.png)
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
Puffs
"’If I Loved You," from Carousel. It's such a tough love story, but that song is so clear and beautiful. It pops into my head all the time, whether I want it to or not. It sort of speaks perfectly to wanting to tell someone how you feel, and that moment right before you jump of the cliff. Gorgeous melody!
Performer
Side Show | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | A Little Night Music | Curtains | Grey Gardens
I love "The Next Ten Minutes" from The Last Five Years. You never know what tomorrow brings, but you just have to stay present.
Performer
Call Me Madam | Violet | A Little Night Music
"I Concentrate On You" from Silk Stockings. The lyrics are gorgeous. It's kind of melancholy but also hopeful.
Performer
Aladdin | Disaster!
There are so many Broadway love songs that I love, but I have to especially suggest from GUYS AND DOLLS, "I've Never Been In Love Before." It was my favorite song when I played "Sky Masterson" for 6 months in Las Vegas (1977). I also love Barbra Streisand's recording of the same. It suggests love is fresh and new and intoxicating!
Performer
Once
It is a tossup between Little Texas "My Love," Augustana's "Steal Your Heart" or Coldplay's "Fix You."
Performer
Bronx Bombers | Lombardi | Sex and Longing
My favorite Broadway love song is "All I Ask of You." Mostly because it's a song about being a stalker and somehow, in the 80's, stalking was romantic.
Performer
Wolf Hall: Parts 1 and 2
Well this may be a perverse choice for a love song, but it'll break the mood of all the schmaltzy stuff! "I Do Not Love You" by Antony Newley and Leslie Bricusse from The Good Old Bad Old Days. I was amazed when I first heard it. I guess we could imagine Henry VIII singing it to Anne Boleyn?
Performer
Trip of Love
My favorite Broadway love song is “Without You” from Rent. The entirety of the song she speaks about how the world keeps spinning regardless of his presence, but HER world is still nothing without him. To have someone shake your life in such a great way- must be magical.
Performer
In the Heights | La Cage Aux Folles | The Boys in the Band
"Will He Like Me" from SHE LOVES ME
Performer
Hadestown | The Wiz | Aint Misbehavin' | The Full Monty | Impressionism
My favorite Broadway love song is "Home" from the score of THE WIZ. It is composer Charlie Small's compelling lyric about everyone's first love: "When I think of home, I think of a place where there's love overflowing." Happy Valentine's Day.
Performer
Sweeney Todd | Diana | Kinky Boots | Carrie
"Something Good" - The Sound of Music. Because, to the state the obvious…. the lyrics, the melody and Julie Andrews’ voice. But I also love the simplicity of the song. It’s such a beautiful sentiment and it’s interpreted effortlessly.
Performer
American Psycho | Shows for Days | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Cymbeline | Mamma Mia!
"Hey There" from The Pajama Game. I am pretty sure it was the first love song that I ever sang in public while I was a camper at French Woods. I love the melody and the simplicity of the song. The words have stuck with me since I first heard them. Also, it was recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Rosemary Clooney and Sam Cooke. All of their interpretations are very different but equally incredible. It goes out to anyone still singing love songs to themselves this Valentine's Day.
Director
Big River
"If I Loved You" is my favorite love song. I ust find it so incredibly moving and so fragile and strong at the same time.
Performer
White Christmas | The Producers | Dream | How To Succeed... | CATS
Previously I said "If I Loved You." But I'll pick a new one this year. I'm going to say, "Unlikely Lovers" from Falsettos. This never fails to get me choked up. The harmonies at the end sound like what I think love feels like. And the lyrics are romantic yet grounded in reality. Mr. Finn nailed it on that one.
Performer
On the Town | Betrayal | The Nance | Hairspray | Into the Woods
I love "You're Timeless to Me" from Hairspray. (In another decade Sinatra and Ella would have recorded it and it would be a standard.) But the song/scene "What Would I Do?" from Falsettos though it's deeply sad is so beautiful in expressing love. And for breaking up there is NOTHING that comes close to "We Do Not Belong Together" from Sunday in the Park with George.
Producer
Ohio State Murders | Old Man & The Pool | The Piano Lesson | Death of a Salesman | Leopoldstadt
My favorite song is ”Time” (lyric by Barry Kleinbort and music by Joseph Thalken) about remembering a great love. Since I don’t have a great love currently in my life, I will settle for the memory of one. On Valentine’s Day, I believe that thought is universal.
Performer
Man of La Mancha | Rooms | Jacques Brel Returns
I have said this in the past, and it will stay true; 'Maria' or 'Tonight,' from my beloved West Side Story. There is not a moment I have ever heard these songs, watching from the wings (waiting to enter for America!) that my heart doesn't soar and ache with the sheer beauty of the majesty of the expression of the moment those songs illuminate.
Performer
Funny Girl | Wonderful Town
Jule Styne and Comden and Green’s "Make Someone Happy" is my all time favorite love song. It’s so simple and it makes me cry. “Make someone happy, make just one someone happy, and you will be happy too.” I mean, come on!
Performer
You Can't Take It With You | Clybourne Park
"I'm Not At All in Love" from The Pajama Game. It's just funny to me!
Performer
Comic Legend
"The Nearness of You. I love the words and the melody. Very
romantic."
Performer
Sunset Boulevard | Ghost | Legally Blonde
My favorite Broadway love song is "Too Much In Love To Care." It's a little bit more complicated than you're average love song and I love singing it.
Performer
Machinal
I'm not heavy into many musicals because my singing would make you return your money within four bars; but, I do enjoy "Run Away With Me" from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown.
Performer
Puffs
The quartet of "Johanna" from the second act of Sweeney Todd will forever remain my favorite love song because it captures so many different types of love simultaneously: the young, idealistic determined love of Antony and Johanna, the paternal/homicidal love of Sweeney, and the love of not being on fire of the Beggar Woman. The fact that this beautiful love song is accompanied by members of the ensemble getting to slide down slides after doing some particularly fun blood-spurt acting is but the whipped cream on the proverbial murder-pie.
Performer
STEW
Frozen’s Love is an Open Door! It’s cute and catchy. A real feel good song about love! What is there not to love?
Performer
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Les Miserables | The Producers | Sister Act | Gigi
My favorite: "Some Enchanted Evening." Romance, suspense, and questioning. The perfect way to woo is to do it in third person
Performer
Rock of Ages
How do you pick just one? There was a song from Wonderland called 'Love Begins' that comes to mind. I'm not sure if it made it in to the final version of the show but it was a beautiful song.
Performer
Every Brilliant Thing
"Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" from The Rocky Horror Show.
Performer
Kinky Boots
"Hakuna Matata." I am a romantic but everyone has the romantic song. Why not light some candles, stand in a tux, ask her to dance and then "HAKUNA MATATA- WHAT A WONDERFUL PHRASE!" If she laughs, you're in.
Performer
Groundhog Day | You Can't Take It With You
"Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins. Who doesn't want that crazy-eyed ode to obsession and martyrdom playing in the background of her Valentine's Day dinner? But actually, "Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide is such a beautiful, simple plea for love and a commitment to a future. It makes my heart swell when I hear it.
Videos
TICKET CENTRAL
Recommended For You
Get Broadway's #1 Newsletter
Get the best news & discounts for Broadway & beyond.
