As both a fan of rock ‘n’ roll and musicals, there is a genre that is quite near and dear to me. Rock Operas are those musical productions where the music feels like it could have been written within the last few decades. This is not to say that the more traditional sounding musicals don’t have their place, of course. However, there is something to be said for a musical that can get your toes tapping and your head bobbing too.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the best of what Rock Operas have to offer.
“Suddenly Seymour” from “Little Shop of Horrors” – It’s a key moment in the show, where Seymour and Audrey discover their love for each other. Both Audrey and Seymour are given a chance to sing the powerful melody and then together their harmonies entwine with each other. In a musical with so many memorable numbers, this one stands just a little taller.
“Jesus of Suburbia” from “American Idiot” – When the album was released in 2004, it was apparent that Green Day had broken into territory that was trod upon by The Who. The album “American Idiot” played and felt like a rock opera. So when the actual musical, based on the material of the album, was announced, it made total sense. “Jesus of Suburbia” is a nine minute medley that tells the story of suburban angst and drives its message home with unforgettable emotion.
“Wig in a Box” from “Hedwig and The Angry Inch” – Nothing says “awesome” like a musical about a botched sex change operation that leaves a man from Cold War-era Germany halfway between the genders. It’s a show with an incredible message of finding value first in who you are, and worrying about appearances second. “Wig in a Box” is a show-stopper in every sense of the word. It builds from a slow burn into a roaring fire, and underneath it all is the central theme of Hedwig’s internal strife: the desire to be someone else.
“Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – I love this song so much it played at my wedding reception. If ever there was a production that defined a genre, it’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” There are so many great and iconic songs to choose from, but “Time Warp” is just a fun number with the whole cast singing and dancing, which is what musicals are all about.
“Pinball Wizard” from “The Who’s Tommy” – If there was ever a rock band that could write an album that felt like a story, it was The Who. “Tommy” is perhaps the best and most memorable rock opera made from their material. “Pinball Wizard,” the story of a boy who cannot see, hear or speak but who can play pinball better than anyone in the world is the central song in the story, and it works not just in the context of the show, but just as one of the greatest songs in rock and roll history.