Now that the first season of Hazbin Hotel has wrapped up, it’s time to give flowers where it’s due and take a look at the show’s best songs! Hazbin Hotel has taken over Twitter and YouTube for the last three weeks, and no one is shocked about it. This is mostly to do with the amazing team behind the show. This includes the creator, the animators, writers, voice actors, and so many more who had a part in making Hazbin Hotel a reality.
This includes the extremely talented duo behind the music, Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg. They have accomplished something that we have only really seen before with the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda. That is having the ability to take a musical and their concepts while turning them into hits for non-musical lovers to connect to.
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Finding something the two, extremely opposite groups can agree on is a difficult task. However, they didn’t just deliver, they handed Hazbin Hotel fans one of the best soundtracks to date. Taking into consideration the music, lyrics, and animation we ranked every song in Hazbin Hotel.
16. Welcome to Heaven
It’s a good song, it’s a bop…but is this the best song Heaven has to offer us?! When it comes to musicals, pacing is so important. This is why making musical series, like Hazbin Hotel, can be difficult. However, that wasn’t really an issue for the first five episodes. Now as we start to reach the peak before heading into the finale, this song just felt rushed.
Maybe it’s wrong to compare it to “Happy Day in Hell”, but it’s hard not to. And again, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song. It’s just when you compare it to all the other ones before and after, especially the song that follows, it’s forgettable. If I had to choose between eternity in Heaven or Hell, I’m choosing hell purely on the performances.
15. It Starts with Sorry
In every musical there are songs that are fillers, the issue is a lot of the time they feel forced. This number was light, short, and sweet. It created this adorable, princess moment with pink glitter included. While at the same time, playing up the complete opposite with Vaggie and Angel’s parts.
It doesn’t matter if this wasn’t a big musical number. Between the cute animations and the catchiness, there is no doubt that fans were singing “It Starts with Sorry” before they even registered it.
14. Whatever It Takes
It doesn’t matter what song Carmilla Carmine is in, it’s going to slap. “Whatever it Takes” was one of those numbers that caught a lot of people off guard. This is one of the songs that feels as if it didn’t really get the recognition during the episode, but when people go back to listen to it, they fall madly in love.
This is something that tends to happen with more of the slower songs, especially when a soundtrack goes as hard as Hazbin Hotel does. When you’re hit with upbeat after upbeat songs, it can feel a little jarring to switch up. However, this is one of the first songs we really get to see Vaggie sing, which feels important.
Yes, while this song does provide more context to the plot, the Vaggie element is really what makes this song hit harder. Knowing that Vaggie isn’t much for singing, when we do see her sing it’s almost as if she’s trying to match Charlie’s love language. Doing whatever it takes can mean killing angels, or just singing your feelings.
13. Ready For This
The thing with Charlie is she is such a theater kid, that some of her numbers are very niche to the musical crowd. As a musical lover, it is not a bad thing at all. However, in the name of being fair, this song made it slightly towards the bottom because a lot of people just won’t appreciate the Music Man, Oliver Twist, meets “One Day More” vibes. But that doesn’t mean this song isn’t good.
While being the peak “my moment is now” song that is a staple in musicals, the comedy bits sprinkled in do a great job at bringing it back a little. As a musical fan, this number checks all the boxes. While doing just enough not to alienate other viewers, and that alone is masterful. A true testament to the songwriting team behind Hazbin Hotel.
12. More Than Anything
Falling along the same lines as “Whatever it Takes,” this song does take us back to that more slow rhythm. The reason this song feels more in line with the story and the pacing really comes down to who is singing and the setup. It felt like the whole episode was leading us to this moment, even the song “Hell’s Greatest Dad.”
Not to mention, this song is needed to further connect viewers to the season finale and fill in the missing plot between their strained relationship. All in all, “More than Anything” holds a lot of weight regarding the story. It carries all of that and does so while providing a kind of soothing lullaby that parents and kids can resonate with.
11. Stayed Gone
This is one of the songs that delivers so well but is shadowed by a lot of the other amazing songs that followed. “Stayed Gone” does exactly what it needs to do. It introduces us to the radio-style theme that will follow Alastor around, as well as one of the bigger villains to keep an eye on Vox. The pattern battle style between them also is so layered that it’s hard not to want to watch it on repeat to try and catch everything.
For example, the biggest thing is the battle between radio and video. The sound, the pace at which the channels/programming changes, and even the fact that one is more dependable if technology were to crash. This brings us to one of the best moments in the whole show, the first time we get a glimpse at the real Alastor.
10. Happy Day in Hell
In an interview hosted by Screen Rant, creator Vivienne Medrano talked about how the opening number was supposed to be a mix between “Belle” (Beauty and the Beast) and other songs that have that big opening number energy like, “Good Morning Baltimore” (Hairspray). Check, check, and double check.
“Happy Day in Hell” was the best way to introduce the musical aspect to the viewers. It didn’t matter if you love or hate people breaking out into song, this number left you in shock and awe. Between the short glimpses we get of Hell’s citizens and that strong optimism that radiates off Charlie, this song had a little bit of everything. Which is exactly what you want when the song can make or break the show.
9. More Than Anything Reprise
Yes, those are tears running down your cheeks. This song might have been short, but the chills factor was the perfect way to end the season between Charlie and Vaggie. Especially after so many people were debating their love and chemistry. This song was simply beautiful, especially when they harmonized together ending any discussion on them not being compatible.
This song also seems to have a deeper meaning when you take into consideration Vaggie hasn’t really sung that much throughout the season. In a way, it felt as if by singing, she was letting her guard down and opening up even more. As well as that moment they sing together, is probably the most in sync they have ever felt.
8. Finale
Every show needs its closing number, and Hazbin Hotel season 1 did not disappoint. With that said, this number also perfectly fits that high energy that leads into the intermission at musicals. This makes sense since we know that Hazbin Hotel season 2 is already in the works.
Another great thing about this number is that every part, while different, blends so well. For example, Charlie at the start when she’s hitting those notes on “better”, and then all of a sudden, we are shifting into Lucifer’s pep talk. Then before you know it, we are bopping as the beat shifts again. Along with the medley “better”, “We can do this, we can build it,” are such earworms that will be stuck in fan’s heads forever.
7. Out for Love
The issue you eventually run into when a soundtrack hits as hard as Hazbin Hotel Season 1, is that even amazing songs are going to be ranked low. “Out of Love” showcases one thing that makes these songs so hypnotic: the timing of animation with the music. The sound of her steel shoes on beat throughout just scratches the brain beautifully.
Add that with the Latin beat and Daphne Rubin-Vega showing off her vocals, this song will have you ready to fight any battle in the name of love. It’s also important to note that this song adds so much to Carmilla Carmine’s character that it leaves us excited to see where she goes in season two.
6. You didn’t know?
This song sets up the shift as we move from getting to know the characters and story to getting ready for the climactic end. It does a great job of throwing in melodies from earlier songs while reintroducing characters like Adam. Plus, we finally get to see Lute pop off with those vocals we all knew had to be coming from Jessica Vosk.
However, what really made “You Didn’t Know?” such a top contender, comes down to the lyrics. Not only did Hazbin Hotel fans lose it when Emily and Charlie started speaking the hard truth, but those lyrics from Lute were fire. And it has to be mentioned that the fire in Sera’s eyes is an image that will forever be burned into our minds.
5. Respectless
The only issue is that we didn’t get another Velvet song through the season. While this song showcased two strong female characters, this song leaves you absolutely obsessed with the backbone of the Vs. The flow, the lyrics, the beat, and the interchanging between the two sounds all just work to create tension that only leaves us wanting more.
Respectless, along with a few other songs, is a great example of the combination between musicals and mainstream music. For example, this whole song is set up to kick off a huge plot point. While, at the same time the tempo of the songs feels like it’s something you might hear on the radio.
4. Hell’s Greatest Dad
It’s not shocking that a song so suited for Jeremy Jordan’s vocal and acting abilities has one of the highest streaming numbers on YouTube for this series. In Hazbin Hotel songs are set up to add to a character’s personalities, with each song slightly different genres to match, or they push the plot along. However, in “Hell’s Greatest Dad”, this song really adds a comedic level we hadn’t seen before.
Of course, it touches on the other things as well. It shines a light on the type of fantasy filled dreamer Lucifer can be. Leaves us asking more questions about Alastor’s motives and why these two might hate each other so much. Plus, it provided fans with some of the best animations yet. Which is saying something, because this show has set the bar high in that regard.
3. Hell is Forever
A running theme in Hazbin Hotel has been a constant question of what came first, the song or the voice actor. Because it feels as if these songs were perfectly cast to showcase these actors’ talents. “Hell is Forever”, is a great example of this. There is no one else better suited to play Adam, to sing this song, than Alex Brightman.
With that said, “Hell is Forever” had a huge responsibility as the second song in the whole series. This is the first time we get introduced to the idea that each person has their own sound. Not only that, but people don’t like musicals. So coming off Charlie’s very Disney, Broadway sound, this song had to capture the non-musical people. Which it did, gloriously.
Even if you are rooting for redemption, you cannot deny that you were left clapping and singing along by the end of “Hell is Forever”.
2. Poison
This song had fans ready to throw hands and rightfully so. As previously mentioned, songs in Hazbin Hotel are purposely crafted to expand on characters or push the story along. “Poison” does both of that, but also forces viewers to really take a hard look at a tough issue. In return, this left a lot of people starting conversations regarding sexual assault.
It is so important that conversations regarding sexual assault are had daily, because there is still so much work to be done regarding stigmas and hurtful ideologies that only set us back. The fact that a 20-minute, animated musical series can convey such a hard topic, beautifully with compassion/ While also doing it with that hypnotic melody is a testament to why this might be one of the best shows of our time.
1. Loser, Baby
Is anyone shocked that this is the best song? This song is the unofficial anthem of Hazbin Hotel fans. We are all here just to love and support each other in our struggles, failures, and missteps. Add in the fact that the song is such an earworm between the lyrics and the old-school pop sound. At times the song felt like a blend between ABC from the Jackson 5, and the sarcastic humor that does so well in musical theater, like Avenue Q.
This is also another prime example of what makes the whole Hazbin Hotel series such a masterclass in animation. Being able to create these show-stopping numbers is only half the battle. The other half falls to the artists to make it come alive on the page. Not only were fans of the show gifted with top-notch talent on both sides, but the fact that they blended so effortlessly and beautifully together is the true magic behind Hazbin Hotel.
That and the amazing takeaways we all learned along the way. What songs from Hazbin Hotel season 1 were your favorites and why? The first season is streaming now on Prime Video.
About Hazbin Hotel
Release Date: Jan. 19, 2024
Creator: Vivienne Medrano
Executive Producers: Vivienne Medrano, Joel Kuwahara, Dana Tafoya-Cameron, and Scott Greenberg
Distribution: Prime Video
Cast: Erika Henningsen, Jeremy Jordan, Stephanie Beatriz, Amir Talai, Christian Borle, Alex Brightman, Blake Roman, and Jill Harris
Synopsis: Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.
But what do you think? What are your thoughts on the best songs of Hazbin Hotel? Do you have any favorites from the Season 1 soundtrack? Let us know your thoughts about the show on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
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