“La La Land,” an original musical film, was undeniably the sleeper hit musical hit of 2016. The film was nominated for a record-tying 14 Academy Awards, of which it won six, and won a record-breaking seven Golden Globes. The songs, written by Justin Hurwitz and Pasek & Paul, are a contemporary spin on the jazz sound heard in Golden Age stage musicals and films.

Here are the 15 songs in “La La Land” ranked from least to greatest:

15. “City of Stars (Humming)”

Although a beautiful take on the recurring song throughout the movie, the coffee shop spin on this track sounds slightly out of place with the rest of the movie’s jazzy score. Fans of Emma Stone’s singing will not be disappointed, however.

14. “Engagement Party”

A more relaxed moment in the score, this piano solo is a charming, albeit forgettable, ballad that helps balance the constantly upbeat nature of the movie.

13. “Planetarium”

Possibly the most symphonic number in the score, the dream sequence here is delightful, if not somewhat clichéd and derivative.

12. “The End”

The ending echoes the theme for Mia and Sebastian. While triumphing in its crescendo, “The End” could be slightly longer and include some jazz harmonies.

11. “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”

Stone’s big solo ballad tells of her aunt’s carefree adventures in Paris. While her vocal chops might not quite be Broadway-level, she gives a convincing performance and paints a lasting picture in the listener’s mind.

10. “City of Stars” (Ryan Gosling Solo)

Gosling’s solo version of this song is the first time it’s heard in the movie, sung right after his character hangs out with Mia for the first time. Gosling’s whispery tone appropriately reflects the nature of his character’s future hopes.

9. “City of Stars” (Duet)

Here we have the lovers in a more intimate, vulnerable musical setting, becoming more romantic one blue note at a time.

8. “Summer Montage”

This instrumental reimagining of “Another Day of Sun” is a showcase of Hurwitz’s imaginative genius as a composer.

7. “Herman’s Habit”

This Miles Davis sound-alike is sure to amuse any hardcore jazz fan who is looking for something more classic and true to form in the soundtrack.

6. “Mia and Sebastian’s Theme”

This haunting piano theme has traces of pre-jazz Impressionistic composers such as Debussy and Ravel. Its poignant melodies and harmonies parallel the tumultuous bond between the two lovers.

5. “A Lovely Night”

Reminiscent of dancing sequences by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this first duet between Mia and Sebastian is a tribute to the jazzy musicals that long preceded “La La Land.”

4. “Start a Fire”

Undoubtedly the most contemporary-sounding number in the whole movie, John Legend and company deliver a knockout performance in this soulful jam.

3. “Another Day of Sun”

One of the more memorable opening sequences in recent musical films, this song is destined to be a show-choir favorite by the end of this year.

2. “Someone in the Crowd”

This song is about the thrill of a chance encounter, and Mia and her friends add life to its flamboyant and lighthearted representation of Los Angeles nightlife.

1. “Epilogue”

Arguably the best part of the movie, the instrumental epilogue is a fantastic dream sequence of what might have been if Mia and Sebastian had waited for each other. The union of the movie’s musical themes here is extraordinary.

What are your favorite parts in “La La Land?” Let us know in the comments below…

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Here are some of the year’s major highlights:

Stage

“Hamilton’s” global dominance really hit its peak this year, with continuous sold-out shows, an opening in Chicago, a slew of awards and the release of the “Hamilton Mixtape.” It’s safe to say the show, and its creator, have taken the world by storm. Lin-Manuel Miranda announced a pile of new projects this year, including his work on the Disney musical “Moana” and his role in the upcoming “Mary Poppins Returns” alongside Emily Blunt.

Television

Broadway took on television once again with a trifecta of performances this year. Kenny Ortega’s remake of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for Fox gave the cult classic new life. While the musical was filmed rather than a live performance, it exposed the show to a new generation.

Continuing its red-letter musical year, Fox also produced the ambitious musical television special, “Grease Live!” and raised the bar for all future television musicals with a live studio audience and variety of sets. NBC followed up that success later in the year with its own impressive and elaborate musical for TV, “Hairspray Live!”

And the fun is nowhere near ending. NBC announced its 2017 live musical will be “Bye Bye Birdie” and will star Jennifer Lopez.

Film

A new year means the start of another awards season, and for the first time in ages, an original live-action movie musical is poised to score big. The critics are raving about “La La Land,” the charming movie musical with Hollywood favorites Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Oscar predictions have the film as a frontrunner for nominations, only encouraged by its sweep of several awards at the Critics Choice Awards. The new film throws it back to the classic feel-good Hollywood musicals, which is just the lift of optimism the new year needs.

In case you need another pick-me-up, Disney will be releasing its star-studded remake of the hit musical, “Beauty and the Beast” in March. The hotly anticipated film will feature songs from the ‘90s classic and new material written by the film’s original composer, Alan Menken.

These were just a few of the big-ticket items seen in 2016 — there were many, many more. Musical theatre appears poised to enter a mainstream golden age, which is nothing but good news for theatre nerds everywhere. As the industry continues to expand and become more mainstream, stereotypes will be smashed and barriers will be broken. The creation of new and original work will be encouraged, and more Lin-Manuel Miranda’s will have their day in the sun.

With all of this, 2017 might not be as gloomy as everyone is predicting~

Which theatre moment are you most looking forward to in 2017? What was your favorite theatre moment from 2016? Let us know in the comments below…

The post The Rise Of The Musical: Why 2016 Was A Great Year For Musical Theatre appeared first on Theatre Nerds.