Since Hamilton: An American Musical appeared on Broadway and captured the world by storm, I have noticed a rise in the number of musicals that draw young adults from all different backgrounds to live theater. These musical have addressed complex themes and introduced complex characters, music, and have thus effected overall experience. Dear Evan Hansen is no different. Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Micheal Greif, Danny Mefford, Alex Lacamoire, and the rest of the incredibly talented creative team and actors/actresses in this show leaves the audience in shambles yet still wanting more (and this is just my reaction to the Cast Recording y'all, imagine what will happen when I actually see the show). If you haven't listened to the cast recording you, I suggest you do so right away; but make sure you have a few boxes of tissues near you when you do (here's a link to the Kleenex coupon page). Until then, here are a few of my favorite lyrics from the cast recording, which is available for streaming and purchase in stores and online starting February 24.
1. "Anybody maybe happen to know how the hell to do this?/I don't know if you can tell/But this is me just pretending to know" -Anybody Have a Map?
As a college student about to embark on her first internship this summer, this lyric is an accurate represents of my life.
'Feels' Radar: Don't grab the tissues just yet, but make sure you know where they are.
2. "Waving through a window/Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?" -Waving Through a Window
This song is where the feels start to kick in, and Ben Platt is AMAZING.
'Feels' Radar: Grab the box, but you may not need it (just yet)
3. "All we see is light/'Cause the sun burns bright/We could be alright for forever this way/Two friends/True friends/On a perfect day"-For Forever
I honestly can't believe how awesome this song is. I always find something new every time I listen to it.
'Feels' Radar: Do I even need to say it? Start taking tissues as necessary.
4. "It’s all that it takes/Is a little reinvention/It's easy to change if you give it your attention/All you gotta do is just believe you can be who you want/to be sincerely, me"-Sincerely, Me
This song is perfectly place (in my opinion). Right before the feels start to hit too hard, some comedy interrupts and life is good.
'Feels' Radar: Release the tissues, the only crying you'll do if from laughing.
5. "'Cuz when the villains fall, the kingdoms never weep/No one lights a candle to remember/No, no one mourns at all/They lay them to sleep"-Requiem
AND HERE WE GO WITH THE FEELS! PASEK AND PAUL WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US?! In all seriousness, this song is great and Laura Dreyfuss's voice is wonderful.
'Feels' Radar: Resume crying and tissue holding.
6. "If I could tell her/Tell her everything I see/If I could tell her/How she's everything to me/But we're a million worlds apart/And I don't know how I would even start"-If I Could Tell Her
Ben and Laura are great in this song. You can literally hear the love that Ben's character (Evan) has for Laura's (Zoe) in the lyrics and orchestrations.
'Feels' Radar: You probably won't cry, but you'll make that voice that people do when they see cute babies (or cats) and go "Awwwwww"
7. "No one deserves to be forgotten/No one deserves to fade away/No one should come and go/And have no one know he was ever even here/No one deserves to disappear"-Disappear
This was one of the first songs that I listened to, so essentially this was the one that got me hooked (and off of my 4 month Hamilton streak).
'Feels' Radar: Yup, and your crying again.
8. "When you're falling in a forest/And when you hit the ground/All you need is somebody to find you"-Disappear
This lyric appears in a few songs, and has a new meaning and connotation each time. Some more of Pasek and Paul's incredible genius.
'Feels' Radar: It's the same song as number 8, so yup, and you're still crying .
9. "So let the sun come streaming in/Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again/Lift your head and look around/You will be found"-You Will Be Found
Serious time here (I mean, this whole article is serious, but lets act like I've pulled you aside and am looking you straight in the eyes and telling you this), you have to listen to this song. It's damn near impossible to find anyone on this planet that has never been through anything shitty or is currently going through something rough. This song leaves you with a little more faith in people.
'Feels' Radar: All of them.
10. "You might not think it's worth it/You might begin to doubt/But you can't take any shortcuts/You gotta stick it out/And it's the hard way/But it's the right way/The right way... to break in a glove"-To Break In A Glove
Michael Park (Larry, Connor's Dad) and Ben Platt sing this song and it's just wonderful. You can really see the relationship that has grown between both of their characters.
'Feels' Radar: I'm going to let you judge this one. I was hit with them too hard, but some people may be.
11. "'Cause I've learned to slam on the brake/Before I even turn the key/Before I make the mistake/Before I lead with the worst of me/I never let them see the worst of me"-Words Fail
This is another line that appears in more than one song, and again, it hits you a different way each time.
'Feels' Radar: Tearing up a little bit again.
12. "And the house felt so big, and I felt so small/The house felt so big, and I/And I knew there would be moments that I'd miss/And I knew/There would be space I couldn't fill/And I knew/I'd come up short a million different ways"-So Big/So Small
Rachel Bay Jones is completely perfect in this song. The lyrics are heart wrenching and I'm pretty sure the toughest person on earth would shed a few tears.
'Feels' Radar: The feels will never end. Just accept that.
The Dear Evan Hansen cast recording is one of the best that I've heard in a while. Upon writing this review, I couldn't help but think of the saying, the more you put it, the more you get out, and that is completely true when listening to this cast album. Go into it vulnerable and willing to experience all that the songs will throw at you. I promise that you will not be disappointed.




















