Shrek The Musical Score • Ultimate & Simple

A standard "road trip" montage song made brilliant by its simplicity. Shrek and Donkey are traveling to rescue Fiona. Donkey sings a pop-song climax; Shrek refuses to participate. The genius of the Shrek the Musical score is on display here: the orchestration plays the big finish for Shrek, highlighting his grumpiness without losing momentum.

Arguably the most purely "show-tune" moment. Lord Farquaad’s anthem is a nightmarishly chipper 1960s corporate recruitment video set to music. With lyrics like "You’ll go far in Duloc / If you’re bland, beige, and gelded," it perfectly satirizes totalitarianism and suburban conformity. The choreography (saluting, marching, smiling) is baked into the orchestration. Shrek the musical score

A duet that redefines "competition." Shrek and Fiona argue over who had a worse childhood by belching and farting on stage. Musically, it is a waltz with heavy brass accents. It is crude, juvenile, and utterly sincere. The melody is beautiful, which makes the flatulence jokes land harder because they contrast with the elegant composition. A standard "road trip" montage song made brilliant

David Lindsay-Abaire’s lyrics are the perfect partner to Tesori’s music. He manages to balance laugh-out-loud rhymes with poignant sentimentality. In "Freak Flag," the rousing Act Two finale for the fairy tale creatures, the lyrics celebrate the bizarre and the marginalized. It is a classic "I am what I am" anthem, delivered with a driving rock beat that empowers the outcasts. The genius of the Shrek the Musical score