Top Ten Tuesday - Love Songs from Musicals
This week Besties, it is all about love. The theatre is home to some of the most beautiful and heartfelt declarations of love and during a time when some of us need a little bit more love in our lives, here is a list of some spectacularly heart-warming romantic moments in the theatre.
10. Last Night of the World (Miss Saigon)
Although ‘Sun and Moon’ is a beautiful song, ‘Last Night of the World’ is a song about marriage and Kim and Chris’ desires and dreams for their future. Chris has found the woman whom he desires to be with, and Kim finally has hope in something other than a dream. And while these realisations are pure and sentimental, they make the ending of their story all the more tragic.
9. Unruly Heart (The Prom)
A community of people coming together to stand up for their right to love whomever and however they like. This song promotes self-love and the understanding of your own self-worth, which is just as romantic Besties.
8. Something to Believe In (Newsies)
As always, Newsies has a place on this list. The romance between Jack and Katherine is reminiscent of young love, naturally because they are supposed to be younger. It is heartfelt but has moments of awkwardness and innocence. As Jack opens his heart for the first time and Katherine assures him that it’s okay, these two are beautiful together and this relationship only grows as the performance goes on.
7. Say It Somehow (The Light in the Piazza)
A lovely moment where two characters do not allow their love to be determined or set back by a language barrier. The beautiful harmonies in this song work incredibly well together, showing us how these two people are meant to be together despite their obstacles. There is a softness to the music that adds to the romantic elements, however there is power in the aforementioned harmonies that create a sense of passion and longing. A stunning piece of music.
6. The Next Ten Minutes (The Last Five Years)
In a musical where this is constant disconnect, this sweet moment of unison and romantic unity is beautiful. With this song being the only moment in the musical when Kathy and Jamie are on the same page - as well as revolving around a proposal - it is almost impossible to ignore the passion and love between these two people at this moment.
5. Someone Like You (Jekyll and Hyde)
Even a musical that is dark and mysterious needs an element of romance to lift the hearts of the audience - and a song about a woman beginning to understand and question the feelings of the man she loves will do just that. Although a gothic musical, Jekyll and Hyde has some spectacularly tender moments that will make your heart melt.
4. Rewrite the Stars (The Greatest Showman)
Although not a stage show – although we hope that one day it will be - ‘Rewrite the Stars’ is a beautiful anthem about love, acceptance and defying all the odds to be with the person you love. This song expresses the romance between two characters that are socially and politically not supposed to be together, even though their immediate attraction to one another is undeniable.
3. Bonnie (Bonnie and Clyde)
Another controversial couple but one that has a beautiful musical moment. Clyde’s ode to Bonnie is sweet, charming and playful. But what is wrong with that? With the simple backing of a ukulele and the soft, dulcet tone to the music and lyrics, we all wish we had a Clyde singing to us in the bathtub!
2. Something There (Beauty and the Beast)
What do you do when you realise the person you thought was so beastly is in fact a kind and compassionate person? Belle and the Beast are the ultimate enemies-to-lovers and while some may see this partnership as an example of Stockholm Syndrome, many can see their character development and the journey of their romance as something wonderful and raw. Accepting the person you love, no matter their looks, is something we should all aspire to consider.
1. Come What May (Moulin Rouge)
The love story of all love stories. The romance between Christian and Satine is one that was written in the stars and ‘Come What May’ is their anthem and their declaration of love to one another.
And there you have it! Do you agree with our choices, Besties? There are so many beautiful love songs out there that to put them into a list of just ten is virtually impossible – keep a look out for a part two!
And remember, it is important to celebrate all the love out there. We live in an ever-changing world where love is simply love.
Learning to love each other, but also ourselves, is something that is truly important and greatly valuable. And definitely something that we stand for here at West End Best Friend.