Not every Mean Girls fan is a musical theater nerd, but after the musical remake comes out on Jan. 12, 2024, we will all be converts. The film, which stars Renée Rapp and Angourie Rice as Regina George and Cady Heron, respectively, is an adaptation of the 2017 Mean Girls musical, so we already know most of the songs that will be featured in the screen version. Luckily, the 2004 film’s screenwriter, Tina Fey, had a big hand in the stage production, so the musical still captures the film’s contagious energy.
Many fans of the original movie also happen to love musical theater, and we found that the staged adaptation was faithful to the original without being an exact remake. Plus, it kickstarted Renée Rapp’s career, who was lauded for her talent and confidence at just 19 years old when she took over the role of Regina George. And almost every song is based on an iconic quote from the original, so here are 10 songs with ties to quotes from the OG film.
“Where Do You Belong?”
This song epitomizes the scene in which Janis Ian and Damian teach Cady about the cliques at North Shore High as they sit on the grass. In the song, they point out the “sexually active band geeks” as well as the “girls that eat their feelings and girls that don’t eat.” Janis also adds that joining the mathletes is “social suicide,” which is a quote from the original film.
“Meet the Plastics”
When we think about meeting the Plastics, we can’t help but picture them walking out onto the field in their best gym wear, as Damian and Janis explain that they’re called the Plastics because they’re “shiny, fake, and hard.” The same is said in their big intro musical number. And of course, when we meet Gretchen Weiners, we learn that her hair is so big “because it’s full of secrets.” Janis also calls Karen “the dumbest person you will ever meet.” As the Plastics encourage Cady to sit with them, Karen tells her, “On Wednesdays we wear pink,” which might be the most iconic Mean Girls quote in the entire movie. Thank goodness it made it into the musical!
“Apex Predator”
“Apex Predator” isn’t based on an iconic quote as much as it’s based on an iconic plot device used throughout Mean Girls. Cady’s relocation from the wilderness of Africa to North Shore High leads her to often reimagine the students as animals in the wild. But because musicals often use music and dance to heighten emotion and break from reality, Mean Girls: The Musical leans into this to literally compare Regina George to an apex predator.
“Stupid With Love (Reprise)”
Cady is great at math and stupid with love, but even she catches Aaron Samuels’ eye. In the “Stupid With Love” reprise, Cady figures out that she can act dumb to win over a boy’s heart. And when he asks the date, you bet she says, “It’s October 3rd.”
“Sexy”
A few of the most quotable Mean Girls moments come from the Halloween party and more specifically, from Karen’s mouse costume. “I’m a mouse, duh,” she says after she just puts on ears. The song, “Sexy,” captures this moment when Karen explains, “I can be who I want to be and sexy!” After all, “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Karen’s first solo number takes us into that perspective as a window into “modern feminism.” Perhaps one of the best quotes of the musical that doesn’t come from the movie comes from this song: “I expect to run the world in shoes I cannot walk in.”
“Revenge Party”
Another great Mean Girls film moment is when Cady storms into Janis and Damian’s Halloween watch-a-thon, dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein. They vow to get revenge on Regina for taking back Aaron Samuels. The musical’s song, “Revenge Party,” features many of the film’s most iconic quotes, including Regina saying, “I need to lose three pounds” and begging Cady for the Kälteen bars. Regina also tells Cady to tell Aaron, “Your hair looks sexy pushed back,” like in the film. While the song doesn’t specifically include the “Army of Skanks” list, it shows us how the trio tries to take down the Plastics. Damian even hands out candy canes to the one and only Glen Coco to break Gretchen — “None for Gretchen Weiners!”
“World Burn”
Regina’s 11 o’clock number, “World Burn,” isn’t a reference to one Mean Girls quote, but to the iconic Burn Book. In the movie, the book’s introduced to us with burns like “Trang Pak is a grotsky biotch!” as Cady adds, “Ms. Norbury’s a drug pusher.” Both quotes make it into this song, that takes the drama from a visual burn book to a song that’s literally fire.
“I’d Rather Be Me”
This song is Janis’s 11 o’clock number, and it’s become a musical theater favorite for auditions and song cycles. “I’d Rather Be Me” epitomizes Janis’s “apology” when she jumps into the pit of her female peers. Instead of apologizing, she admits what she did to Regina and says, “I am so sorry Regina. Really, I don’t know why I did this. I guess it’s probably because I’ve got a big *lesbian* crush on you! Suck on *that*! AY-YI-YI-YI-YI-YI!” In the song, Janis sings, “I won’t fake apologize,” as she states that she’d rather be herself than be with fake people like Regina and Cady. It’s an iconic musical version of an iconic satisfying moment.
“Do This Thing”
Remember when Cady does some cool math and comes out on top of the Mathletes when she discovers, “The limit does not exist”? This song tells the story of the Mathletes’ final competition when Cady makes that startling discovery.
“I See Stars”
Mapping to the end of the film and the movie, “I See Stars” is the song that represents Cady’s spring fling speech when she wins Spring Fling Queen. Cady makes a speech, telling the entire student body that they look like royalty, and “I See Stars” reflects that. She basically tells her classmates that they’re stars and diamonds in a more poetic way than just saying they’re royalty.
