5 of Adam Schlesinger’s Best ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Songs

Musician Adam Schlesinger died on Wednesday, April 1, due to complications from the coronavirus pandemic. And while he was best known as the bassist for Fountains of Wayne, who had a hit with the catchy and humorous “Stacy’s Mom,” his work as a songwriter was extensive, perhaps best exemplified by his work as executive musical producer on musical TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Over the show’s four seasons, its 150-plus catchy songs, all co-written by Schlesinger, parodied everything from Broadway classics to Top 40 hits with witty lyrics, contributing to the show’s underrated brilliance. These five are just a tiny snippet of some of the best.

“What’ll It Be (Hey, West Covina)”

It’s clear from the start of “What’ll It Be (Hey, West Covina)” that this is meant to be a parody of — or homage to — Billy Joel and “Piano Man,” but it’s so much more than that. What starts with quips like “I’ve never played piano before” and a few lines about the back of one’s hand turns into a heartfelt, relatable ballad about feeling stuck in your hometown, surrounded by the same people you’ve been seeing since high school, and how that can make you feel stagnant and unaccomplished as an adult. While Schlesinger and the show itself are known for their comedy, “What’ll It Be” is a lovely moment of well-done sincerity that may hit a little close to home for some. Co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna shared an early snippet of the song on Twitter shortly after the news of Schlesinger’s death broke, calling it “perfect.”

“Settle for Me”

One of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s great strengths was the way it played with relationships, taking them on from both a realistic standpoint and an idealistic, rom-com one. “Settle for Me” plays with both of these beautifully, presenting a delightful black-and-white song and dance in the style of vintage musicals with a man pining for a woman…by asking her to just settle for him in a very straightforward, self-deprecating way one wouldn’t find in such a musical.

“Gettin’ Bi”

Just like “What’ll It Be” is a clear sendup to Billy Joel, masterpiece “Gettin’ Bi” is styled after ’80s hitmakers Huey Lewis and the News, plus it combines humor with a little bit of seriousness. It’s a fun, over-the-top coming-out song — and in context of when it takes place in the show, completely inappropriate, as some spectators point out — that also manages to be a proud declaration of sexuality and tackles common talking points. “Being bi does not imply that you’re a player or a slut,” character Daryl (played by Pete Gardner) sings, followed immediately by, “Sure, I like sex,” ultimately ending with, “It doesn’t take an intellectual/To get that i’m bisexual.”

“The End of the Movie”

Like “Settle for Me,” “The End of the Movie” plays with narrative versus reality, pointing out that, well, life doesn’t always make sense, and if we were to watch movies that were truly realistic representations, we wouldn’t really enjoy them. “It’s not some carefully crafted story,” guest star Josh Groban sings. “It’s a mess and we’re all gonna die,” then, a few lines later, “Life doesn’t make narrative sense.” Indeed. And for the record, this is a clip that’s even more effective to watch — Josh Groban’s appearance in the background is wonderfully funny.

“Anti-Depressants Are So Not a Big Deal”

The overarching plot of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend dealt with protagonist Rebecca’s ongoing struggles with mental illness, showing her ups and downs over the course of its four seasons in a way that didn’t contribute to the existing stigma around mental health but instead provided a refreshing take. “Anti-Depressants Are So Not a Big Deal” is pretty straightforward — “You’re not special ’cause you’re sad,” Rebecca’s therapist sings as various people join the song to show that they, too, are on antidepressants. “When it comes to meds, you’re such a basic bitch.” Once again, the song combines humor with a frank look at what causes depression, how the antidepressants help, and what some side effects are without feeling like it’s an ad or even a drama. The song ultimately won an Emmy for Schlesinger, co-creator and star Rachel Bloom, and composer Jack Dolgen.