Top 10 Confrontation Songs from Musicals (and Who Won)

“Tick, Tick…Boom!”
“Tick, Tick… Boom” is the semi-autobiographical tale of writer and composer, Jonathan Larson, as he workshops a new musical in the lead up to his 30th birthday. In this scene, Larson simulates a couples therapy session through song. In the movie, “Therapy” is performed by Jonathan and his friend Karessa, intercut with a real argument between Jonathan and his girlfriend, Susan, which inspired the song. Larson’s use of repetition, with the characters talking (or singing) over each other and plenty of passive aggression, really gives us a sense of the couple’s dysfunctional dynamic. There’s no real winner here, but at least Jonathan got the material for a witty and entertaining musical number.

“Guys and Dolls”
Plenty of musicals feature young love or first love, but when we first meet Nathan and Adelaide, “Guys and Dolls’s” not-quite married couple, they’ve already been engaged for fourteen years. Their long-term relationship comes with one long-running grievance: Adelaide wants Nathan to marry her, settle down, and stop running the crap game. Nathan loves Adelaide, but he can’t commit. “Sue Me” is Adelaide’s breaking point, but it also feels like the same argument they’ve had hundreds of times before. We love the juxtaposition of her fast-talking verses and his smoothly romantic responses. At the end of this number we’d probably call Nathan the winner, but Adelaide did get her wedding in the end.

“Tell Me on a Sunday”
This Andrew Lloyd Webber number originally comes from a one-woman show called “Tell Me on a Sunday” about a young British woman looking for love and adventure in the USA. Although it’s technically a solo, “Take That Look Off Your Face” is also a confrontation song addressed to a female friend. She’s rushed over to reveal the bad news that the heroine’s boyfriend has been unfaithful. The twist comes with the revelation that our protagonist had prior knowledge of the affair, and the song becomes more about berating a friend who’s acting like the furthest thing from one. It’s not a happy song, but ‘the Girl’ refuses to respond like a victim and comes away from the clash as the victor.

“Hamilton”
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” is full of fantastic confrontation songs, but the most obvious examples are the memorable “Cabinet Battles” of Act 2. Staged as a rap battle officiated by George Washington, we get Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, pitted against Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state. In the first battle, the issue is state debt and the proposal of establishing a national bank. In the second, the question is whether or not to send aid to France to support the revolutionaries. Like with much of “Hamilton,” Miranda takes subject matter that could be very dry and gets the audience invested through smart writing and electric performances. Daveed Diggs is definitely a scene stealer - although technically Hamilton is the victor of the second round.

“Annie Get Your Gun”
“Annie Get Your Gun” is a 1946 stage musical, very loosely based on the life of American folk heroine, Annie Oakley. The show is brought to life by Irving Berlin’s fabulous songs, the most famous of which is “Anything You Can Do.” This (habitually) male and female duet sees Annie and her rival, Frank Butler, argue playfully about their respective skills, each trying to out-do the other. It’s become a staple for musical theatre performers and has been tackled by everybody from Bing Crosby to Shirley Bassey. It’s a catchy tune and the lyrics are whip-smart and very funny. Our heroine usually comes out on top, but of course, neither party can claim perfection.

“Dreamgirls”
Effie White’s big “Dreamgirls” solo is, of course, iconic but lets hear some love for “It’s All Over”, the confrontation number that sets up that scene. Effie’s been missing practice and causing drama - for reasons that are completely understandable. However, the band is getting tired of her diva act. In an abrupt turn-around from their earlier assurances that “We Are Family” Effie’s nearest and dearest stab her in the back and kick her out of the band. As you’d expect, she doesn’t go quietly. It’s an ensemble song where everyone gets their moment and the overall effect is really powerful. Effie may be the loser but she lets us know she’s going to come back fighting.

“West Side Story”
“West Side Story” is a musical that thrives on confrontation. Rival gangs dance-off in the street, racial tensions simmer and star-crossed lovers fight to be together. In one of the show’s most famous numbers, the Sharks and their girls argue back and forth about the pros and cons of their new life in America. However, the most dramatic of the conflict numbers is the duet between Maria and Anita. Anita discovers Maria and Tony together, after hearing the news that Tony has murdered her beloved Bernardo. Grieving and furious, Anita faces Maria, who stands her ground and refuses to give Tony up. “A Boy Like That” gives way to “I Have a Love” where Maria manages to persuade Anita that love is more important than hate.

“Wicked”
“What is this Feeling” is a tension-driven duet that explores the first impressions the future Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the South have of each other. It’s the start of a relationship that will grow into something much deeper than school-yard rivalry. At the end of Act 1, we witness a more dramatic and serious confrontation. “What is this Feeling” is just the beginning, but what a beginning it is. The movie adaptation really does this number justice, with playful staging and fabulous chemistry between the witches. We love them both, but it’s good to see the down-trodden Elphaba get the upper-hand at the end there.

“Rent”
One of the great musical theatre duets for women, “Take Me or Leave Me” is an argument song between girlfriends Maureen and Joanne. The lyrics are inspired by an aria of the opera “La bohème,” on which the musical “Rent” is based. Maureen is a self-proclaimed free-spirit while Joanne is a rule-follower. Their clashing personalities are a constant cause of friction in their relationship. However, “Take Me or Leave Me” is also really joyful, as the characters are confident in who they are and aren’t shy about expressing it. Maureen may appear to be the bigger personality but Joanne’s no pushover. By the end of the song, it’s clear that they’ve both met their match.

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

Winner: Jekyll – One Actor, Two Roles, One Very Conflicted Man

A Tie: Bill & Calam Are Giving Enemies to Lovers

Winner: Ryan, Who Gets Chad to Dance in the End

Winner: Kim, for Obvious Reasons

Winner: The Daughters, Who Get Their Way in the End

“Les Misérables ”
Set in 19th century France, “Les Mis” is the story of escaped con, Jean Valjean, who is pursued throughout the years by the relentless Inspector Javert. They face off numerous times in the musical, but the most notable number is literally called “The Confrontation.” The stakes are high as Valjean can’t let himself be taken before fulfilling his promise to Fantine - to take care of her child. We also learn new things about both characters, including a snippet of Javert’s backstory that gives us insight into his tortured psyche. It’s a tense scene, but Valjean eventually wins the day, slipping through Javert’s clutches once again.

Which musical confrontation is your favourite and which side are you on? Let us know in the comments!