[2026] Iconic musical numbers: from the latest releases to timeless classics!

Circle of LifeElton John

The Lion King – Circle of Life | Musical Awards Gala 2018

It’s no exaggeration to say that “Circle of Life” is one of the most famous songs in musical history.

Mention the opening number of The Lion King and everyone knows what you mean.

In Japan, the Shiki Theatre Company’s production also made major headlines and remains fresh in people’s memories.

While “Circle of Life” is the signature song of The Lion King, it’s surprisingly not widely known that Elton John composed it.

The song was even nominated for a Grammy Award! Knowing this history can make it sound different when you listen to it, can’t it?

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yamamoto

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UnderpressureQueen

Under Pressure – Queen – We Will Rock You Musical

We Will Rock You is a musical that makes lavish use of Queen’s legendary hits as numbers throughout the show.

It’s an SF story set in a future where rock no longer exists, following two young protagonists on the run.

The song used in the scene where the two leads meet is Under Pressure, the iconic duet between Freddie Mercury and his close friend David Bowie.

In the musical, you can enjoy it as a male–female duet! It’s so incredibly cool that it’s guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Jesus Christ SuperstarJOSH YOUNG

Jesus Christ Superstar | 2012 Tony Awards

This is Josh Young, a Tony Award nominee, singing.

His powerful vocals suit this song perfectly.

He may look small, but he seems to command the stage, and it makes me want to hear his other songs, too.

The work is apparently a rock musical depicting Christ.

This song has also become extremely famous.

If I Can’t Love HerThomas Hampson

Beauty and The Beast: “If I Can’t Love Her” (The Beast)

In the musical anime Beauty and the Beast, the Beast sings If I Can’t Love Her, known in Japanese as Aisenu Naraba.

Just the title alone is enough to bring tears to your eyes.

It conveys the Beast’s heartrending struggle—cursed by magic, yearning for love, and fumbling awkwardly in his pain.

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Murakami Shinpei

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I won’t grow upPeter Pan

Peter Pan – I Won’t Grow Up

The musical of Disney’s Peter Pan.

Peter Pan takes the children to Neverland.

The children are singing, “We’ll never grow up!” It’s a humorous song that expresses the hearts of children, and the group chorus is powerful.

Somewhere Over the RainbowJudy Garland

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – The Wizard of Oz (1/8) Movie CLIP (1939) HD

The story woven by its translucent melody gently envelops our yearning for a utopia.

First introduced in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, this piece has since been sung by many artists not only as a number within the film, but as a standalone work.

Its heartwarming melody—familiar to almost everyone—and lyrics that portray a young girl’s pure wish for her dreams to come true speak to our hearts, giving us courage and strength.

It’s a song we highly recommend when you want to feel calm or are ready to take a new step forward.

Fate of the StarsHamada Megumi, Akutsu Yoichiro

Aida ~ Destiny of the Stars (Written in the Stars) music

Aida is a work that portrays the tragic love between the Egyptian general Radames and Aida, the princess of an enemy nation.

Although it’s a Disney musical, the story and music are actually something I’d recommend to adults.

In particular, the song “The Gods Love Nubia” showcases breathtaking vocal power.