Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording Act 2 Mini Song Reviews

This is the second part of my last blog post where I wrote mini reviews of each song from Act One of the Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording so make sure to check that out before taking a look at these Act two Reviews.

My Dead Gay Son

Honestly, this isn’t my favourite song on the original American cast album but it is quite funny and I like that it gives Nathan Amzi and Jon Boydon a chance to show their amazing comedic skills and great voices on the album.

Seventeen

More of Carrie and Jamie’s vocals together? Yes please! Again, I actually wouldn’t count Seventeen up there amongst my favourite Heathers songs but I am a big fan of both Carrie and Jamie’s voices (and Barrett Wilbert Weed and Ryan McCartan’s too!) so this is definitely nice to listen to.

Shine a Light

When I saw the show this scene was a particular highlight. The wacky nature of Rebecca Lock’s Ms Fleming and the audience interaction were fantastic. It’s a shame that the audience interaction can’t translate into the album but this song is upbeat and hilarious regardless. Love it!

Lifeboat

Anyone just want to hug McNamara when listening to this song? Sophie Isaacs has a lovely voice so it’s nice that we get her sing on her own solo. I feel like this song can feel quite relatable to many people in school and the violins (please correct me if they’re not violins!) in the music make this sound even more haunting and poignant.

Sine a Light (Reprise)

Yikes, don’t get on Duke’s bad side!

I Say No

NEW SONG Number #3! This is the only song on the album that wasn’t in the show when I saw it and I’m so sad I never got to see this performed live because since its release as a single, it’s my new favourite song! I’ve watched Carrie’s YouTube videos for a long and seen her do a lot of covers so hearing how incredible her voice sounds in this song is weirdly moving. It just feels like she’s come so far to carry a song this big with so much confidence and attack. This is also a great song for anyone in a bad situation to listen to, there’s so much power in saying no sometimes and we should never forget that.

Kindergarten Boyfriend

I’m not crying, you are. This was another scene that stuck out to me when I saw the show as I knew it would from having listened to the original American cast recording. Jenny O’Leary brings so much innocence to the role and her voice is so soft and sweet-sounding that it just suits Martha so well. Again, there aren’t any wild changes from the original but I’d have been really disappointed if there had been, this song is gorgeous and heartbreaking as is and it’s just great to get to see a recording of another singer’s take on it (that’s not to Katie Ladner’s version is subpar in any way, it is equally as stunning).

Yo Girl

I like the inclusion of the “that’s not my handwriting” line, Veronica sounds honestly terrified at this point. Which she probably would be, you know, considering her murderous ex-boyfriend has as-good-as told her she’s his next victim.

Meant to by Yours

Need I say again just how much I love Jamie Muscato’s voice?? This is one of my favourites on the original cast album but I think this version might have overtaken it. Gahh I just love it so so much.

Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)

I’m fan of the “Don’t talk about my mom” line, it seems to give JD a weakness we don’t hear in the original cast album. I also love Carrie’s “yeahyeahyeahhh” in this song.

I Am Damaged

“Please stand back now… little further”, I don’t know why this line always cracks me up but it does. That’s all.

Seventeen (Reprise)

I love this number in the OG recording and I love it in this one. It’s a sweet number that rounds off the show perfectly, or you could say beautifully! Just one thing I wanted to comment on though, I’m glad they changed the “take off our clothes and dance” line to “take off our shoes and dance”, the old lyric just felt a bit sexual and out-of-place for a song that’s about embracing youth and favouring friendship over hatred.

That’s it, that’s my review of the Heathersthe Musical Original West End Cast Recording. I hope you enjoyed my thoughtsand ramblings. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s show is a hilarious satirethat never loses its significance even now, over 30 years since the originalfilm was released. Let’s all just hope Heathers will return to London one day.

Bye for now!