The Definitive Ranking Of Broadway Solos From The Last 20 Years

    I will not be taking criticism at this time.

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    25. "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde

    MTV

    This is a fun, empowering song where Elle finally sees her own worth and ambition, and changes from caring about Warner to caring about her own career. It's bubbly, poppy, and super fun, but beyond that, it's not as special as the others on this list.

    24. "Your Song" from Moulin Rouge

    Aaron Tveit singing onstage
    JP Yim / Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows

    There are better songs from this musical, but there's really only one other solo (which I don't love). Still, Tveit's voice is beautiful as always on this song, and I honestly prefer it to Elton's version (though Ewan McGregor still takes the cake for me).

    23. "The History of Wrong Guys" from Kinky Boots

    Kailey Boyle singing the song onstage
    Kailey Boyle / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    This is another super-cute song that the actor can have a lot of fun with. When it's done well, it's super funny and catchy. It's one of my favorites of the musical. Still, nothing groundbreaking!

    22. "Gimme Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie

    Sutton Foster performing the song on the Rosie O'Donnell Show
    NBC / Via youtube.com

    Sutton Foster is such a queen, and she killed this song. This is one of those songs that really builds, and it always gives me chills when it reaches its final notes. It's such a great belted song (which makes it fun to sing in the car).

    21. "Mama Who Bore Me" from Spring Awakening

    Lea Michelle singing the song for the Tonys
    CBS / Via youtube.com

    I know, it's a short song. But unfortunately, Spring Awakening doesn't have a lot of solos except the sad ones (which I always skip, tbh). This one is melancholy, but it's not depressing, and it's still really beautiful. I love how there's nothing else this song needs but an amazing voice.

    20. "Monster" from Frozen

    Caissie Levy, who plays Elsa, singing Monster as a sneak-peek to the show
    DisneyMusicVEVO / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    This is by far the best song in Frozen, which as a musical overall falls flat. It goes into much darker territory than the film, and basically deals with Elsa wondering if she really is the bad guy and is better off dead. But in the end, she decides to fight for good, no matter what happens to her. Cheesy, maybe, but still powerful.

    19. "Screw Loose" from Cry-Baby

    Alli Mauzey singing the song at an event
    Famous In NY Video / Youtube / Via youtube.com

    This is another hit-or-miss musical, but this is one of the most memorable songs. It really depends on the actor, but this can be a really silly, over-the-top, darkly comedic song. You may have seen it on TikTok recently, where people try to sing the nearly impossible-to-nail line of "IT'S SOOO HARD TO BE SIXTEEN AND SCHIZO!" My voice cracks just thinking about it.

    18. "Mamma Mia" from Mamma Mia!

    Universal Pictures

    I mean, this is like THE fun song. The song that gets all the moms dancing on a cruise. The song that gets ME dancing in the kitchen. It's just a classic and never gets old! Its quality does depend on who's performing it, but no matter what, it's got a great nostalgia factor.

    17. "The Winner Takes It All" from Mamma Mia!

    Universal Pictures

    I am still in awe that they fit these ABBA songs so perfectly into this musical. This song in particular feels absolutely perfect for the moment. It's SO emotional, and I LOVE finally hearing Donna truly speak her mind to Sam and say how much she was hurt. There is just so much emotion in this song, that by the time she's belting out the ending, I'm crying.

    16. "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia

    20th Century Fox

    Don't hate me if I say the Anastasia songs blend together a bit...but this one, along with "Once Upon a December," stand out (maybe it's the nostalgia factor). Honestly, I think this one is better than "Once Upon a December," despite being less famous. Christy Altomare's voice is so gorgeous (she's amazing in Carrie!!), and it really shines here.

    15. "Run and Tell That!" from Hairspray

    New Line Cinema

    Okay, I know Lil' Inez has a part in this song, but it's really Seaweed's song. It's such a celebration of being Black that we don't see enough in mainstream media, and certainly not musicals. Corey Reynolds has one of the strongest voices in the musical, and I wish he'd had more songs!

    14. "Waving Through a Window" by Dear Evan Hansen

    CBS

    I've listened to a lot of Taylor Swift in my day, but "Waving Through a Window" is the first time I've listened to a song about high school and truly related to every single word. Evan's anxiety and alienation from his classmates is captured so well here, and we get such a great insight into his character. The vocals are also amazing.

    13. "Don't Lose Ur Head" from Six

    Millie O'Connell as Anne Boleyn singing on BBC's One Show
    BBC / Via youtube.com

    Six is a genre-changer, and like everyone else, I'm obsessed with the soundtrack. This is definitely the best song: it's over-the-top and silly, but just so, so much fun. It's so sassy and so much fun to sing.

    12. "Home" from Beetlejuice

    Lydia throwing her fist up onstage
    Beetlejuice The Musical / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    This song is just SO GOOD. Beetlejuice is super zany and weird, but this song is actually amazingly heartfelt and meaningful. It starts out super sad, as Lydia cannot find her mother in the Netherworld, but then it becomes so hopeful and happy in an amazing moment for Lydia's character. This is another great one to belt out.

    11. "Meant to be Yours" from Heathers

    J.D. onstage for bows
    Rob Kim / Getty Images

    (I know this was Off-Broadway, but it was also on the West End, so I'm counting it!) This song is pretty disturbing, and I would not recommend blasting it on your speakers at the beach. BUT it's so good and fully captures how unhinged J.D. really is. J.D. screaming "VERONICA!" in a terrifying voice then sweetly singing for her to open the door gives me chills.

    10. "Someone Gets Hurt" from Mean Girls

    Taylor Louderman and Kyle Selig rehearsing the song
    Jemal Countess / Getty Images for The Broadway League

    I think this might be the best villain song of all time (well, "World Burn" is up there too, but they're so similar I didn't want to put them both, and this one feels like more of a solo). It's dark and sexy, and the performance is just so Regina. We really see her manipulation and her appeal here, as she croons about being hurt by Aaron while really knowing she's hurting Cady.

    9. "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

    Idina Menzel performing Defying Gravity at the Tonys
    CBS / Via youtube.com

    I mean, this one's a classic. It had to be in the top 10. I know Glinda sings too, but this is really Elphaba's song, and it's one of the most famous solos in recent memory. It's extremely cathartic and freeing, lyrically and musically, and honestly, anything Idina Menzel does is gold.

    8. "Wait for It" from Hamilton

    Disney +

    Leslie Odom Jr. needs to sing me to sleep every night. His voice is just so soothing and beautiful, and it's just gorgeous in this song. This is also the first real true insight into Burr's character that we get, and the song is just SO well written and relatable.

    7. "Satisfied" from Hamilton

    Disney +

    "Satisfied" is just a game-changer for the entire genre of musical theater in every way: choreography, style, performance, lyrically....it's just groundbreaking. When I first heard it, I immediately understood why everyone was so obsessed with Hamilton, which had been great up until this point but not necessarily transcendent.

    6. "Dead Girl Walking" from Heathers

    Veronica and J.D. taking bows onstage
    Rob Kim / Getty Images

    Again, not ENTIRELY a solo, but it's enough of one (if you take out J.D.'s vocals, you really don't lose much). Barrett Wilbert Weed is perfect in every way, and I am utterly astounded by her voice. I can think of few other people who could pull off this song, which manages to be sexy, powerful, dark, and fun at the same time.

    5. "No Good Deed" from Wicked

    Shoshana Bean as Elphaba performing onstage for a Broadway benefit performance
    Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

    "No Good Deed" is better than "Defying Gravity." I said what I said. It's such a turning point for Elphaba's character, just like "Defying Gravity," but this one is much darker, which makes it 1,000x better, in my opinion.

    4. "She Used to be Mine" from Waitress

    Sara Bareilles talking at a Waitress event
    Craig Barritt / Getty Images for DMI

    This is really one of the best modern solos. What I love about this song is that this is really a love song Jenna sings to herself, which is rare compared to many of the songs on this list. It's not super dramatic or belted, but it's quietly beautiful and so, so meaningful.

    3. "I'm Alive" from Next to Normal

    Broadwaycom / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    What an upbeat yet kind of horrifying song (aka, my favorite kind)! I'll admit, I'm an Aaron Tveit stan, so I might be biased, but his voice is just SO GOOD in this song! He perfectly captures the taunting and threatening, while also comforting, nature of this song.

    2. "Burn" from Hamilton

    Disney +

    Philippa Soo has the most gorgeous voice, plus she's an amazing actor. The two combine here in a beautiful melody that carries the fury and disappointment at what Alexander has done from the woman who has been by his side the entire time. This number requires no fancy sets or fascinating choreography: it's amazing as is.

    1. And finally..."Words Fail" from Dear Evan Hansen

    Ben Platt singing onstage
    Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

    Oh man, this song is just everything. It comes at the climax of one of the best modern musicals, and every time I've seen it, the actor absolutely kills the performance. It's SO emotionally powerful, and the lyrics are so honest. This is the song I belt in my pajamas when I'm feeling particularly sad, and it's always cathartic.