Act 1 or Act 2

Hi guys!

Today I’ve been challenged by Caress Possess Music to do the Act 1 or Act 2 challenge, and being a huge musical fan I couldn’t turn it down!

Basically, its like the this or that challenge when you have to choose between two options and justify your answers for it but this time you have to choose between the two acts in different musicals given.

1. The Book of Mormon: Act 1

I haven’t seen this musical as of yet so I have made my decision based on the soundtrack. I just really love the songs in the first half of the musical. They are light hearted, catchy and are genuinely really good!

2. Beautiful: Act 1

Again, I haven’t seen this musical yet so I was thinking more about the soundtrack. I love the songs in both acts but I just love the early stages of Carole’s career and how much history the songs in the first act have behind them.

3. The Lion King: Act 1

I have chosen act 1 because I love young Simba and seeing how special the relationship is between him and his father. I love how light hearted some of the songs are in act one possibly to highlight how naive he is.

4. My Fair Lady: Act 1

(I promise Act 2 will be chosen at some point!!) Again, I prefer the songs and the progression in the storyline in act 1.

5. Miss Saigon

I don’t really know this musical sadly 😦 I need to listen to the soundtrack at some point but I’m too busy catching up with whats on Broadway and their soundtracks at the moment!

6. Evita: Act 2

This was a very tough decision!! I think I love the way act 2 moves me, it opens with Don’t Cry For Me Argentina and then goes onto Eva’s downfall which is truly heartbreaking. But we get more of an insight to Eva’s intentions and realise how dear she actually was to Argentina.

7. Little Shop of Horrors: Act 1

I have only seen the movie adaptation (but am going to see the show in October and Im so so excited!!) so I dont really know when Act 1 ends but the beginning of the musical is my favourite. I love Seymour in the begging because he is so innocent and nothing has corrupted him as of yet. I love the songs and just how the plot develops in act 1.

8. Mary Poppins: Act 1

Act 2 is too upsetting for me when Mary leaves the children so act 1 is my favourite merely because she doesn’t leave as Avof yet! We get to know this wonderful woman and we are opened up to a whole new world thanks to her.

9. Mamma Mia: Act 2

Im not a huge fan of Mamma Mia but I do enjoy act 2. I like how they tie the musical together with the father’s doing their own thing and Sophie finding happiness once more. I love the montage in the film adaptation though when Donna is getting her daughter ready for her wedding, its so touching.

10. Cats: Act 1

Again, I have to be in the mood to watch this! I like act 1 because all my favourite songs are in it and I am beginning to loose interest in act 2!!

11. Beauty and The Beast: Act 2

Another favourite of mine! Act 2 is my favourite because we get to see the development of Belle and Beast’s relationship and discover how much Belle truly is in love with him. The ending is really heart warming and moving!

12. The Sound of Music: Act 2

I could write so much about how I love both acts of this musical but if I had to choose it’d be act 2. I love the songs in act 1 but when Maria leaves it breaks my heart. I honestly get so sad because you can tell that she was really falling for the Captain and he was for her. It makes me so happy when she returns in act 2, gets married and becomes a wonderful mother for the Von Trapp children. I also love how tense it is when they are fleeing Austria because its a change mood and pace to the show.

13. Wicked!: Act 1

Act 2 makes me cry too much! However, I have chosen act 1 because the opening is my favourite thing in the entire world. I love how powerful No One Mourn’s The Wicked is! And I also love how we see Elphaba’s ambition and drive in act one as well as how naive Glinda is.

14. Les Miserables: Act 2

I love act 2 because of how the musical ties together. Also the mix of emotions is more dynamic, we are faced with the loss of the barricade boys, Javert and Eponine but then we have the comedic moments of the wedding scene. The Epilogue is a real highlight of the show, though as sad as it is, it is a relief that Val Jean is passing, he has done good deeds throughout his life and was ready to make his peace and go to heaven with Fantine. I also love the reprise of Do You Hear The People Sing? at the end when all the deceased return onstage as if they were all in heaven and Val Jean is  reunited once more. It truly is a touching end.

15. The Phantom of the Opera:  Act 2

I love how tense act 2 is, this is when the Phantom really does run a riot! After the amazing act 1 finale with the crashing of the chandelier you just know he has more instore.

16. Aladdin: Act 1

The songs in act 1 are my favourite! I love how we get to know Aladdin as a person and everyone’s situations in act 1 and how it all ties together in sudden events.

I hope you enjoyed this and see you all soon!

– XO

Top 5 // Favourite Disney Songs (Take 10 Edition)

Today is the long awaited return of the ‘Top 5’ series! But, this time with a twist….. a top 10!

Yes I thought this decision was so tough that I just had to expand my decision to 10 Disney songs. So without further ado, here we go!

10. Friend Like Me – Aladdin

This song is at number 10 because to me its such an uplifting and theatrical tune! You just want to dance along and act like the genie!! Definitely a show-stopping number in Aladdin!

9. Something There – Beauty and the Beast

Sung by my favourite princess! I love something there because it shows the foundations of Belle’s love for the Beast which is truly special and this song is just adorable! I also love singing Belles part!

8. So This is Love – Cinderella

I think this is the most romantic song in the whole of Disney. It just has this vintage Hollywood vibe with stunning voices. It makes you dream about being swept off your feet by a Prince!

7. I See The Light – Tangled

An absolutely gorgeous song! So mellow, meaningful and easy listening! Again, shows the foundation of Flynn and Rapunzel’s relationship which is adorable!

6. Just Around The River Bend – Pocahontas 

Whenever this song pops up on my iPod I just have to play it! Such an exhilarating song with meaningful lyrics that make you think and can interpret in your own life! Also, Im obsessed with Judy Kuhn’s voice.

5. Stay Awake – Mary Poppins

Julie Andrews had to make an appearance at some point! Probably an unpopular choice from the Mary Poppins soundtrack but I love this song. Along with Julie’s incredibly soothing voice, this song is pure bliss! The lyrics and melody are so relaxing and this song never fails to relax me or send me to sleep!

4. The Second Star To the Right – Peter Pan

Being a huge Peter Pan fan, the opening credits to the film gives me butterflies! Such a beautiful melody, it sets the scene and sets the overall feel of the movie which I love when listening to it!

3. God Help The Outcasts – The Hunch Back of Notre Dame

This song really really moves me! Im not sure if its because of the religious imagery featured in the film or whether I kind of relate to the song but I just love singing it and listening to it and just being absorbed in the beauty of this song!

2. Santa Fe – Newsies

This tune! It is packed with emotion and drive and is incredible! Such a power ballad that deserves tonnes more recognition that it has.

1. Out There – Hunch Back of Notre Dame

I found y love of this song through the night time show in Disneyland Paris Disney Dreams where Quazimodo is singing this song climbing on the Disneyland castle with the stain glass windows in the background. I think what made it even more powerful for me was that because it was in French. Im not sure why, maybe because we all know this is how the song should be sung if the movie is accurate to the story? This is such an epic song and brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it!

I hope you enjoyed reading this! I’d love to know your top 10!

– xo