Every song from The Greatest Showman ranked from great to greatest

There’s simply not a bad song on this soundtrack – but which one soars highest?

Movie musicals of the modern age have been hit and miss, but a few stand up there with the best of eras gone by. A shining example is 2017’s The Greatest Showman, which succeeded not only because of its stellar cast, but an infectious pop-infused soundtrack from Pasek and Paul. With Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular opening this month in an immersive setting at London’s Empress Museum, audiences will now have a chance to experience the songs from the original film as they soundtrack a brand-new story, with a cast of professional circus performers delivering some jaw-dropping action. Ahead of the show’s opening, we’ve ranked all nine songs (not including reprises) from the film – and we’re sorry, but something had to start us off…

9. ‘Come Alive’

It’s not an exaggeration to say that The Greatest Showman doesn’t have a bad song in it. Pasek and Paul’s soundtrack is tightly constructed, with no room for filler, which is one of the reasons that the film manages a tight 105 minutes – impressive for a musical, particularly one that delivers so many hits. ‘Come Alive’ does exactly what it needs to do, introducing Barnum’s circus in its early iteration and giving the performers an opportunity to find their footing onstage, but set against the film’s other rousing ensemble numbers it doesn’t stand a chance.

8. ‘The Other Side’

Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron’s duet is incredibly fun, and the urgency of the conversational verses makes for compelling listening. The chorus doesn’t pack quite the same punch as most of the film’s other numbers, though, and whilst the number soars on screen with fantastic choreography from Ashley Warren, it isn’t the album’s best moment. A special mention has to go to the two vocalists haggling their way through the bridge, though.

7. ‘The Greatest Show’

About as rousing an introduction as could be hoped for. ‘The Greatest Show’ might not quite reach the heights of some of the film’s later offerings, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to do: prepare us for a stellar show. Hugh Jackman’s vocal performance is fantastic here, providing so much momentum, and it’s got an earworm of a chorus.

6. ‘Rewrite The Stars’

Probably the most unapologetically pop number on the soundtrack, Zac Efron and Zendaya’s duet is a sparkly, romantic offering with great vocal performances from both. The lyricism is simple in a way that fully works to the song’s advantage, as the two characters finally speak clearly and openly with each other about the obstacles facing their relationship. It’s definitely elevated by the film’s ariel choreography, but on the album it more than holds its own.

5. ‘Tightrope’

The Greatest Showman’s quietest moment, ‘Tightrope’ is a delicate musing on love and sacrifice, with an underrated chorus melody that Michelle Williams more than does justice to. The orchestrations are wonderful; a gorgeous blend of lush strings with elements of pop production – the musical walks the line (sorry) between the two worlds throughout, and that tension is beautifully exemplified here.

4. ‘A Million Dreams’

An exemplary ‘I want’ song, ‘A Million Dreams’ serves as the basis for a huge love story montage in the film. Taken alone, it’s still a very strong number, thanks in large part to the simple but stirring chorus melody. Ziv Zaifman charms as a young Hugh Jackman with a rich, emotive lead vocal, before Jackman eventually picks up the torch himself. It’s a treacly sweet number, but in the very best way, folding us into the embrace of a story and album that offers pure feel-good escapism.

3. ‘Never Enough’

Loren Allred lends her voice to Rebecca Furguson’s character here, for what is framed in the film as a glorious opera performance. Some suspension of disbelief is obviously required, but Pasek and Paul actually do a wonderful job of conveying the pomp and emotion of an aria in this dramatic pop ballad, and Allred is of course spectacular. The orchestrations are absolutely drenched in strings, but it’s somehow never too much, and the overall effect is dazzling.

2. ‘From Now On’

It’s got the best lyricism on the soundtrack, but ‘From Now On’ still only manages to be the second-best chorus number – pipped to the post by the obvious. Still, whilst it isn’t quite as infectious as our top pick, it’s still hugely anthemic. The folky twist on the instrumental offers a different sound than we’ve heard previously and the closing chant – “And we will come back home, home again” – is damn near impossible not to tap a foot to.

1. ‘This Is Me’

It had to be number one. The impact of ‘This Is Me’ goes far beyond The Greatest Showman – in the years since the film’s release, all kinds of individuals and communities have adopted the song, and understandably so. It’s about as rousing a self-love anthem as has ever been written. Broadway’s finest Keala Settle delivers the lead vocal here – doesn’t she just – attacking a note in the song’s bridge that has since been attempted by many but never quite replicated. ‘This Is Me’ does exactly what The Greatest Showman was written to do, in that it doesn’t just straddle the line between pop and musical theatre but sits quite happily in either category. It’s pure joy.