Changing My Major, Days and Days, and Ring of Keys are the three that most vividly capture the human experience for me, but the whole score truly does that. Those three are just the standouts due to the performances behind them and the writing.
The three Alison's singing together in "Flying Away"...beautiful
The end of "Edges of the World" (Oh Michael, you are amazing)
Changing My Major
Come to the Fun Home =)
And finally "Days and Days." The end made me sob, and I cannot remember the last time I cried listening to a cast album. As much as I cannot believe Sydney Lucas' brilliance at her age, I hope Judy Kuhn takes the Tony this year.
I didn't know a whole lot about the show and bought the off-broadway album on a whim. I wasn't expecting to respond to it as much as I did. On the surface I can't related to anything these people are going through, but oh, it moved me in a way I can't explain.
I really can't choose between Ring of Keys and Maps. The former had me sobbing with joy in the theater, but the latter is such a perfectly put together song centered around a beautiful lyrical idea. I just wish it was longer!
I adore the entire score (ok, maybe not Helen's Etude), but Ring of Keys and the finale never fail to move me. Both are gorgeous pieces of writing, both much and lyrics. I also have a soft spot for Raincoat of Love, largely because it's so different from the rest of the show and Joel Perez sounds fantastic singing it.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.