Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by whitelisting our website.

16 Songs from Musicals to Start Your Workweek

16 Songs from Musicals to Start Your Workweek

Share this article

Did you know that June 27 celebrates the importance of small businesses to the global economy?

 

The United Nations General Assemby said so, calling today “Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day” to raise awareness on the huge contributions of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

And since musical theater is our business, we put together a little playlist of songs characters sing while in their workplace.

 

The mundane becomes musical with the magic of theater, and that includes the dreary daily routines of work. Musical theater has found a way to translate life’s daily struggles into catchy musical numbers and the workplace is one always ripe for the showtune treatment. Some songs delve into characters’ dreaming of something more (The Producers, Promises, Promises) while others give some practical tips for those who want to advance in their career (Gypsy, Oliver!). You name the work experience and there’s probably a showtune about it.

 

The Broadway musical economy also has representatives from various industries such as the food industry (Waitress, Sweeney Todd), retail (She Loves Me, Little Shop of Horrors), manufacturing (Kinky Boots, Made in Dagenham), show business (The Producers, A Chorus Line, Gypsy), “entrepreneurs” (Oliver!), and more. 

 

Sometimes, we just need a list of showtunes to channel the gamut of emotions we experience while at work. Boredom, frustration, anger, homicidal tendencies, capitalist cannibalism, hope, ambition, excitement, camaraderie, and so much more.

 

So hopefully, there’s a song or two in here that reflects your work experience. Check out the playlist below:

1. “9 to 5” from 9 to 5: The Musical

Workin’ nine to five, what a way to make a living!

Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’

They just use your mind and they never give you credit

It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it

2. “Little Shop of Horrors” from Little Shop of Horrors

On the twenty-third day of the month of September

In an early year of a decade not too long before our own

The human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence

And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do

In the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places

3. “Made in Dagenham” from Made in Dagenham the Musical

I love my job it is a gift

a lovely stinking 8 hour shift

see how the factory does shine

from Europe’s largest neon sign

4. “Opening Up” from Waitress

The day starts like the rest we’ve seen

Another carbon copy of an old routine

Days keep coming

One out, one in

They keep coming

And make the coffee strong enough to chew!

5. “Sounds While Selling” from She Loves Me

That should do it

Wrap it up and charge it!

Thank you so much!

Always such a pleasure

Seeing you!

6. “Carrying the Banner” from Newsies

Ain’t it a fine life carrying the banner through it all?

A mighty fine life carrying the banner tough and tall

Every morning we goes where we wishes

We’s as free as fishes

Sure beats washing dishes

What a fine life carrying the banner home free all

7. “The Worst Pies in London” from Sweeney Todd

No denyin’ times is hard, sir

Even harder than the worst pies in London

Only lard and nothing more

Is that just revolting

All greasy and gritty?

It looks like it’s molting

And tastes like, well, pity

A woman alone with limited wind

And the worst pies in London

8. “Pirelli’s Miracel Elixir” from Sweeney Todd

T’was Pirelli’s

Miracle Elixir,

That’s what did the trick, sir,

True, sir, true.

Was it quick sir?

Did it in a tick, sir,

Just like an elixir

Ought to do!

 

How about a bottle mister?

only costs a penny guaranteed.

9. “Coffee Break” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

If I can’t take my coffee break

My coffee break, my coffee break

If I can’t take my coffee break

Something within me dies

10. “Half as Big as Life” from Promises, Promises

I want a lot

And I know that I’ll get it all

Just like someone who’s

Twice as big as life

11. “I Wanna Be a Producer” from The Producers 

I spend my life accounting

With figures, and such

(Unhappy)

To what is my life amounting

It figures, not much

(Unhappy)

I have a secret desire

Hiding deep in my soul

It sets my heart afire

To see me in this role

12. “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line

Who am I anyway?

Am I my resume?

That is a picture of a person I don’t know.

What does he want from me?

What should I try to be?

So many faces all around, and here we go.

I need this job, oh God, I need this show.

13. “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” from Oliver!

In this life, one thing counts

In the bank, large amounts, 

I’m afraid these don’t grow on trees,

You’ve got to pick-a-pocket or two

14. “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” from Gypsy

Do something special

Anything special

You’re more than just a mimic

When you got a gimmick

Take a look how different we are…

 

Get yourself a gimmick

And you too can be a star

15. “Everybody Say Yeah” from Kinky Boots the Musical

A life of broken heels, got you down

Well we’ve got your solution

Get up, get it on and get in step

With our kinky revolution

16. “Christmas Bonus” from Rak of Aegis

Kaya’t ibigay n’yo na ang aming Christmas bonus

Pati na ang 13th month pay para lahat, okay na okay

Kay sarap makatanggap ng Christmas bonus

Para bang problema mo’y na-hocus-pocus

Pambili ng regalo, panghanda sa lahat ng gastos

Halos solved na’ng lahat kung may Christmas bonus

Listen to the playlist here:

Comments
About the Author /

camillus.albatou.perite@gmail.com

A polyglot passionate about the arts, Camille’s dream role is to be a peasant in the ensemble of Les Misérables. In the meantime, she contents herself by watching and writing about plays. Instagram: @craetions