With the new Wicked movie all over the internet right now, and our queens Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the helm, we thought exploring some musical influences today would be neat. More pop songs than you might know were originally based on songs from Broadway musicals. Today, we're walking you through 10 radio hits you might not know were influenced by their stage play counterparts.
10. Popular Song - MIKA and Ariana Grande
If it wasn't already obvious that Ari was the perfect role for Glinda, this 2011 hit foreshadowed it all. "Popular Song" uses heavy themes from Glinda's beloved solo song in Wicked, "Popular". Of course, the story has changed, but those iconic riffs in the chorus are undeniable. Ari's smooth vocals paired with MIKA's impressive range give us a playful throwback to the 2010s influenced by a Broadway song from the 2000s. What more could we need, really? It's amazing to see how far both artists have come since then, and we LOVE seeing Ari in the new movie adaptation of Wicked.
9. Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z
This one isn't exactly pop. It's hip-hop, but there aren't exactly a ton of these Broadway-themed songs hanging around, so we improvise. Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" from 1998 uses samples from the musical, "Annie" amongst the hard-hitting hip-hop beat. Jay-Z uses this sample to create a sense of nostalgia and awareness for the tough upbringing that he faced and that many face today. He wrote the song for his sister, as her love for the movie version of "Annie" was his inspiration for the samples. This song is often referred to as Jay-Z's breakout hit despite it being on his third album and garnered massive amounts of publicity for the rapper.
8. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
Okay, this one has layers, but hear me out. Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" is an adaptation of an adaptation of a Broadway tune from Fiddler on the Roof. No, you didn't just experience deja vu. You read that right. The song is based on the 1993 song of almost the same name by Louchie Lou and Michie One, "Rich Gal". "Rich Gal", on the other hand, was based on the Fiddler on the Roof track, "If I Was a Rich Man". The 2004 track was a true radio hit, peaking at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. If you grew up in the 2000s, you definitely remember this song. And if you didn't, the tune received a rerelease on Gwen's 2021 EP, "Just a Girl".
7. 7 Rings - Ariana Grande
Returning to our Broadway-pop queen, Ariana Grande, next up is her 2019 single, "7 Rings". The bubbly, confident track places its roots in no other than Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. "7 Rings" takes its main melody from the extremely memorable tune, "Favorite Things", originally sung by Mary Martin in 1959. However, most people remember it sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film adaptation of The Sound of Music. This is pretty serendipitous for Ari, as she, of course, would go on to star in a Broadway film adaptation herself. That is, of course, playing the role of Glinda in Wicked 2024.
6. Mama Said - Lukas Graham
"Mama Said" by Lukas Graham is an interesting addition to this list, because as you've read, Jay-Z already adapted the song, "Hard Knock Life" from Annie. However, these tracks are vastly different, using different genres and styles to convey meaning. More specifically, Lukas Graham focuses on a specific lyric of the track, "Mama said that it was okay", to tell their story. (Yes, despite the marketing, Lukas Graham is a band, not just one guy!) This adaptation uses the Broadway track to emphasize the simple joys of living a regular life while dreaming of the spotlight. Lukas Graham is known for their immaculate story telling, and this track is no exception. Its a great tune for just vibing and feeling nostalgic.
5. Build God, Then We'll Talk - Panic! At the Disco
If you can't tell by now, The Sound of Music is a pretty iconic musical. Especially its track, "My Favorite Things". Ariana Grande wasn't the only one inspired by this catchy little melody. As a matter of fact, Panic! At the Disco adapted it in their song, "Build God, Then We'll Talk" in 2007. Having extremely long song titles was trendy in the late 2000s, trust us. Regardless, this song used the melody in a more spiteful, gritty tone to convey...discomfort. Let's be real; early Panic songs were cryptic. Even at their simplest, they were still cryptic. Much of this song is up for interpretation, but that well-placed melody is undeniable in the bridge and outro of the song. It's artistic songwriting at its finest.
4. Hung Up - Madonna
Moving on to something different, "Hung Up" by Madonna is most certainly one of her most memorable songs despite being later in her career. The track was released in 2005 and has some fascinating inspiration behind it. "Hung Up" is actually based on the era of ABBA's popularity in the 70s. More specifically, the song, "Gimme Gimme Gimme!" If you've seen Mamma Mia, you know this one well! If anyone is going to adapt an ABBA song in 2005, it might as well be Madonna, the queen of Vogue who paved the way for so many vibrant artists.
3. Big Spender - Missy Elliott
Back to hip-hop, we have Missy Elliott's 2002 track, "Big Spender". This one is a little different. Rather than incorporating the lyrics into her song with new vocals, Missy chose to use samples directly from a famous musical. The track of the same name, "Big Spender", originates from the 1966 Broadway show, Sweet Charity. The ferocity and booming timbre of Missy's voice is the perfect contrast to the old-school 60s sound. Combining the two makes a really creative adaptation that's stuck with us for over twenty years now.
2. Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani
You had to know Gwen Stefani would appear twice on this list, right? Her hyper-performative tracks of the 2000s make her the perfect canvas for Broadway-inspired tunes. Her 2006 song, "Wind It Up", is a perfect example. In case you somehow missed the yodeling, Gwen begins this track with a flawless rendition of "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music. Although the lyrics are slightly different, the similarity is undeniable. I will never stop saying it. Gwen Stefani is an icon of the 2000s. If you haven't heard her new album, Bouquet, by the way, definitely give it a listen. This queen is still creating the highest quality of work even in the 2020s.
1. The Coolest Job - G-Eazy
Okay, one more hip-hop tune! "The Coolest Job" by G-Eazy from 2011 is one of the coolest adaptations on this list. The instrumental and samples for this song are taken from Mary Poppins, the legendary 1964 Disney live-action film. Julie Andrews can be heard, of course, but her counterpart, Dick Van Dyke is the star of the sampled song, "Chim Chim Cher-ee". Similarly to Missy Elliott's "Bid Spender", G-Eazy's strong rap verses against the classic Broadway samples create a truly unique sound. The wordplay here is phenomenal, using the classic song as an allegory for the job that G loves, rapping. While it isn't pop, this is a song that I think pop fans would love, with clever lyrics and a really snappy beat.
You made it to the end! So, what did you think? Did you know these songs were inspired by Broadway? Let us know if you learned something at any of our socials below!
Written By Shelbi Baker
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