A guide to all the songs from 'Mean Girls' in the West End

Learn more about the songs from Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin's bubbly score for the irresistible high school musical about girl gangs, rivalry, and revenge.

Julia Rank1 January, 2025, 00:00

Growing up isn’t easy but Mean Girls is positively thriving, having been extended to June 2025. It’s the perfect infusion of fun and colour during the winter months. The show features an irresistible pop score with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (and book by the original Mean Girls creator Tina Fey). Read on to learn more about these catchy and uplifting numbers that make fetch happen!

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“A Cautionary Tale”

Misfits Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard open the show by breaking the fourth wall. “It's a cautionary tale of fear and lust and pride / Based on actual events where people died.” Actually, no one died (this isn’t Heathers), but high school politics often feel like a matter of life and death. “Mean is easier than nice” and it’s all too easy to be tempted to the dark side.

“It Roars”

Our heroine Cady Heron has grown up in Africa with her naturalist mother. Lately, however, the lions and other animals have been somewhat lacking as companions and confidantes. Concerned with her daughter's social development, Cady's mum decides they should return to the states, but not New York as Cady initially hopes — to Illinois! She can’t wait for the adventure of a proper American high school experience with Starbucks and skateboards. No one at North Shore is particularly welcoming but Cady applies her zoological logic: “They're tough, challenge accepted / I'm tryna break into a pack / Like baboons, it's natural they attack.” Still, it would be nice for one person to take an interest.

“Where Do You Belong”

Janis and Damian take Cady under their wing and provide her with a guide to all the different cliques. These include the varsity jocks, band geeks, show choir, dance club, Mathletes, and more. They themselves aren’t ones for joining in or seeking popularity, but offer friendship and a place at their table.

“Meet the Plastics”

The most powerful trio in the school make their entrance. Janis and Damian advise Cady to stay well clear. Queen bee Regina George is “the prettiest poison you’ve ever seen”. She’s a massive deal. Gretchen Wieners, “head of the worker bees”, does the dirty work that keeps Regina in power. Karen Smith is “the dumbest person you will ever meet” (“I once saw her put a “D” in the word “orange”). Regina invites Cady to have lunch with them (“On Wednesdays we wear pink”) – “It will be fetch!”

“Apex Predator”

Cady is grateful to Regina for advising her against joining the Mathletes (social suicide for sure) but Janis warns her not to trust her. Cady, however, is exhilarated by Regina’s attention and enjoying the power that comes with being “kinda friends” with her: “I was victim, I was quarry / Now I shake my mane.”

“What’s Wrong with Me?”

Gretchen reflects on being Regina’s henchwoman. We learn that she is in fact deeply insecure and dependant on Regina’s approval. It’s a toxic friendship in which “We both know one day/ There'll be blood on the floor / But which one will betray the other more?”

“Stupid with Love”

Cady remembers her earlier crushes and ensuing humiliation. She concludes that she’s “Smart with math but stupid at love” and attracts the attention of the Mathletes team. She also develops a crush on her calculus classmate Aaron – “I'm astounded and non-plussed / I am filled with calcu-lust!”

“Sexy”

If Karen could have her way, it would be Halloween every day – and there’d be world peace. On Halloween, you can pretend to be someone else – “It’s like the internet / Only in person and with candy.” It isn’t easy presenting yourself as the sexy one in your friend group year-round and Halloween allows for a twist on the usual theme.

“Someone Gets Hurt”

Regina — in an incredible sparkly catsuit — flirts with Aaron at his Halloween party, after promising to put in a good word for Cady. Cady sees them kissing and is heartbroken.

“Revenge Party”

Cady tells Janis and Damian what has happened. It transpires that Janis and Regina were childhood best friends until Regina spread rumours about Janis being in love with her. The trio plan “A revenge party that ends with somebody’s head on a spike”. Cady will have to pretend to still be friends with the Plastics and work at “Taking away Regina’s only achievement – being a hot person”. "Fearless" has been cut as the Act One closing song from the Broadway production, with "Revenge Party" being reworked into a longer number in the West End show.

Mean Girls - LT - 1200

"I'm Blowing Up"

A new song for the West End production, Cady is revelling in her new position as Queen Bee at North Shore: "I got status, I'm a badass and I'm holding all this power." The song is similar to "Bossed Up", which was cut from the pre-Broadway run.

“What’s Wrong with Me?” (Reprise)

Gretchen has a new “boss”, but it’s the same old routine. Regina’s mother wonders why her daughter is being so remote (“Why can’t it just be drugs?”).

“Whose House is This?”

Cady throws a party while her parents are away. There’s pot present and she gets increasingly drunk as the party gets out of hand.

“More is Better”

When Cady and Aaron are alone in her room, she tells him that she spent most of her life alone and now she’s surrounded by friends. She admits that she pretended to be bad at math to get his attention, but he tells her that he preferred her the way she used to be, before she turned into a clone of Regina.

“Someone Gets Hurt” (Reprise)

After Janis’s art show, she and Damian call Cady out on her hypocrisy by “going full Plastic” – it was only ever supposed to be a pretence.

“World Burn”

Regina has lost everything but she’s still a force to be reckoned with. She takes the Burn Book and adds “Regina George is a fugly cow” before printing multiple copies and releasing them into the wild. Chaos ensues and Cady, Gretchen, and Karen are framed as the perpetrators.

“I’d Rather Be Me”

All the girls in the school are summoned to a special assembly in an attempt to work out the tensions between them. Janis delivers a paean to honesty and individuality: “Everybody has opinions but it doesn’t make them true / What’s true is being me”.

"Stupid with Love" (Reprise)

Cady becomes the first female member of the Mathletes and unashamedly flexes her intellectual muscles, helping North Shore High to win the state championship. She reconciles with Aaron before heading to the Spring Fling. The reprise replaces "Do This Thing" from the Broadway production.

“I See Stars”

After Cady is crowned Spring Fling Queen, she breaks the flimsy plastic crown and distributes the pieces among the other girls: “Plastic doesn't shine, glitter doesn't shine / Rhinestones don't shine the way you do / You are so real, you are so rare / I see you there, I see you.” She reconciles with Janis and Damian and the whole school bonds and dances together.