Raise You Up / Just Be (from Kinky Boots): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This complete songbook captures a score that changed Broadway by proving a legendary pop artist could write theatrical music with genuine substance. The songs are singable across vocal ranges and skill levels, yet they contain real dramatic weight and memorable melodic hooks that stick with audiences long after opening night. For singers and pianists seeking contemporary material with heart, cultural relevance, and proven staying power, this collection delivers all three.

Kinky Boots' music vibrates with joy, defiance, and hard-won wisdom. The score swings between infectious, high-energy dance numbers and intimate character moments that reveal vulnerability and longing. There's an undercurrent of celebration running through every song, a refusal to apologize for who you are that makes singing this material feel genuinely liberating.

This book serves singers preparing audition material from a contemporary hit musical, pianists accompanying vocalists in lessons or recitals, and music theatre programs seeking a complete, performance-ready score. Accompanists and singers at intermediate to advanced levels will find the arrangements straightforward without being simplistic, making this ideal for high school productions, college programs, and semi-professional settings.

• Study the original cast recording to hear how the songs sit vocally and rhythmically. Lauper's melodies often contain subtle phrasing choices that aren't always obvious on the page.
• Pay attention to the rhythm section patterns in the piano part, especially in the uptempo numbers. They anchor the groove and drive the song's energy forward.
• Balance the vocal line with the piano accompaniment rather than competing with it. These arrangements are designed to support singers, not overpower them.
• Explore the emotional subtext of each character's music. Even the lighter, comedic numbers carry deeper meaning within the show's narrative.

Select individual songs for a Broadway revue or concert celebrating contemporary musical theatre scores. Program a duet or ensemble number during a show's second act to capitalize on audience familiarity with the material. High school and college music theatre programs can use multiple selections as audition standards or as building blocks for a full or partial production.

• Singing character-driven songs with clear emotional objectives
• Accompanying vocalists through songs with syncopated rhythms and contemporary harmonies
• Reading and interpreting Broadway-style piano/vocal arrangements
• Connecting melodic phrasing to lyrical content and dramatic intent
• Balancing ensemble vocals with solo moments