Music moves us. Sometimes it’s the beat, but usually, it's the timing. When Katherine Plumber sits down at her typewriter in the middle of a frantic newsroom, she isn't just a character in a Disney musical; she is the voice of every person who has ever felt totally out of their league. Watch What Happens from the Broadway hit Newsies has become a staple of the musical theater canon, and honestly, its staying power isn't just about Alan Menken’s catchy hooks. It’s about the sheer, messy reality of trying to change the world when you're still trying to figure out who you are.
The song is a marathon. It’s a literal frantic rush of thoughts. If you’ve ever looked at a blank cursor and felt your heart start to race because you have something important to say but no idea how to say it, you’ve lived this song.
The Genius of Jack Feldman and Alan Menken
Most people know Alan Menken for the sweeping, cinematic ballads of the Disney Renaissance. Think Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid. But with Newsies, and specifically Watch What Happens, Menken tapped into something much more jittery and contemporary. Jack Feldman’s lyrics are the secret sauce here. They don't follow the typical "A-B-A-B" rhyme scheme of a standard pop song. Instead, they mirror the erratic rhythm of a panic attack turning into a breakthrough.
Katherine is a female reporter in 1899. That’s a tough gig. She’s trying to cover a strike that could break the city, and she knows that if she messes up this one article, she’s back to writing the society pages or, worse, out of a job entirely. The lyrics reflect that desperation. One minute she’s self-deprecating—calling herself a "daft and dazed" girl—and the next, she’s declaring her intent to "give 'em something to believe in."
It’s this internal tug-of-war that makes the song so relatable. It isn't a "power ballad" in the traditional sense where the singer starts strong and ends stronger. It’s a "discovery song." She’s finding the power in real-time. By the time she hits those final notes, she hasn't just written a headline; she’s found her spine.
Why the Newsies Strike Matters Today
To understand why Watch What Happens resonates, you sort of have to look at the real history of the 1899 Newsboys' Strike. This wasn't just Disney magic. Real kids like Kid Blink and David Simmons actually took on giants like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. They were fighting against a price hike that literally threatened their ability to eat.
In the stage version of Newsies, Katherine represents the press's role in social movements. While the movie (the 1992 cult classic) didn't have this specific song—it actually didn't have Katherine at all—the Broadway adaptation realized they needed a bridge between the street-level grit of the boys and the power of the media.
The Shift from Screen to Stage
When Disney decided to bring Newsies to the stage in 2011 at Paper Mill Playhouse, they knew they couldn't just copy the movie. The movie was a flop when it came out. It only became a hit later on VHS. To make it work for a modern theater audience, they brought in Harvey Fierstein to write the book. Fierstein saw a gap. Jack Kelly needed a foil. He needed someone who had as much to lose as he did.
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Enter Katherine.
Giving her a solo like Watch What Happens changed the dynamic of the entire show. It turned the musical from a story about boys shouting in the street into a story about the intersection of activism and journalism. The song is the moment that bridge is built.
Analyzing the Vocal Gymnastics
If you talk to any musical theater performer, they’ll tell you that singing Watch What Happens is like running a 5K while reciting the dictionary. Kara Lindsay, who originated the role on Broadway, set a massive standard for how this song should be handled.
The tempo is relentless.
There are sections where the lyrics come so fast they’re practically "patter." Patter songs—think Gilbert and Sullivan—are designed to show off technical precision. But here, the speed serves the story. Katherine is thinking faster than she can type. Her brain is three sentences ahead of her fingers.
- The "Wait, what?" moments: She stops her own momentum constantly.
- The Self-Correction: "A girl? No, a female. No, a lady."
- The Crescendo: It doesn't happen because she's happy; it happens because she's determined.
Interestingly, many vocal coaches use this song to teach "acting through the song." It’s impossible to sing this well if you’re just standing there trying to hit pretty notes. You have to look like you’re losing your mind just a little bit.
The Cultural Impact and the "Audition Room" Phenomenon
Go to any professional musical theater audition in New York, London, or Chicago. You will hear Watch What Happens through the walls at least five times. It has become the go-to "uptempo" song for young women in the industry.
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Why?
Because it shows range. Not just vocal range, but emotional range. Casting directors want to see if an actor can handle comedy, vulnerability, and sheer vocal power in under three minutes. It’s a litmus test. If you can handle the breath control required for the bridge of this song, you can probably handle almost anything in the modern musical theater repertoire.
But beyond the industry, the song has taken on a life of its own in the world of social media. On TikTok and Instagram, "Watch What Happens" often soundtracks videos of people starting new businesses, finishing degrees, or finally quitting jobs that didn't serve them. It’s become a universal "bet on yourself" anthem.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think this song was in the original 1992 movie starring Christian Bale. It wasn't. In the movie, the "love interest" role was Sarah Jacobs, and she didn't have a solo. She barely had a personality. The addition of Katherine and this specific song was a deliberate move to modernize the themes of the story.
Another misconception is that it’s a simple "I Want" song. In musical theater theory, an "I Want" song is where the protagonist tells the audience their dreams (think "Part of Your World"). But Katherine already knows what she wants. She wants to be a respected journalist. Watch What Happens is more of an "I'm Doing" song. It’s the sound of someone actually doing the work.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: A Closer Look
"Give 'em a girl with some gumption."
That line basically sums up the whole character. Gumption is an old-fashioned word, but Katherine uses it like a weapon. The song is full of these little linguistic gems that feel period-appropriate but also strangely modern.
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When she sings about how "the world is watching," she isn't just talking about her readers. She’s talking about history. She realizes that the strike isn't just a local news story; it’s a shift in the tectonic plates of society. The newsboys are the "small" people standing up to the "big" people.
The song also tackles the imposter syndrome that so many of us feel. Katherine literally asks herself, "Who are you to think you can do this?" That's a heavy question for a "Disney" song. It grounds the fantasy of the musical in a very human insecurity.
How to Lean Into the Message of the Song
If you’re listening to Watch What Happens for inspiration, there’s a lot to take away. It’s not about being perfect. Katherine’s typewriter jams. She gets frustrated. She almost gives up.
The lesson? Start anyway.
Write the first draft. Make the mistake. Correct it in the next line. The brilliance of the song is that it celebrates the process, not just the result. By the end, she hasn't won the Pulitzer yet—she's just finished the article. But that’s enough.
Take Action Like Katherine Plumber
- Acknowledge the Fear: Don't pretend you aren't nervous. Katherine admits she’s "paralyzed" in the first verse. Acceptance is the first step toward movement.
- Break it Down: She doesn't write the whole paper at once. She focuses on the "headline." When you're overwhelmed, find your headline.
- Use Your Voice: Whether it’s through writing, speaking, or creating, the song reminds us that "history is made by those who show up."
- Embrace the "Messy" Middle: Your first attempt at anything will probably feel as chaotic as the middle of this song. That’s okay. Keep the tempo up.
Watch What Happens remains a masterclass in character development through music. It’s a high-wire act of songwriting that perfectly captures the moment doubt turns into defiance. Whether you're a fan of Newsies or just someone trying to find their footing in a loud world, the song serves as a reminder that even when you're terrified, you can still produce something that changes the game. Just keep typing.
The next time you feel like the world is too big and you're too small, put on this track. Listen to the way the piano mimics the clacking of keys. Listen to the breath between the lines. Then, go out and give 'em something to believe in.