"Bill" with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Music by Jerome Kern from SHOWBOAT. This song beautifully demonstrates how love can be inexplicable - beyond words, beyond rationale. Sure, the singer can't list one good reason (looks, skills, smarts) why she loves Bill; yes, it may be unfounded on paper, but that's what makes this particular love all the more selfless and generous. When you fall for someone, it's not because they are perfect, you almost start to love them for (or BECAUSE of) their imperfections. It's just inexplicable devotion. How romantic is that?! "All The Things You Are" also by Hammerstein and Kern from VERY WARM FOR MAY. This song's long, lyrical melody line is quite possibly the most beautiful thing ever. AS for the well-constructed lyrics, the first half of the verse sets up the singer's questions and problems about searching for love, and the next part quells those worries - this time with a more grounded melody. But the real romance begins with the refrain - all those perfect 4ths really ground those flowery Hammerstein metaphors. Notice how he doesn't use similes!: "You ARE the promised kiss of springtime... You ARE the breathless hush of evening" (not "you are LIKE") - it's so definite! And then we learn that the singer doesn't quite have the love of the other person yet... "Someday my happy arms will hold you..." which brings longing into the picture, making the song more active and hopeful. Yummy. "How Could I Ever Know?" with Lyrics by Marsha Norman and Music by Lucy Simon from The Secret Garden. The sentiment of pure ache pouring out of this song makes me weak in the knees. There is such regret and longing at the sense of unfairness in the world that has separated these two lovers you just want to cry. The fact that they're apart makes their love that much stronger. The sorrow; the plea of forgiveness (as if it was anyone's fault...), the soaring melody line - to me, that is romantic.

I have been dared to say "Memory" from CATS and I can rarely resist a dare unless it involves the possibility of physical harm. That, plus, that entry will amuse at least two of my friends, so, there you go. "Memory." Though I am a little apprehensive about touting something with the lyrics "If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is," as that could result in pawing, I will still select with it. This choice goes against my inclination to pick a ditty that could be construed as edgy, like a Joe Iconis song, or a tune that is catchy and seemingly anti-romantic, like "Is it Me You Want to Kiss?" from SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL, but, I'm always for a new day beginning. Now and forever.

"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" from PAL JOEY

After thinking about it, I have to select Rodgers & Hammerstein's "If I Loved You". Perhaps because it lets you hedge your bets!

Noel Coward's "Someday I'll Find You," from PRIVATE LIVES. But, truthfully, there is no single most romantic song. Personally, I think yearning is more romantic than fulfillment, hence the above choice. But it could just as easily have been Vernon Duke's terrific "Words Without Music," from ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936 among many, many others.

It's difficult to choose from so many great selections...however, hands down, I would have to say 'The Next Ten Minutes' from THE LAST 5 YEARS. There's something about JRB's (or J Bob, as I call him) music that moves me.

"Do You Love Me" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"On My Own" from LES MISERABLES

"If I Loved You" because it's so impossibly romantic and yet it hedges it's bets. It's a hypothetical love song.

'Touch Me' from SPRING AWAKENING

"Loving You" from Passion

"My Funny Valentine". I absolutely love it because it was my dad's signature song in his act. I lost him in 2022 and I will always think of him when I hear it.

"Sun and Moon" from Miss Saigon

We actually have a new favorite Broadway Love Song. “Mr and Mrs Smith” from SMASH by Shaiman/Wittman. Does that count as a Broadway Love song? At our wedding just this Nov 3rd, Sara surprised me by having Marc Shaiman send the chart to the string trio that was playing at the ceremony. They started playing it when she appeared at the top of the beach and began down the aisle, escorted by Scott Wittman. And I got to marry MY ANGEL!

My current favorite is “People” which may not seem like a love song at first glance, but in the context of the show it is a uniquely profound first-date conversation. With lyrics like “with one person, one very special person - a feeling deep in your soul says you were half, now you’re whole” it is a romantic admission of our shared loneliness. To me, this is a powerful, aching love song - made that much more relatable living through the era of Covid isolation.

My absolute favorite Broadway love song is Lida Rose from The Music Man. It’s my favorite for two reasons: firstly, The Music Man Original Broadway Cast recording is what I used to listen to in the car with my family on road trips growing up. And secondly, Lida Rose is my valentine’s favorite song as well, so it reminds me of her

"People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma!

"Sun and Moon" from Miss Saigon. It has very special place in my heart because I did Miss Saigon and I've been listening to that song since I was eight years old. It's beautiful and that'll forever be my favorite Broadway love song.

"My Friends" from SWEENEY TODD.

The most recent love song I heard was from The Notebook, Ingrid Michaelson singing “If This Is Love.” I haven’t seen the musical but I loved her singing that song. I’m more of a break-up song lover, but this one hit me at the right moment.

My favorite song is by Andres Calamaro and its called "Algo Contigo" (something with you)...a girl dedicated it to me once....AMAZING!

“The Light in the Piazza” from The Light in the Piazza. The music and orchestrations are insanely romantic and beautiful, and Clara explaining that love is everywhere and rushing through her and all around her is exactly how being in love feels to me!!

'There are so many beautiful love songs but 'How Could I Ever Know' from THE SECRET GARDEN is one of my favorites. Lucy Simon was a guest composer at 'Monday Nights, New Voices' one month and she told the backstory on how the song was written. She explained that her writing partner, Marsha Norman, was on a turbulent flight one night and, though she tried, she couldn't get a hold of her husband , so she called Lucy and asked her to write down some things she wanted to tell her husband in case some thing happened on the flight. The words to her husband later became the song 'How Could I Ever Know.' The story had a beautiful impact on the audience and myself and changed how I looked and heard that song from then on.

"Being Alive" from COMPANY. It isn't about another person, it's about being that person that deserves to be loved...knowing that you are ready and deserving. There's no greater love song!

“Fifty Percent” from Ballroom. It talks of loving someone outside the parameters of a normal relationship. Of loving for the joy of the moment without expectation.

It just came to me...."My Romance." For me, it is the most romantic Broadway song and NOT just because it has "romance" in the title. I like the furtiveness of "no hideaway" and of course who can resist "soft guitars?" "My romance doesn't need a thing... but you."

I grew up shower belting to “I’ll Cover You” from Rent. The undisputed greatest Broadway love song of all time! “Just slip me on, I'll be your blanket, Wherever, whatever I'll be your coat, You'll be my king, and I'll be your castle, No, you be my queen, and I'll be your moat”.

"Think of Me" from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and "As Long As You're Mine" from WICKED

"Losing My Mind" from Follies. Which is exactly what I did when I saw Bernadette Peters perform it in 2011. She reduced me to nothing but a puddle and a playbill in the audience of the Kennedy Center.

My favorite Broadway love song is "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler on the Roof. My wife and I met during a production of Fiddler on the Roof, I was Motel the Tailor and she was a Russian Dancer. Whenever we hear the song, we both just bawl- because it's simple and honest and isn't afraid to be emotional.