Theatre
By Numbers
The Devil Wears Prada By Numbers: Every song in the stage musical
Here’s your breakdown of every song on The Devil Wears Prada soundtrack
When Anna Wintour calls a show “entertaining and fun,” you know you’re in for a treat. The Devil Wears Prada has only been in the West End for a year, but already it’s one of London’s favourite shows – hardly a surprise, given it’s based on the beloved 2006 film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway (as well as the 2003 book by Lauren Weisberger) and boasts Elton John as its composer. It’s as slick and stylish as you’d expect, perfectly housed in the luxurious Dominion Theatre.
If you’re seeing the show for the first time and want to learn the ropes before you find yourself face to face with Miranda Priestly, or you’ve been left wondering which tune keeps bouncing around your brain, we’re here to help. Here’s your breakdown of every song in The Devil Wears Prada.
‘I Mean Business’
In the show’s opening number we meet Andy Sachs, a down on her luck writer who’s running all over New York looking for a job. Originally hoping to land a position at a ‘serious’ publication, she’ll now settle for anything – which is how she’s ended up rushing off for an interview at Runway magazine. ‘I Mean Business’ introduces her as someone who doesn’t give up easily – a quality she’ll need to draw on as the story progresses.
Key lyric: “I wanna write the kind of stories that define a generation”
‘House Of Miranda’
Here we meet the show’s antagonist – or perhaps ‘anti-hero’ is a better term. The alluring, all-powerful Miranda Priestly has final say on everything at Runway, and we see her calming flexing her power in her introductory number. She’s evidently brilliant at what she does, but she’s also completely cutthroat. It doesn’t matter though – we’re still enthralled by her.
Key lyric: “If you can handle the standards here/Your status stays in the stratosphere”
‘I Only Love You For Your Body’
When the environment at Runway starts to wear on Andy’s self-esteem, her boyfriend Nate is there to reassure her that she doesn’t need to adhere to the magazine’s harsh standards of beauty. In this tongue-in-cheek duet, the couple sing about how their relationship is entirely shallow and superficial, whilst demonstrating exactly the opposite.
Key lyric: “I’m not with you for your brilliant mind/I only love you for your body”
‘How To Survive At Runway’
Miranda’s first assistant, Emily, gives Andy the rundown on how to make it through working for the queen of Runway. In short, it involves having no personal life, putting out twenty fires a day, and doing everything you’re told without asking questions. With eight assistants having failed before Andy, the pressure for her to succeed rests on Emily’s shoulders too, and her adjustment is tense for both of them. Still, the promise of Paris Fashion Week makes it all worth it for Emily.
Key lyric: “As soon as your arrive/You better commit your life to it, that’s how you survive”
‘Girl For The Job’
Humiliated by Miranda and feeling like a failure, Andy considers quitting. The thought of giving everyone the satisfaction gives her pause, though. Ultimately, she decides to stick it out for a year and use the experience and connections to move on to something better.
Key lyric: “I’ll give a thousand percent now/And show that insufferable snob/That out of the million girls who would kill for it/She got the best damn girl for the job”
‘In Or Out – Pt 1’
The other employees at Runway discuss Andy, but decide she’s too low on the ladder for them to pay her much attention. As time continues, though, they begin to be a little impressed that she’s lasting in the role. Meanwhile, Andy, whilst running errands for Miranda, meets writer Christan Thompson, whose work she has long admired. A call from Miranda brings her down from her high – she has to find a way to work around Miranda’s cancelled flight. The chorus of Runway employees taunt her as she tries and fails to get Miranda home, irritating Nate in the process.
Key lyric: “Are you the hot new thing or is your spot in doubt?/Are you in or out?”
‘Dress Your Way Up’
After a conversation with Nigel prompts her to stop feeling sorry for herself and make the best of her role at Runway, Andy enlists him to help her revamp her image. Nigel sings about how dressing the part isn’t a shallow act, but a smart professional move that will help Andy get what she wants.
Key lyric: “If you’re so damn smart, then start looking the part”
‘In Or Out – Pt 2’
Miranda gives Andy an impossible task – acquiring an unpublished manuscript for her twins. As the chorus resume their earlier taunt, we’re able to see that the connections Andy’s been making are paying dividends. When Andy makes it work, the rest of Runway is agreed – she’s going up in the world.
Key lyric: “She can handle the standards here/She’s in”
‘The Devil Wears Prada’
On fashion’s biggest night, Miranda introduces the theme of the event and revels in her ‘devilish’ reputation. Everyone agrees that it doesn’t matter how awful she is to her employees when she’s this much of a success.
Key lyric: “’Cause hell is a runway/Where the Devil wears Prada”
‘Miranda Girl’
With Emily ill and underperforming, Miranda invites Andy to Paris instead. Andy deliberates, unsure if she’s capable of stealing the opportunity from Emily, or even of surviving Paris Fashion Week at all. Eventually she reasons that this sort of thing is exactly what she’s here to do – so that she can move up in the world and eventually land the sort of journalism work she came to New York to find. She’s going to fully commit to being a ‘Miranda Girl’ and take what she wants.
Key lyric: “Miranda Girls get access/Miranda Girls call shots/Miranda Girls don’t tie themselves in moralistic knots”
‘Bon Voyage’
With Emily lying in hospital after an accident, Andy visits and breaks the news. Emily sarcastically wishes her luck in Paris. After Andy leaves and Emily takes her medication, her rage increases, and she reflects on how Andy will never appreciate this opportunity like she would have.
Key lyric: “The thing that really makes me go ballistic/The thing that makes me tear out my hair/Is the girl that will sit front row at Dior/Is the girl who still pretends she doesn’t care”
‘The Old You’
Nate confronts Andy about the state of their relationship and points out the fact that they’ve been slowly drifting apart since her new job took over their life. He asks for the old Andy back, if she hasn’t grown out of their relationship for good.
Key lyric: “I miss the girl who used to use a two-in-one shampoo/I miss the old you”
‘City Of Dreams’
With her personal life in turmoil and colleagues threatening to stab her in the back, Miranda greets Paris and takes comfort in her history with the city. Nigel joins her in a duet about the possibilities that Paris promises.
Key lyric: “The seasons not as tragic as it seems/When we’re in Paris, the city of dreams”
‘Who’s She’
Swept up in the excitement of Paris Fashion Week, Andy starts to feel like a brand-new version of herself. Finally completely confident in her role, she’s beginning to find the designer clothes and VIP treatment more seductive than she anticipated – and Nate is far from her mind.
Key lyric: “I catch myself in the limelight and I’m like/Damn, who’s she?”
‘Seen’
Nigel reflects on growing up gay in Kalamazoo and finding comfort in fashion. The first edition of Runway he ever picked up made him feel that there was a community out there that understood him. Now crowned ‘prince’ to Miranda’s queen, he feels he has a sure foothold in the world. Even if Miranda uses him to get ahead, he considers it all worth it.
Key lyric: “But it’s worth all the stress, it’s worth every cost/If a copy of Runway finds a boy who feels lost”
‘Your Twenties’
As Andy spends her night off with Christian at a Parisian club, a jazz singer performs this swinging ode to being in your twenties, reminding both Andy and the audience that she’s still got plenty of time to figure it all out.
‘Stay On Top’
Alert to a plot to overthrow her as editor-in-chief of Runway, Miranda hatches a plan to keep her throne. She doesn’t care if it involves hanging one of her oldest friends out to dry, or if it means she’s left standing alone at the top. She refuses to age out of her power or retire quietly as others might want her to do – she’ll stay on top, whatever it takes.
Key lyric: “Ruthless is the way that one survives for all these years”
‘What’s Right For Me’
After Miranda betrays Nigel to hold onto power herself, Andy’s mind is made up – this is not an environment she wants to stay in. She was briefly seduced by the glamour, but that’s over now, and she’s ready to walk away and do what’s best for her. She returns home to work things out with Nate – and gets a pleasant surprise when she learns that Miranda has given her a good recommendation for the job she’s applying for.
Key lyric: “What if I had to sell my soul to see/What’s right for me?”
The Devil Wears Prada is currently playing at the Dominion Theatre – find tickets here
