Happy February, TPS! Although it’s not the most remarkable month, Valentine’s Day falls smack in the middle. In honor of the holiday, I’ve taken the opportunity to put together an incomplete, subjective list of the seven top musical theatre duets about love (and why), from worst to best. Songs are a great way to express your feelings for people, and these numbers are a lovely way of developing relationships within the story.
7. Tonight from West Side Story
If Romeo was serenading Juliet from below her balcony, but it was a duet between them, you’d have “Tonight.” The reason it’s at the bottom of the list is that they’re singing about their undying love when they’ve met each other once. Not to play Elsa here, but it’s too soon in their relationship for this kind of song. It is, however, a beautiful composition with soaring vocals and harmonies.
6. Dear Theodosia from Hamilton
Who says a love song has to be romantic? “Dear Theodosia” is a familial, acoustic-sounding duet between Hamilton and Burr singing to their respective firstborns. They have separate verses to start and proceed to sing together about how they will do their best to make the young nation of America right for their children to grow up in. It’s one of the few songs from the musical that doesn’t have any rap, and the result is a soft piece to cry to when you’re feeling sentimental.
5. Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen
“Only Us” is a beautiful piano ballad between high school seniors Zoe and Evan. The vocals and instrumentation are exquisite, but the best part is its relatability. Evan is a socially anxious teenager in disbelief that his forever crush likes him back. Zoe laughingly assures him that he doesn’t have to do anything to earn her affection, emphasizing how she likes him for him and not because of his newfound popularity. As the harmonies swell increasingly during the bridge, the rest of the world truly falls away.
4. For Good from Wicked
Like “Dear Theodosia,” “For Good” is a platonic tribute to Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship. In this heart-wrenching duet at the end of the show, the two sing about how though their relationship has come to its end, the impact they had on each others’ lives was enormous. It’s a bittersweet number because they had their differences during the time they spent together (which they apologize for), and deep down, they know it’s the last time they’ll ever meet. Try to listen to this one without tearing up. An honorable mention also goes to “As Long As You’re Mine,” Elphaba and Fiyero’s romantic duet, but it didn’t make the list officially because the emotional impact it packs is nowhere near “For Good.”
- When the Sun Goes Down from In the Heights
“When the Sun Goes Down” is a love letter to long-distance relationships. Nina’s going off to college soon and assures Benny she won’t forget about him when they’re apart. The lyrics sung by Benny, “I will try to make my way / Out west to California,” are a beautiful metaphor because, since the sun sets in the west, traveling from Washington Heights, New York to Stanford in California would mean literally chasing the sun to get more hours of daylight and therefore putting off sunset by three hours. This is symbolic of Benny flying across the country to visit Nina to sustain the relationship, preventing its “sunset” (end). Also, this song has a beautiful instrumental break, which always boosts points in my book.
- Something to Believe In from Newsies
Found only in the soundtrack of the 2016 proshot, “Something to Believe In” is Jack and Katherine’s song about discovering love. As they’re both seventeen, it’s a new experience for them, like Katherine sings at the beginning, “‘Til the moment I found you / I thought I knew what love was / Now I’m learning what is true / That love will do what it does.” Their relationship is built on partnership and friendship first before they become romantically involved, and it shows. They’re each other’s safe place, where fearless strike leader Jack can show his insecurity, and strong activist reporter Katherine admits she doesn’t know it all. And then, they reassure each other about how much they believe in each other, hence the title. In gorgeous harmonies, of course.
- All I’ve Ever Known from Hadestown
This beautiful ballad is easily my favorite love song on Broadway because it blends an amazing melody and vocals with meaningful lyrics that speak so much about the development Orpheus and Eurydice are going through. The song comes about half an hour into the show, and is the turning point in their relationship when Eurydice realizes that she’s fallen for Orpheus “in spite of herself.” Additionally, some of Orpheus’s lines hint at the doubt that overtakes him in Act II, especially “Wait for Me (Reprise).” There’s a bittersweet note to the song because the audience knows how the story ends: the couple is making naive promises they can’t keep. But when Orpheus takes Eurydice into his arms and sings, “suddenly I’m holding the world in my arms…” it’s such a pure and lovely moment (made even better by the fact that actors Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada are dating in real life).
Sadly I could not include all my favorite pieces, but in the meantime, here’s a good starter pack to listen to!
Image credits:
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a36652623/in-the-heights-nina-leslie-grace-fire-escape-interview/
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftheatermania%2Fvideos%2Fhadestown-broadway-all-ive-ever-known
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiewire.com%2F2021%2F06%2Fin-the-heights-behind-the-scenes-dance-up-side-of-building
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwicked.fandom.com%2Fwiki%2FFor_Good
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjpRFNSX2nVM&psig=AOvVaw1n32msIJSisA6n93D4WZuU&ust=1673509451727000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCNj8uNWCv_wCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
broadwaydirect.com/watch-now-preview-of-tonight-from-spielbergs-west-side-story/