Earlier this year, London’s West End said a sad farewell to Why Am I Single? – the latest musical from Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, also known as the multi-award-winning duo behind the global phenomenon Six.
The era-defining Olivier-nominated musical follows two writers called Oliver and Nancy who are struggling to write a second musical, whist also navigating the ups and downs of their dating lives in the era of dating apps.
Packed with pop culture and musical theatre references (including a long running Oliver! gag), relatable stories about dating and life experiences, and an exceptional cast, Why Am I So Single? proved to be a life-affirming musical which gave the West End a new lease of life. The show also gained a strong cult following thanks to its running themes of love, friendship, gender and identity, with many people being left disappointed by the show’s early closure.
However, the incredible original London cast recording has finally been released and is available to download on streaming platforms right now! While a few of the fan favourite demos have been available to stream for some time, this is the first time that all songs (as well as a few sensational extras) have been released so that fans can relive the magic of the show at home.
The cast and creative team celebrated the album launch with a glitzy party last night (March 13) at Earth Kitchen, Hackney, with a wonderful countdown to the release at midnight. Earlier in the evening, leading stars Jo Foster, Leesa Tulley and Noah Thomas treated the audience to a four-track performance of some of the songs, followed by a Q&A with creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. As the clock struck midnight, the dance floor turned into a huge singalong of the album tracks – the perfect way to celebrate this momentous occasion!
Whether you’ve seen the musical or not, the original London cast recording of Why Am I So Single? perfectly encapsulates the joy and chaos of dating life by fusing a variety of musical genres with clever and witty lyrics. This is not your standard musical – in fact, it’s a pop hybrid with elements of disco, rock/pop punk, rap, and jazz. Switching seamlessly from huge bangers to heartfelt ballads, this album is designed to make you cackle, cringe, cry and confess your love for your bestie.
Opening with the Prologue, leading into title track Why Am I So Single?, this sets the tone for the recording as Oliver and Nancy (played by Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley) try and work out why on earth they’re without a significant other. Laced with hilarious play on words and a Six nod (the other Boleyn girl), the track sums up the troubles of modern dating perfectly.
This is followed by the infectious 8 Dates, which went viral on TikTok and is easily one of the biggest earworms on the recording. Detailing Oliver’s recent dating app experiences, Jo shares all the emotions that will too familiar for anyone who’s ever used an app – from the hope and excitement, to the utter disappointment and frustration. 8 Dates is also the beginning of a run of absolute bops on the recording…
Firstly, the 00’s pop-punk emo anthem I Got Off The Plane, which details the impact that Friends and Ross and Rachel’s “will they, won’t they” relationship had on society. This is followed by the exceptional C U Never, led by Noah Thomas as Artie, as he and Leesa’s Nancy break down the experience of being hyper fixated on situationships and losing the ability to communicate properly. Anyone who was lucky enough to catch the musical at the Garrick Theatre would have seen the cast demonstrate some fancy tap dancing skills, and you can still feel the fierce energy on the recording. Noah is fantastic on the track as Artie tries to knock some sense into his friend.
Next up is a personal favourite, Meet Market. A hilarious yet relatable offering, this track will be quite traumatic for anyone who’s ever used a dating app. The song’s intro features some of the most recognisable quotes from the apps, including “travel lover”, “I like pineapple on pizza” and men lying about their height. The track takes a turn as Oliver and Nancy rate each other’s profiles, before exploring some of the (quite frankly terrifying) people who have swiped right on them. The song is chaotic, changing tempo at every turn, however, this sums up the entire Hinge/Bumble/Tinder experience.
After a number of high tempo songs, we slow things down with the sultry Shhh!!!, where Oliver sings about the type of men they attract including those who act like they’re non-existent. Whilst the Marilyn Monroe-esque jazz vibes are intoxicating and laced with humour, the track is tinged with sadness as the character believes that this is what they deserve, when this couldn’t be further from the truth.
This is followed by a huge power ballad called Just In Case, where Nancy explains that she’s very much hung up on her ex (aka THE ex), and would be ready to drop everything if he came knocking. Leesa’s powerful vocals are showcased perfectly throughout the track, with the Scotswoman pouring her heart and soul into the storytelling behind the song.
Creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss are best known for Six and you can feel the influence of the musical throughout parts of Why Am I So Single?, most notably during Interlude in B Minor which is reminiscent of the chaos of Haus of Holbein. The song is made up of interpolations of the previous tracks, with Oliver and Nancy battling a bee in the flat. Yes, this sounds bizarre out of context but it was equally as baffling on the West End stage. However, there’s no doubt that the song is incredibly catchy and one of the most memorable tracks on the recording.
Clubs Glorious Clubs sees Artie reminisce on the first time he met Oliver and Nancy, with everyone remembering events in very different ways. Not only is the track’s title a play on Food Glorious Food from Oliver!, this is where we see Oliver and Nancy’s friendship blossom as they discover that they’re both superfans of the classic musical.
This is followed by the ukelele-laced No Question, which is a gentle offering which sets the tone for one of the highlights of the album – Disco Ball. Jo Foster is an absolute sensation on this electric disco-tinged anthem and you can feel their energy and emotion becoming more frantic and desperate as the song progresses. This was a huge standout moment each night at the Garrick, and Jo deserves their flowers for this song alone.
The mood is lightened a little on Men R Trash, as the pair come to the realisation that the reason they are single is because men are pure garbage. Next up is the Just In Case – Reprise, which cleverly combines elements of the melodies of Just In Case and Disco Ball and is the beginning of an emotional section of the show as Oliver and Nancy come face to face with their emotions. Lost is a gorgeous ballad sung by Leesa, as she explores Nancy’s grief of losing her father, whilst Why Am I Still Reprising? sees the pair validate their love for each other.
As they come to the realisation that all they need is each other, the soundtrack comes to an end with the euphoric Better Off Love Story. Detailing the importance of friendship, this is a gorgeous ode to the power of platonic relationships and sums up the relationship of the entire cast. During the process it’s very clear that the cast has built a magical connection with each other, and whilst Why Am I So Single? has finished for now, the cast recording really is their very own happy ever after.
The album also includes two very special additions. First off, is an extended version of Men R Trash which features the iconic Patti LuPone from the Broadway Revival Cast of Oliver! (which is referenced in the show itself). Patti elevates the already brilliant track, adding her powerhouse vocals and humour to the song.
To close off the recording, Jordan Cambridge-Taylor and Collette Guitart (the alternate Oliver and Nancy) get their chance to shine with an alternative version of Just In Case. Whilst you can expect huge vocals, this is certainly not the Just In Case we’re used to. Instead, the track has been turned into an ode to Oliver! which is incredibly clever and allows Jordan and Collette to showcase their delectable vocals.
Why Am I Single? is sure to delight musical and pop music lovers alike, and we really hope that the release of the original cast recording will mean that there’ll be further life this show one day. Please Sir, can we have some more?!
Stream the original London cast recording of Why Am I So Single? here.
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