Top 10 Best Broadway Ballads

A melody so beautiful, Alan Menken used it a second time. “Somewhere That’s Green” sounds an awful lot like another of Menken’s collaborations with Howard Ashman. In fact, it’s so similar to the “Little Shop of Horrors” track that the duo apparently nicknamed it “Somewhere That’s Wet.” Either way, we’ve got to give it up for the original. “Somewhere That’s Green” is sung by the character of Audrey as she discusses her desire for a regular old, happy life. The quintessential “I Want” song, “Somewhere That’s Green” has a stunning melody. It’s one of the most gorgeous, earnest songs in a show that’s full of darkly comedic moments.

Perhaps one of the most stellar Broadway scores of this century comes from 2005’s “The Light in the Piazza.” Written by Adam Guettel, the musical follows a Southern woman whose daughter falls in love while the pair are vacationing in Italy. “Say It Somehow” is sung between Clara and Fabrizio at the moment they profess their love for each other. It sounds just like romance feels, with sweeping verses and evocative lyrics. With music that’s almost overwhelmingly melodic, the original production had a 15-piece orchestra that brought to life songs like this stunning duet.

If there’s one thing those ABBA boys know how to do, it’s write a good ballad that makes a crossover hit. “Chess” might not be as popular as their other musical “Mamma Mia,” but it does have a number of amazing ballads. “Anthem” and “Someone Else’s Story” could have easily made this list. But we love a power ballad, and “I Know Him So Well” might have the most power of any ballad we’ve ever heard. The duet has two women singing about the man they love, but for different reasons. The verses have them singing about their own emotions, and then the choruses bring them together for a rousing climax.

Everything about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” is a little bit silly. But between all the songs that are essentially just cats introducing themselves, there’s “Memory.” Say what you will about the content of the musical, but this song is one of the best ballads out there – in connection to the theater or otherwise. Sung by Grizabella: The Glamour Cat, “Memory” has completely surpassed “Cats” as a concept. The high, lilting melody eventually transitions into something so deeply, strongly emotional, it’s impossible not to be moved. You may even find yourself humming the tune a few hours later. Don’t worry, us too.

It’s hard to get a relatively new Broadway ballad into the pantheon of the best ballads ever. But back in 2016, Sara Bareilles did it. The musical “Waitress” benefits heavily from Bareilles’s penchant for melody and sure pen. All the songs are great, but the best of the bunch has to be “She Used to Be Mine.” The song comes at a turning point for our main character, Jenna, who finds herself pregnant and stuck in an abusive marriage. There’s a complexity to the ballad as Jenna laments her old life and contemplates her uncertainty about the baby inside of her. Bareilles handles all those nuances with grace, and we ended up with a song that gives us goosebumps every time.

Sometimes, you’ve got to go back to the classics. “Les Misérables” is the first musical that a lot of budding theater kids become aware of. And many of those kids spend their younger days belting those “Les Misérables” ballads out in their bedrooms. Some of us might have a fondness for “On My Own,” but there’s a clear winner here. Since the very first time “Les Misérables” took the stage, “I Dreamed a Dream” has been rising to iconic status. Despite how specific Fantine’s situation is, the song has a very simple melody and outsized emotions, making it an easy one for anyone to latch onto.

There are plenty of ballads in “Dreamgirls” that tug at our heartstrings. But this one makes us smile too. Effie, the main character in the musical, has a terribly hard time throughout the first act of the show. She’s pregnant, Curtis has left her behind, and she’s been kicked out of The Dreamettes. But “I Am Changing” comes at a moment in the second act when she’s able to get her feet back under her. The song’s lyrics are filled with such hope for the future while never letting go of the pain of the past. It’s more of an upbeat ballad than most, but that accelerated rhythm matches the joyousness of the song.

Listen, if Michael Crawford sang this to us, we might join him in his underground lair too. “The Phantom of the Opera”' is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most well-known musicals, and “The Music of the Night” might be its biggest hit. Webber was at his best when he wrote this one, with its dynamic changes and soaring melody. But this is really a singer’s song, and those who have tackled it over the years have ranged from Ramin Karimloo to Barbra Streisand. There’s so much life in this song, especially in those upper register moments. It’s no wonder we keep coming back to it time and time again.

You know, we might never forgive Steven Spielberg for hitting us with that surprise Rita Moreno moment in the new “West Side Story.” No one likes to be caught off guard crying like that! There are a couple of beautiful ballads to choose from in “West Side Story.” Sorry to all the “Tonight” fans out there but “Somewhere” has always been an instant classic. Leonard Bernstein’s melody and Stephen Sondheim’s simple lyrics combine to create something truly special. “Somewhere” is an anthem of hope and peace. And even though Tony and Maria don’t necessarily get that peace, it’s easy to believe they will listening to the song.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The I Love You Song,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
A Trio We’ll Never Get Out of Our Heads

“One Song Glory,” “Rent”
A Rockin’ Ballad for the Ages

“As Long as He Needs Me,” “Oliver!”
Nancy’s Song of Love Makes Us Weep Every Time

“Johanna,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
We Feel This Ballad In Our Bones

“As If We Never Said Goodbye,” “Sunset Boulevard”
Norma Desmond Takes the Stage

How could it be anything else? Stephen Sondheim put his whole self into this one. Or did he? The funny thing about “Send in the Clowns” is that it was written during rehearsals for “A Little Night Music,” one of the last to be added to the show. And then, it became one of the most well-known songs of all time. The melancholy beauty of “Send in the Clowns” evokes the story of two people who have just missed each other. There’s nothing sadder than that, but there’s a funny kind of irony in it as well. That’s what makes “Send in the Clowns” so iconic and long lasting, its ability to recognize the humor in sadness.