Why everyone loves "The Greatest Showman"

After many students began asking me if they could sing songs from "The Greatest Showman" I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about.  For those, like me, who didn't know: The Greatest Showman is a movie-musical that began running in theaters in 2017.  The film stars many famous actors, such as Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Michelle Williams and loosely follows the life of P.T. Barnum, of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.  

I really enjoyed the movie, and my students were so right...the music is incredible! The composer/lyricist team on this movie is Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.  If you're a musical theater buff you might recognize their names from Dear Evan Hansen, Dogfight, Edges, or even City of Stars, from the film La La Land. What I like about the music is that it features a couple of pop-inspired songs, sung by underdog characters and they're so uplifting!  

Don't believe me? ​

Keala Settle absolutely shines in this! This song won the 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.  Try not to smile and tap your feet as you listen to this: I dare you! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjxugyZCfuw