This. is not. a drill. The West End LIVE 2019 line-up has been announced! And so, in honour of the upcoming London musical-fest, we’re bringing back an old favourite game of ours – and probably one of our most challenging…
Yes, we’re challenging theatre fans far and wide to plug their headphones in, suppress their natural instincts, and tackle our “Try Not To Sing Along” Challenge! Below are a list of absolute-must-sing-along-doesn’t-matter-where-you-are musical theatre classics. Your challenge: don’t.
In order to play along, you must watch at least the first two minutes of each of the video clips below – and we mean watch (no cheating by looking at something else)! If, during that time, you find yourself humming, mouthing along, tapping your foot, singing, box-stepping, back-flipping… that’s a Fail for that clip; alternatively, if you don’t, it’s a Pass. And yes, you’ll have to score yourself on this one!
There’s just something about these songs that gets our mouths moving… so, headphones in? Laptop/computer/phone screens at the ready?
Good luck – and as ever, let us know how you did!
And if this proves too easy, why not tackle the “Try Not To Sing Along Challenge” Part 2?
Song 1. A Defiant Start
If you’re determined to defy the lyrics, you could start by Defying Gravity with Wicked (clip of the show’s performance at the Tony Awards in 2004).
Song 2. You Can’t Stop This Quiz
Ramping up the difficulty, we’re pretty sure that You Can’t Stop The Beat (performance from the Hairspray Live! cast recording) right now.
Song 3. The Song Lives In You
You may not recognise the title, but we’re sure you’ll recognise the tune – the words, well… They Live In You (from Disney’s The Lion King).
Song 4. Chitty Chitty B- oh no
It’s the West End’s favourite car – and it’s impossible to resist his titular number: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Song 5. Let’s Do The Time Warp Again…
Okay, so we’re cheating a little here – but if you can even manage the first half of Time Warp from the incredible The Rocky Horror Show without busting a move, then kudos to you! (Clip from The Rocky Horror Picture Show)
Song 6. One Song More
Our final challenge; if you managed this one, you’re a more disciplined musical theatre fan than us! It’s One Day More from Les Misérables (10th anniversary concert performance).
Fancy another theatre quiz from our archives? Can you take on our musical image challenge, our Twilight Zone challenge, or the Showstopper Improvised Musical challenge? Can you name which Six queen sang it, or complete our Theatre Quiz by numbers? How well do you know ‘Any Dream Will Do’ from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? Can you complete the sequel to the sequel to our “Try Not To Sing Along” Challenge? How well do you know Waitress, or how many songs Company lyrics can you complete?
Or how many London theatres, popular Phantom Of The Opera songs, Wicked songs, London theatre characters, inspirational musicals, movie-musicals, Les Misérables songs, Olivier Award-winning musicals, or longest-running West End productions of all-time, can you name?
You can book your tickets to all current London theatre shows here.
First published 1 December 2017; Updated 17 May 2019