With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, it is the perfect moment to turn to one of Broadway’s most enduring traditions: the love song. Musicals have always used romance as a driving force. Love songs heighten drama, deepen character, and give audiences a moment to swoon. Nearly every show includes at least one, and the variety is astonishing. They can be soaring ballads or playful duets, joyful declarations or aching laments, and sometimes all of these appear within the same show.
Take “What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line. Many people know it as a romantic ballad, especially because the film adaptation presents it that way. Onstage, the song is something quite different. It is a heartfelt tribute to the dancers’ devotion to their craft. It reminds us that love on Broadway is not always romantic. Sometimes it is about passion, sacrifice, and identity. “Far From the Home I Love” from Fiddler on the Roof carries a similar emotional weight. Hodel sings not only about joining the man she loves, but also about leaving behind everything familiar in the shtetl of Anatevka.
Duets remain one of the most beloved ways to express love in musicals because they allow characters to share the stage and reveal their feelings in real time. Classics such as “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera, “As Long as You’re Mine” from Wicked, “If I Loved You” from Carousel, and “Do I Love You Because You’re Wonderful” from Cinderella showcase the emotional power of two voices blending together. Not all duets are straightforward. “People Will Say We’re in Love” from Oklahoma! is a playful example of romantic denial. “Unworthy of Your Love” from Assassins is a duet as well, although each character sings about a different person. “It Only Takes a Moment” from Hello, Dolly! stands out as an ensemble-driven moment that celebrates the feeling of falling in love.
Solo love songs are equally important in the Broadway tradition. These numbers often give performers a chance to step into the spotlight and reveal a character’s inner world. Solos tend to be more introspective or melancholy, although there are many joyful exceptions. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from Show Boat and “A Wonderful Guy” from South Pacific radiate warmth and optimism. “In Buddy’s Eyes” from Follies sits somewhere in the middle, tender on the surface but layered with complexity.
Broadway also excels at heartbreak. Male-driven laments such as “If I Can’t Love Her” from Beauty and the Beast, “Marry Me a Little” from Company, “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” from Guys and Dolls, and “Be Careful, It’s My Heart” from Holiday Inn reveal vulnerability in characters who might otherwise hide it. Female solos such as “On My Own” from Les Misérables, “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from Grease, “Love, Look Away” from Flower Drum Song, and “I Get a Kick Out of You” from Anything Goes capture the ache of longing, unrequited affection, or love that refuses to fade.
Whether your Valentine’s Day calls for something joyful, wistful, or heart-wrenching, Broadway offers a love song for every mood. These examples represent only a small portion of a tradition that has shaped musical theatre for more than a century and continues to evolve with every new show that steps into the spotlight.
Kathryn McElfresh
Staff Reporter
