Every Valentine's Day over at Broadwayworld.com, they poll as many theatre luminaries as possible asking them their opinion on the most romantic Broadway song. It's always an eclectic list with several choice repeats and some surprises along the way as well. Special thanks to Sarah for reminding me. Without further ado, I offer mine:
After due consideration (and oh my are there many to consider), I would have to choose "All the Things You Are" from Very Warm for May. The song was initially performed as a double duet with the verse delivered as twin soliloquies by a couple unable to express their love for each other due to their own inhibitions. The more famous chorus section is a couple currently onstage in rehearsal (I failed to mention, this is a backstage musical with a show-within-a-show) expressing unabashedly those yearning emotions (and of course assisted by the full chorus). The haunting melody is from Jerome Kern and the lyric, which paints a poetic picture of romantic yearning, is from Oscar Hammerstein. (Special shout-out to Robert Russell Bennett for his always spectacular orchestration).
Here is that original arrangement from the 1991 album "Broadway Showstoppers" conducted by John McGlinn. Jeanne Lehman, Cris Groenendaal, Rebecca Luker and George Dvorsky are the principal soloists. Enjoy:
The refrain:
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I'll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!
Okay. Now it's your turn!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
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2 comments:
I adore this song!
Yeah, this is one of the greats, my friend. "...that trembles on the brink of a lovely song..." is one of the best lyrics ever.
I'm in a cabaret show this weekend, and the song "Every Time We Say Goodbye" figures prominently. That baby's got to be right up there with "My Funny Valentine" and "Isn't It Romantic" and the aforementioned "All The Thing You Are."
Of course, I'm not singing the pretty songs. I always get the bitter tirades. This time it's "One Small Step" from Song for a New World. But I guess negative attention is better than no attention at all, huh? ;-)
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