gravity” from Wicked
3. “The Phantom of the Opera” from The Phantom of the Opera
4. “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables
5. “Being Alive” from Company
6. “Alexander Hamilton” from Hamilton
7. “Seasons of Love” from Rent
8. “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen
9. “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl
10. “Tonight” from West Side Story

11-20

11. “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy. 12. “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Miserables. 13. “Music of the Night” from Phantom. 14. “For Good” from Wicked. 15. “On My Own” from Les Miserables. 16. “Memory” from Cats. 17. “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. 18. “Stars” from Les Miserables. 19. “Somewhere” from West Side Story. 20. “My Shot” from Hamilton.

21-30

21. “No Good Deed” from Wicked. 22. “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music. 23. “Springtime for Hitler” from The Producers. 24. “50 Percent” from Ballroom. 25. “Heaven On Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar. 26. “Losing My Mind” from Follies. 27. “Wait for It” from Hamilton. 28. “Anthem” from Chess. 29. “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. 30. “And I Am Telling You” from Dreamgirls.

31-40

31. “Falling Slowly” from Once. 32. “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Superstar. 33. “Non-Stop” from Hamilton. 34. “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” from Guys and Dolls. 35. “Burn” from Hamilton. 36. “The Wizard and I” from Wicked. 37. “This is the Moment” from Jekyll & Hyde. 38. “When I Grow Up” from Matilda. 39. “Yorktown” from Hamilton. 40. “96000” from In the Heights.

41-50

41. “Anything Goes” from Anything Goes. 42. “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from Evita. 43 “Quiet” from Matilda. 44. “Raise You Up” from Kinky Boots. 45. “The Sound of Music” from The Sound of Music. 46. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel. 47. “A Weekend in the Country” from A Little Night Music. 48. “All That Jazz” from Chicago. 49. “Listen” from Dreamgirls. 50. “Do Re Mi” from Sound of Music.

51-60

51. “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy. 52. “Ring of Keys” from Fun Home. 53. “For Forever” from Dear Evan Hansen. 54. “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin. 55. “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. 56. “I Am What I Am” from La Cage Aux Folles. 57. “I Know Him So Well” from Chess. 58. “If I Loved You” from Carousel. 59. “La Vie Boheme” from Rent. 60. “Take Me Or Leave Me” from Rent.

61-70

61. “Once and For All” from Newsies. 62. “Revolting Children” from Matilda. 63. “Santa Fe” from Newsies. 64. “Satisfied” from Hamilton. 65. “She Used To Be Mine” from Waitress. 66. “Singin’ in the Rain” from Singin’ in the Rain. 67. “Til I Hear You Sing” from Love Never Dies. 68. “Tomorrow” from Annie. 69. “The Room Where it Happens” from Hamilton. 70. “Gold” from Once

71-80

71. “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof. 72. “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” from Avenue Q. 73. “Bui Doi” from Miss Saigon. 74. “Circle of Life” from The Lion King. 75. “I’m Still Here” from Follies. 76. “Javert’s Soliloquy” from Les Miserables. 77. “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls. 78. “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime. 79. “Man Up” from Book of Mormon. 80. “Stars and the Moon” from Songs For a New World.

81-90

81. “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 82. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” from Hello, Dolly!. 83. “Run Freedom Run” from Urinetown. 84. “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors. 85. “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park With George. 86. “Ol Man River” from Show Boat. 87. “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” from My Fair Lady. 88. “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from Phantom of the Opera. 89. “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray. 90. “All That Matters” from Finding Neverland.

91-100

91. “America” from West Side Story. 92. “Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. 93. “Aquarius” from Hair. 94. “As Long As He Needs Me” from Oliver!. 95. “Breathe” from In the Heights. 96. “Cabaret” from Cabaret. 97. “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago. 98. “Dead Girl Walking” from Heathers. 99. “And Eve Was Weak” from Carrie the Musical. 100. “Electricity” from Billy Elliot.