Top 10 Best Judy Garland Musical Numbers

Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney star in this second film adaptation of the 1930 Gershwin Brothers’ musical “Girl Crazy.” “Embraceable You” is performed by Garland in a stunning evening gown while she’s surrounded by male suitors. Her vocals are effortlessly beautiful in this charming and sweet number that fits the personality of Judy Garland in her younger years just perfectly. This song was originally cut from the first film adaptation in 1932, which definitely makes that version feel like it’s missing something. Not that any other rendition could possibly compare to Garland’s legendary talent and vocals.

While “Ballin’ the Jack” steals the show with its captivating showcase of Judy Garland’s lesser known dance skills, the titular song “For Me and My Gal” is really where Garland shines in this film. Paired with Gene Kelly in his silver screen debut, the two have amazing chemistry as performers. This song specifically highlights how beautifully their voices blend in harmony together. It isn’t just a delightful performance between two huge Hollywood names, it’s also a sweet reminder of the lifelong friendship that formed between these two costars.

This is one of the most romantic songs in this festive musical. Judy Garland’s character Esther Smith sings about her feelings for her neighbor John Truitt, whom she hasn’t actually met yet. It’s one of Garland’s most popular songs, and her blue and white striped dress is one of her most memorable costumes. The number itself has been praised for its effectiveness in expressing Esther’s motivations and moving the story of the movie along. It’s even become a prime example for other musicals to gain inspiration from. The image of Garland singing in the window is an especially unforgettable shot of a legendary performer, and it closes out the song beautifully.

This uplifting and energetic number with its simple message is totally timeless in its relatability. Garland sings about not letting anything get in the way of her happiness, and the catchy chorus is an absolute mood. Her massive popularity at the time of this film’s release made it a huge success, and this song certainly does not disappoint for Judy Garland fans. The film was later remade, sans musical numbers, as the classic 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. If you liked “You’ve Got Mail” and you haven’t seen “In the Good Old Summertime,” it’s worth a watch even for this lively song alone.

This song is a Christmas staple and one of Judy Garland’s most well known, and for very good reason. As their father’s job is about to take the Smith family away from St. Louis, Garland’s Esther sings to her younger sister Tootie to console her. It’s a beautiful moment in the film, but the song’s popularity as a Christmas classic has far surpassed its movie musical origins. Now a standard, it has been covered by many famous artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael Bublé. Still, no rendition could compare to the timeless originality of Garland’s heartfelt performance in this familiar favorite we look forward to hearing every holiday season.

This 1934 song was featured in the film “Listen, Darling,” and sung by Judy Garland’s character the young Pinkie Wingate, but it had already been a staple of Garland’s and would be for the rest of her career. When Garland auditioned for MGM Studios in 1935, she sang this song and was signed to a contract on the spot. She continued to perform it at many subsequent concerts and television specials. For “Listen, Darling,” Garland recorded two versions of the song, one in a more uptempo swing style as well as the ballad heard in the film. At just sixteen, this performance cemented her status as a talented actress and singer.

As Ester and her friends ride the trolley to the construction site of the 1904 World’s Fair, everyone is already filled with an exhilarated buzz. When she sees a certain young man climb aboard though, Ester just can’t contain herself. Garland plays the nervous excitement of being close to one’s crush perfectly. Her final expression as she looks at her love interest John Truitt is such a genuine and sweet moment. It’s easy to see why this song is one of Garland’s most well-loved. Its animated and uptempo style is also very fun and different from the typical ballads she’s known for.

In her first foray since leaving MGM studios in 1950, Judy Garland plays an aspiring singer in this musical remake of the original 1937 film. Garland originated one of her staple songs, a cover of George Gershwin’s “Swanee” in this movie, but “The Man That Got Away” is inarguably the most important number in the movie. This is reflected in the great care that was taken to make this scene perfect. It was filmed in more than forty takes on three separate occasions, and is presented in one continuous shot in the final cut of the film. The final product is a perfectly intimate, romantic song that showcases Garland’s exceptional talent in a simple and stunning way.

Garland’s final film with MGM was tragically riddled with personal struggles for the actress, but also produced one of her most famous performances in the final song, “Get Happy.” Her costume in this scene is one of her most recognizable with her fedora and tuxedo jacket, and critics lauded her performance as Garland at her very best. The catchy melody and celebratory lyrics are infectiously joyful, but also serve as a poignant reminder of Garland’s heartbreaking experiences behind the scenes at this point in her life. With her off-camera difficulties in mind, it’s truly inspiring to see how much beauty and happiness she could still produce through her unforgettable talents.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Easter Parade”
“Easter Parade” (1948)

“It’s a Great Day for the Irish”
“Little Nellie Kelly” (1940)

“On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe”
“The Harvey Girls” (1946)

“The Joint is Really Jumpin’ in Carnegie Hall”
“Thousands Cheer” (1943)

The film that made a teenage Judy Garland an international celebrity contains what is indisputably her most well known song: the beloved ballad “Over the Rainbow.” Written by composer Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg, this tune won the Academy Award for best original song in 1940. In the years since it has become one of the most universally renowned in film history. Shockingly, this classic was almost cut from the film entirely as it was thought to be too serious and slow for young audiences. Thankfully, it survived to the final cut of the film, and Garland’s unforgettable performance expressing the desires of the young Dorothy Gale has been enjoyed by many generations of viewers.