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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
The Play That Goes Wrong | Finian's Rainbow
I have many, but for the sake of giving one answer I would say "Il Mondo Era Vuoto" from Light in the Piazza.
Performer
On Sugarland
“All I Care About Is Love” from Chicago. It was the first musical I’d ever been a part of. It changed my life forever. One of the grandest displays of glamour!
-, ON SUGARLAND
Performer
The Cher Show | Miss Saigon | Mamma Mia!
My favorite Broadway Love Song is an oldie but a goodie. From Romance/Romance, "Words He Doesn’t Say" is a beautiful, sad song about the desire to demonstrate the facets of love to someone whose heart belongs to someone else, even though it probably shouldn't.
Industry
TV Host
My favorite Broadway love song is "Helpless" from Hamilton
It changes my day the minute I hear the first few notes.
The song reminds you of the first moment you feel in love every single time.
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
School of Rock | Sistas
My song would be "My Funny Valentine" from Babes In Arms. This is a classic song that changes genres from Broadway to Jazz. It is written beautifully, poignant, and makes for a great "Love" song.
Performer
She Loves Me | Newsies
Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful"
Performer
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark | Rock of Ages
The one that I got to sing from Spider-Man- "If the World Should End" And I love a lot of stuff from the Last Five Years, event though that is dismal love...
Performer
ANYTHING GOES
Hmm, the first song that pops into my head is "I Won't Send Roses" from MACK AND MABEL. I listened to that song over and over for about a month when I first heard it and cried every time! But I would also have to say "If I Loved You" from CAROUSEL...another tear jerker!!
Performer
Some Americans Abroad | subUrbia | The Messenger | The Squid and the Whale
For me, the most moving Broadway love song is "Your Daddy's Son" from "Ragtime." Sarah, hopeless about her future and her baby's future, sings to her son as she prepares to abandon him, telling him: "You have your daddy's hands; you are your daddy's son." It is a love song both to her son and to his father. It is gorgeous and heartbreaking, especially as sung by Audra McDonald on the Original Cast Recording.
Performer
Music Director of Upright | an L.A. Cabaret
"Anytime"- cut from A NEW BRAIN. To say that these are the most thoughtful lyrics I have heard from Finn is a bold statement, but the first time this song landed on my ears, I was a water well from first to last note. His simple rhythmic motives and soaring vocal lines evoke a beautiful tale of how love, no matter how it ends, carries on.
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
Trip of Love | Motown the Musical | Memphis: A New Musical | Hot Feet
My favorite Broadway Love song is "Love Will Stand" from Memphis the Musical. I always loved standing on stage, singing the background vocals to this amazing song, with Montego Glover owning that moment.
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
Les Miserables | International Recording Artist | Cantor
The only song that makes me cry every time I listen to it, or sing it, is "Song On The Sand" from LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. This song has the power to take you back in time and space, to a life long forgotten. It makes you feel homesick and goes right into your "kishkes."
Performer
Newsies | Lysistrata Jones | Chicago |
"Too Beautiful for Words" from The Color Purple.
Performer
Spamalot | Wicked | Finian's Rainbow | Waitress
"I Wish I Were in Love Again" from BABES IN ARMS. I met my wife during BABES IN ARMS and it is a great and funny song about love.
Performer
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | The Producers | Wicked | 9 to 5
"Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide. Just the most beautiful piece of music... reminds me of my husband. God, so sappy but true!
Performer
On Sugarland
My favorite Broadway love song is “I’ll Cover You” from RENT. I love that it starts off as an intimate ballad in a way and then transforms into a powerful ensemble piece. The lyrics by Jonathan Larson are filled with beautiful metaphors that create vivid images for the audience to visualize how strong the love is between these two characters. What a song!
Performer
The Lion King | The Color Purple | Ragtime
My favorite Broadway Love Song is "Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime. It is a song that I had the phenomenal pleasure of singing in the show with
three stunning Tony Award Winning Ladies, LaChanze, Heather Headley and Audra McDonald. The song is the perfect anthemic blend of passion, romance, longing and hope!
Industry
Rocktopia
My favorite love song is "I feel you, Johanna" from Sweeney Todd. It touches me in such a deep way. It goes right to - I've been married for 35 years to the same beautiful woman, I feel her presence. It just kind of puts it right there: "I feel you."
Performer
Altar Boyz | Wicked | Hairspray | BARE
So I've been thinking about this question and I keep going back to one song.......The Next Ten Minutes from The Last Five Years by the wonderful JRB.....Now I don't necessarily think of that as a love song.....Its not the classic "I love you" bs that is so often selected for the Broadway Love Songs books at Colony! However, this is what people talk about when they are in love! The lyrics are so real!....They touch on the real world issues of How do we make this work and I want to make this work. Theyre open about their problems but talk about the dreams they want to share! Opening up to someone is the hardest thing to do until you are truly in love! That to me is the most romantic thing EVER!
Performer
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
My favorite love song is "You're Gonna Stay" from the musical Shrek. It might not be your typical love song but the dragon loves donkey and eventually he realizes he loves her too. Plus, I loved singing it backstage with my friend, Haven, during the show run at North Shore Music Theater.
Performer
Aladdin
"People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma!. The reason this is my fave rave is that my wife Rebecca Baxter and I met playing Laurey and Curly for Minnesota Opera in 1988 in what would be our first of three productions in these roles for various companies. This was the most perfect "courting" love song that any guy could have asked for. Of the 9 productions of Oklahoma! that I have done in my career, this first one was clearly the winner. Our Jud was to be Oscar nominee JK Simmons. Ado Annie, Will Parker and Ali Hakem were Broadway vets Alix Korey, Lara Teeter, and Bruce Adler. Little did we know at the time that we would be in the company of such greatness.
Performer
She Loves Me | On the Twentieth Century | Follies | Rock of Ages
While I could easily make a case for many many Broadway love songs and why they are my favorite (...it's possible I've made a mixed-tape with this very list a few times in my life), I'll have to say: "Unexpected Song" from Song and Dance. I often find those lyrics floating through my head."
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.
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