MUSICAL SONGS OPINIONS!! Ranked from most to least favorite
I was actively listening to each song during this, so these are my raw thoughts in the moment
Great Expectations
SOMEONE FUCKING SEDATE ME!! I fucking LIVE for this damn song. When I heard it in person, I swear I ascended into the sky, it was SOOO GOOD. I LOVE ECHOING CHORUSES HOLY SHIITTTT!!! This is the song I've had on repeat since I watched the musical for the first time.
This is the song that made me kind of understand Pony fans. His musical version is WAY more sympathetic than his book version, and he's just a much more likeable character here.
(If i'm honest, I've been daydreaming the outsiders musical with the Shinazugawa family. Some sort of modern AU where their parents still died and Sanemi had to drop out of school to take care of the family. Now, all this unbearable pressure to succeed is put on Genya, and the entire family is depending on him. (Genya as Pony & Sanemi as Darry))
Little Brother
What the fuck were you expecting? This is everyone's favorite song and for good reason. If Great Expectations was any less amazing, this one would be at the top. Dallas is and forever will be my absolute favorite character, and he so earned this damn solo song. His voice is so unbelievable, he sung his heart out and then some. Them high notes?? Kill me now.
The train will forever catch me off guard, but you all have read my thoughts on his death. The tempo build to the crescendo of his death is done so fucking well, the composers all deserve their dick's sucked NEOW. Overall, this song is so true to Dally's character, and I think it was the perfect way to end it off for him. (Also Dally dying thinking he failed Johnny :[[ )
Stay Gold
He is NOT fitting all the writing on that tiny ass piece of paper. BUT This song is the perfect send off for Johnny, and it's fucking beautiful. All the little "my friend, stay gold" bits give me chills. There's a damn reason this book as stuck with so many people for all these years, and this song encompasses the exact reason why. The Outsiders is a timeless story. FUCK IM GONNA CRY
Justice for Tulsa
You know how I said I don't like soc songs? I fucking LIED THIS IS SO GOOD!! This one gives Breathin' from the Warriors album and I love it so so much. The racism against Dallas and general prejudice is so obvious in this song, and I really adore it. I wish the musical in general leaned more into these themes.
Cherry's little solo about Bob was so sad and sweet. If I cared about the socs, he would definitely be my favorite characters. Unfortunately, this song also highlights how much RANDY DESERVED TO BE HERE!!! FREE MY MAN! The whole part where Cherry gets accused is so fucking chilling and just amazing. I get goosebumps every single time I hear it.
Grease Got a Hold
Okay, this one is really fucking good. Am I absolutely pissed Steve the fucking KING OF GREASE didn't get a part in it? Yes. But, I can look past that because of how damn catchy it is, along with Pony's amazing vocals. I also believe this is the first song that little brother is referenced, which I love. Darry's part is 100% my favorite bit, and he's definitely one of my fav musical characters (behind Dally ofc). Darry and Dally's power struggle is SO fascinating to me, I could talk about them all day.
I genuinely adore the importance of grease in the musical, especially considering the majority person of color cast. Hair was very prominent in the book, but I felt like it fell to the wayside a bit.
Run Run Brother
Big brother Dally, fucking amazing vocals, and the catchiest hook. I ADORE this damn song, and I think it's the perfect traveling vibes to move to the church. Like Tulsa '67, it's a lot of exposition, but I think this song does it in a much catchier way. Maybe that's just Dally's voice hypnotizing me, but yknow. SOONER OR LATER YOU'LL LEAARRNNN!! THIS SONG FUCKS!!!
Throwing in the Towel
Darry this is why you're my favorite Curtis brother. He's so fucking tragic. He gives and gives and gives to his family, and yet he still feels like he's not good enough or he's messing up. He's twenty years old. I'll be his age soon, but that just seems so scary yknow?? I couldn't imagine taking care of two kids at his age. AND HIS MAJESTIC ASS VOICE!!! AAHHHH!
Soda appreciates Darry so much, and I adore their dynamic. He loves both his brother so fucking much, and he's always there to defend them to each other and push them all forward. Darry is the rock of the family, but Soda is their engine. He keeps them all going, and keeps everything from falling apart.
Death's at My Door
This is the song that put me on Pony angst because whAT THE FUCK BRO. Death follows me everywhere?? Kill me. Someone fucking sedate me. ALSO Pony's voice?? Holy majestic. That man gives me fucking chills holy hell.
He and Johnny are so fucking gay specifically in the musical. Like this song is 100 times more romantic than Pony and Cherry's duets. "The reason I'm living is you"??? Do they know it's legal now???
Runs in the Family
DARRYYY THE MAN THAT YOU ARE!!! He has every damn right to be bitter, and I fucking love that he's so mean in the musical. Not to mention his VOCALS. Like holy shit can this man sing. It's a shorter song, so there's less content to love, but what we have is so fucking good. This song is also so country, it reminds me that this whole thing is set in Tulsa. I love the headcanon that Darry's accent is the strongest of the gang.
Runs in the Family (Reprise)
Similar feelings to the default version of this. I ADORE Darry crashing out like this, he really deserves it. I also love Soda's ad-libbing, but Pony is back to his book-accurately insufferable self in this one. Yes, Darry is angry in this one, but there's real pain in his voice. He's dedicated his life to his brothers and he gets zero appreciation. He's so fucking amazing man.
Plus this is the song that transitions into the cool as fuck slap scene!!
Hopeless War
Cherry once again pissing me off just with her presence. Her actor is fantastic though, she sings the fuck outta this song. Pony also fucking kills this song, both their vocals go crazy. It's definitely way better than their last duet. The tempo build is so good, and it gave me insane shivers. I do wish this song was a little longer, at least longer than their other stupid duet.
Trouble
Can you tell I love a good ensemble song? I so fucking wish this song was longer, because it would EASILY be one of my favorites. But, as it stands, I doesn't feel right putting it any higher than this. GOD IT WOULD BE SO GOOD IF IT WAS LONGER.
Friday at the Drive-in
Yall..I'm gonna be so real..I don't like the soc songs. They just don't have the groove that the greaser songs have man idk. It's catchy in it's own way, but it's very basic. It's just one lyric over and over again, but it's not unbearable to listen to. It lack substance, but makes up for it with pure jazziest!
Far Away From Tulsa
This one is...okay? It's kinda boring, and nothing really happens. It's a good transition song into the climax of act one, but it's just so nothing burger like?? I like Pony's solo near the end of the song—the climbing part where he moves into the Great Expectations call back, but I think that's just because I fucking love Great Expectations.
Finale (Tulsa '67)
This one is higher just because of Pony's character development AND him reading from the book. It gives me total chills every time, especially Dally's part. He's depicted so much more softly in the musical and I love that. I also love how the story is focused on the Greasers instead of sympathizing with the socs so much like in the book. Maybe I'm just a sucker for finales idk??
Soda's Letter
Soda I love you, and I love your country hick ass songs, but damn this song is boring. I'm glad it's shorter, and I'm really glad they included Soda's letter at all (although it would've been funnier if Pony mentioned his spelling but yknow). I love the little chorus, but it's just lowkey nothingburger.
Tulsa '67
It's a good introduction song! Basic, but basically all musicals start with a basic song. Even so, this one is still better than a lot of musical intros that I've heard. I fucking LIVE for a good chorus, so that part of the song always gives me shivers. Overall, it's just a summary of a bunch of information, but it's catchy!
Hoods Turned Heroes
I just don't like this one. I know objectively this is a good song, but I'm just not vibing with the groove yknow?? I'm not stomping my hooves, I'm not shaking my tail. The jazz just ain't there, and it feels kinda out of place? Idk, I'm just not vibing.
I Could Talk to You All Night
I didn't fucking like musical Cherry, and I already said I didn't rlly like the soc songs. In general, I didn't like Pony and Cherry songs. They were boring, Cherry is genuinely so annoying, and this one just lacks any pizzazz or grooveyness.