The time has come for another edition of the best and brightest musical numbers from non-musicals. As we all know, TV and film provide ample opportunities for musical numbers where they need not be. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love them. Just because something is unnecessary doesn’t mean it isn’t awesome.
Watch, learn and commit to memory some of these fiery songbirds’ and danceturtles’ hottest moves to bust out the next time you go to the hip and modern discotheque for youths.
1) Tyra Banks tells us to ‘Be a Star’ from the Disney Channel Original Movie Life Size
Tyra taught me if a party is really stinking, what you need to do is ask the band if they can play a theme song to a children’s toy. They won’t know your song but they’ll be able to follow your fabulous lead! Later, be sure to dance with your owner because remember, you are their doll.
2) Protozoa from Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century plays his hit single ‘Zoom Zoom Zoom’
Also, be sure to get a puffer vest, because clearly everyone in the future who lives on space stations wears them. It’s probably super cold in space. Be sure to take notes when Raven dances onstage with Protozoa. Her dance moves are killer and she really knows how to work a tambourine.
3) The Babysitter’s Club saves Claudia from FAILURE with ‘The Center of The Chain’ rap
This rap is excellent to learn in case you ever forget that the brain is indeed the center of the chain.
4) Meryl sings ‘I See Me’ in Death Becomes Her
How can you not love a number that goes from Broadway jazz to Disco and includes waving a boa around? Bruce Willis is right: Meryl is sensational.
5) Kirsten Dunst cheers her top off in Bring it On
If all else fails on the dance floor, just take off your top. If people judge you, pretend it was a total accident. Even though it totally wasn’t!!!
6) ‘Dr. Zaius’ from Planet of the Apes: The Musical from The Simpsons
This musical number totally ruined the original Planet of the Apes for me, but I didn’t even care because this song was so amazing.
7) Stephanie Tanner breaks it down Motown Philly style
8 ) ‘Day by Day’ as performed by the campers in Wet Hot American Summer
Michael Showalter is right about Day Bidet. He’s absolutely right about that ditty.
9) The musical Midsummer Night’s Dream from Get Over It
This movie has Sisqo in it, for God’s sakes. Sisqo. The ‘Thong Song’ guy. If that’s not a great movie, then I don’t know what is.
10) ‘Waterloo’ from Muriel’s Wedding
This is a weird movie, but a good one. I’m not sure where Toni and Rachel found full on ABBA outfits at a resort on the day of the big talent show, but whatever. Good on them.
Wow, loving this! Thanks for bringing back a lot of memories, and introducing me to some new awesome shows!
I LOVE that you chose Day Bidet!!! WHAS is in my top ten fav movies. So amazing!
Don’t forget “Take That” from Teen Witch!
How could you forget Mean girls and the jingle bell musical with the little mama christmas dress ???! That was so funny !
I have always loved Full House’s Motown Philly dance. I taped that episode and taugh myself the dance and was so upset that they didn’t have anymore Stephanie dancing episodes. But I agree with Wyatt…Scrubs was robbed! Too many musical numbers from the episode to even choose!
The brain, the brain, the center of the chain!
Bless you Laura. I still break out into ‘Be a Star” occasionally.
It’s really catchy! I think it’s the least recognizable thing on this list, but I love it.
Zedis Lapedis! I love that Zoom Zoom Zoom is on here! AND Mowtown Philly! AND Day by Day! AND Waterloo! Good stuff.
I just gotta say… It kills that there isnt any Scrubs musical parts on any of these lists… I mean they had the “My Musical” episode made with the help of the Avenue Q guys, Teds Band does countless numbers, when they sing Waiting for my real life to begin, colin hay’s appearances… there is alot of musical brilliance on scrubs!
I remember ALL those Disney movies! Oh my goodness. ZENON?!
WATERLOO! I love that movie AND that number.
Also, I’m pretty sure that in the 90′s I not only did I do a similar dance routine to Stephanie Tanner’s, but that I owned a similar version of her dance outfit (with less skin exposed) in my regular-wear rotation. I’m only mildly ashamed of these facts.
Love MoTown Philly, but this has to be my fave by the Tanner girls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnPQ5ba1gI0
Their number is really amazing.
Anytime I hear anyone say the word zoom, I still think of Zenon. It’s sad, and also highly amusing. Thanks for getting this song stuck in my head =)
You’re very welcome!
Yay! Murial’s Wedding!
I was really surprised at how strange the movie was – but I love it!
FULL HOUSEEEEEE!! ha. i miss my childhood.
The Simpsons has always had some of the best televised musical numbers. How can anyone forget to mention their musical-take on Streetcar Named Desire???
I know! It was really tough to choose just one Simpsons song – maybe I’ll do a top 10 Simpsons musical numbers soon…
ZENON!! And now I’m going to have that song stuck in my head for a week!
Oh my gosh, Get Over It!! I think I still own a VHS copy of that somewhere…of course, I don’t own a VCR so that isn’t helpful. But I loved that movie so much. Even if it was awful. I loved it.
You’ve gotta keep a VCR around for all those classic terrible films!