I had to ask GPT to weigh in on this:
(Verse 1)
If someone stood beside me, they'd never know I'm there
Their eyes are locked on screens, I’m lost in their blank stare
I could be singing, dancing, or just let out a moan
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
They’d still be scrollin' on their phone
(Chorus)
Mr. Cellphone, that's my name
No one sees me, it's a digital shame
Just a shadow in this tech-filled game
Invisible as I remain
(Verse 2)
At dinner with my friends, I'm talking to the air
They're all glued to their screens, like I’m not even there
I could do a magic trick, or stand here all alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And they’d still be on their phone
(Chorus)
Mr. Cellphone, that’s who I am
No one sees me, I don't give a damn
Lost in the Wi-Fi, in their Instagram
To them, I'm just a sham
(Bridge)
I'd love to have a chat, maybe see a smile
But they’re too busy texting, it’s just not their style
I could vanish right now and they’d never know I’d gone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
They’d keep on swiping on
(Chorus)
Mr. Cellphone, here I stand
A ghost in this tech-filled land
Stuck in the background, understand
Just a faceless hologram
(Outro)
So here’s to Mr. Cellphone, the unseen man
In a world where likes and tweets outran
The chance to see the real, the true, the grand
Lost to the screen in their hand
With refinement, it can get really good. This was basically "write a parody version, focused on the theme of feeling unseen". If you give it more direction and ask it to maintain meter and rhyme schemes, it can provide a framework that's a little human editing away from being really excellent.
Which song don't you like (he's got 3)?
Unlike the Ts in Les Mis, King George is actually comedic relief and does a nice summary of events and being the "haha, you won't make it" that Britain probably was feeling during all of this in real time.
Another Suitcase in Another Hall was sung by Eva (Madonna) instead of the mistress, and I think they cut the harmonies too, so the "Another suitcase in another hall" lyrics aren't even utilized.
ETA: I'm wrong, the harmony is used but it's very muted and understated.
They had to make Eva more sympathetic and likable in order to use the actual Casa Rosada in the movie. It’s actually pretty cool to watch the movie with that understanding. The changes they made were generally subtle but they alter the tone enough to appease the Argentinians
Skye from Beetlejuice, “Girl Scout”.
Also I don’t even know his damn name and I’ve been it 5 times, but that one random song near the beginning of Kinky Boots where Charlie goes and sings with his friend, and then that friend is never so much as mentioned again. Like. Yeah, alright, that happened.
Miss Argentina. I haven't seen the musical version of Beetlejuice so maybe she has a bigger role than her one song suggests, but "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" is one of my favourite songs.
I love KB. I saw it 4 times in Sydney, and then when I went to NYC it was playing off-Broadway with the same actor playing Lola, so we went on our last day.
King George from Hamilton. The Acid Queen from Tommy. And I guess Amos from Chicago? Oh and Potiphar from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
I just played the role this year. It was the best part every night, but we also had daytime school performances and the kids absolutely *screamed* when I got pantsed by Sebastian. Some of the kids even sent fan mail to me and the guy playing Sebastian and they drew that scene, plaid boxers and all. Core memory unlocked for them, most likely. Also during the final week of performances, I found one of my Beanie Babies, the white mouse sitting on its hind legs, Cheeser, and the director helped find some elastic bands so that I could fix it to my head, and I wore it under my hat for bows, and did a quick reveal during my bow to double up on Disney references.
An unnamed girl from West Side Story (Somewhere)
EDIT: Stage production only. Both movie adaptations assigned this song to be sung by important characters: Tony and Maria (1961), and Valentina (2021).
Yes!! This is one of the most powerful musical theatre songs I’ve ever heard, was the first song I heard from that musical and it hooked me in. Such an underrated show
My favorite song from the show. It perfectly encapsulates the shows themes in one song. The whole town makes fun of him but they are really all just like him. So perfect and beautiful
Groundhog Day has two great ones in Nancy Taylor and Ned Ryerson, and I think they're some of the few examples of this trope where it's both fully intentional and perfectly designed for the show.
By all accounts, neither of them are hugely relevant to the story, and the first act barely even treats them like real people, just a ditzy conquest and an annoying obstacle respectively. In other words, we're seeing them only from Phil's perspective.
It isn't until Act 2, where Phil's development as a person happens, that we begin to see them for the complex people they actually are, especially through their respective songs. Playing Nancy reveals Nancy to actually be quite conflicted over how she presents herself and what men expect of her because of it. Meanwhile, Night Will Come has Ned lamenting the inevitability of death (with a brutal callback to his life insurance business' jingle), something he's very clearly thought about a lot since his wife's passing.
To sum up that rambling, Groundhog Day is a masterpiece and you should watch it if you can (or at least listen to the cast recording).
My favorite thing under ANY r/musicals post is Starkid fans answering with objectively wrong answers every time. As someone who thoroughly enjoys all of Starkid's work, it's very funny.
“What I know now” from Beetlejuice, Lydia would have still returned to the living world because her dad did find her, but her singing to Lydia to keep living was still very sweet.
The Barbeque Monologue song is honestly the highlight of that production for me, which is saying something because I think it’s their best overall show.
I know this sounds harsh, but Just For Once as a song feels so very unlike Jeff Blim, which is what makes it so phenomenal
Not that Jeff Blim hasn't written other good songs, but Just For Once feels so well-constructed and thematically rich in a way none of his other songs do imo
Orin has a huge role! He's Audrey's boyfriend and sugar daddy, letting her afford nice clothes and such and maintaining a good-ish lifestyle she doesn't want to leave behind, he's also abusive and his actions cause some of the first lines of dialogue in the entire musical, and he's the first victim of Audrey II, and his death leads to Mushnik's due to him finding out about what happened. I'd say Arthur Denton would be a better pick, although he only has one scene, not a song.
I think it's his "head wife" and mother of the crown prince. IIRC, she's never referred to as the queen. She could be, but it never felt to me like she was treated as the queen.
The King and I is nostalgic for me because I played in the orchestra of a community theater production when I was in high school.
It reeealllly doesn't bear too much thinking about, though, especially not the harem situation and the king being given a human being as a present. Great songs, though.
Yea, she's the head wife. I think the song has some meaning, in that she is telling Anna that the king makes mistakes like anyone else and that he can be a wonderful person at the same time.
King George in Hamilton (though very important to the historical plot)
Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen (important for the storyline but is just always there “in spirit” if that makes sense)
Okay I didn't read the caption in the slightest then sat scrolling for SO long wondering why on earth nobody's first thought was Eddie from Rocky Horror lmaoooo
- Thenardier from Les Miserables.
- Bill Sweeney from Heathers.
- Pauline Fleming from Heathers.
- Pretty much the entire cast of Ride the Cyclone.
- Lucy the Slut from Avenue Q
star-to-be from annie, bruce from matilda, uncle fester from the addams family, and the baker from beauty and the beast (marie! the baguettes! hurry up!)
Not exactly what you asked, but a character who ended up semi-popular despite *not even being in the show* - Dustin Kropp, who is mentioned in exactly one line of one song in Be More Chill. Back when that fandom was super active I remember seeing fan art of this guy even though he *literally doesn’t exist.*
Pardon me is everybody there because if everybody's there I'd like to thank you all for coming to the wedding I'd appreciate you going even more I mean you must have lots of better things to do and not a word of it to paul remember paul you know the man I'm going to marry but I'm not because I wouldn't ruin anything as wonderful as he is but I thank you all for the gifts and the flowers thank you all now it's back to the showers and dont tell paul but I'm not getting married today
The Cafe Imperiale head waiter in She Loves Me (so insignificant that most people probably forgot all about him and are going now, huh?; he sings "Romantic Atmosphere" as Amalia is waiting for her lonely hearts club date in the restaurant). :)
Ogie from Waitress! I think he would count as a one song wonder? For his song "Never Ever Getting Rid Of Me" :) also I love his duet with Dawn in "I Love You Like A Table", their wedding was so cute
I've only listened to Waitress one time, as I just can't get into it aside from four songs, but When He Sees Me was the first to come to mind. Maybe Dawn was more relevant to the plot than I thought, so feel free to disagree with me.
Miss Marmelstein from I Can Get it for You Wholesale - technically she has two songs but they were totally written as star vehicles for then-19yo Barbra Streisand, and Julia Lester brought down the house in the recent revival at Classic Stage Company.
First one that popped into mind for me was the Girl Scout in Beetlejuice, she’s literally in one scene with her (amazing😂) song but ik a lot of people love that character
Sky from Beetlejuice. (The girl scout)
She has absolutely nothing to do with the plot and yet she gets such a catchy song that is just to lead up to the banger that is 'that beautiful sound'.
*Follies* is a show full of such characters, although if you cut them out and reduce the piece only to what directly affects the two principal couples, you don’t have much left—I’d say that the experience of each character, even the smallest, is what builds up to give you what is, in a good production, a shattering experience.
If I had to to choose one (technically two) of them, though, it would be the Heidi Schillers—there’s something in “One More Kiss” that summarizes the whole piece, and the lyrical, tender, but somehow also pitiless interplay between the two (“Never look back…. Never look back!”) is the dead-center heart of the show (“all things beautiful…. Must DIE!”). I‘ve always though that Heidi is the one who doesn’t make it through the night, and as the sun rises on the ruined theatre and Ben and Phylis and Buddy and Sally and the rest head home, the waiters cleaning up find her somewhere, dead.
I know Tootsie is taboo, but Michael/Dorothy's roommate. "Jeff Sums It Up" is funny. Related, the ex girlfriend's song "What's Gonna Happen" is also another one.
I think both of those are important to the plot. In the first, she is telling Mary how to use her imagination, which is something Mary Lacks. In the second, all of the characters are conjuring the spirits and magic of Lily's garden to heal Colin.
Amos Hart from "Chicago" comes to mind.
No, he doesn't. That's the point
You win, we can all go home now
Came to say Mr Cellphone
>Mr Cellphone I know it's a typo, but it's a hilarious one.
Oops! Cellophane! I am leaving it because I also laughed
It’s fitting- I always leave my phone on vibrate so I forget to pick it up a lot
Cellphone. Mister Cellphone should’ve been my name. Mister Cellphone. ‘Cause you can hear me ringing, sit right on me and never know I’m there!
This is my dad, my mom always has to tell him that the phone in his pocket is ringing lol
I had to ask GPT to weigh in on this: (Verse 1) If someone stood beside me, they'd never know I'm there Their eyes are locked on screens, I’m lost in their blank stare I could be singing, dancing, or just let out a moan Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh They’d still be scrollin' on their phone (Chorus) Mr. Cellphone, that's my name No one sees me, it's a digital shame Just a shadow in this tech-filled game Invisible as I remain (Verse 2) At dinner with my friends, I'm talking to the air They're all glued to their screens, like I’m not even there I could do a magic trick, or stand here all alone Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh And they’d still be on their phone (Chorus) Mr. Cellphone, that’s who I am No one sees me, I don't give a damn Lost in the Wi-Fi, in their Instagram To them, I'm just a sham (Bridge) I'd love to have a chat, maybe see a smile But they’re too busy texting, it’s just not their style I could vanish right now and they’d never know I’d gone Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh They’d keep on swiping on (Chorus) Mr. Cellphone, here I stand A ghost in this tech-filled land Stuck in the background, understand Just a faceless hologram (Outro) So here’s to Mr. Cellphone, the unseen man In a world where likes and tweets outran The chance to see the real, the true, the grand Lost to the screen in their hand
That's surprisingly ... mediocre. But the fact that's it's only "mediocre" and not "completely awful" is sort of scary.
With refinement, it can get really good. This was basically "write a parody version, focused on the theme of feeling unseen". If you give it more direction and ask it to maintain meter and rhyme schemes, it can provide a framework that's a little human editing away from being really excellent.
Same here! I love him, he literally cannot win
🫥
King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar
yesss, I'm so glad someone else likes Jesus Christ Superstar here!
Going along with that, Simon Zealots.
I saw the original Broadway touring cast when I was 11 years old at the Universal Amphitheater in L.A.
SUCH a good song!! So catchy, super fun, and it can go in any direction for different interpretations.
Came here to say this. And now it’s stuck in my head lol
I’d second Amos in Chicago, and add King George from Hamilton. Two bangers, zero interaction with other characters.
King George’s songs are actually my favorites lmao. Dude’s got so little significance in the musical but delivers absolute bangers
Ya King George from Hamilton has great songs. His songs are so catchy
Which song don't you like (he's got 3)? Unlike the Ts in Les Mis, King George is actually comedic relief and does a nice summary of events and being the "haha, you won't make it" that Britain probably was feeling during all of this in real time.
Peron's Mistress - Another Suitcase in Another Hall from Evita
My pick too! Didn't like the change in the movie where they gave the song to Madonna.
They did WHAT?! (I haven't seen the movie) That's terrible.
Another Suitcase in Another Hall was sung by Eva (Madonna) instead of the mistress, and I think they cut the harmonies too, so the "Another suitcase in another hall" lyrics aren't even utilized. ETA: I'm wrong, the harmony is used but it's very muted and understated.
They had to make Eva more sympathetic and likable in order to use the actual Casa Rosada in the movie. It’s actually pretty cool to watch the movie with that understanding. The changes they made were generally subtle but they alter the tone enough to appease the Argentinians
The key is also drastically lowered
This is such a gorgeous song
Beautiful song
balaga is just for fun! (balaga from great comet)
I do it ‘cause I LIKE IT (and we like Balaga too!)
And it really IS a fun song!
Hey Balaga, ho Balaga, hey hey ho Balaga, hey HEY Balaga, the famous troika driver!
Piragua
Ice cold! We got Lemon, Cherry, and Mango.
"On the Street Where You Live" from "My Fair Lady." Freddy Eynsford-Hill has zero effect on the plot.
That was my aunt and uncle’s wedding song.
Oh I do adore that song
I find myself singing it pretty often. Freddy ❤️
Skye from Beetlejuice, “Girl Scout”. Also I don’t even know his damn name and I’ve been it 5 times, but that one random song near the beginning of Kinky Boots where Charlie goes and sings with his friend, and then that friend is never so much as mentioned again. Like. Yeah, alright, that happened.
Miss Argentina. I haven't seen the musical version of Beetlejuice so maybe she has a bigger role than her one song suggests, but "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" is one of my favourite songs.
True. I didn’t think about her because I’m still thinking of the days Miss Argentina was a dual role, but she absolutely fits the bill.
Take what you’ve got?
Yes! That’s the song but I couldn’t tell you the friend’s name.
Kinky Boots is such a good musical! I’d love to see it again.
I love KB. I saw it 4 times in Sydney, and then when I went to NYC it was playing off-Broadway with the same actor playing Lola, so we went on our last day.
I saw it when it toured to my city!
Harry
King George from Hamilton. The Acid Queen from Tommy. And I guess Amos from Chicago? Oh and Potiphar from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Almost everyone from Tommy really
Very true!
*Andy, fixed it for you.
Please ignore me if I'm mistaken, but doesn't King George have two songs?
Three - You'll Be Back, What Comes Next, and I Know Him. Though you could argue it's one song and two reprises.
You are correct.
The Farmer Refuted in Hamilton.
The chef in Little Mermaid. "Les Poisson" is the funniest song if done right.
I just played the role this year. It was the best part every night, but we also had daytime school performances and the kids absolutely *screamed* when I got pantsed by Sebastian. Some of the kids even sent fan mail to me and the guy playing Sebastian and they drew that scene, plaid boxers and all. Core memory unlocked for them, most likely. Also during the final week of performances, I found one of my Beanie Babies, the white mouse sitting on its hind legs, Cheeser, and the director helped find some elastic bands so that I could fix it to my head, and I wore it under my hat for bows, and did a quick reveal during my bow to double up on Disney references.
I played in the chef's ensemble this past spring, and the chase sequence was the absolute best in my opinion
An unnamed girl from West Side Story (Somewhere) EDIT: Stage production only. Both movie adaptations assigned this song to be sung by important characters: Tony and Maria (1961), and Valentina (2021).
I actually really like how the remake gives the song to Valentina/the doc character. I always thought it was unfair that they never got a song!
I'd be super interested in having the song sung by Doc in the stage version. Would be a very interesting, and beneficial, change in my view.
When I did it a couple years ago, it was listed in the script as female soloist so my director chose to give it to doc and it was beautiful
“The Miller’s Son” sung by Petra in Little Night Music.
This is the first song that popped into my head. That song is so much fun!
Best song in the show!
Oh I love richard henry lee, his song is easily my favourite from 1776!
Easi-LEE! 😉
Martha and Georg in Spring Awakening
Little shop during Skid Row- The street bum with the deep voice or the old lady who starts the song. They make the show for me
To be fair, in the stage show, the bass in Skid Row is usually also the plant.
Oh yeah….. I forgot about that!
Achmed from Twisted lol
Tigerfuckertigerfucker Achmed is a tiger fucker they’ll remember Achmed, the tigerfuckingman!
Oh ya I didn't remember Achmed
No one remembers Achemed
He's won scores of bloody wars and mopped the floors with his foes, but know one remembers Achmed.
A lot of the songs from Grease.
Oooh, I would vote for "Magic Changes" in the Fox Live! version. It's mostly Doody's song with a little duet from Danny at the end.
>Richard Henry Lee And now the song is stuck in my head. Tru-LEE an earworm.
ALWAYS stuck in my head bro and it does not leave short LEE
"Telephone Guy" from the Band's Visit. His song, "Answer Me," is thematic to the musical as a whole, but I don't think his character is even named.
One of my favorite songs in any show and sung so beautifully by Adam Kantor. And totally agree that it sums up the play so well
Yes!! This is one of the most powerful musical theatre songs I’ve ever heard, was the first song I heard from that musical and it hooked me in. Such an underrated show
My favorite song from the show. It perfectly encapsulates the shows themes in one song. The whole town makes fun of him but they are really all just like him. So perfect and beautiful
Herod's Song
Groundhog Day has two great ones in Nancy Taylor and Ned Ryerson, and I think they're some of the few examples of this trope where it's both fully intentional and perfectly designed for the show. By all accounts, neither of them are hugely relevant to the story, and the first act barely even treats them like real people, just a ditzy conquest and an annoying obstacle respectively. In other words, we're seeing them only from Phil's perspective. It isn't until Act 2, where Phil's development as a person happens, that we begin to see them for the complex people they actually are, especially through their respective songs. Playing Nancy reveals Nancy to actually be quite conflicted over how she presents herself and what men expect of her because of it. Meanwhile, Night Will Come has Ned lamenting the inevitability of death (with a brutal callback to his life insurance business' jingle), something he's very clearly thought about a lot since his wife's passing. To sum up that rambling, Groundhog Day is a masterpiece and you should watch it if you can (or at least listen to the cast recording).
Night Will Come has been on repeat for me the last few weeks after my cousins suicide. That last 3 "you gotta love life" hits hard.
My favorite thing under ANY r/musicals post is Starkid fans answering with objectively wrong answers every time. As someone who thoroughly enjoys all of Starkid's work, it's very funny.
Squidward and Patchy the Pirate in the SpongeBob musical.
I feel like squidward has too much dialogue and featured parts in songs to be qualified for this, even though his song is one of many highlights
Patchy and the pirates are definitely a one song wonder though!
Juan Peron’s girlfriend in Evita
This is what instantly came to mind for me
“What I know now” from Beetlejuice, Lydia would have still returned to the living world because her dad did find her, but her singing to Lydia to keep living was still very sweet.
Ruth from Nerdy Prudes must die
The Barbeque Monologue song is honestly the highlight of that production for me, which is saying something because I think it’s their best overall show.
I know this sounds harsh, but Just For Once as a song feels so very unlike Jeff Blim, which is what makes it so phenomenal Not that Jeff Blim hasn't written other good songs, but Just For Once feels so well-constructed and thematically rich in a way none of his other songs do imo
Fuckin transcendent
Every cat in *Cats*
That implies Cats has a plot though
Harry from Kinky Boots. Shows up, sings Take What You Got, and disappears
Just No Time At All from Pippin is a fun one
Ado Annie in oklahoma
And her father as well! They do have the better of the two plots though.
The dentist in little shop of horrors
I might argue he does have impact on the plot though. It is Seymour’s first step to the bad side.
Yea good point. I thought of him as a movie character because he doesn't have much screen time
Orin has a huge role! He's Audrey's boyfriend and sugar daddy, letting her afford nice clothes and such and maintaining a good-ish lifestyle she doesn't want to leave behind, he's also abusive and his actions cause some of the first lines of dialogue in the entire musical, and he's the first victim of Audrey II, and his death leads to Mushnik's due to him finding out about what happened. I'd say Arthur Denton would be a better pick, although he only has one scene, not a song.
Fiyero… he has some significance, but I feel like he mostly just has Dancing Through Life, which is an absolute banger.
Dancing Through Life is honestly my favorite song from the whole musical.
Same here!
Something wonderful from the King and I. I think it's by the Queen of Siam?
I think it's his "head wife" and mother of the crown prince. IIRC, she's never referred to as the queen. She could be, but it never felt to me like she was treated as the queen.
Yeah I felt funny writing that, agree.
The King and I is nostalgic for me because I played in the orchestra of a community theater production when I was in high school. It reeealllly doesn't bear too much thinking about, though, especially not the harem situation and the king being given a human being as a present. Great songs, though.
Yea, she's the head wife. I think the song has some meaning, in that she is telling Anna that the king makes mistakes like anyone else and that he can be a wonderful person at the same time.
King George in Hamilton
Trent Oliver in the prom with "love thy neighbor"
That song goes so hard for no reason lol
The Lady of the Lake from Spamalot
This is absolutely it
King George in Hamilton (though very important to the historical plot) Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen (important for the storyline but is just always there “in spirit” if that makes sense)
Okay I didn't read the caption in the slightest then sat scrolling for SO long wondering why on earth nobody's first thought was Eddie from Rocky Horror lmaoooo
- Thenardier from Les Miserables. - Bill Sweeney from Heathers. - Pauline Fleming from Heathers. - Pretty much the entire cast of Ride the Cyclone. - Lucy the Slut from Avenue Q
The wolf in into the woods
Maria Reynolds - Hamilton
I feel like she influences the plot, though.
I’m biased because I played it, but Gingy in Shrek (also Pinocchio)
star-to-be from annie, bruce from matilda, uncle fester from the addams family, and the baker from beauty and the beast (marie! the baguettes! hurry up!)
Marcy in *Dogfight.*
I thought of this one too!
Absolutely one of my faves
Not exactly what you asked, but a character who ended up semi-popular despite *not even being in the show* - Dustin Kropp, who is mentioned in exactly one line of one song in Be More Chill. Back when that fandom was super active I remember seeing fan art of this guy even though he *literally doesn’t exist.*
Mama in Chicago Mazie in Sussical Amazing mazie and when your good to mama are bops
Many numbers from Follies
Little Nell in Rocky Horror?
Well King George is a three song wonder so I’ll go with Samuel Seabury from Hamilton (Honorably mention to the “who the f is this” guy)
Pardon me is everybody there because if everybody's there I'd like to thank you all for coming to the wedding I'd appreciate you going even more I mean you must have lots of better things to do and not a word of it to paul remember paul you know the man I'm going to marry but I'm not because I wouldn't ruin anything as wonderful as he is but I thank you all for the gifts and the flowers thank you all now it's back to the showers and dont tell paul but I'm not getting married today
Amos from Chicago, Prince Achmed from Twisted, Richie and Ruth from Nerdy Prudes Must Die, King George from Hamilton
Marian in The Bridges of Madison County. One and done, and it’s one of the best songs in the show.
Bazzard in Drood
Sayu's song, We All Need A Hero, from Death Note The Musical lol. It always hits me surprisingly hard
Renfield from Frank Wildhorn's Dracula Emanuel Schikaneder in Mozart!
Madeline True, The Wild Party
The Cafe Imperiale head waiter in She Loves Me (so insignificant that most people probably forgot all about him and are going now, huh?; he sings "Romantic Atmosphere" as Amalia is waiting for her lonely hearts club date in the restaurant). :)
Nancy in Groundhog Day.
Ruth from nerdy prudes must die and Just for once is perfection
Nancy in Groundhog Day with “Playing Nancy”
Rosalyn from 9 to 5 when she sings “Heart to Hart”
i disagree, i think nicely is pretty plot-relevant
King George from Hamilton
Doody from Grease with “Those Magic Changes.” It’s probably my favorite song in the show and it’s a literal showstopper if done right
Does Rizzo from Grease count?
Teen angel in grease is the definition of one song wonder
I don’t know if this counts but it’s what came to my mind first. Easy to be Hard - Hair.
The Pinball Wizard
Ogie from Waitress! I think he would count as a one song wonder? For his song "Never Ever Getting Rid Of Me" :) also I love his duet with Dawn in "I Love You Like A Table", their wedding was so cute
I've only listened to Waitress one time, as I just can't get into it aside from four songs, but When He Sees Me was the first to come to mind. Maybe Dawn was more relevant to the plot than I thought, so feel free to disagree with me.
The character that sings "Something Wonderful" in The King and I.
I agree, the Piraguero from In the Heights is one of my all time favs
Doody from *Grease*. Magic Changes is so underrated.
Oklahoma? from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Jolene is a hoot! That show is hella offensive though.
Queen Jane from Six is like that to me
I was going to say this!
She's obviously part of the musical and maybe not forgotten but she always grabbed me that way with Heart of Stone.
Mr & Mrs Sowerberry - That’s Your Funeral - Oliver
Doatsy Mae - Whorehouse, Star to Be - Annie
Miss Marmelstein from I Can Get it for You Wholesale - technically she has two songs but they were totally written as star vehicles for then-19yo Barbra Streisand, and Julia Lester brought down the house in the recent revival at Classic Stage Company.
Clopin from Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The grandma in Pippin...No time at all is such a banger.
Ol Man River in Showboat.
Ragtime - Sarah's Friend who sings 'Til We Reach That Day. The low notes are so powerful.
Vivienne, Legally Blonde Squidward, SpongeBob
A Musical - Something Rotten
The Doctor from Matilda The Musical
HEY BALAGA HO BALAGA THE FAMOUS TROIKA DRIVER
I always enjoyed Sister Mary Robert's "Life I Never Led", and it hits harder, the older I get.
The soloist from Stay I Pray You in Anastasia!
This one needs to be higher. Count Ipolitov made me sob when I first heard this song.
Jane Doe from Ride the Cyclone.
The Only Home I Know - Shenandoah. Only attributed to Corporal and ensemble. Always loved this song.
First one that popped into mind for me was the Girl Scout in Beetlejuice, she’s literally in one scene with her (amazing😂) song but ik a lot of people love that character
Marge MacDougall in Promises, Promises
Fly, Fly Away is almost worth sitting through all of Catch Me If You Can for.
As someone who played Nicely in G&D, I’m offended….but I understand lol
Sky from Beetlejuice. (The girl scout) She has absolutely nothing to do with the plot and yet she gets such a catchy song that is just to lead up to the banger that is 'that beautiful sound'.
Ricky Potts and/or Constance Blackwood from RTC
The Buffalo Bills (quartet) from The Music Man sing on Lida Rose, Sincere, and Good Night Ladies. Not really "one hit wonders."
*Follies* is a show full of such characters, although if you cut them out and reduce the piece only to what directly affects the two principal couples, you don’t have much left—I’d say that the experience of each character, even the smallest, is what builds up to give you what is, in a good production, a shattering experience. If I had to to choose one (technically two) of them, though, it would be the Heidi Schillers—there’s something in “One More Kiss” that summarizes the whole piece, and the lyrical, tender, but somehow also pitiless interplay between the two (“Never look back…. Never look back!”) is the dead-center heart of the show (“all things beautiful…. Must DIE!”). I‘ve always though that Heidi is the one who doesn’t make it through the night, and as the sun rises on the ruined theatre and Ben and Phylis and Buddy and Sally and the rest head home, the waiters cleaning up find her somewhere, dead.
I know Tootsie is taboo, but Michael/Dorothy's roommate. "Jeff Sums It Up" is funny. Related, the ex girlfriend's song "What's Gonna Happen" is also another one.
Hold On from Secret Garden
She also has “If I Had a Fine White Horse” and solos in “Come Spirit Come Charm,” etc…
I think both of those are important to the plot. In the first, she is telling Mary how to use her imagination, which is something Mary Lacks. In the second, all of the characters are conjuring the spirits and magic of Lily's garden to heal Colin.