Diana: The Musical, released on Netflix ahead of its Broadway opening, tells the “dazzling yet devastating life” of Princess Diana through music. Based on a book by American playwright Joe DiPietro, Diana: The Musical features the music and lyrics of DiPietro and David Bryan, the keyboard player of the rock band Bon Jovi. The production was directed by Tony award-winner Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Kelly Devine, who collaborated in staging the musical Come From Away. Diana: The Musical originated at the La Jolla Playhouse in California in 2019, and after a year of workshop, it was finally picked up by the Longacre Theater on Broadway. It was set to open on March 30, 2020, but the show’s production was suspended because of the pandemic.
More than a year after the delay, it was announced that the musical will officially open on November 17, 2021, with previews starting on November 2. However, in October, as part of Netflix’s specials, a live stage filming of Diana: The Musical was released on the streaming platform. It was recorded in September 2020, following COVID-19 safety protocols and without a live audience.
Proving the deep impact of Princess Diana’s legacy not only on the royal family but also in popular culture, Diana: The Musical recounts the story of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales — from the beginning of her relationship with Charles, Prince of Wales and the heir apparent to the British throne, until her untimely death in a car crash in Paris. The show navigates how Diana adjusted to her instant popularity, marriage to Prince Charles, and the royal life, including her well-loved public appearances, royal duties, marital difficulties, and subsequent affairs and scandals.
To help viewers appreciate this royal retelling, here is every song in Diana: The Musical, including when exactly they play in the film and what scenes they help enrich.
“Underestimated” by Jeanna de Waal – Following the brief opening credits, Diana opens the musical with “Underestimated”. Here, the would-be princess sings how she is at an advantage since she is always underestimated by people. Right before the song ends, Diana encounters Camilla Parker-Bowles for the first time, who informs her that Charles is looking for her.
“The Worst Job In England” by Judy Kaye and Ensemble – The song plays when the Queen arrives. Visibly upset, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II airs her frustrations that despite being 32 years old already, Charles is still having difficulty settling down. When Charles mentions Lady Diana, the Queen instantly approves, as she sees her fit for “The Worst Job in England”.
“This Is How Your People Dance” by Jeanna de Waal, Roe Hartrampf, and Ensemble – Charles, Diana, and Camilla attend the orchestra, where cellist Mstislav Rostropovich plays the first few notes of “This Is How Your People Dance”. Charles is lecturing Diana about classical music, in an attempt to stray her away from her “teenage musical taste”.
“Snap, Click” by the Ensemble – Soon after the event Diana and Charles attended, she is hounded by the paparazzi. They were claiming that Diana is just the latest of Charles’ conquests, among other demeaning comments. “Snap, Click” hints at the start of Diana’s immense popularity worldwide.
“Whatever Love Means Anyway” by Judy Kaye, Roe Hartrampf, Jeanna de Waal, and Ensemble – When Queen Elizabeth tries to force Charles to settle down with Diana, she begins singing. However, because of Charles’ affection for Camilla, he is still uncertain about settling down. Eventually, after a heart-to-heart conversation with Diana, Charles proposes marriage and claims he loves her, “Whatever Love Means Anyway”.
“I Will” by Jeanna de Waal and Roe Hartrampf – On the day of her wedding, Diana is having second thoughts, but after being comforted by her sister Sarah, she sings “I Will”. She convinces herself that she can make Charles fall in love with her, and she can be a part of the royal family.
“The World Fell In Love” by Judy Kaye, Roe Hartrampf, Jeanna de Waal, and the Ensemble – The Queen and Charles bombard Diana with advice on her first public appearance. To their surprise, when Diana steps out, “The World Fell in Love”. This enrages Charles, who feels sidelined and underappreciated.
“Happiness/ Simply Breathe” by Jeanna de Waal and Roe Hartrampf – Diana tells Charles that she is pregnant. The couple enters a proper relationship, now that Charles and Camilla are over and William is born. However, Diana soon learns that Charles is still in contact with Camilla and begins singing “Simply Breathe”.
“She Moves In The Most Modern Ways” by Judy Kaye, Erin Davie, Holly Ann Butler, Roe Hartrampf, and Ensemble – “She Moves In The Most Modern Ways” begins playing when Diana asks Charles for more direct involvement in charities and concludes with her dancing at the Royal Christmas Gala.
“Diana (The Rage)” by Roe Hartrampf – Reacting to Diana’s surprise performance, “The Rage” sees Charles reprimanding her for violating royal protocol and attracting too much attention from the media.
“As I Love You” by Jeanna de Waal – “As I Love You” is Diana’s response to Charles and their never-ending brawls. As she pleads for another chance with the prince, if only for their children, she was denied, and Diana is left wondering about her marriage with Charles.
“I Miss You Most On Sundays” by Roe Hartrampf and Erin Davie – Singing “I Miss You Most on Sundays,” Charles and Camila admit they miss each other, with Camilla even convincing Charles to run away with her.
“Pretty, Pretty Girl” by Jeanna de Waal, Roe Hartrampf, and Erin Davie – Tired of being called a “Pretty, Pretty Girl,” Diana launches her new self, with her trademark fashion. She is using the amplified media attention to illuminate her social causes. Meanwhile, Camila tells Charles to make an effort and turn around the nation’s laws on divorce.
“Here Comes James Hewitt” by Judy Kaye and Gareth Keegan – “Here Comes James Hewitt” signals the start of Act II. The song introduces James Hewitt, who later on becomes Diana’s lover.
“Him And Her (And Him And Her) / Just Dance” by Judy Kaye, Erin Davie, and Gareth Keegan – With “Him And Her (And Him And Her) playing, Charles and Diana find happiness in Camila and James, respectively, but they still appear in social events as a couple. When they meet for a ball, Diana insists that William and Harry need them to be together, but Charles tells her to “Just Dance”.
“Secrets And Lies” by Jeanna de Waal, Chris Medlin, and Ensemble – Diana’s social work removes the “Secrets And Lies” from AIDS, breaking the stigma of the disease.
“The Main Event” by Jeanna de Waal, Roe Hartrampf, Erin Davie, and Ensemble – The song starts when Diana learns that Charles and Camila are attending a party, which she then crashed. Diana and Camilla’s confrontation becomes “The Main Event” of the evening.
“Whatever Love Means Anyway (Reprise) by Roe Hartrampf – The reprise plays on their way home from the party, when Charles stops Diana from trying to fix their marriage. In fact, he feels grateful that Diana has an affair, so he can stay with Camilla too.
“Pretty, Pretty Girl (Reprise)” by Jeanna de Waal – Diana sings the reprise right after James left her for Germany. She realizes that she needs to tell her story, now that she has little left to lose.
“The Words Came Pouring Out” by Jeanna de Waal and Nathan Lucrezio – Diana gives an anonymous interview to author Andrew Morton. Belting “The Words Came Pouring Out,” Diana details the timeline of her marriage and extramarital affairs, alongside her issues with the royal family.
“The Dress” by Bruce Dow, Jeanna de Waal, Judy Kaye, and Ensemble – Paul, Diana’s butler, advises her to wear “The Dress” after Charles confesses to his affair on television.
“An Officer’s Wife” by Judy Kaye and Ensemble – Before granting Diana’s request for divorce, Queen Elizabeth remembers her story of being “An Officer’s Wife,” and how her life changed upon her ascent to the throne.
“If (Light The World)” by Jeanna de Waal and Ensemble – Now free, Diana delivers her plans and advocacies, but they were cut short by her untimely death.
The soundtrack for Diana: The Musical, which is 80 minutes long, creatively retells the royal family’s history. By inserting modern references in the lyrics, even younger audiences can comprehend and fully appreciate Princess Diana and her legacy.
