Underappreciated musical soundtracks that will knock your boots off

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Whether you are familiar with musicals, it is never too late to become a fan.

Musicals are not everybody’s cup of tea. Watching people sing and dance across a stage might not be as entertaining as a sports game to some, but the work that goes into making a musical is undeniably incredible and some of the most talented people work in this industry.

You’ve probably heard of popular musicals such as “Wicked” or “Hamilton,” but diving into underappreciated, not unpopular, musicals is a beautiful way to expand your music taste. All soundtracks listed are available to listen to on Spotify and other music streaming apps.

“Kinky Boots” is based on the 2005 British film that tells the true story of Charlie Price. The story begins following Charlie as he inherits a shoe company from his father. Unsure what to do with the business, he forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen. They work together to create a line of high-heeled boots strong enough to lift the weight of anyone who wants to wear them, ultimately leading to them realizing they aren’t so different from each other after all. The musical first premiered in 2012, with original cast members Billy Porter (Lola) and Stark Sands (Charlie). Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics, which led to six Tony awards for the show for impeccable writing and performances done by cast members.

“Waitress” is another musical based on a film titled the same name with music and lyrics done by Sara Bareilles.

“Waitress” tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress who unexpectedly falls pregnant with her abusive husband’s child. Looking for a way out of her troubles, she enters a pie-baking contest with a grand prize big enough to get her out of her current situation. Not only is the music great, but it’s a moving story about inspiring women who want to create their own happiness. Original Broadway cast members Jessie Mueller, Kimiko Glenn and Christopher Fitzgerald made the soundtrack top tier with their vocal talent.

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is a rock musical that follows a genderqueer singer, Hedwig, the singer of a fictional band. The story starts off as she begins following her much more successful fellow rockstar, Tommy Gnosis, on tour. In 2014, the musical was revived for Broadway, and cast members such as Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig), and Lena Hall (Yitzhak), were admirable in their performances. Although “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is a story that is extremely in-your-face and doesn’t have a lot of boundaries, the soundtrack is exceptional and emotionally engaging, it should be heard by all fans of musicals. The 2001 movie is also available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

There are countless soundtracks filled with great music waiting to be discovered by students at OSU unfamiliar with the genre. Musicals such as the ones listed above are that the musical theater loves deeply and are great listens for people interested in the magic behind musicals.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com