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Valentine's Day is here and love is all around us. At this most romantic time of the year, we can't help but wonder... what is the greatest Broadway love song ever? BroadwayWorld continues our great tradition of finding that consensus- and this year we have more answers than ever! We've gathered responses from over 1500 performers, composers, industry professionals, and entertainment personalities from all over the world.
This year's list is presented by The Notebook, now in previews on Broadway. Based on the best selling novel that inspired the iconic film, this new musical follows Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, as they share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.
Performer
Company | The Band's Visit | Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark | The Miracle Worker
I gotta say, these days it's good old fashioned "Til There Was You" from The Music Man. Its sweet, elegant melody and the simplicity of the lyrics; charming and just a bit melancholy. Sigh, gets me right there. And the little turn around at the end of the bridge into the verse "...and dew.." Mmhmm. Sold.
Performer
Almost Famous | Waitress | Jersey Boys | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
"If I loved You" from Carousel is probably the greatest love song ever written because it deftly walks the line between flirtation and confession of feelings that only a Rogers and Hammerstein song can really do but if I'm picking the kareoke song... it's "On the Wings of Love" every time. That bridge?! Come ON!
Performer
Dear Evan Hansen | Bare | Matilda
"Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins is my jam.
Industry
Cinderella | Sister Act | Xanadu
"When She Smiles" from Lysistrata Jones; because when I heard Lewis Flinn sing it for the first time, I fell in love with him all over again.
Industry
A Bronx Tale | Cinderella | Leap of Faith | 9 to 5
“Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful” from Cinderella – though I prefer the second verse, “Do I love you because you’re wonderful, or are you wonderful because I love you." I feel all soft and mushy and then I go ‘Ahhh’ and then I cry.
Performer
The Phantom of the Opera
I can't wipe the smile off my face during "People Will Say We're In Love" from Oklahoma!. Those repeated denials and sly teases. . . They may say it ain't so, but the audience clearly sees two people who are absolutely perfect for one another.
Performer
Jekyll & Hyde | Avenue Q | Les Misérables
“If Ever I Would Leave You” from Camelot. Such a simple beautiful melody, such a simple beautiful promise…and by that final season of Spring: A Soaring declaration of (Calendar) love! “Garlic! Garlic!” from Dance of the Vampires runs a close second.
Performer
Rock of Ages | South Pacific
There are two Broadway love songs that tickle my fancy; first, I would have to say is “The Origin of Love” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I just really love the idea of having ‘another half’ out there that we are each destined to find and rejoin. Second, I would have to say “I'd F*ck Me” from Silence! The Musical– let's face it, I've been working out, and I look good.. not Andrew Samonsky good, but still pretty good, so...
Performer
Chicago
"A Little Priest" (from Sweeney Todd, by Stephen Sondheim) may be my favorite love song from musical theatre. While not discussing love at all, it is the moment when Sweeney sees Mrs. Lovett in a "positive" light for the first time, and she wins what she believes to be his affection. The fact that it condenses the entire world-view of the show, as well as being a defining plot point, is what makes it, for me, an incredible love song. Also, I enjoy morbid jokes that rhyme a lot.
Performer
Forbidden Broadway | Burn the Floor | The Rocky Horror Show
My favorite love songs are "My Time Of Day" and "All The Things You Are.”
Performer
Hands on a Hardbody | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Hair
"This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific. Exquisite melody, timeless lyric, and written for a baritone!
Performer
Forbidden Broadway | Legally Blonde | Hairspray
Favorite pre-pubescent Broadway love song, "All I ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera because I wanted to BE Christine Daae. Favorite teenage Broadway love song, "On My Own." Both sad and creepy. When I thought requited love was the BEST. Favorite new Broadway love song, "When She Smiles." You should buy the Lysistrata Jones cast album and listen to it. Favorite new Off-Broadway love song, "Love Me as a Friend." You should buy the Triassic Parq cast album and listen to it. It's about female dinosaurs growing penises and how that might change the friendships they have. Runner up, "Dick Fix" (also on Triassic Parq cast album).
Performer
Forbidden Broadway
This is a tough one, cause there are SOOOOOOO many beautiful and touching Broadway love songs. But, I'll never forget the first time I heard "Say it Somehow" from The Light in the Piazza. My heart melted. Also...when a man sings "Johanna" from Sweeney Todd, I am putty in his hands. And another one (because I can't resist) is "All the Wasted Time" from Parade. I sob like a baby through that one.
Performer
Mamma Mia
"New Words" by Maury Yeston. I've always appreciated song writing but now that we have a little baby boy in our lives "New Words" brings tears to my eyes every time.
Performer
Jekyll and Hyde | Aida
"Somewhere" from West Side Story – this song gets me every single time. One of my all-time favorites. The first time I heard it, I literally wept. I thought it was so beautiful, so passionate and I absolutely adored the melody and words of the song. "Someday..... somewhere..." The lyric that really says it all for me is that "there's a place for us." I love how romantic that line is. That no matter what the odds are, or if the world doesn't understand this kind of love, that there is a place... Somewhere.....I hope to record my own version of the song one day.
Performer
Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark | Jacques Brel Returns | Jekyll and Hyde
It's difficult to choose just one love song to be my favorite,but, if I must I would pick a little known song by Teddy Randazzo called, "All The Way Home". It is tender, romantic and heartfelt. I feel warm each time I hear it and sing it which is the main reason I put it on my new album, "The Look Of Love."
Performer
Once
It is a tossup between Little Texas "My Love," Augustana's "Steal Your Heart" or Coldplay's "Fix You."
Performer
Newsies | Beautiful
I think my favorite Broadway love song is "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma. It's the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein melody and its playful but also has significant meaning.
Performer
Bare
It's not a classic Broadway love song by any means, but it's been one of my favorite songs for a long time. "She's Got a Way" from Movin Out.
Performer
Mamma Mia | The Wedding Singer
"My Man" from Funny Girl. I love this song because it's soulful and revealing. I love to listen to renditions of this song: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fanny Brice, (Barbra) Streisand, because they're all so personal... Happy Valentine's Day to 'my man', Paul Stancato cause when he holds me in his arms the world is bright, all right!
Performer
Newsies | Lysistrata Jones | Chicago |
"Too Beautiful for Words" from The Color Purple.
Performer
Forever Dusty | Barefoot in the Park
"Bring Him Home." This is the greatest love song...from a father to his daughter. He is praying for this boy to be delivered safely home. For her. A boy he has never met, but who he knows is his daughter's love. Beautiful.
Performer
Cinderella | 9 to 5 | Les Miserables | Avenue Q
As I've gotten older (though not necessarily wiser) I realize that "love" is different from "romance" so I'm going to pick William Finn's "What Would I Do" from Falsettos and Rodgers and Hart's "Everything I've Got" from By Jupiter as serious and humorous takes on complicated but profound relationships.
Performer
Cinderella | Mame | On the Town | Thoroughly Modern Millie
When I was a girl, I had a lovely white stuffed elephant that played "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific. Both the music and the elephant were very consoling to a rather overwrought eight year old. I have always loved the song and even now think of it unexpectedly. "Who can explain it? Who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, Wise men never try."
Performer
The Phantom of the Opera | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | The Music Man
William Shakespeare put it best: “The course of true love never did run smooth.” To me, love songs aren’t just schmaltzy songs about love, they are songs about hope. We all hope for love....and hope keeps us going. Songs like “I Loved You Once in Silence” and “Somewhere” are amazing classics, but I am so drawn to “Falling Slowly” from Once.
Performer
The Phantom of the Opera
"Say it Somehow" from The Light in the Piazza. The combination of such a beautiful, sweeping melody and the story of two young lovers finding a way to communicate without words is so incredibly romantic I can hardly stand it. It is one my most favourite duets to sing.
Performer
A Beautiful Noise | Moulin Rouge! | Nice Work If You Can Get It | Anything Goes | Grease | Chicago
"Better Together" by Jack Johnson
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