What are the absolute best songs on Broadway? It's difficult to answer a question that is, at its core, so subjective. Do you prefer tragic ballads? Musical theater jams to dance to? Ambitious audition songs for your school’s spring musical? Whatever your preference, we'll give you a selection of iconic openers, tear-jerking 11 o'clock numbers, and the most romantic love songs to hit the Broadway stage.
A musical’s first song comes with a lot of pressure. It sets the scene, introduces the characters, establishes the tone, and gets the audience excited for the upcoming story. It’s a tough challenge, but when it works, the audience knows they’re in for an adventure. Here are some of our favorites:
This opener brings us from Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace in the Caribbean all the way to Manhattan where he’ll begin his journey to become the founding father we know today.
Who Wrote It? Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? "Alexander Hamilton" was originally performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“All That Jazz” puts us right in the middle of a jazz club with Velma Kelly in this sultry and razzle-dazzle-filled opener.
Who Wrote It? Music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb
Who Sang It? Chita Rivera played the role of Velma Kelly in the original Broadway production, and Bebe Neuwirth played the role in the 1996 revival.
Filled with stage magic and innovative puppetry, “The Circle of Life” starts The Lion King musical off with a bang. This global juggernaut has gone on to be the single highest-grossing piece of entertainment in the world.
Who Wrote It? Music by Elton John and Hans Zimmer, and lyrics by Tim Rice
Who Sang It? Tsidii Le Loka and the ensemble of The Lion King
This song introduces us to the six wives of Henry VIII: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Six remixes history to tell their stories and has all the energy and power of a pop concert.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Who Sang It? Adrianna Hicks, Andrea Macasaet, Abby Mueller, Brittney Mack, Samantha Pauly, and Anna Uzele
“Good Morning, Baltimore” introduces the audience to our cheery star, Tracy Turnblad, who hopes to land a spot dancing on “The Corny Collins Show,” which films in her hometown.
Who Wrote It? Music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Who Sang It? Marissa Jaret Winokur
Sung by the ensemble, this song encapsulates the hopes and dreams of all of the people auditioning to be part of, you guessed it, a Broadway chorus line.
Who Wrote It? Music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban
Who Sang It? The company of A Chorus Line
Bodega owner Usnavi introduces us to Washington Heights, telling us how to get there – take the A train to 181st Street – and greets the many characters in the neighborhood, who all have their own dreams, romances, and ambitions.
Who Wrote It? Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Lin-Manuel Miranda and company
“Intermission Song” sees our lead, Usher, asking how a show should start and agonizing over what to write and how it will be received as he tries to write a “big, black and queer-ass American Broadway show.”
Who Wrote It? Michael R. Jackson wrote the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Larry Owens, L Morgan Lee, James Jackson Jr., Jason Veasey, Antwayn Hopper, John-Michael Lyles, John-Andrew Morrison
We start in Delta Nu sorority where Elle’s sorority sisters are, omigod, so excited about her expected engagement to her boyfriend Warner.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe
Who Sang It? Annaleigh Ashford, Dequina Moore, Laura Bell Bundy, Leslie Kritzer, and the ensemble
The Prologue of Natasha, Pierre takes its job very seriously. In less than 5 minutes, it introduces all of our major and minor characters – 11 in all – and gives us a hint at the drama to come.
Who Wrote It? Dave Malloy wrote both the music and lyrics
Who Sang It? The company of of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Patriarch Tevye tells us about the cultural and religious traditions in the town of Anatevka and the role of each family member and villager.
Who Wrote It? Music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Who Sang It? Zero Mostel originated the role of Tevye.
The whole ensemble gives us a huge welcome to Newfoundland in this joyful opening to the Broadway musical Come From Away, which tells the true story of what happened when, following the attacks on September 11, thirty-eight planes were rerouted and sent to the small town of Gander, whose residents opened up their homes and hearts to the passengers.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Who Sang It? The Broadway ensemble of Come From Away
We can practically smell the pie Jenna makes at the start of Waitress before we’re whisked (pun intended) into the diner to meet all of our favorite characters as they open up for the day.
Who Wrote It? Sara Bareilles wrote both the music and lyrics
Who Sang It? Jessie Mueller, Kimiko Glenn, Kaela Settle, and Eric Anderson
“Willkommen” - or “welcome” in German - literally welcomes us to the Kit Kat Klub, where we spend the bulk of the musical, as well as the band, its Emcee and Master of Ceremonies, and its star, Sally Bowles.
Who Wrote It? Music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb
Who Sang It? Joel Grey and the ensemble
Les Mis is one of the most popular musicals in the world, following Jean Valjean after he serves a 19-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s children. “Work Song” shows Jean Valjean and other prisoners working in a labor camp on the day Jean is released on parole.
Who Wrote It? Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel
Who Sang It? Terrence Mann and Colm Wilkinson
The term “11 o’clock number” refers to a show-stopping song that occurs near the end of the second act of a musical. Traditionally, when shows started at 8:45pm, these songs often started around 11pm, hence the name. Stars have made these songs iconic, and these songs have made stars out of their performers.
Millie sings this ode to love as she realizes that her feelings for Jimmy and her desire to make a life with him are more important than the money or status she has been chasing.
Who Wrote It? Music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Dick Scanlan
Who Sang It? Sutton Foster
Dorothy dreams of home and everything it represents in this Tony Award-winning reimagining of The Wizard of Oz.
Who Wrote It? Charlie Smalls wrote the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Stephanie Mills
Elder Price sings with renewed conviction about everything he believes as a Mormon in this hilarious and irreverent musical by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) and Robert Lopez (Frozen, Avenue Q).
Who Wrote It? Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone wrote the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Andrew Rannells
Celie accepts herself, emerging strong and independent after all of the struggles she has been through in this powerful song.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray
Who Sang It? LaChanze originated the role of Celie, and Cynthia Erivo and Adrianna Hicks have also played the role.
The Witch criticizes the other characters’ platitudes and weaknesses and warns of their imminent destruction at the hands of a giant in this musical full of fairy tale characters.
Who Wrote It? Stephen Sondheim wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Bernadette Peters
Joanne mocks what she sees as the boring, useless lives of well-to-do women in this rousing showstopper.
Who Wrote It? Stephen Sondheim wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Elaine Stritch portrayed Joanne in the original musical production. Debra Monk, Barbara Walsh, and Patti LuPone have since played the role.
Caroline asks God to take all of her desires from her in this powerful song – The New York Times called Tonya Pinkins, who played the role of Caroline in the original production, “never better than she is here, in an intense, controlled performance that somehow always hints at the currents of rage and helplessness beneath Caroline’s rigid dignity.”
Who Wrote It? Music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Tony Kushner
Who Sang It? Tonya Pinkins
Arguably the most well-known song from this popular musical, Grizabella sings this ballad about her past, its glamour and beauty now faded, and the start of a new day.
Who Wrote It? Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, and Richard Stilgoe
Who Sang It? Elaine Paige and Sarah Brightman originated the roles of Grizabella and Jemima respectively. Betty Buckley and Jennifer Hudson have since played the role of Grizabella.
After everyone she loves is taken from her, no matter how hard she tries to help them, Elphaba gives in and accepts what everyone is already calling her: Wicked.
Who Wrote It? Stephen Schwartz wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Idina Menzel
Matilda the Musical started on the West End before coming to Broadway, and this song follows the school children as they take back power from Miss Trunchbull and embrace what she has been calling them all along: revolting.
Who Wrote It? Tim Minchin wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? The company of Matilda
Sung by Mama Rose as she reveals the sacrifices she has made for her children and her own star ambitions she had to set aside, this showstopper has become synonymous with the term “11 o’clock number.”
Who Wrote It? Music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Who Sang It? Ethel Merman portrayed Rose in the original production, and other performers like Bette Midler, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, and Imelda Staunton have since played the role.
Desirée sings about regret, her own foolishness, and the foolishness of love in this oft-covered Broadway song from A Little Night Music.
Who Wrote It? Stephen Sondheim wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Glynis Johns originated the role, and it has since been covered by Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, Bing Crosby, and Barbra Streisand.
Jenna pours out all of her unrealized dreams and expectations in this ballad to her current and past self.
Who Wrote It? Sara Bareilles wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Jessie Mueller
Donna sings to a past lover in this breakup song about shared history and the feelings of loss that follow the end of a relationship.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Who Sang It? Siobhan McCarthy
Sung by Hermes, Orpheus, and the company of Hadestown, Orpheus follows his love Eurydice after she travels down to Hades, asking her to wait for him because he’s coming after her.
Who Wrote It? Anaïs Mitchell wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Reeve Carney and the company of Hadestown.
Who doesn’t want a bit of romance? Here are some of our favorite Broadway love songs:
Raoul and Christine only need each other in this song about love from The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest running show.
Who Wrote It? Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.
Who Sang It? Steve Barton and Sarah Brightman
Even if they’re only able to be together for a short time, Elphaba and Fiyero will make the most of it and savor each moment in this prequel to The Wizard of Oz.
Who Wrote It? Stephen Schwartz wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Idina Menzel and Norbert Leo Butz
One of the most popular musicals in the musical theatre canon, Beauty and the Beast is regularly performed all over the country. This titular song describes how people and feelings can change bit by bit. This song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1991.
Who Wrote It? Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Who Sang It? Angela Lansbury
After spending a night with Joan, Alison feels so happy she could stay with her forever, forgoing her college classes to learn everything about her.
Who Wrote It? Music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Lisa Kron.
Who Sang It? Alexandra Socha
Eliza can’t help but fall in love with Alexander Hamilton when she meets him. This song takes us through Eliza and Alexander’s first meeting, courtship, and marriage.
Who Wrote It? Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Phillipa Soo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the company of Hamilton
Collins and Angel sing their love and devotion to each other in this hit musical that follows the lives of a group of bohemian friends in the East Village during the 1980s and amidst the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Who Wrote It? Jonathan Larson wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin
Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan avoid admitting their true feelings, instead talking about what love would look like…if they loved each other. Which they don’t. But if they did…
Who Wrote It? Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Who Sang It? Jan Clayton, John Raitt
“Johanna” is first sung by Anthony, speaking of his romantic love for Johanna, and then by Sweeney Todd, who sings about a father’s love for his daughter.
Who Wrote It? Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Who Sang It? Victor Garber, Len Cariou, Merle Louise, Sarah Rice
Fanny Brice sings about how much she loves her man despite all of his faults in this musical that follows her rise to stardom.
Who Wrote It? Music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill
Who Sang It? Barbara Streisand
After meeting Eliza Doolittle at a horse race, Freddy is besotted and is just happy to be on the street where she lives, knowing she is somewhere nearby.
Who Wrote It? Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Who Sang It? John Michael King
Laurey and Curly flirt by warning each other not to get too close or their neighbors and friends will gossip and assume they’re in love.
Who Wrote It? Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Who Sang It? Virginia Haskins and Nelson Eddy
Based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László (the same source material that the films The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and You’ve Got Mail are based on), She Loves Me follows two store clerks who dislike each other until they unknowingly begin exchanging letters after they both answer a “lonely hearts” newspaper ad. In the titular song, Georg sings about how much his feelings have changed and how wonderful it feels to be in love.
Who Wrote It? Music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Who Sang It? Daniel Massey originated the role of Georg on Broadway, and Zachary Levi played the role in the most recent Broadway revival.
Encompassing the magical feeling of love at first sight, “Some Enchanted Evening” is sung by Emile as he describes what it feels like to see a stranger – in this case Nellie Forbush – across a crowded room.
Who Wrote It? Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Who Sang It? Ezio Pinza
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1960 (tying with Fiorello!), The Sound of Music is full of beloved songs like “My Favorite Things” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” But “Something Good” is our pick for the most romantic: in this song, Captain Von Trapp sings to Maria, telling her that he must have done something good in his childhood to deserve her love.
Who Wrote It? Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Who Sang It? Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel originated the roles of Maria Rainer and Captain von Trapp on Broadway, and Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer played the roles in the movie, with Bill Lee dubbing Plummer’s singing voice.
Star-crossed lovers Maria and Tony sing about a place they could be together, happy and free.
Who Wrote It? Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Who Sang It? Larry Kert, Reri Grist and Carol Lawrence
This song has been covered by everyone from Ray Charles to The Beatles, but it was originally written by Meredith Willson and included in The Music Man, when town librarian Marian Paroo sings her love to Harold Hill.
Who Wrote It? Meredith Willson wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Barbara Cook and Robert Preston
Sung by Coalhouse and Sarah as they dream of building a life and future for their son and the promise of the road ahead.
Who Wrote It? Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Who Sang It? Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald
Two couples – Seaweed and Penny, and Link and Tracy – sing about their love for each other and how disappointing life would be without it in this sweet quartet.
Who Wrote It? Music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Who Sang It? Matthew Morrison, Corey Reynolds, Kerry Butler, and Marissa Jaret Winokur
Dr. Pomatter and Jenna say how much they mean to each other in this duet that has also been sung by Jason Mraz and Sara Bareilles.
Who Wrote It? Sara Bareilles wrote both the music and lyrics.
Who Sang It? Jessie Mueller and Drew Gehling
Looking to listen to even more great music from Broadway musicals? Check out our article on Best Broadway Cast Recordings and Movie Musical Soundtracks!
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