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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
Singer/songwriter: Grammy | Golden Globe and Oscar-winning Legend
"Something Wonderful" from THE KING AND I by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is the choice of the hour, because if you got me closer to the morning or the evening, it might be something else. But I keep referring to this one in my mind because it is the ultimate song of compassion. Anna sings it about the King of Siam, with all his self-obsessed and insecure ways. Even so, he is shocked out of self-absorbsion and his so oft rehearsed kingly 'performance' into a deeply, humanly compassionate and likely unselfconscious moment. The melody of the song is plenty, but it is the words that make me love everybody, for their humanity in its tiniest details.
Performer
Shucked | Tootsie | Journey's End | Significant Other
My favorite Broadway love song this year for Valentine's Day is anything that Lora Lee Gayer sang in Holiday Inn because, see ya on Valentine's Day, honey. Any of those songs, "White Christmas," sure.
Performer
International Singing Sensation
"Music of the Night" from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
Performer
Scottsboro Boys | A Boy and His Soul | Euphoria
"Forever Yours" from ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is pretty special. When I first heard that song it took me straight into the stratosphere. The lyrics, the harmonies, the orchestration. Then the crushing reality of Papa Ge piping in at the end and reeling these lovers back to earth from their spiritual coming togetherness. Ah but it was a moment...a precious moment.
Performer
On the Twentieth Century | You Can't Take it With You
“Till There Was You” from The Music Man
Performer
Bright Star | Gigi | Bye Bye Birdie | Mamma Mia! | Footloose
My FAVORITE is from The Golden Apple, by Jerome Moross and John LaTouche—"It's the Going Home Together." I have loved this duet since the day I heard it, and if I ever got married again, would have it sung at my wedding!
Performer
The Confession of Lily Dare | Gigi | Sunday in the Park With George | She Loves Me | The Secret Garden | The Phantom of the Opera | Anything Goes
I think Stephen Schwartz's beautiful ballad "With You" from PIPPIN is just about perfect. It's a gorgeous melody, a poetic lyric stated with simplicity and grace. Simply perfection.
Performer
Wonderful Town | Cabaret | Chicago | Grease | Leap of Faith
"I Believe My Heart" from The Woman in White.
Performer
On the Town | The Addams Family | Xanadu | Hairspray
I think it’s called “Make Believe” from Show Boat. Its just pretty.
Performer
The Ferryman | Torch Song | Marvin's Room
My favorite Broadway love song is “Bonnie” from Bonnie and Clyde The Musical. Bonnie and Clyde has a sound track that is just brilliant but that song particularly has always stuck with me. It’s a song that is short and very simple, but it’s so grounded and caring. It reminds me of a song that you’re average person would sit down and write for their own love and sing to them to express how much they adore the other one. It’s just incredibly honest.
Performer
Les Miserables | The Book of Mormon | All Shook Up
'One Hand, One Heart' from West Side Story
Performer
The Band's Visit | Fiddler on the Roof | Avenue Q | Rent | The Last Five Years
There are too many to name. I've had the good fortune of singing some great ones like "Next Ten Minutes" from Last Five Years or "Perfect For You" from Next to Normal, and of course, "Miracle of Miracles" from Fiddler on the Roof. Happy V-Day X
Performer
Harmony | Music & Passion | Copacabana
"My Heart Is So Full Of You" by Frank Loesser from the musical THE MOST HAPPY FELLA.
Performer
Dames at Sea | Matilda
I love "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You" by The Four Seasons, which is of course in Jersey Boys. Look, I'm not saying someone has to hire an entire horn section to tell me that they love me, but it would help.
Performer
The Present
"This Nearly Was Mine," South Pacific. That optimistic flush of post-war America, a world of feisty-but-adorable sopranos and dashing Italian baritones, in the midst of impossibly lush tropical locations… Aah.
Performer
The Wizard of Oz | The Woman in White | Dance of the Vampires | The Phantom of the Opera | Barnum | Billy | Flowers for Algernon
I think "If I Loved You" from CAROUSEL is the most perfectly written love song. The matching of the lyric to the melody is sublime.
Performer
Recording and Concert Superstar
"Stranger in Paradise" from KISMET. It's just glorious.
Performer
Glee
"The Word of Your Body" from SPRING AWAKENING, and not just because I know the people who sing it.
Performer
Kiss Me Kate | Holiday Inn | In The Heights | Disney's High School Musical
"What is it About Her" from THE WILD PARTY. It is a really triumphant song and his turmoil is so beautiful.
Performer
Finding Neverland | Glee | South Pacific | Light in the Piazza | Hairspray
Alright, this might sound weird coming from me, but I think the most romantic song in MT would have to be "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver. It is simply splendiferous!! Whenever someone gives me those little butterflies in my stomach, I usually sing this song ... except I just change the he to a she!
Performer
Grease | Xanadu | Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist
"Some Enchanted Evening" from SOUTH PACIFIC
Performer
Newsies | Follies | Chicago | Teddy & Alice | Show Boat
This is a very difficult question, but "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific means a lot to me and my wife.
Performer
Wicked | How to Succeed in Business | A Chorus Line | Promises | Promises | Company | On the Town | Can-Can | Annie Get Your Gun | State Fair | Follies | Babes in Arms
I thought this would be easy...it's not. Did I say "If Ever I Would Leave You" last time? "Always"? "My Heart is So Full of You"? "Some Enchanted Evening"? See what I mean? I should be more modern but I always think of the older shows. OK...I've just re-discovered "So Many People" from Saturday Night. So that's the one.
Performer
Jekyll & Hyde; Recording Artist & Concert Star
'On the Street Where You Live' from My Fair Lady
Performer
Disaster! | Memphis | Aida | Cabaret | Rent
"Anthem" form Chess. Not your typical boy/girl love song but rather a love song between a man and his country.
Performer
A Beautiful Noise | Les Miserables | Priscilla Queen of the Desert | Hair | 110 in the Shade | Lestat
'Everything's Up to Date in Kansas City'
Performer
Saint Joan | A Doll's House Part 2 | Romeo and Juliet | The Trip to Bountiful | Stick Fly
It's not really a love song, but "Anyone Can Whistle." It's just such a touching song. I don't know, everytime I hear it I just well up. It's just a moving, tender, touching song.
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