Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tick, Tick…BOOM! is an adaptation of the musical of the same name, and features a terrific soundtrack. The film marks the directorial debut for the Hamilton creator and stars Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson, who is both the creator of the musical and the protagonist of both the musical and the film adaptation. The film adaptation keeps a majority of the songs from the original musical, only cutting a couple of them for time.
The songs in Tick, Tick…BOOM! were all written by the late Jonathan Larson himself. The musical served as a semi-autobiographical recount of his struggles with breaking into the theatre business, while also navigating the hardships of love and the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis, which later inspired his most famous musical, Rent. While Tick, Tick…BOOM! never made it to Broadway, it has garnered a following from Larson’s fan base since his death in 1996. Miranda’s film adaptation recaptures the raw sincerity of Jonathan Larson’s original work, and largely keeps his vision intact in what is a faithful translation of his work to the big screen, not only thanks to Miranda’s direction but also his all-star cast.
The songs of Tick, Tick…BOOM!—both the musical and the film versions—capture a wide variety of different emotions, from more upbeat and lighthearted tracks to more somber and heart-wrenching ones. The melodies of Larson’s songs are catchy, and many are fun to sing, while others make for thought-provoking and reflective character moments throughout that hold just as much impact as the more upbeat musical numbers. Here are each of the 12 songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film adaptation, ranked from worst to best.
12. “Real Life”
While a tragic and haunting track in its own right, “Real Life” just doesn’t have a whole lot of resonance in the film. The song comes in just after Michael (Robin de Jesus) informs Jonathan that he has tested HIV positive. It’s a reflective track, and it works well in the moment, but there isn’t a whole lot to it. Robin de Jesus’ vocals carry the song, but its repetitive lyrics and short runtime hold it back from having the same emotional impact as the rest of the songs in Tick, Tick…BOOM!.
11. “Swimming”
Carried by Andrew Garfield’s powerful vocals and some unique visuals, “Swimming” is a versatile track, and one of the three that were cut from the original musical. This track highlights Larson’s creative struggles as he attempts to write the perfect song for the second act of the musical he is producing. It features a bombastic guitar solo that comes in at the end of the song when Larson finally comes up with the lyrics for the song he’s been trying so hard to write, and it’s a rather powerful moment. It’s not the catchiest song in the film but it’s a memorable one for sure.
10. “Why”
Another song carried by Garfield’s incredible performance and vocals, “Why” recounts the entirety of Jonathan and Michael’s friendship as Jon is processing the tragic news of Michael’s HIV diagnosis. This song really highlights both the performances and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s direction and is a standout in Tick, Tick…BOOM!. However, despite being a pivotal and emotionally-effective moment, the song does overstay its welcome a little bit, and it isn’t quite as memorable as most of the other songs, hence its lower placement.
9. “No More”
One of the more upbeat tracks in Tick, Tick…BOOM!, “No More” is a joyful celebration of Michael’s new life of luxury and is carried on the backs of Robin de Jesus and Andrew Garfield, who have electric chemistry. It’s a silly and relatable number capturing the magic of achieving success and living a life that’s only been a dream until now. It highlights the improvements in Michael’s living conditions and is a nice toe-tapping track, even if it’s a bit slight in comparison to other songs in the film.
8. “Sunday”
Highlighting Lin-Manuel Miranda’s knack for ensemble musical numbers, “Sunday” is a catchy track about the laborious struggles of a diner job and the frustrating customers that come along with it. It’s a hilarious number that anybody who has ever worked in the food industry can relate to in some capacity. It’s also an excellent showcase for Jonathan’s creativity, and how he feels trapped by his routine and wants to break free of it. The song has many layers to it and is among some of the catchier tracks in the film.
7. “Play Game”
Yet another track cut from Larson’s original musical, “Play Game” is possibly the most unique song in Tick, Tick…BOOM!. It’s a hip-hop track sung by Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought) that discusses the game that must be played to get one’s foot in the door, whether it be theatre, music, or otherwise. It’s a short and simple song, but a very catchy and memorable one. Considering Miranda is no stranger to hip-hop tracks, it’s no surprise he wanted to include this song in his film adaptation.
6. “Johnny Can’t Decide”
Placed in a pivotal moment of conflict for Jonathan, “Johnny Can’t Decide” is a resonant number about indecision and choosing what is best for one’s self. Jon’s situation is all too relatable and the song captures the struggle of not knowing which path to go down. Its catchy lyrics and soft melody accompany a compelling conflict of Jonathan’s and is a profound number in Tick, Tick…BOOM!.
5. “Come To Your Senses”
One of the more important numbers in Tick, Tick…BOOM!, “Come to Your Senses” is the big second act number that Jonathan writes for his musical Superbia. Led by tremendous vocals from Vanessa Hudgens and Alexandra Shipp, the song is one of the emotional anchor points of the film, as well as a wonderfully catchy tune in its own right. The song is used to not only show Jonathan’s immense talent but also as a representation for both his love and passion for theatre as well as the love he has for Alexandra Shipp’s Susan, and it’s one of the more powerful songs in the film.
4. “Therapy”
“Therapy” is a song that works on many different levels. It’s an incredibly catchy and charming tune with some hilarious moments, but it’s also a thought-provoking look at communication, particularly in relationships such as Jonathan and Susan’s in Tick, Tick…BOOM!. Andrew Garfield’s performance is top-notch in this scene, expressing many different emotions in this one song while maintaining the comical grin on his face through the whole song. Hudgens does a wonderful job as well, and the two of them make this one of the best and most memorably catchy songs in the entirety of the film.
3. “Louder Than Words”
“Louder Than Words” is the flagship song of Tick, Tick…BOOM! and serves as both the film and the musical’s culmination number. This is the number that brings all of the characters and storylines to a natural conclusion and is a beautiful number to witness. It’s a powerful rumination on the film’s themes of inequality, injustice, creativity, and ambition brings the film to a thoughtful finale.
2. “30/90”
Despite being the very first musical number in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film “30/90” is one of the best and most memorable by the end of the film. Not only a hugely entertaining and catchy track, but a haunting look into Jonathan’s mindset as he is turning 30 and feels that his time to do something great is running out quickly. It sets up Jonathan as a character as well as getting the story of Tick, Tick…BOOM! off to a roaring start, instantly putting the viewer right into his shoes and wanting to know where his story will lead.
1. “Boho Days”
While it’s certainly not one of the flashiest or most profound numbers in Tick, Tick…BOOM!, “Boho Days” is by far the catchiest number in the whole film and does a perfect job at establishing Jonathan’s creative personality and showcasing Garfield’s incredible vocals. Using a cappella rather than instruments, “Boho Days” contains the most endearing and catchy lyrics in all of the film and is Lin-Manuel Miranda at his best, directing the sequence with a ton of energy and style. At first glance it doesn’t appear like much, but this is a beat that won’t be leaving anybody’s head for a long, long time after the credits roll.
