I know you're probably very sick of my Two Strangers obsession buuuuuut I have a mighty need to keep figuratively hand flapping until the serotonin is gone
SO.
Here's all the songs from Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) ranked (with commentary)
1. American Express
An absolute banger, no notes. This songs needs zero context to earworm its way into your brain for at least 36 hours. I also love the tongue and cheek concept of "riding the American Express", not to mention the one liners. The rhythm, harmonies, and whole vibe is just so satisfying. Hearing them get drunker throughout is so fun, and the "I'm Bonnie I'M BONNIE" is my favorite, with "I've stolen this spoon!" as a close second.
2. New York
Such a good opener. It sets the scene great because it tells you so much about Dougal, the movie addict who doesn't know that much about this place, beyond his totally ungrounded daydreams, but loves it anyway (total mirror of his relationship with his dad). This song is just filled to the brim with yearning 😭 I feel like it's impossible to hear this and not feel super affectionate about Dougal (even Robin does, and she's mostly annoyed with this dude atp). The "NYC, JFK, FBI, CIA- I'm already talking the talk!" is very very satisfying. And that last NOTE.
3. Dearly Beloved
This is the first on this list that you kind of need context for, but even without it, it's so energetic and weird and fun. Basically, after a very dramatic, tremulous day, they're snubbing their family members and staging a fake wedding at Robin's favorite Chinese restaurant. I think this is just a super cute, silly song, and I love hearing Robin get swept up in it. I also feel like it's an apology song without needing to be all about the actual apology.
4. On the App
The main reason this isn't higher up is because it feels a little like someone wrote it prior to there being a narrative- but that does mean it works well without context! Good rhythm, fun rhymes, and this is the first time you really get to see Robin and Dougal vibe for the first time, sliding closer to friendship. The whole "What about Cody!" part of this, with the video game-esque music in the back gets so stuck in my head. I also love the way Dujonna Gift delivers all of her lines in this.
5. What Did You Say
God what a good argument. I'm not sure if this technically counts as a patter song, but a patter duet is such a hard thing to nail and they DO. Also, this is so earned in the context of the story! And Dougal yelling, after hearing him be so happy for the rest of it is AHHHHH.
6. The Hangover Duet
The contrast between these two duet parts is very funny, and Dougal's "wonderful! there's a pigeon on a WINDOW SILL" is fantastic. The background instrumental as Robin crashes out is just *chef's kiss*.
7. He Doesn't Exist
The song that starts the argument in "What Did You Say"! Context- Robin is telling Dougal the relationship he wants with his absent father is never going to happen, because he's not the person he's imagining he is. This one has so much heart, with Robin trying to break it gently to Dougal, but obviously also dealing with her own disappointments in it. When she says "I wish it were true" it hits me so hard, because I really do believe that she wants him to get what he wants, and it hurts her knowing that he won't (and she's known this entire time, and been struggling to not say it, or even care!).
8. This Year...
This one keeps swapping with He Doesn't Exist for me, they are very close in my brain. Side note- I do wonder if this Broadway run of this song is super different, since it's also her birthday in it. Anyway, this is a ballad, and one that doesn't fall to obvious rises and falls, but puts its on twists on it. It's also cathartic to hear Robin willing to commit to being the person she wants to be.
9. If I Believed
I have a feeling that if I saw it live, this song (the finale) would be up higher, but as it is, on the OCR, it's a little lackluster after so many hits. It's still a good song! It actually reminds me of When the Sun Goes Down from In the Heights (which I love). I do love hearing their harmonies and the energy leading up to the end.
10. This is the Place
This is another one that reminds me of In the Heights (When You're Home, this time), and that I think I'd enjoy more live. It's the song where Robin starts opening up and basically blossoming- and my favorite thing about it is that it's obviously the sibling to New York, but where Dougal is singing about movies and incorrect facts and stereotypes, she's singing about her home that feels to her just as big as his view of NYC. Unfortunately, the actual melody is just kind of repetitive for me.
11. About to Go In
Part of me thinks this should be up higher, but we're just gonna commit. This is soft Dougal again 😭 This is the reflection song after all that he's done, and it's very soft and introspective, but it's another layer of sweetness that he's calling his mom and the fact that he's referencing these mundane feeling things that she was there for makes him feel so human, and really drives home that this is him realizing that the idol of a father he made in his head doesn't have to exist, because he's had such a good relationship with the parent who actually does love him. "We were always enough, you were always enough" is on the nose, but it does need to be said.
12. Dad
It feels weird putting this under About to Go In, since this one is the song that one is directly responding to, but the emotional heart of that one definitely makes it rate higher. This is excitable, hopeful Dougal at his core. There's a repetitive quality in this one again that makes it rank lower than it might, but Sam Tutty makes it enjoyable to listen to anyway, because he leans into every emotional beat. "Watching Terminator 2 together; Watching Terminator 3 together" is definitely my favorite part of this whole song (which is apparently replaced by Lethal Weapon 2/3 on Broadway?? I am so curious why).
13. Be Happy
This feels like a pretty classic Broadway ballad, which means it doesn't have the complications or satisfying twists and rhythms as some of the songs higher on this list, but it's definitely solid for what it is. I also feel like, even though we see Robin talk about her past in This is the Place, this is the first time she really shows who she really gives you a look at her mindset and why she is the way she is. (Sidenote, I'm begging to hear the lyric changes on this one, because I heard they restructured Robin's arc in general for the Broadway run and I know this one's gotta be painful).
14. What'll It Be
Sorry, Robin:( This is Robin's I Want song, so I do feel bad ranking it so low. However, in the context of the OCR, this comes right after New York, and it cannot compete, it deflates the whole vibe. Really, without that, it should probably be higher up. But, still, I feel like this doesn't do nearly as much character work as the other songs, so it doesn't feel like a very strong I Want. And the "what'll it be" isn't not clever, but it doesn't really pack an emotional punch after the first time she uses it.
15. Under the Mistletoe
This is the only song on the cast recording that I usually skip 🤷 Like On the App, this one feels like it was written outside of the narrative, so it doesn't feel super relevant or important to the story. I just feel like "old things are actually problematic!" has been done to death, especially with old Christmas songs, so this whole thing feels uninspired. I do appreciate that they're mostly talking about how horny the songs are, more than talking about the problematic elements, but it's just a very nothing song for me.
