Musical revenge fantasies,take one

In checking out the promos for Glee,which will be showing a "director's cut" of the pilot tonight and starting off their first season next week, I came across this ode to property damage caused by heartbreak,the kind that the likes of Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown deal with on a daily basis. Never thought I would hear or see a soliloquy to smashing up a car but never say never,folks:



It's a well done tune and I started thinking about other songs that celebrated vengeance on a grand musical scale. Dr. Horrible's Sing A Long Blog comes quickly to mind,particularly the wicked delights of "Brand New Day"(I love that bit with the fingers,so creepycool):





A far more chilling tune of revenge comes from Sweeney Todd,as the tormented barber loses a prime opportunity to brutally pay back the man who destroyed his life. His "Epiphany" is the polar opposite of heaven sent,to say or rather sing the least:





One of the most memorable numbers from the musical Chicago,The Cell Block Tango has the sister inmates of Roxie Hart recount their justifiable homicides in song. It's completely understandable if you think that bit is called "They Had It Coming",since that line is repeated often here(and in real life,sadly enough):



Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame has one of the most sinister sexual numbers that I've ever seen in a movie supposedly made for kids. Frollo's longing for Esmeralda and his desire to either savor or incinerate her(he doesn't seem too particular about which option he'd prefer)does have some style worthy of "Hellfire":



Even Veronica Mars got to warble about payback when made to do a karaoke number in public,sending a not so subtle message to those allied against her. Heck,I'm surprised that "One Way or Another" didn't become the official theme song of the show after awhile:



Vengeance may not the ideal inspiration for a song but it certainly can be a show stopper when done right. Of course you don't always have to announce your plans for revenge out loud;sometimes,the sounds of silence is much more threatening: