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My Definitive* Ranking of the Nerdy Prudes Must Die Soundtrack

*This is purely opinion based and I am very biased.

1. Just For Once

Call me a simp for Lauren Lopez, but I love every performance she does. The Barbeque Monologue and Ruthie’s own wants and desires mesh perfectly, to the point that it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. This song felt kinda personal to me (I totally cried during my first watch of the show) and her “I used to dance” felt like a punch in the gut. Lauren Lopez, a middle aged woman, manages to play a convincing teenager who just so happens to be acting the part of a middle aged woman so well. I love her.

2. Nerdy Prudes Must Die

This song is, by far, one of the best songs on the album. I know everyone has talked about Ritchie’s “I’m not a loser” but, like, that IS the highlight of the song. I absolutely love the vocals from both Jon and Will. This, to me, is the best way to end the first act. It totally sets up Max’s motives and turns him into a true villain (to me at least).

3. Hatchet Town

At first, it kinda bugged me that the proshot and the album had different lines, but that didn’t stop me from squealing and kicking my feet whenever they referenced Gerald and Man in a Hurry. The whole song is so catchy and ear-wormy; I love it so much. My favorite part is Bryce’s solo, because, WOW, she can sing.

4. The Summoning

It’s a fan favorite for a reason. “Hello, fwendy wends” Like, :0. This is very much a plot driving song but that does not make it any less of a hit. It can get annoying if I listen to it too much, but I never skip it on my playlists.

5. Dirty Girl

Okay, hear me out. This song gets a bad rap because it is a little weird and makes some people uncomfortable. However, that is literally the point of the song! It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable! Let’s just appreciate Angela and Will’s amazing performance, and if you hate the song, die mad about it.

6. Dirty Dudes Must Die

Once again, Angela just blows me away with her performance. I still don’t understand the RANGE she has. The parallels! Between Grace and Max! Ugh, I love Grace as a character, and this sums her up perfectly.

7. Cool As I Think I Am (Reprise)

I really only put this here for the shift from Cool As I Think I Am to If I Loved You. It is a good storytelling song and I cried when I heard it.

8. Literal Monster

I think this is supposed to be the villain song, but on the same level as Meet the Plastics in Mean Girls. Ya hear me?

9. If I Loved You

I’m not going to lie, when I heard this song while watching the proshot, I was on my phone for some of it. There wasn’t much that interested me. Needless to say, the chorus gets stuck in my head from time to time. I like the way Cool As I Think I Am (Reprise) re-arranged it.

10. High School is Killing Me

”I’m deeeeeead”. I still laugh a little when I hear this. Musically, it is not my favorite, but it’s a good song. All of the songs are great; I just like some more than others.

11. Bury the Bully, and 12. Bully the Bully

There’s not much that I want to say except that Angela’s little spins bring me joy.

13. Cool As I Think I Am

I just don’t enjoy self deprecating songs. Plus, I don’t think this song shows off Joey’s vocals that greatly.

14. Go Go Nighthawks

I understand this song is necessary for plot purposes, so that makes it full of exposition, which kinda takes me out of it.

15. The Best of You

It sound like it is trying to be a pop-punk song, but these are theatre people; it’s not going to sound the same

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