Are THESE Broadway's Most Romantic Love Songs?

Broadway is rich in romance -- and rich in lushly romantic love songs.
The very best of this genre invoke powerful images, cast a strong spell of seduction, create feelings of longing, arouse our senses, unmask desires and haunt us long after the show has ended.
So many of these songs become classics precisely for the reasons we've just listed. But inexplicably, others remain in the background and, if they're lucky, reach the status of cult favorites.
While this is hardly meant to be a definitive list (and is largely representational) here are, in no particularly order, 25 that come to mind:

Some Enchanted Evening, Rodgers & Hammerstein for South Pacific
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber considers this possibly the most beautiful and near-perfect song ever written. It creates an unforgettable allure. It's pure magic!

So In Love, Cole Porter for Kiss Me, Kate
The top pick of Lin-Manuel Miranda, it casts a classic spell and proves that Porter, who was a master of patter songs and comedic ditties, could also write a great love song.

If Ever I Should Leave You, Lerner & Loewe for Camelot
The song teases about bidding adieu to a one and only love but it's message is nonetheless clear in a mostly sad musical about a fatal love triangle.

My Heart Is So Full Of You, Frank Loesser for The Most Happy Fella
Majestic and just-this-side of operatic, this soaring duet is overwhelming in its power and its sense of fully realized love.

I Got Love, Peter Udell for Purlie
Exuberant beyond belief, it joyously evokes first love. It's an absolute winner from its subtle beginning to its rousing conclusion.

The Music Of The Night, Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Phantom Of The Opera
One of the most seductive songs ever written, it's full of imagery and unabashedly proclaims its intent to release untapped desires. A sizzler!

Make Believe, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for Show Boat
Yes, they're just playing at love -- thinking about what it might be like. With this trick, Kern and Hammerstein  draw you in. And by the end of the song (which is delivered early in the show) the granddaddy of all musicals has already won your heart.

I Love My Wife, Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart for I Love My Wife
Sure, it's a big, hokey and some may consider it outdated. But, it's beautiful, heartfelt and honest in its own way. And Sinatra, of all people, had a hit with it. The song works,

Joanna, Stephen Sondheim for Sweeney Todd
A young man's heart aches with desire. The song weaves a web of longing tinged with pathos. Here, Sondheim turns melodic. Overwhelming!

Fifty Percent, Billy Goldenberg, Alan and Marilyn Bergman for Ballroom
Late-in-life love. She's the other woman. She doesn't possess or know all of him -- nor does she want to, apparently. Fifty percent is enough -- and also enough to call it "love".

One Hand, One Heart, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for West Side Story
Star-crossed young lovers, fused and about to face their destiny. Need we say more?

They Say It's Wonderful, Irving Berlin for Annie Get Your Gun
Imagined love in all its many hues comes to life during the course of this sweet, evocative duet. One of Berlin's very best!

It Only Takes A Moment, Jerry Herman for Hello, Dolly!
Perhaps the ultimate in romanticized love songs, it unabashedly declares the instantaneousness and illogic of love. Egged on by Dolly herself, it blossoms into an irresistible love duet.

Miracle Of Miracles, Joseph Stein and Sheldon Harnick for Fiddler On The Roof
A short paean to the miracle of love, it remains vibrant, whimsical and thoroughly delightful! The song itself is a little miracle.

The Music That Makes Me Dance, Bob Merrill and June Stein for Funny Girl
It borders on love as obsession. Of course it became a staple of Streisand's repertoire -- and how could it not with lyrics like: In every way, everyday I need less of myself. I need more him.

If I Loved You and People Will Say We're In Love by Rodgers and Hammerstein for Carousel and Oklahoma, respectively.
In the same league as Make Believe, the lovers are visualizing what might be when it's clear to everyone that what might be really is. For R&H, this proved to be a surefire romantic device.

Till There Was You, Meredith Willson for The Music Man
The song celebrates the transformative power of love and shows us how love changes the look, the sound and the feeling of everything around us.

Helpless, Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton
A catchy rap declaration of love at first sight where the gal takes one look at the guy and declares: "This one is mine!" And here it is in the musical that reinvented musicals -- again!

Love And Love Alone, Kander and Ebb for The Visit
While it seems to disavow love, it's actually a love song to love itself -- love, with all its disappointments, all its pain, all its shortcomings. What's left after all that? Love, and love alone.

Once Upon A Time, Lee Adams and Charles Strouse for All American
Young love remembered, and maybe (just maybe) awakened in this haunting ballad for two stars (Ray Bolger and Eileen Herlie) who pulled it off with the smoothness and vibrancy of a fine wine. Of course it became a standard.

Only Us, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for Dear Evan Hansen
The updated love duet. A chatty, busy love song that captures the longing and the moment, millennial style. It brings Broadway right into the digital age with admirable tenderness and aplomb.

Hopelessly Devoted To You, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey for Grease
Teenage crush love with all its capriciousness and heartache.  My head is saying, 'Fool, forget him' my heart is saying, 'Don't let go. Hold on till the end.' and that's what I intend to do. 

Whoever You Are, Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Promises, Promises
A deeply moving and enchanting plea for more than just a hookup kind of love, it captures a time and place and yet remains timeless in the inimitable Bacharach/David style.

Love Has Come Of Age, Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn for Jekyll & Hyde
It could just as easily have been titled Until Tonight because it celebrates the night and the moment when love blossoms in this chilling tale that showcases the struggle between good and evil. Neil Patrick Harris says this is Broadway's most romantic love song.

But one more now, just for good measure. Since we began with Rodgers & Hammerstein, let's end with them and Broadway's most lushly romantic moment ever -- Shall We Dance, from The King and I.