Written by Jamie Papa
I have always loved musicals. Their beauty extends beyond how good the music is—the story, the style of acting, the overall feel. Even though I’m not the character singing, it makes me sometimes feel like I’m in their shoes.
And above all, musicals have a knack for beautiful telling about the universal language—love. Here are 10 songs from musicals that will remind you how good love feels or that will make you want to fall in love:
ALSO READ: 8 Incubus Love Songs for Every Relationship Stage
10. Last Night Of The World (Miss Saigon)
Miss Saigon gave us the iconic ‘Sun and Moon’, but ‘Last Night Of The World’ is a duet equally as beautiful. In the song, Kim and Chris dance in the midst of a war going on and promise each other of their love and how tomorrow might hopefully be better for them. While some of us know how Miss Saigon ends, this simple duet tells of how they have “a song” that reminds each other of the love they had.
“A song played on a solo saxophone…it’s telling me to hold you tight and dance like it’s the last night of the world.”
9. As Long As You’re Mine (Wicked)
Wicked, which is based on our favorite childhood story The Wizard of Oz, shows a side of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and how, just like everyone else, she wants to feel love and receive love. This duet with her love interest, Fiyero, sings about how strong their feelings are for each other, and that they have to express it at the moment because of how there may be no future for them together.
“Borrow the moonlight until it is through, and know I’ll be here holding you as long as you’re mine.”
8. Only Us (Dear Evan Hansen)
Evan Hansen and Zoe Murphy sing this cute and wholesome duet about moving on from the past. This particular song from the award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen gives a different light from its theme of validation, forgiveness, and understanding without drawing itself away too much from another of its central themes: love.
“I never thought there’d be someone like you who would want me, so I give you ten thousand reasons to not let me go.”
7. No One Else (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812)
Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” came to life through the musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. This solo of the female lead Natasha Rostova sings of her (then) love, Andrey, and how she awaits his arrival because of how much she misses his presence. Compared to most songs that sing about their love, ‘No One Else’ is just serene and pure recalling of the love Natasha felt with Andrey and how she misses him dearly. It may be a song that we want to sing to our loved ones, but it can make us think about how we want someone to feel something of us in the same way too.
“First time I heard your voice, moonlight burst into the room, and I saw your eyes, and I saw your smile, and the world opened wide.”
6. All I Ask Of You (The Phantom Of The Opera)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqQcYQgQkS8
This song between Christine and Raoul is iconic for a reason: its message of mutual promise and feeling of security and love between each other. Some may be in favor of the Christine-Phantom tandem more, but this heartfelt song makes us remember, or wonder, how is it like to be vowed to.
“Say you need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true; that’s all I ask of you.”
5. Come What May (Moulin Rouge)
Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love. These words encompass the musical romantic drama Moulin Rouge. ‘Come What May’ is the song where writer Christian professes his love for Satine and this song is just beautiful. It does not simply affirm the love that the characters have, but sing how true and beautiful it is and how they yearn to be free from the realities they are trapped in. Who wouldn’t want to hear the words “Come what may, I will love you until my dying day.” from someone?
“Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide, but I will love you until the end of time.”
4. Seven Wonders (Catch Me If You Can)
Yes, sure. Someone before compared you to the stars, or the beauty of the moonlight, or the radiance of the sun (what is with romance and celestial bodies?). But this duet led by con man Frank Abagnale Jr. puts all your metaphors to waste. This song from Catch Me If You Can enumerates and describes the wonders of the world, and how they are incomparable to the beauty of his love, Brenda.
“I’ve traveled near and far, but now I know that home is where you are.”
3. Suddenly, Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors)
Compared to most other songs, this love song does not simply feature a romance. This favorite from Little Shop Of Horrors has Audrey describing what Seymour is to her: a friend who values and accepts who she is. The song is also an endearing expression of the love they share and is one that you could say is with sweet understanding. This song somehow reflects a love we should have: one that inspires, appreciates, and accepts.
“Suddenly, Seymour is here to provide me. Sweet understanding, Seymour’s my friend.”
2. All I’ve Ever Known (Hadestown)
The Tony and Grammy-award winning musical Hadestown is indeed a beautiful retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The well-known love and passion of the two characters are reflected through the song ‘All I’ve Ever Known’, which sings of how the characters have always been alone and their relationship introduced a love they never knew they needed and wanted. Their vow, in the end, to always stay the same is one of the most romantic promises in musical theater duets, and it makes you want to have what they have.
“I’m gonna hold you forever. The wind will never change on us. As long as we stay with each other, then it will always be like this.”
1. You Matter To Me (Waitress)
This duet from Sara Bareilles’ Waitress: the musical is honestly one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve listened to. It is a very simple song to remember, without any metaphor or symbolism that will make you think too much. It attaches to its listeners because of how much the characters Jenna and Dr. Pomatter value each other, and the validation, love, and care within the lyrics are pure and honest. ‘You Matter To Me’ extends beyond romantic love, because it communicates a message everyone needs to hear. (Also, Jenna’s monologue for her baby in between never fails for us to shed a tear.)
“Dear baby, I hope someday, somebody wants to hold you for twenty minutes straight. They don’t pull away, they don’t look at your face, and they don’t try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight without an ounce of selfishness in it. I hope you become addicted, baby. I hope you become addicted to sayin’ things and having them matter to someone.”
Do you love musicals too? Check out Only those Obsessed with Musicals Can Relate to This!
Do you know other musical love songs worth sharing? Tell us about it!
