Top 10 ANGSTIEST Broadway Songs
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best musical songs to add to your playlist when you’re in the mood for some serious emotional release. In some cases, major plot points will be discussed, so this is your spoiler warning.
#10: “I'd Rather Be Me”
“Mean Girls”
Remember those days of teenage angst-fueled sweet revenge fantasies? How about when you decided it’s way more satisfying to stick it to a broken system? This song comes in just after that moment, where Janis reveals what she, Cady, and Damian did to Regina. She has this moment of clarity — being an outsider isn’t so bad if it means staying true to yourself. She calls out how girls are pushed to be catty and undermine each other just to uphold a system built to keep them down. Sure, we all want to fit in, but is it really worth losing everything that makes you, well, you? We raise our right finger to that!
#9: “Rose’s Turn”
“Gypsy”
This song essentially follows Rose’s emotional breakdown. After years of putting everyone else’s dreams first, she finally snaps. Dedicating her life to her kids and their success, she must finally confront her failure to achieve her own desires. In this song, she lets it all out: the frustration, anger, and everything else she’s kept bottled up. It’s her moment to claim something for herself and step into the spotlight. If a tantrum were a song, this would be it, but it’s way more intense than that. By the time she hits the final note, we’re covered in chills. You can’t help but feel the weight of everything she’s been holding in.
#8: “Wait For Me”
“Hadestown”
You know that feeling when you’re chasing something you want so badly, even when the odds are stacked against you? Maybe it’s fixing a relationship, going after a dream, or just holding on to hope when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Orpheus is determined to bring Eurydice back from the Underworld, even if it means going up against Hades himself. Every note of “Wait For Me” is packed with emotional intensity—longing, tension, and the immense weight of his mission. We’ve all been there, giving it everything despite the risks. The reprise hits even harder, capturing that gut-wrenching regret when all the hope and dreams crash into reality.
#7: “Good for You”
“Dear Evan Hansen”
This is the moment when the burden of Evan’s lies feels heavier than ever, and the voices of his mother and peers force him to confront his deception. It captures that spiral of knowing you’ve messed up but still trying to convince yourself everything’s fine. It’s that pressure of hiding your truth while falling apart inside. The voices in Evan’s mind are harsh, and while we might not agree with all his actions, we all know that inner critic—the one that tells you you’re not good enough, that you’ve made all the wrong choices, and that you’re an imposter. We don’t condone all of Evan’s choices throughout the show, but his inner turmoil is totally relatable.
#6: “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”
“Jesus Christ Superstar”
If we were ranking by level of angst, this song would take the crown. While most of our picks feel like they’re carrying the weight of the world, in this case, it’s actually true! In this song, Jesus faces the inevitability of his looming death. He essentially goes through all the stages of grief, questioning if he has the strength to follow through. Torn between his human instinct to avoid suffering and accepting his fate, the emotional tug-of-war is palpable. While his divine purpose might not be something we can fully relate to, the choice between running from pain or facing it? Yeah, we get that. The deep anguish in this song is haunting.
#5: “Superboy and the Invisible Girl”
“Next to Normal”
A show about a family dealing with mental illness, grief, and its toll is bound to be full of angst. “I’m Alive” captures the desperation of feeling something between pain and numbness, while “You Don’t Know” and “I Am the One” express emotional outbursts driven by frustration, isolation, and a need to be understood. Then there’s “Superboy and the Invisible Girl,” where Natalie sings about living in the shadows of a sibling. Even though Gabe is long gone, she still feels overlooked, and like she’ll never measure up in her mother’s eyes. All she wants is to be more than just a side character in her own family. Honestly, it’s a lot.
#4: “Dead Girl Walking”
“Heathers: The Musical”
In a show with a line like “Dear diary, my teenage angst BS has a body count,” it’s safe to say you’re getting a full-on soundtrack of angst. From “Freeze Your Brain” to “Seventeen” to “I Say No,” it’s like a trip down memory lane of teenage turmoil. However, we’d say the angst really hits the fan after Veronica stands up to Heather Chandler and faces social ostracization. She realizes being popular isn’t as “Beautiful” as it looks. So, she says, “screw this” to high school drama and throws caution to the wind. Caught between wanting to break free and just feel something… anything, she throws herself into a rush of emotions that are both thrilling and scary.
#3: “One Song Glory”
“RENT”
“Rent” is about survival, love, loss, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that’s a hot mess. That’s clear from the jump with songs like the title track and “What You Own,” where Mark and Roger grapple with their purpose. In between, there’s “One Song Glory,” where Roger feels the overwhelming pressure to make a mark on the world before his time runs out. He knows that “no day but today” is guaranteed, yet he’s trapped in this loop of fear, regret, and the nagging thought that he’ll never get it right. Who can’t relate to wanting to make a difference but feeling completely stuck on how to even begin?
#2: “Stick It to the Man”
“School of Rock”
What’s rock really about? Yes, if you’ve ever been fed up with the world trying to shove you into its neat little boxes, it’s about sticking it to the man! Why settle for sitting in silence when you can flip the tables, chairs, and whatever else is in your way? Dewey, a.k.a. Mr. Schneebly, shows these kids that life isn’t always fair, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Sure, Dewey’s got questionable intentions, but he shows these kids how to light their rebellious fire and make some much-needed noise. When life’s got you down, rocking out to this song will energize you to “Stick It to the Man!”
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Burn,” “Hamilton”
Because It’s Way Safer to Sing About Burning Your Past
“On My Own,” “Les Misérables”
The Definitive Anthem of Unrequited Love, Yes We Said It
“Diva's Lament,” “Spamalot”
The Song Every Spurned or Overlooked Person Needs on Their Playlist
“Why,” “Tick, Tick... Boom!”
Need a Song for Your Existential Crisis? Here It Is.
“No Good Deed,” “Wicked”
For When It Feels like the World Is Against You
#1: No Skips Angst
“Spring Awakening”
This show could practically be titled “Teen Angst: The Musical,” so it would be impossible to choose just one song to focus on. It’s about those growing pains—sexual awakenings, rebellion, and trying to figure out why the world is so messed up. Set in a repressive society, the characters are basically screaming inside (and sometimes outside) for more freedom over their lives, bodies, and feelings. Each song just amplifies their frustration, confusion, and desperation as they try to make sense of it all while the adults fear the changing times. It’s basically a battle to have their voices heard in a world that just wants them to shut up and fall in line.
What other showtunes do you have on your angstiest playlists? Let us know in the comments
