When we’re first introduced to Percy Jackson in the books, we quickly learn that things tend to go wrong for him. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to fit in anywhere, or make many friends. I know that I related to this a lot as a kid, and I’m sure a lot of other people did as well. Percy’s realization that he can do heroic things and is worthy of friends is a big part of his journey throughout the book, and the song “Good Kid” encapsulates this perfectly. Throughout the song, Percy’s pain in not knowing where he’s going wrong or how to fix things is clear and palpable. “I swear I’m a good kid” is the major refrain of the song, and everything about it, from the lyrics to the vocal performance perfectly capture Percy’s struggle to figure out who he is and be the best he can.
As a smart, nerdy kid, Annabeth was always my favorite character in The Lightning Thief. For a while there, I was convinced that Athena was going to show up and claim me as her daughter, too. Annabeth is incredibly intelligent and driven, but at times, she feels invisible, too. Her song, “My Grand Plan,” is a perfect representation of who she is and how she feels about herself. In the books, Annabeth is sassy, witty and, of course, whip-smart. All of this comes through in “My Grand Plan,” especially in lyrics like “Always been a tough girl / ‘Cause most girls never win if they’re polite.” This song does in just a few lyrics what it takes some films entire scenes to do: gives us a clear idea of who Annabeth is, what she wants, and why we should root for her. Just like in the books, I know I have my money on Annabeth to save the world.
Finally, Percy Jackson and the Olympians wouldn’t be the same without lovably hateable camp counselor Dionysus, or Mr. D. From his refusal to call Percy by his correct name to his bad attitude towards just about everything, Mr. D is one of the most memorable characters in the series. “Another Terrible Day” is Mr. D’s hilarious lament that he’s stuck running a summer camp for all of the Gods’ kids, but it’s also so much more than that. In this song. We get introduced to a hilarious cast of minor characters pulled straight from the book as well as a general idea of how the camp is run. And how is it run, you may be wondering? Just like in the book! There are mentions of pegasi, archery and nymphs. The creators of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical didn’t shy away from the huge, crazy world they were recreating—they embraced it, and they knocked it out of the park.