The Most Epic Musical Soundtracks for College Students

Musical recommendations to have you dancing through life!

Originally published on March 7, 2016

I like musicals. Correction, I love musicals and it is the main genre of music I listen to when walking to classes, cleaning my room, or trying to get pumped up for writing a paper (or article!). The following are not necessarily my favorite musicals, but ones I think will be more ubiquitously enjoyed by peers for the activities previously mentioned. Give them a listen and have some fun!

1. "Hamilton"

I'll admit I was a little late hopping onto the "Hamilton" bandwagon (only started listening mid-January of this year) but now I am a strong advocate for this relatively new show. If you don't know already, it's about the life of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who came from nothing to help build America. The style of music is more unorthodox for a typical musical. It is a combination of hip-hop and R&B with some more traditional songs mixed in as well. If you want something with a beat or already enjoy rap and hip-hop music, this is the show for you! I never thought I would be attempting to rap about guns, ships, and 19-year-old college kids but here I am!

2. "Next to Normal"

This musical I discovered about a year ago and the music is as compelling as the story. Described as a rock musical, "Next to Normal" tells the story of how a woman's mental illness and attempts at treatment affect her family. The music is dark and powerful, but can be delicate. Some of these are perfect for when you're ready to scream at the world. If for some reason the music does drag you in, perhaps you can find a connection with one of the complex characters. Maybe you feel pressured like Natalie, ignored like Gabe, or powerless like Dan. However, the ultimate message is hopeful. Look for the light in your life and let it shine.

3. "Twisted"

Are you ready to ruin your childhood in one fell swoop? Take a look at "Twisted", a Team Starkid creation which takes the familiar story of "Aladdin" and parodies it in the style of "Wicked". Simply, Jafar is the good guy and Aladdin is the bad guy. It is full of Disney references in both lyrics and music with the unique Starkid touch that pushes it past kid-friendly. The music will make you laugh and cry, with songs perfect for dancing around your room, finding motivation, and feeling good about yourself (it's all Jafar's fault anyway).

4. "Aida"

On no, not another doomed, star-crossed lovers story! Aida is a Nubian princess, who is captured and taken to Egypt where she became a slave. She falls in love with Radames, an Egyptian with adventure in his heart who is promised to marry the Egyptian princess. The music is by Elton John and lyrics are by Tim Rice. Those should be reasons enough to give it a listen, Disney fans! And yes, half the songs are love songs, but they all sound different and are not terribly cheesy. Most of the music has rock undertones to give you a beat and drive you forward and the lyrics contain inspiration for not just the characters but the listeners as well.

5. "Seussical"

This past week had Dr. Seuss Day, so this seemed wonderfully appropriate to throw in here. This show is goofy and heart-warming with music that switches between jazzy, upbeat rock themes and slow, melodic layered themes. The lyrics are peppered with references to your favorite Dr. Seuss stories, including "The Cat in the Hat" and "Horton Hears a Who!" Catchy melodies and classic Seussian phrases are guaranteed to become stuck in your head. Oh the thinks you can think when catching a listen of Seussical!