Sweeney Todd is a fantastic movie musical that tells a fantastic story with an array of characters, all of which have big personalities. While the movie itself is quite dark within its content, the songs throughout it really manage to make the movie have good energy, which keeps audiences engaged from the start.
The songs are all performed incredibly well with the likes of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter showcasing their fantastic voices throughout. But as is the case with any musical, not every song is a catchy hit that is remembered by everyone, while there are still plenty that will have people humming and singing weeks after they watch the movie.
"Green Finch And Linnet Bird"
This one is sung by Johanna Barker, and while the vocals are superb and the performance itself is convincing, the problem with this song is that it doesn't really fit in with the rest. It's sung in a totally different way and feels a little more romantic than anything else.
Because the movie is very dark, this one just stands out from the pack, and not in a good way. It feels like too much of a shift, which is a shame because this should be a much bigger moment for the character than it ends up becoming.
"The Contest"
Much like the previous song, "The Contest" is one that stands out for being vastly different in tone from the rest of the movie. The song sees Sweeney Todd and Adolfo Pirelli going back and forth while they shave to prove who is the best, and it certainly does a good job at showcasing Sweeney's abilities.
It's one of the funnier songs as it is quite upbeat and that in itself is refreshing and exciting. But it just lacks in the emotional aspect, which is where this movie thrives.
"By The Sea"
This really is the moment where it becomes clear how Miss Lovett feels for Sweeney Todd, with the perfect family life being painted for them. It provides some funny visuals and a rare moment of brightness as they're shown on the beach in her imagination.
However, that is also why it's not one of the best songs in the movie because it just doesn't fit in as well as the other songs. The movie is dark in tone and has a lot of songs about serious topics which is why this one doesn't quite work, despite it being a bit of fun to break things up.
"Ladies In Their Sensitivities"
This song is performed by Beadle Bamford and is performed very well. Rather than being full of major notes, it is put together more as a quick rhyme, which is actually a lot of fun and helps make this song quite a memorable one.
However, in comparison to other songs throughout the movie, this one really does lack importance. After all, this song is literally just about Beadle trying to convince Judge Turpin to get a shave. It showcases how caring the characters about Turpin, but it's not a major moment in the movie.
"Wait"
This takes place when Mrs. Lovett tries to calm down Sweeney Todd, who becomes impatient about not killing Judge Turpin straight away.
It's a good moment that showcases Mrs. Lovett is smart enough to see the bigger picture, and the fact she's so calm about the situation showcases what she is like as a person too. While it's sung very well, this is quite a relaxed song in comparison to others and it doesn't quite showcase Helena Bonham Carter at her very best.
"Poor Thing"
This song is a great example of why Sweeney Todd is such a fantastic musical. There aren't many stories that could get away with telling such a vile story such as what happens to Lucy Barker and make it into a catchy song that is sung in such an eerily positive manner.
It's a major moment in the movie that clearly describes what happens to Lucy and sets up why Sweeney Todd is seeking revenge. But it isn't just about revealing the plot, as the song itself is also a very strong one.
"Pirelli's Miracle Elixir"
The character of Toby is an incredibly strong one that brings a lot of great energy to the movie, and that is clear from his first introduction with this song. He bursts out, advertising the hair product in a really fun song, which features Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett chiming in as well.
It's a fun song with a nice back-and-forth element about it, but it isn't one that audiences will remember when the movie ends, but it does do a great job of showcasing Toby and how confident he is.
"There's No Place Like London"
This is the first song of the movie and it does a fantastic job of setting the tone of the entire movie in terms of characters and how the songs will be. With Anthony Hope and Sweeney Todd arriving in London together, it gives an excellent example of how different their opinions on the city are.
It highlights where the two characters are in their lives, and it sets up exactly the type of personalities they each have. This is something that then plays into the rest of the movie, which makes this so great.
"Final Scene"
With such a strong movie that compromises so many great songs, it is no surprise that things get wrapped up in a brilliant manner as well with "Final Scene." It's one of the longer songs within the movie and it brings together several characters and snippets of other songs that have taken place.
It's the height of drama and emotion as Sweeney Todd finally gets his revenge, and he and Mrs. Lovett have their emotional confrontation when the truth is revealed which leads to the death of them both. It's a real rollercoaster of emotions and is a perfect way for such a tense movie to finish
"Johanna"
The story of Anthony Hope falling in love with Johanna is certainly a lot weaker than Sweeney Todd's lust for revenge, however, it does provide this very catchy song. In terms of emotion and power, it is lacking against some of the others, but it has an incredibly memorable melody.
This is one song that people do remember, as they hum and sing it along after the movie is said and done, which is what any good musical number can provide.
"A Little Priest"
This is the big moment where Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett create their plan to murder people and then use the flesh as meat within the pies for her shop. It's a great mix as the song is very dark, but the way they act is the total opposite.
That helps to make this song stand out, with the music and the back and forth dialogue between the two lead characters being excellent to see.
"Epiphany"
This is another of the really big numbers within this musical, and it really showcases Johnny Depp at his absolute best. Sweeney and Lovett really put all the pieces together in this song, as the barber realizes that his plans to murder people means he probably won't get to see his daughter.
However, his need for revenge outweighs everything and that passion and emotion really shines through within this song. It's an incredibly dark moment within the movie, but it's also a very important one as well, and the song lives up to the occasion.
"Worst Pies In London"
This is a great moment from the movie, with this being one of the earlier songs and one that is very well-known. It's a key moment for the character of Mrs. Lovett and really explains everything about her character, with the need to look after people while also not being very good at her job.
It sets up the dismal world that she lives in and why she's happy to have Sweeney Todd enter it. Plus, the song itself is just a lot of fun and isn't quite as dark as some of the others.
"Not While I'm Around"
In terms of emotion, this song is right up there as one that really will get audiences thinking. Toby is an amazing character and the love he ends up growing for Mrs. Lovett is clear within this song, as he begins to worry about Sweeney Todd potentially hurting her.
He showcases that in this beautifully written song as he claims he will protect her, which is a very sweet moment. Despite the fact he is just a child, Toby is prepared to do whatever it takes to help her, which is a perfect moment for him.
"Pretty Women"
Seeing the main character and the man he is actively trying to kill singing a duet together isn't something that you expect from this movie. However, it is moments like this that really make this movie what it is, with the cleverness of it being incredible to see.
Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman are brilliant here, and their back and forth is a lot of fun to see. The way things are very calm and relaxed, despite the fact that Sweeney Todd is setting himself to murder Judge Turpin is great, while the song itself is very catchy.
"My Friends"
This song is absolutely epic, with this being Sweeney Todd's major solo as he is finally reunited with his razor blades. It showcases just how much they mean to him, as he genuinely sees the blades as part of him, as extra limbs almost.
However, it's just a stunning performance from Johnny Depp, as he really drives home the emotional aspect, while keeping his character as dark and sinister as possible.