Nothing screams, "Epic," like a villain song. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most entertaining songs performed by antagonists in live-action movies.
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00:00-"Why so silent, good monsieur?"
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most entertaining songs performed by antagonists in live-action movies.
00:12We're not including anti-heroes, since they deserve a list of their own.
00:16-"All we ask is ein bisschen Verständnis, a little understanding."
00:23Number 30, brush up your Shakespeare, Kiss Me Kate.
00:27-"Is the poet people call, the Bard of Stratford-on-Avon."
00:33Kiss Me Kate follows two divorced thespians who find themselves acting in a musical version of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
00:40As you might guess, the events of the movie itself turn into a reimagining of the famous play.
00:45Gangster duo Slug and Lippy may not feature in the original, but they make their mark on this retelling.
00:50-"And if still to be shocked she pretends well, just remind her that all's well that ends well.
00:57Brush up your Shakespeare, and they'll all kowtow."
01:03The two heavies are hired to collect a gambling debt from leading man Fred, but it's nothing personal, they're just doing their job.
01:09They even find time to give some relationship advice.
01:12Brush Up Your Shakespeare is an entertaining duet, featuring clever wordplay and performed with roguish charm.
01:19-"And they'll all kowtow." -"Bing stow!"
01:22-"And they'll all kowtow." -"I trow!"
01:25-"And they'll all kowtow!"
01:31-"I spelt it!"
01:32Number 29, One More Angel in Heaven, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
01:38-"Father, we've something to tell you, a story of our time."
01:46Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's colorful musical transforms the biblical story of Joseph
01:51into an imaginative journey through an array of musical styles.
01:54Joseph's jealous brothers get a few tunes between them, including a Calypso-style number and a French-inspired ballad.
02:01However, it's One More Angel in Heaven that really shows off their villainous credentials.
02:05-"Joseph will never forget you. It's not what we're gonna get by."
02:13After selling their sibling into slavery and faking his death,
02:17the brothers return to their father to break the bad news.
02:20Reuben takes the lead, spinning a farcical tale of Joseph's final hours.
02:24Darkly comic with country-western stylings, it's a fun bit of dramatic irony ending in a full-on hoedown.
02:32Number 28, Stepsisters Lament, Cinderella.
02:48There are some great songs in this rendition of the classic fairy tale,
02:51and the stepsisters get one of the catchiest.
03:02-"So why is Othello going crazy?"
03:05Natalie Dessel and Vianne Cox are a great comic foil to Brandy's sugar-sweet Cinderella.
03:10Their lament could be straight out of a pantomime. It's suitably petty and very funny, too.
03:15The duet is just too catchy to let go.
03:18-"Why would Othello want a girl like her? A girl who's merely lovely.
03:23Why can't Othello ever once prefer a girl who's merely me?"
03:28We also can't ignore Bernadette Peter's scene-stealing turn as the wicked stepmother.
03:32She puts a bitter spin on a lovelorn ballad from another Rodgers and Hammerstein musical,
03:37resulting in another fantastic villain song, Falling in Love with Love.
03:42-"I fell in love with love, with love everlasting. But love fell out with me."
03:58Number 27, I'm Just Ken, Barbie.
04:02Ken surprised us all by becoming the main antagonist of the Barbie movie.
04:05Like many of the best villains, he almost stole the show.
04:09-"Doesn't seem to matter what I do. I'm always number two. No one knows how hard I tried."
04:21After taking a trip to the real world, Barbie's boyfriend discovers the patriarchy
04:25and returns to Barbieland ready to rally his fellow Kens.
04:29But the Barbies fight back, resulting in an existential crisis for the Kens and their leader.
04:34-"Anywhere else I'd be a tent, is it my destiny to live and die a life of grand fragility?"
04:46I'm Just Ken is one of the movie's best bits, and Ryan Gosling really gives it his all,
04:51impressing with both his vocal and comedic talents.
04:54The tune was even nominated for an Academy Award,
04:57and Gosling's live performance was a highlight of the ceremony.
05:01-"I'm just Ken, and I'm enough. And I'm great at doing stuff.
05:08Say hey, check me out, yeah, I'm just Ken."
05:13Number 26, Whatever Lola Wants, Damn Yankees.
05:17-"Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. And little man, little Lola wants you."
05:30You might be surprised to learn this familiar tune originated
05:35as a villain song in the musical Damn Yankees.
05:38The movie's take on the tale of Faust follows Washington Senators fan Joe,
05:42who sells his soul to Satan for the chance of victory for his team.
05:46Gwen Verdon reprised her stage role as Lola for the film.
05:49-"Hello, Joe. It's me."
05:54Her character is a servant of the devil,
05:56sent to entice the hero with the aid of feminine wiles and Bob Fosse's choreography.
06:01Her sultry solo, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross,
06:04became the movie's most memorable moment.
06:06-"I always get what I aim for. And your heart and soul is what I came for."
06:20Number 25, Meet the Plastics, Mean Girls.
06:23-"My name is Regina George. And I am a massive deal."
06:34The Mean Girls remake was met with lukewarm reviews by critics and audiences,
06:38but it justified its existence thanks to a serious star turn from Renee Rapp.
06:43Rachel McAdams was iconic as the original leader of the Plastics,
06:47but Rapp remakes Regina George in her own image.
06:50Her musical introduction tells us all we need to know about the character.
06:54-"I don't care who you are. I don't care how you feel."
07:08The satirical lyrics are sharp, funny, and totally over-the-top.
07:12Rapp has the charisma to carry them off and make us believe that Regina would rule the school.
07:18In the reprise, World Burn, she reminds us of her power and really gets to show off her vocals.
07:31Number 24, Gaston, Beauty and the Beast.
07:35Gaston is the kind of musical number that made us believe
07:37Beauty and the Beast would make a great live-action musical.
07:48It's a raucous drinking song with plenty of room for dancing and spectacle.
07:55It also places the villain front and center,
07:57revealing that despite his brutality and his shallow nature, he's adored by the villagers.
08:02This comes in useful later on, when he rallies the mob for another great villain song.
08:07-"Call it war, call it threat. You can bet they all will follow.
08:10For in times like this, they'll do just as I say."
08:14In the 2017 film, Gaston is played by Luke Evans,
08:18while Josh Gad is his singing sidekick LeFou.
08:21The dastardly duo are perfect for their roles,
08:23and you can just tell that they're having loads of fun.
08:37Number 23, Marley and Marley, The Muppet Christmas Carol.
08:52In Charles Dickens' famous festive tale,
08:54Scrooge was visited by four spirits on Christmas Eve.
08:57In The Muppets' version, it's five,
08:59thanks to the casting of Statler and Waldorf as Scrooge's former business partners.
09:04Every tune in The Muppet Christmas Carol is a banger.
09:07We also love Scrooge's introduction,
09:09but Marley and Marley has everything you could want from a villain song.
09:22The heckling Marley brothers sing Scrooge a musical warning that will make adults laugh,
09:26and very possibly give the kids nightmares.
09:29Paul Williams' lyrics provoke both thoughts and chuckles,
09:32while the whole atmosphere is wonderfully spooky.
09:37Number 22, Poor Unfortunate Souls, The Little Mermaid.
09:49The live-action version might not live up to the 1989 classic,
09:53but Poor Unfortunate Souls would be a great song in any context.
09:57The stunningly beautiful song is a perfect fit for the Christmas carol.
10:02Ursula's solo is a seductive sales pitch,
10:04glamorizing the life she could offer Ariel and minimizing the cost.
10:32Howard Ashman's lyrics are whip-smart and wryly funny.
10:40Melissa McCarthy pays homage to the vaudevillian panache of the Pat Carroll original,
10:44while also putting her own stamp on the material.
10:54Number 21, Reviewing the Situation, Oliver.
11:01Lionel Bart's classic musical softened the character of Charles Dickens' Fagin.
11:16It turned him from an out-and-out villain into a lovable rogue,
11:20and ironed out some of the more problematic elements of his characterization.
11:32There's no denying Fagin's still a bad guy, but he's also the best bit of the movie,
11:39and can boast three of the show's best songs.
11:42Pick a Pocket or Two might be the catchiest, but Reviewing the Situation is Fagin's monologue.
12:02The audience gets a glimpse into the inner workings of his wicked mind as he weighs his options.
12:07Is it time to go straight, or should he continue to smile and be a villain?
12:11Number 20, A Professional Pirate, Muppet Treasure Island.
12:31Tim Curry as Long John Silver in a Muppet movie? It's a recipe for success.
12:36The recipe wouldn't be complete without a villain song,
12:39and thankfully, A Professional Pirate marks the spot.
12:51The only downside is that it's Mr. Silver's only number.
12:54Whereas Jim sees pirates as irredeemable murderers,
12:58Silver and his crew have a different perspective.
13:00This is reflected through the jolly lyrics and upbeat melody reminiscent of a classic sea shanty.
13:10The song captures the camaraderie, pride, and thirst for adventure that come with being a pirate,
13:19practically convincing the audience to enlist.
13:21And since Silver's crew has a member named Black-Eyed Pea, he naturally gets a solo.
13:31Carried by Curry's unmatched charisma and the Muppet's satirical wit,
13:34it is definitely a contender.
13:37Number 19, Every Little Piece, Pete's Dragon.
13:40With a top hat, a goatee, and devious name,
13:44Dr. Terminus makes it no secret to the audience that he is the bad guy.
13:49Of course, the lack of subtlety is part of what makes this villain so fun.
13:59Along with his assistant Hoagie, Terminus plots to slice Pete the Dragon up
14:03and sell him piece by piece for an enormous profit.
14:07Jeez, when you think about it, this is actually a pretty gruesome plan.
14:11But the song appropriately keeps in tune with the film's lighthearted tone.
14:27The number conveys just how much Terminus enjoys being wicked,
14:31practically salivating over every dragon part and every pound of money.
14:35Terminus and Hoagie are like two kids in a candy store,
14:38or a severed dragon part store in this case.
14:52Director Alan Parker's debut feature takes an original approach to the gangster genre,
14:56casting an ensemble of child actors against a prohibition backdrop.
15:00Bugsy Malone combines the grit of a mob picture with the charm of an elaborate school play.
15:05The music of Paul Williams also strikes just the right chord, particularly Bad Guys.
15:19Life could have taken Fat Sam Stacchetto's gang down many routes,
15:22but crime was their natural calling.
15:25With a spring in every step and every lyric,
15:27the song finds the middle ground between being a wise guy and being a smartass,
15:31demonstrating how going bad can feel so good.
15:47By the end, though, you may find that these bad guys are not so rotten after all.
15:52Maybe they just need a little love.
15:57Not many would think to center a lavish musical number around an organization as infamous as the Spanish Inquisition,
16:12but if there's one thing Mel Brooks is known for, it's tackling taboo subject matter with a smile.
16:17The Inquisition borrows notes from the likes of Busby Berkeley and Esther Williams,
16:29although the setting is grimier than what you'd usually see in one of their pictures.
16:34The torture devices are cleverly integrated into the choreography, as painful as they may look.
16:47The shocking imagery is balanced out by the irony that Brooks himself is Jewish,
16:57and the true target of ridicule is the Inquisition.
17:00The Inquisition, fortunately, isn't here to stay,
17:03but this tune will not be leaving your head anytime soon.
17:17Many would describe Scott Pilgrim as an underrated comedy and comic book adaptation.
17:25We'd go as far as to say that it's also an underrated musical.
17:34Even if it doesn't quite fall under that genre, music plays an integral role.
17:38Performed by Matthew Patel, one of Ramona's seven evil exes,
17:42this song gives Scott a taste of the insanity he'll have to endure to be with his dream girl.
17:48Keeping with the film's video game theme,
17:55you can totally imagine a song like this popping up in a boss battle.
17:58Slick also wouldn't feel out of place in a Bollywood number.
18:10Patel may have fireballs and vampiric backup dancers, but Scott proves slicker in combat.
18:16We just wish all the other exes got a song.
18:29While not everyone is a fan of Russell Crowe's singing voice,
18:33Stars remains a pivotal number in the stunning adaptation of Les Misérables.
18:37Crowe plays Javert, a police inspector hell-bent on recapturing Jean Valjean.
18:42This understated song provides greater insight into his obsession.
18:46In Javert's eyes, Jean Valjean is a fugitive following in Lucifer's footsteps.
18:51Meanwhile, Javert views himself as a righteous man carrying out God's will.
18:55Looking down on the city from a steep ledge, he vows to put Jean Valjean back behind bars.
19:00From the doorway to paradise,
19:04that those who falter and those who fall must pay the price.
19:12Throughout the film, Javert begins to see that matters aren't so black and white.
19:16Once his ethics are called into question, however, he isn't sure how to live with himself.
19:20Shall his crimes be reprieved?
19:33Directed by Julie Taymor, this jukebox musical interprets several Beatle songs
19:37through a unique lens. For example, John Lennon wrote I Want You for Yoko Ono.
19:42In the film, the song goes from a man longing for a woman to Uncle Sam wanting to enlist Max.
19:51With the draft still in effect, it doesn't matter what Max wants. It goes to show that
20:00music can take on numerous different meanings. The same can be said about figures like Uncle Sam.
20:13To many, he's a symbol of strength and inspiration. To a reluctant draftee under the influence like
20:19Max, he's a horrifying poster child for war. The nightmare fuel just keeps coming as Max
20:24is confronted by stone-faced army recruiters on a conveyor belt of madness.
20:41Hit it! This is a very sensitive subject.
20:50Dr. Evil hates Austin Powers about as much as he adores Mini-Me.
20:54In this scene, the Doctor celebrates his archenemy's capture while also embracing
20:58his pint-sized clone. As a follow-up to their One of Us piano duet,
21:02Dr. Evil and Mini-Me perform a rendition of Just the Two of Us.
21:09Parodying Will Smith's 1997 version, Dr. Evil raps about his relationship with his son Scott.
21:15Unlike Will Smith, though, Dr. Evil isn't exactly proud of his boy. As a matter of fact,
21:21Scotty's only second best compared to Mini-Me. The number showcases the villain's eccentric side
21:26while also delving into his complicated family life. Plus, who knew Mini-Me could hit such a low note?
21:32This is an epic villain song worthy of an epic final showdown. This comedy builds to a literal
21:39battle of the bands between our heroes and Satan, who is cleverly played by legendary rocker Dave Grohl.
22:01Tenacious D has their work cut out for them, as Satan has reclaimed the pick of destiny.
22:14Satan puts the pedal to the heavy metal with his drums, a guitar, and profanity in spades.
22:20He may have the powers of hell, but Tenacious D's music is full of soul.
22:32This still isn't enough to save Cage from a dismal fate, but Jable's guitar is.
22:37Knocking off part of Satan's horn, the Prince of Darkness is dragged back to hell.
22:41Now that is what we call an epic final bow.
22:4811. I Want It Now – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
22:59We know the internet has unofficially dubbed Grandpa Joe this film's true villain,
23:03but I've Got a Golden Ticket just doesn't strike us as a villain song.
23:07I Want It Now, on the other hand, matches Veruca Salt's antagonistic nature to a T.
23:18The song has become something of an anthem for bratty children, and, let's be honest,
23:24bratty adults. We've all met somebody spoiled to the core who demands instant gratification.
23:29As obnoxious as those people can be, Veruca's signature song doesn't become annoying,
23:35at least not to the audience.
23:36I want today, I want tomorrow, I want to wear them like braids in my hair,
23:43and I don't want to share them!
23:45This is thanks to the inviting set design, the humorous lyrics,
23:48and actress Julie Dawn Cole, who filmed the scene on her 13th birthday.
23:53Of course, nobody's complaining when Veruca gets the shoot.
23:56Don't care how, I want it now!
24:10Out of context, Tomorrow Belongs to Me may not sound like a villain song.
24:14On its own, you might be tricked into thinking
24:17that it's an uplifting tune about today's youth building a better tomorrow.
24:27Watching Cabaret, all seems innocent enough as a youthful voice is heard and others watch
24:39in delight. Once it's revealed that the singer is wearing a Hitler Youth uniform,
24:43the song immediately goes from happy to horrifying.
24:47What's even more disturbing is what almost everyone in attendance,
24:51children included, begins to proudly sing along.
24:56When the world is mine, tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs to me!
25:11To them, Hitler isn't a monster, but a triumphant leader.
25:14For modern audiences, it can feel like gazing into a parallel universe.
25:19Unfortunately, this song accurately mirrors one of the darkest chapters in human history.
25:26Tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs to me!
25:33You still think you're in control?
25:38Whichever adaptation of Annie you prefer,
25:40most would agree that you cannot top Carol Burnett as Miss Agatha Hannigan.
25:45Burnett showcases why she was born for this role through her performance of Little Girls.
25:50Little girls, little girls, everywhere I turn, I can see them.
25:59Cruel and constantly drunk on the job, Hannigan isn't fit to run an orphanage.
26:04Yet Burnett's comedic timing makes the character lovable and even relatable,
26:08especially to anyone who's ever had to look after a couple of hyperactive children.
26:11If I ring Little Next, surely I would get an acquittal.
26:21We could tell through the song that Hannigan is at her wit's end.
26:24Drinking everything in sight and fantasizing about a life without Little Girls is her only escape.
26:30We can't think of an image that sums up Hannigan better than a bathtub of booze,
26:34which she uses a paddle to mix.
26:42Velma von Tussle is a villainess that's stuck in the past,
26:53fighting change around every corner.
27:01During an audition for the Corny Collins show,
27:03she isn't at all impressed with the turnout.
27:06In a skillfully choreographed number,
27:08Velma remembers the good old days when she was crowned Miss Baltimore Crabs.
27:22Along with her daughter and a few other mean girls,
27:25she shuns the contestants for their appearances.
27:27Tracy is ultimately kicked out for her views on integration,
27:30demonstrating just how backwards Velma's mindset is.
27:34Velma might be a horrible human being,
27:36but we'd be lying if we said this song didn't make us want to do the cha-cha-cha.
27:51This adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's classic musical
27:55interprets various fairy tale characters from a unique perspective.
28:07While Meryl Streep's witch is essentially your basic antagonist,
28:10the other characters aren't necessarily good or bad.
28:13As the witch puts it, they're just nice.
28:16Everyone here makes mistakes,
28:17amounting to happy endings that aren't all that happy.
28:27Rather than taking responsibility for their own actions, however,
28:30they blame the witch, who arguably did start the chain of events.
28:34This sets the stage for a rousing number where the witch decides to embrace her wicked side.
28:39As the ultimate mic drop,
28:41she places a curse on our supposed heroes before disappearing underground.
28:466. Cellblock Tango – Chicago
29:02Granted, the six inmates behind this rousing song are not necessarily villains.
29:07Most of them have blood on their hands, though,
29:09and it is debatable if their actions were justified.
29:12As far as they're concerned, their victims had it coming.
29:166. Cellblock Tango – Chicago
29:29Chicago blends the glamour of the stage with harsh reality.
29:33Few sequences pull this off as flawlessly as Cellblock Tango,
29:37as Roxy envisions prison chatter through a theatrical lens.
29:40Using minimal props, the choreography paints a vivid picture of every story.
29:467. Catalan Hunyak – Holinski
29:56The only one who claims innocence is Catalan Hunyak-Holinski,
30:00who ironically meets the grimmest fate.
30:03It all builds to an electrifying finale in this masterclass of lighting,
30:08cinematography, production design, and editing.
30:11This number is so much fun it should be a crime.
30:145. Pretty Women – Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
30:30Judge Turpin is the most despicable person in this musical,
30:34wrongfully imprisoning Benjamin Barker,
30:36assaulting his wife, and caging up his daughter like a bird.
30:40Of course, this film's titular character isn't exactly a saint either.
30:43In this chilling scene,
30:45both men come together and sing about their monstrous plans.
30:54Unaware that Sweeney Todd is Barker,
30:56Turpin dreams of forcing Joanna into marriage.
30:59All the while, Todd prepares to slit his enemy's throat.
31:03As dark as the subject matter is,
31:14the song is hauntingly calm and even soothing.
31:18As Todd's razor grows closer to Turpin's neck, though,
31:21the melody becomes more and more heart-pounding,
31:23until we reach the final curtain.
31:334. Feed Me – Get It? – Little Shop of Horrors
31:39A truly great villain can corrupt even the most innocent souls.
31:43The kindly Seymour Krelborn has taken a back
31:45upon realizing that his plant, Audrey 2, can talk.
31:48With a deep, booming voice, Audrey 2 demands blood, and lots of it.
31:54Through a rockin' villain song,
31:56the plant motivates Seymour to feed him by killing people.
31:59Although the promises of fame, fortune, and love tempt Seymour,
32:03he still has reservations about committing murder.
32:06That is, until he sets his eyes on a cocky dentist.
32:24While Seymour continues to feed the plant,
32:35he eventually sees Audrey 2 for what he really is
32:38during the Oscar-nominated number, Mean Green Mother from Outer Space.
32:533. I Put a Spell on You – Hocus Pocus
33:02Curses and music go hand-in-hand for the Sanderson sisters.
33:06To lure Salem's little children,
33:08Sarah Sanderson sings a hypnotic tune with the essence of a lullaby.
33:11Of course, the most enchanting musical number in the movie
33:26has gotta be the witch's rendition of I Put a Spell on You.
33:29Winifred, Mary, and Sarah put an upbeat spin on this rock and roll classic.
33:33With Bette Midler providing lead vocals,
33:41the sisters cast a spell on the adults of Salem,
33:44not to mention the home viewing audience.
33:46If you want people to dance until they die,
33:49we cannot think of a catchier tune to expire to.
33:512. Magic Dance – Labyrinth
34:07The audience is supposed to root against the bad guy,
34:10but that proves exceedingly difficult when a villain is this much fun.
34:14It's impossible not to like Jareth the Goblin King,
34:17played by the invaluable David Bowie.
34:20In addition to starring,
34:21Bowie wrote and recorded multiple original songs for Labyrinth.
34:25The standout is easily the show-stopping Magic Dance.
34:38As little baby Toby breaks out in tears,
34:41Jareth and his minions perform a number that's guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face.
34:45Toe-tapping, energetic, and, of course, magical,
34:49we could dance all night to this song.
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35:081. Sweet Transvestite – The Rocky Horror Movie
35:12Dr. Frankenfurter is another villain the audience can't help but love.
35:16In this uproarious number,
35:18we're introduced to the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania.
35:22Like the rest of the film, the song is bizarre,
35:25random, and overflowing with unkindness.
35:29It's a song that's a little bit like the movie,
35:31but it's a little bit more fun.
35:33It's a song that's a little bit like the movie,
35:35but it's a little bit more fun.
35:37It's a song that's a little bit like the movie,
35:40random, and overflowing with uncomfortable sexual tension.
35:50If you're in the mood for something totally off the wall, however,
35:53you are bound to have a good time.
35:55What's more, Tim Curry kills it with this scene,
35:58lighting up the silver screen with his charisma, comedic timing,
36:01and unusual brand of sexuality.
36:04Whenever an audience watches the Rocky Horror Picture Show,
36:07they always await this song with great anticipation.
36:27What's your favorite villain song?
36:29Let us know in the comments.
36:38Do you agree with our picks?
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