‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’: The Five Most Memorable Musical Numbers

Jamie Freedman
TV
TV

It’s not hard to see why Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has gotten so much buzz throughout its first season — the show stars a diverse cast; approaches mental illness, sexuality, and gender in groundbreaking ways; and features brilliant self-aware musical parodies that take crass and absurdity to a whole new level.

At the heart of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is star, creator and producer Rachel Bloom, who won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy or Musical for her portrayal of Rebecca Bunch. Bloom and her writers obviously have a blast putting together each musical number. They are perfect parodies, certainly bringing the “crazy” to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Here’s a look back at the five most memorable musical numbers of the season.

“Heavy Boobs”

Rebecca is asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding, and after the bride leaves her dress fitting, she and her frenemy Valencia dare each other to try on the dress. Rebecca explains that her well endowed bosom will not fit into Josh’s sister’s wedding dress, and sings “Heavy Boobs” in the style of Beyonce’s “Diva.” Rebecca lists all of the things she can hold under her boobs (including a stapler), mentions “sacks of yellow fat,” and puts herself and her backup singers through, what looks like, painful choreography.

“The Sexy Getting Ready Song”

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend takes on female stereotypes, relationship double standards, and gender expectations. “The Sexy Getting Ready Song” is one of the best examples, highlighting the objectively insane things that women do to pretty themselves for men. As Rebecca gets ready for a date with Greg, she ever-so-glamorously plucks and brushes every inch of her body. Meanwhile, Greg gets ready by napping on the couch.

The song is set in the style of a sultry R&B tune, and a rapper appears and begins his interlude with stereotypical misogynist lyrics. But when he turns around to see the mess of creams and tools that Rebecca has been using to get ready, he stops and says, “This is how you get ready? This is horrifying!… You know what? I got to go apologize to some bitches.” Later in the episode we see him making calls.

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“I Gave You a UTI”

From the Episode 'Why is Josh in a Bad Mood?'

Okay, so it takes chutzpah to nail a song celebrating UTIs. Complete with horn lines and physical comedy, love interest Greg sings “I Gave You a UTI” to Rebecca with tremendous, and misguided, pride.

“Cold Showers”

From the Episode 'Josh and I Work on a Case!'

This musical number is guaranteed to delight music theater nerds. Rebecca’s law firm has taken on a case involving an apartment complex’s broken hot water heater and a landlord unwilling to fix it. In an effort to persuade as many residents of the apartment complex as possible to join the suit, Rebecca and coworkers Paula and Darryl argue that cold waters will result in their children smoking crack cocaine and the eventual downfall of their entire family.

Cold Showers” is a wonderful twisted parody of “Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man, right down to the stage direction. There is even a nod in the lyrics: “Gasp is right! That’s Gasp, with a uppercase G that ends with P. The first letter in pool!”

“Dream Ghost”

From the Episode 'Josh Has No Idea Where I Am!'

Another musical theater number certain to please is the self-aware “Dream Ghost,” a parody of the titular song from the musical Dream Girls, with cameos from Amber Riley (Glee) and Ricki Lake (Hairspray). Rebecca is on a plane to Hawaii, and dreams that her psychiatrist, Dr. Akopian, takes her through time and space to teach her a life lesson.

Bring on Season 2.

Jamie Freedman
Ethnomusicologist, singer, champion of fans and creators. In love with Outlander, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Beatles, Lady Gaga and Broad City.