Roxie Lyrics – Chicago

Song Overview

Personal Review

“Roxie” by Gwen Verdon glides in with jazzy swagger and razor-sharp wit, every line a declaration of unapologetic ambition and showbiz bravado—here the lyrics become Roxie’s personal manifesto of fame and scandal.

Song Meaning and Annotations

The song “Roxie” thrusts its heroine center stage, capturing her leap from a disillusioned housewife to a public spectacle—a satire of Jazz Age celebrity taken straight from Kander and Ebb’s pen.

Its style fuses brassy Broadway show-tune flourishes with sly 1920s jazz syncopation, the rhythm driving Roxie’s confident boasts and rapid-fire wordplay.

Emotionally, the song arcs from playful self-promotion (“The name on everybody’s lips is gonna be Roxie”) to defiant provocation (“Who says that murder’s not an art?”), embodying the character’s roller-coaster of hope and audacity.

In dramatic context, it follows her hit single sensation engineered by attorney Billy Flynn, setting the stage for her rivalry with Velma and the show’s biting critique of sensationalized justice.

Created by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Bob Fosse’s groundbreaking 1975 production, “Roxie” reflects Fosse’s trademark Brechtian detachment, breaking the fourth wall to lampoon fame’s fickle limelight.

Key phrases like “bang” and “chips” double as metaphor and literal callback to vaudeville lingo—murder becomes performance art, the gallows a final curtain call.

Verse Highlights

Verse 1

Roxie’s swaggering introduction, where she declares:

“The name on everybody's lips / Is gonna be Roxie”

sets the tone of brash self-promotion and theatrical showmanship.

Chorus

The chorus hinges on the ensemble echoing:

“Foxy Roxie Hart!”

reinforcing her craving for fame and public adoration.

Song Credits

• Featured: Gwen Verdon
• Producers: Phil Ramone, Martin Richards, Joseph Harris, Ira Bernstein & Didier C. Deutsch
• Composer: John Kander
• Lyricist: Fred Ebb
• Conductor: Stan Lebowsky
• Arranger: Peter Howard
• Orchestration: Ralph Burns
• Liner Notes: Ray Errol Fox
• Remastering Engineer: Leon Zervos
• Engineer: Phil Ramone & Richard Blakin
• Release Date: June 3, 1975
• Album: Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville (Original Broadway Cast)
• Label: Arista Records
• Genre: Pop, Jazz, Broadway Musical
• Instruments: Brass, Percussion, Woodwinds, Piano, Strings
• Mood: Brassy, Defiant
• Length: 3:13
• Track #: 9
• Language: English
• Music Style: Jazz-infused Show Tune
• Poetic Meter: Iambic (mostly)
• Copyright Holder: Arista Records

Songs Exploring Themes of Ambition and Fame

“Don't Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl sees Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand) defiantly proclaiming her right to stardom, transforming personal setbacks into an anthem of unyielding ambition. While Streisand’s soaring belt and Judy Garland-style phrasing channel mid-century cabaret glam, Bob Merrill’s lyrics mirror Roxie’s own hunger for the spotlight. This show tune became a pop standard, later reprised in film and television as a symbol of showbiz drive.

Meanwhile, “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls dramatizes the cutthroat chase for chart success. Effie White’s soul-ballad version clashes with Deena Jones & the Dreams’ disco remix, capturing the fleeting nature of fame and sacrifice. Tom Eyen’s lyrics and Henry Krieger’s post-disco grooves echo Roxie’s own media-fueled ascent, spotlighting the price artists pay for celebrity.

In contrast, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” (Irving Berlin) from Annie Get Your Gun revels in showbiz camaraderie, its tongue-in-cheek salute to performers’ optimism making it a rallying cry for stars old and new. Ethel Merman’s thunderous delivery and Ted Royal’s brassy orchestration mirror the uproarious confidence Roxie channels when she first commands the stage.

Questions and Answers

Who produced “Roxie” by Gwen Verdon?

Phil Ramone, Martin Richards, Joseph Harris, Ira Bernstein & Didier C. Deutsch.

When was “Roxie” released?

June 3, 1975.

Who wrote “Roxie”?

Music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Has “Roxie” been featured in any film adaptation?

Yes—Renée Zellweger performs “Roxie” as Roxie Hart in the 2002 film version of Chicago.

Are there notable revivals of “Roxie”?

The 1996 Broadway revival featured Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth, and Erika Jayne headlined a limited run in 2025.

Awards and Chart Positions

Although “Roxie” was not released as a standalone single, the 2002 film soundtrack Chicago: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200.

The 1996 Broadway revival cast recording, which includes “Roxie,” won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1997.

How to Sing?

Vocal Range: Mezzo-soprano (F3–B4) with strong belt required.

Breath Control: Short, punchy phrases demand efficient support.

Articulation: Crisp diction to sell each comedic beat.

Style & Tempo: Uptempo with swing feel, maintaining forward momentum.

Fan and Media Reactions

“Well this is not the way I wanted to say goodbye to Roxie and my Chicago family but I have no choice,”
Erika Jayne

“There used to be two numbers ... Then the song ‘Nowadays’ showed up, and that sums up what happened to her. It's a really important song. As Gwen would say, the number had class.”
Nemetz

“You can like the life you're living. You can live the life you like. You can even marry Harry and mess around with Ike.”
Wilson

“I just loved doing that song with Annie, and I loved Annie so much... It shows them in a fantasy of their double act, and they do it beautifully.”
Neuwirth

“Lana Gordon was my Velma, and she will always hold a place in my heart. Our voices together carried each other—it is truly better than making love.”
Anderson