Somebody Has to be the Favourite

Somebody Has to be the Favourite (retitled Somebody Has to be the Favorite in US releases) is the first song from Journey Beyond Sodor. The Most Important Thing is Being Friends is a remixed version of this song.

Lyrics
The song is sung three different times, all with different lyrics. Two times are sung by James while the other is sung by Thomas.

Version 1=
 * James: Somebody has to be the favourite!
 * The one that everybody wants to see!
 * Somebody has to be better than the rest!
 * Somebody has to be so good that they're the best!
 * Somebody has to be the favourite
 * Somebody has to be me!
 * Sometimes you have to blow your whistle!
 * To let the other engines know you're near!
 * Sometimes you have to make a racket and to shout!
 * In order to ensure that they're not left in any doubt!
 * Somebody has to be the favourite!
 * Say hello! The favourite is here!

Version 2=
 * James: Somebody has to be the favourite!
 * That's just the way it is, you must agree!
 * Some get to see the world and travel far away!
 * While other engines have a place they always have to stay!
 * Somebody has to be the favourite!
 * Somebody has to be me!
 * Somebody has to be me!

Version 3=
 * Thomas: Sometimes you have to get up early!
 * If there's some place you really want to be!
 * Sometimes you have to be awake before the dawn!
 * Sometimes you're up and out before they know you're gone!
 * Somebody has to be the favourite!
 * And this time it's going to be me!
 * This time it's going to be me!
 * This time it's going to be me!

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Philip
 * Bill and Ben
 * Norman
 * Stafford
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Judy and Jerome
 * The Thin Clergyman
 * The Ginger-haired Boy
 * The Lady with the Big Hat
 * Albert's Wife

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Knapford Station Yard
 * Vicarstown Bridge

UK

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Rob Rackstraw as James

US

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Rob Rackstraw as James

Trivia

 * There are instrumentals of this throughout the special that pose as a theme for James, one being a dark tango when he is tired of being on Thomas' branch line and the second instrumetal version was used in the credits.
 * The official release of the song on digital music services is the fourth version of the song, and not the others.
 * Bertie sings part of the song in Big World! Big Adventures!