Top 10 Broadway Songs for a Perfect Valentines Day Playlist

“Kiss Me, Kate”

On stage, actress Lilli Vanessi in the role of Kate may “hate men.” Backstage, it’s a whole different story. This backstage musical about a madcap production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” finds Lilli still in love with her ex. This is complicated for many, many reasons. The least of these reasons is he just happens to be her director and co-star in the show. In “So in Love,” Lilli tells us how she’s still in deep, anguished love with him. You want drama? You want passion? You want undying devotion? Here it is. The great thing about adding this to your Valentine’s playlist is that it works whether you’re coupled or single. So, that’s something at least.

“My Fair Lady”

Broadway musicals are big fans of love at first sight. After all, there’s only so much time and only so much you can communicate from a distance. “My Fair Lady” has one of the best tunes about that very thing. The wealthy Freddy Eynsford-Hill is so enamored with Eliza Dolittle he’s just thrilled to be on the sidewalk outside the house where she’s staying. It’s less stalkerish than it sounds. Actually, there’s something incredibly adorable and goofy about the character’s innocence. “On the Street Where You Live” is a testament to the timelessness of meeting someone and instantly feeling like you’re meant to be with them.

“Wicked”

For those couples who like their romance with a dash of gloom, this one’s for you. From its foreboding opening notes, you know this isn’t your average romantic duet. If you go into this show knowing anything about “The Wizard of Oz,” you know Elphaba and Fiyero’s pairing is the definition of doomed. “As Long As You’re Mine” is when they finally connect. Though it’s touching, it’s also got a touch of darkness. This is a song about two lost people expressing their love even though it might be over before it begins. Their connection is undeniable. That’s also what makes it passionate, raw, and dramatic.

“Carousel”

In one of the defining duets of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s legendary catalog, Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan contemplate what it might be like if they loved each other. But of course, they do. They’re just the last to know. “If I Loved You” is a long, somewhat meandering song that follows them through that realization, and only when they confront their feelings does the song’s melody kick in for real. It’s a sweeping and deeply heartfelt classic from the early days of Broadway. And when you hear a truly gifted singer take it on, it’s a haunting and beautiful addition to any romantic playlist.

“West Side Story”

Tony and Maria are lovers from two different worlds, so naturally there’s always an extra element of longing in the songs they share. “Somewhere” is the big tearjerker. Although its placement in the score of the show has shifted over the years, it’s a powerful distillation of “West Side Story”’s themes. If only there were a place where their ethnicities and social positions didn’t matter. “Somewhere” has been covered by artists of many different genres and eras. Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, and even the Pet Shop Boys have recorded it. It really just depends on what kind of Valentine’s Day vibes you’re going for.

“Little Shop of Horrors”

You might not expect a science fiction monster flick about a human-eating plant to have one of the most touching love stories ever featured in a musical. But fans of “Little Shop of Horrors” have been pounding that drum for over four decades. During “Suddenly, Seymour,” Seymour Krelborn declares his love to the beautiful, mistreated Audrey, and we see them truly connect for the first time. Full of glorious belting and rock n’ roll orchestrations, the beauty in this track can catch you off-guard. If you’re not careful, this one might get you all choked up.

“Rent”

Of all the tragic love stories in the blockbusting musical, the relationship between Collins and Angel is the one with the highest highs and lowest lows. “I’ll Cover You” isn’t just their duet. It’s their shared vow to love, protect, and support each other no matter what happens. But like any strong couple, the song showcases their ability to have fun and laugh with each other. It’s a moment of lightness that captures what’s really important when two people decide to share a life together. Don’t talk to us about the reprise in the second act, though. We’re still not over it.

“Waitress”

Sara Bareilles composed the score to the heartbreaking show based on a 2007 film. Jenna is a diner waitress and accomplished baker of pies who finds out she’s pregnant by a husband who mistreats her. Things get even more complicated when she falls in love with her caring and supportive OB/GYN. “You Matter to Me” sees Jenna and the doctor affirming their commitment to each other. Out of context, it’s a sweet, tender, and plaintive love song that perfectly marries musical theater storytelling with Bareilles’ pop sensibility. This is a duet just begging to be slow danced to.

“Pal Joey”

Sung by socialite Vera Simpson in the show, the song tells of a woman who’s suddenly entranced by a new romance despite her own wealth of experience in life and love. Its tongue-in-cheek lyrics spell out her utter devotion to, and maybe even her obsession with, her new, younger lover. Written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, the song is considered a staple of the Great American Songbook, and has been recorded and referenced dozens of times since the 1940s. This is one of those compositions that’s taken on a life of its own outside the Broadway score it’s from.


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

A Love Song So Good the Beatles Had to Record It, Too

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sweeping Duet Might Be Its Very Best Song

This One’s All About Those Harmonies

The Baker & His Wife Get to Know Each Other Again in the Woods

Love at First Sight Between a Founding Father & His Future Wife

“South Pacific”

Sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic. When it comes to romance, Rodgers and Hammerstein had the sauce, and “Some Enchanted Evening” is the height of musical theatre love songs. Sung by Emile de Becque to Ensign Nellie Forbush, he sings of meeting a stranger that he immediately falls in love with. It’s a spellbinding, lingering song about answering the door when fate knocks. Some of the greatest singers of all time have been drawn to the song’s greatness. Its most famous interpreters include Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Barbra Streisand, and famed bass Ezio Pinza, who originated the role of Emile on Broadway.

What musical song is at the top of your Valentine’s playlist? Sound off in the comments.