10 Best Songs In Tick, Tick…Boom!

Based on the semi-autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, Tick, Tick…Boom! features an excellent soundtrack with fantastic performances by each of the main cast members. The songs range from emotional ballads to catchy, energetic numbers touching on multiple themes such as life, relationships, and success.

The film includes performances from seasoned theatre stars such as Joshua Henry and Robin de Jesus, as well as newcomers to singing like Andrew Garfield. While some of the songs from the original stage production were cut, the majority of the songs written by Larson are present and performed beautifully by the talented cast.

10 “Sunday”

The lyrics of “Sunday” paint a picture of the typical customers eating brunch at the Moondance Diner, where Jonathan works. He sings it during a busy shift while expressing some of his frustrations with the customers he sees regularly, and the mundane subject of this song reflects a line Jonathan says earlier in the film about making songs over random topics just as an exercise.

While the lyrics may not get stuck in listeners’ heads as much as others in this film, what makes “Sunday” really memorable is the number of cameos made by famous Broadway stars such as Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, and Chita Rivera, many of whom’s voices are prominently heard during certain lines. In addition, the song pays a fitting homage to the critically acclaimed musical Sunday in the Park with George, which was composed by Jonathan’s main inspiration and idol, Stephen Sondheim.

9 “Swimming”

“Swimming” is performed as Jonathan goes to the pool to cool his mind from the struggle of his writer’s block and his power getting cut off. The lyrics and the rhythm of the song mimic his frustration as he tries to release that through swimming laps.

The music then comes to an abrupt halt and then continues a much slower, whimsical tune as Jonathan finally has a breakthrough for his new song, hearing the voices of his friends sing the words that he needs to hear. While the lyrics may be fairly literal, viewers can likely relate to the frustration heard through Andrew Garfield’s performance followed by the calm once he eases his mind.

8 “Real Life”

Although “Real Life” may be brief, Robin de Jesus’s performance as Michael is what makes this song shine. He performs this song right after Michael reveals that he is HIV positive to Jonathan, prompting the former to process the pain of accepting his diagnosis. The song only consists of the repetition of the question “Is this real life?” as he processes his emotions, with his voice becoming louder and more strained at the end.

The music also swells to reflect this drastic rush of emotion, and by the end, listeners can’t help but be moved by this simple refrain. It truly captures how it feels to face such tragic news, and Robin de Jesus portrays Michael’s bravery and pain beautifully.

7 “Come To Your Senses”

Jonathan spends the majority of the film stressing over what to write for a pivotal song in his musical before he finally has a breakthrough and writes “Come to Your Senses.” While the lyrics may be written for a character in his production, they also portray the words that Jonathan himself needs to hear, and he even pictures his ex-girlfriend Susan singing it to him while Karessa sings it during his presentation of Superbia.

Susan and Karessa’s voices blend together beautifully as they deliver this heartfelt ballad, making listeners feel as moved as the audience members at Jonathan’s workshop.

6 “Johnny Can’t Decide”

“Johnny Can’t Decide” comes at a moment in Jonathan’s life when he feels conflicted about how to move forward in his career, comparing it to Michael’s and Susan’s. One of the first lines, “Compromise or persevere?,” sums up Jonathan’s main struggle both here and in the whole film, which is whether to keep pursuing his lifelong passion despite the hardships or to make compromises that may make reaching success easier.

It’s a very thoughtful song with relatable lyrics for anyone struggling with their career, and the words paint a moving picture of processing this conflict while holding onto a dream.

5 “Therapy”

“Therapy” is a high-energy song in Tick, Tick…Boom! that occurs while Jonathan and Susan are having a fight that ends their relationship. Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens deliver fun, over-the-top musical performances during this song, juxtaposing the passive-aggressive lyrics that slowly become louder and more frantic, mimicking the build of an argument.

It’s a creative way to frame the song with the perfect kind of energy, and the lyrics cleverly take the subtext of common fights in relationships and turn them into a compelling tune that viewers will want to listen to over and over.

4 “No More”

While exploring Michael’s new apartment on the Upper East Side, he and Jonathan perform “No More,” celebrating his shift to a much more upscale lifestyle. It’s a fun, lively song with descriptive imagery comparing Michael’s old, rundown apartment to his luxurious new one that listeners can’t help but sing along to.

Also, Andrew Garfield and Robin de Jesus deliver Tick, Tick…Boom!‘s most likable performances in “No More” and portray a joyful moment in Jonathan and Michael’s friendship early in the film, making later numbers like “Real Life” and “Why” even more heartwrenching.

3 “Why”

One of the most bittersweet and emotional songs in Tick, Tick…Boom! is “Why,” sung by Jonathan after he learns about Michael’s HIV diagnosis. Scared to lose his best friend, Jonathan reflects on fond moments from their childhood and vows to be there for his friends more.

The lyrics captivatingly transport listeners to Jonathan’s memories and stir up strong feelings of love and friendship, and the emotions heard in Andrew Garfield’s voice produce an incredibly moving performance. It’s also a very vulnerable moment for Jonathan that viewers get to clearly see and hear, compared to some of his more energetic songs.

2 “Louder Than Words”

“Louder Than Words” serves as the poignant finale to the film, with the voices of Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, and Joshua Henry coming together beautifully to touch on some of the themes of the movie like ambition and creativity. One key concept this song focuses on is choosing fear or love as a motivation, a sentiment referenced throughout the film.

With inspirational lyrics and powerful performances by each of the cast members, “Louder Than Words” is an incredibly moving song that encourages the audience to consider this sentiment for themselves, and it thoughtfully wraps up the messages Jonathan Larson wanted to portray.

1 “30/90”

The very first song in Tick, Tick…Boom! fantastically sets up the kind of energy and feelings viewers can expect from the rest of the film. “30/90” is upbeat and compelling, catching the audience’s attention with the catchy tune and Andrew Garfield’s performance. The lyrics outline Jonathan’s feelings about his upcoming 30th birthday and introduce the theme of running out of time, which motivates many of his actions.

The energetic and catchy song immediately makes Jonathan a likable character because viewers are captivated by his performance, and the relatable subject matter makes this a truly standout part of the soundtrack.