I love musicals. I could write pages upon pages about all the musicals that I would rank as my favorites. For the purposes of this post, I am focusing on my favorite comfort musicals. These are musicals that I like to watch when I am feeling down or when I want all those warm cozy feelings. Dear reader, I hope that the following titles will help you if you need those warm cozy feelings as well.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame may be a Disney movie, but it is a dark Disney movie. It is a tale of a villain driven to violence by his lust for a woman. It is the tale of a lonely, kind, and deformed orphan boy raised by a monster of a man. It is the tale of a woman from a minority group who seeks justice and a fairer world. It is the tale of a soldier who questions his orders and chooses to stand up for what is right. While the Disney movie is great, the Broadway performance is even better. (This can be found on youtube and the soundtrack can be requested via interlibrary loan through Wiscat. If you are not a Disney fan, check out the Broadway version.) The Broadway musical version sticks closer to author Victor Hugo’s original work. While the Disney version takes out or glosses over some scenes from the book that would be a downer or inappropriate for children, the Broadway musical includes them. I will provide a link below to request the Broadway soundtrack CD from Wiscat. I highly recommend it.

The music for The Hunchback of Notre Dame is phenomenal. Latin chanting permeates the work. My favorite songs include Out There, God Help the Outcasts, Hellfire, In a Place of Miracles, and Someday. The song Out There is Quasimodo’s main theme. The song has amazing range hitting some pretty high notes for a male part. Out There really encompasses the deep yearning that Quasi has to escape his bell tower and be like “ordinary men”. All he wants is his one day in the sun. In his own words, “Just one day and then I’ll be content with my share.”

The song God Help the Outcasts is Esmeralda’s solo. Esmeralda has been chased by the soldiers into Notre Dame cathedral due to the fact that she is Romani. In addition, Frollo (Archduke or Judge depending on the version of the tale) has decreed that she is a witch and needs to be taken into custody. (He really just wants to get with her as he has become seduced by her dancing.) Though Esmeralda finds herself in dire straights, she does not pray for herself. While those around her in the cathedral pray to be blessed for their own benefit, Esmeralda asks God to help the helpless, the poor, and the oppressed. “I ask for nothing, I can get by,” she sings. At the end of the song she adds, “I thought we all were children of God.” Esmeralda has always been a character I look up to and try to emulate. This message is so important in a world where so many are poor, oppressed, and downtrodden. I have always deeply believed that it is important to help each other and to care about our fellow humans.

Hellfire is the villain Frollo’s song. Some, including myself, consider Hellfire to be the best villain song that has ever come out of a Disney movie. Frollo is a frightening villain for the fact that he is so real. He is a powerful but evil man. His larger goal is to commit genocide and wipe out a whole ethnic group. His personal goal is to take Esmeralda against her will as he feels lust for her. The song Hellfire features Frollo battling with his faith. It begins with echoes of Ave Maria before turning into the song Hellfire. Frollo sings about being “a righteous man”. He asks the Virgin Mary why he is feeling the way he is. “Tell me Maria why I see her dancing there, why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul.” Finally, he decides that he is incapable of suppressing these desires and instead of accepting that his intentions are wrong he blames his feelings on the devil. “It’s not my fault! If in God’s plan, he made the devil so much stronger than a man!” No, Frollo can’t deal with his feelings like a normal person. He jumps to the conclusion that he needs to, “Destroy Esmeralda and let her taste the fires of hell or else let her be mine and mine alone.” Yeah, Frollo decides that if he can’t have her he will just burn down all of Paris until he finds her and then burn her at stake too if she refuses his advances. Besides the fact that Frollo is certifiably crazy, the song is a great study of someone battling with their dark desires. In great artistic flair the phrase “Mea Culpa” is repeated often in the Latin chanting throughout this song. Mea Culpa is Latin for “My fault”. Though Frollo is trying to direct the blame on anything or anyone other than himself, he knows somewhere deep down that his actions are his fault alone.

In a Place of Miracles is only performed in the Broadway version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Why I love this one so much is the touching scene where Phoebus and Esmeralda confess their love for each other in a beautiful duet. Quasimodo and Phoebus found The Court of Miracles and warned the Romani (gypsies as they are called in the story) that Frollo knows where they are hiding and is on his way to wipe them out. Phoebus asks Esmeralda to let him leave with her and her people. The song turns into a trio with the addition of Quasimodo’s perspective. While Phoebus and Esmeralda sing about their feelings in song, Quasimodo realizes that he will never get the girl in the end. He reprises lyrics from an earlier song, “no face as hideous as my face was ever meant for heaven’s light.” The effect of all three amazing performers singing at once hits the soul a certain way. The effect is happy and sad at the same time. Clopin, leader of the Romani, also comes in at the end of the song with, “Romanis again must roam. Could there be a country kinder to our race? In a place of miracles.” Over the top of the “in a place of miracles” line Quasimodo sings out, “where’s my place of miracles?” The whole effect is very touching. Seeing Clopin get serious for once also shows that the plight of these people is very dire. They do not have a home and are chased wherever they go. The song is just completely lovely though sad and really hits a certain way.

The song Someday is actually put into the end credits of the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre dame. While still being a thought provoking song to listen to, it does not hit the same way compared with how it is performed in the Broadway musical. In the Broadway version the duet Someday takes place when Esmeralda and Phoebus are in prison. They both know that Esmeralda is set to be executed at dawn. These are their final hours together. Esmeralda sings about believing that there would be a day where justice would be real and the world would be a better place. Knowing she is going to die she sings, “I die believing still it will come when I am gone.” My favorite lines from the song are “Someday life will be fairer, need will be rarer, greed will not pay.” As I share Esmeralda’s dream for the future, this song touches me deeply. It is also sung and performed in such an emotional way. You can listen to this version on CD, but if you want to watch the performers sing it, again check out the full version on Youtube.

Sad dark musicals are comforting to me. I do not know why. I have been obsessing about The Hunchback of Notre Dame since I was three. I made my mother put the VHS in again and again when we rented it. As an adult I have it on blu-ray on my favorites shelf.

Click HERE to request The Hunchback of Notre Dame Broadway Musical CD! (Note: search exactly: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Studio Cast Recording)

Click HERE to request Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame!

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Here is another dark and tragic musical that is one of my top comfort musicals! Like The Hunchback of Notre Dame the setting is also France. Not only is The Phantom of the Opera one of my top comfort musicals, it is one of my top comfort books! The book and musical follow each other very well. Though I must point out one variation in the Phantom’s appearance. In the book the Phantom has glowing yellow eyes that glow in the dark. There is a particular scene that stands out where he sneaks into Raoul’s chambers and stares at him all night with his glowing yellow eyes. Raoul cannot tell if they are stars shining in from outside the window or what it is. It scares him something terrible.

The Phantom of the Opera is ultimately a tale of a love triangle set at the Paris Opera. The Phantom is a man born with a disfigured face who lives in the sewers and catacombs under the opera house. He is a genius of music, ventriloquy, architecture, and has an array of other deadly skills. He tutors the young Christine to become a star of the opera (falling in love with her in the process). The other suitor seeking Christine’s love is the rich boy Raoul. He seems nice enough if not as interesting as The Phantom. Christine and Raoul were close when they were kids. Alas, Christine chooses Raoul and the Phantom seeks his dark revenge. Gerald Butler plays The Phantom in the 2004 version of the movie and has an absolutely captivating voice.

Some of my favorite songs include The Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, Masquerade, and The Point of No Return. If you like dark romantasy books I highly recommend reading or watching The Phantom of the Opera. Which suitor would I have chosen? The Phantom of course! He is so much more interesting than Raoul. Yes, he may have some murderous habits, but this is a hypothetical scenario anyway. In any case, I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie. The dark atmosphere, candle light, roses, and haunting music provide a warm cozy musical experience.

Click HERE to request the DVD version of The Phantom of the Opera!

Click HERE to request the book version of The Phantom of the Opera!

Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)

This movie has a love or hate relationship with a lot of people. A lot of the newer Disney live action films have received high criticism. I however greatly enjoyed this one and find it to be one of my comfort musicals. This one again takes place in France. (I do not know what is with me and stories set in France.) A few blog posts ago I shared that I was reading Apollo’s Angels which is an in depth study of the history of ballet. Much of this book details French history, in particular the fashions and artistic elements of the time Beauty and the Beast is set in. Coming in with that knowledge you can see the influence in the costume and decor of the movie, especially in the Beast’s castle. While the music of Beauty and the Beast be it the animated version or the live action is considered to be some of the best in Disney, I believe what makes this my comfort movie over the original is the ambiance. Do not get me wrong, I am a HUGE fan of the original and LOVE the animation. However, this one just feels like it transports me to a magical version of France and I LIKE that feeling. I like the gold and glitter of the French court. If I had one criticism it would be that the Beast could have been made scarier. Besides that I enjoyed the casting. Luke Evans as Gaston nailed it. Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen as Lumiere and Cogsworth were a delight.

Favorite songs of mine from Beauty and the Beast include…well actually I can’t decide. The whole production is delightful from start to finish! Below I include links to both the animated version and the live action for you to choose from.

Click HERE to request the live action version of Beauty and the Beast!

Click HERE to request the animated version of Beauty and the Beast!

Les Misérables

Yet another of my comfort musicals takes place in France. This one, like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was also based off of a book written by Victor Hugo. Les Misérables is set apart from other musicals by the fact that it is a completely sung through musical. If you are looking for pauses between the singing, this is not the movie for you. A main reason this is a comfort musical for me is Hugh Jackman’s voice. For some reason I find Hugh Jackman’s singing voice to be very soothing and akin to melted chocolate. Hugh Jackman plays the main character, Jean Valjean. Valjean spent years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister and her child. When he finally gets out of prison he has been consumed with hatred. He eventually finds faith in God and vows to become a better man. In assuming a new identity he breaks parole. Years later, after becoming a successful and looked up to man, he is recognized by Javert, a high ranking prison guard. From then on Valjean is forced on the run, Javert always one step behind him. Along the way Valjean adopts an orphan girl whom he devotes his life to. Over the course of the musical all three of these characters are swept up in the bloody and tragic revolution. Similar to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables contains the message that love and compassion for our fellow humans is so very important. A line from the closing song proclaims, “to love another person is to see the face of God.” Though on the run, Valjean often stops to help anyone in need even when Javert is about to arrest him again. Love and compassion for others is a value that is so important to me. When I am struggling, this comfort musical reminds me of my values and what is important in life.

Each actor and actress in Les Miserables conveys an amazing depth of emotion in their acting and singing. It make the story feel very real. Each song captures the heart in a different way. It is perhaps this emotional ride that leaves one in wonder when the story ends. It is an emotional journey well worth taking!

Click HERE to request Les Miserables!

Anastasia

We are out of France! Well, kind of. Part of this musical takes place in Russia, then the other part in France. Anastasia is based on true events. The story is a “what if?” scenario proposing that Anastasia Romanov was not murdered with the rest of her family. The original animated Anastasia film was a frequently rented VHS of mine along with The Hunchback of Notre Dame when I was a little girl. I would watch it over and over. The interest in the subject material followed me into college where I I was able to indulge my interest by writing papers and drinking up any non fiction about the Romanovs and Rasputin I could find in the course of obtaining my bachelor’s of history. The true circumstances surrounding the Russian Revolution, Rasputin’s murder, and the execution of the whole Romanov family (servants and dog included) is a sad and tragic episode in history. It was not determined that Anastasia was killed along with the rest of her family until archaeologists uncovered her body along with her younger brother’s in the early 2000s. Until that time what happened to the lost Russian princess was a mystery. Many women came forward claiming to be Anastasia but none were proven to be her. The animated Anastasia that inspired the Broadway production came out in the 1990s, a few years before the mystery was solved.

The musical proposes that Anastasia hit her head and lost her memory when the Bolsheviks attacked. In this ideal version Anastasia became Anya, the orphan girl with a fractured memory. Her only clue was the charm around her neck that read, “together in Paris”. The animated movie and the Broadway production vary on how the tale is told. I prefer the Broadway version as they tried to keep it as historically accurate as possible. In this version Anastasia is hunted by a rather handsome Bolshevik commander whose father was one of those that executed her family. This man suffers doubts about his orders and is a very engaging and fascinating character. In the animated version Anastasia is chased by the undead Rasputin who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for dark powers. While Rasputin is a real figure who is purported to have had supernatural healing abilities, he was far from being a devil worshipper. In fact he was a deeply spiritual man. Perhaps his greatest flaw, and what he is most known for, was his lifestyle of debauchery (scholars suspect that he was involved in or at least inspired by the Khlysty sect of Christianity where certain adult group activities involving nakedness were a practice of worship. I am tying to keep it vague as I do not know the ages of my readers). Perhaps the devil worshipping, historically inaccurate, animated Rasputin is more family friendly.

In both productions, Anastasia teams up with con artist Dimitri and sidekick Vlad who are out for the reward for delivering the lost princess Anastasia to her grandmother in France. Anya does not know if she really is the lost princess, but along the way her memory starts to slowly return while falling for the wily con artist. The story is one of romance, mystery, and adventure and the music is transfixing. Both versions are great, but I highly recommend borrowing the Broadway soundtrack CD and/or watching the Broadway musical on youtube.

Some of my favorite songs include: Journey to the Past, Once Upon a December, My Petersburg (Broadway), Stay I Pray You (Broadway), In My Dreams (Broadway), and In a Crowd of Thousands (Broadway). The villain song, The Neva Flows (Broadway), is also a favorite.

Click HERE to request the Anastasia Broadway CD!

Click HERE to request the animated Anastasia movie!

Thank you for reading this far as I have gushed about my comfort musicals! I can get very wordy if I am passionate about a topic. I kept myself from going too in-depth with Romanov/Rasputin/and Russian Revolution history, though that may make an interesting blog post for the future. I hope one of these selections may be a cozy musical for you as well! As always, thank you for reading my library blog!