Sondheim's Greatest Love Song?

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:26pm

I hate when people say Sondheim isn't sentimental enough when, in fact, he probably one of the most sentimental writers out there. He is a genius at capturing the love that "could have been" or "Should have been". It's in every one of his shows. That being said. What do you think is his greatest love song?

I'm gonna go with "Too Many Mornings" from "Follies". Absolutely heartbreaking!!

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:29pm

I'm quite partial to "Johanna". Also, "Not While I'm Around" is a great non-traditional love song.

And "No One Has Ever Loved Me" from "Passion".

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:33pm

"with so little to be sure of" from Whistle. so simple, but so direct and pure.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:34pm

"Happiness" from Passion is my favorite, but "Johanna" is another incredibly beautiful song.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:41pm

Not traditionally a love song, but "Move On" from SITPWG makes me cry.

[leefowler]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:55pm

Too Many Mornings

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:35pm

I've always been partial to "Unworthy of Your Love"...even if it is about Jodie Foster and Charles Manson

[Stitch_Stalker]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:39pm

Well, discounting "West Side Story", which I believe contains some of the BEST love songs ever written... I'm a fan of the "mixed emotions" in Company's "Sorry, Grateful" and "Being Alive"...

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:41pm

I don't know if it's his most beautiful, but my favorite is "I Wish I Could Forget You" from Passion.

And there's no way that Sondheim isn't sentimental. (Hurray for double negatives!) He's just not as overtly sentimental as other composers and/or lyricists. And I certainly wouldn't want him to become effusive with sentimentality, talking about loves and doves.

[theatahguy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:46pm

Loving You

Not a Day Goes By

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:49pm

In Buddy's Eyes. Especially when sung by Barbara Cook.

Updated On: 10/19/06 at 01:49 PM

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 1:50pm

Yes Not A Day Goes By and I'm not sure if Being Alive really counts but it's beautiful.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:05pm

Not a Day Goes By. NO QUESTION.

Second, Losing My Mind.

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:08pm

"My Friends" is another unconventional love song

[WhoCouldBeBlue]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:10pm

I certainly have to agree...

Too Many Mornings!

One of the most emotional, beautifully written love songs I've ever heard!

[RICRoyal2010]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:22pm

Somewhere and I have a love from West Side Story...Both have to be performed with feeling and emotion I saw a community version of WSS and I Have A Love made me cry.....I almost never cry

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:42pm

In context- Not a Day Goes by and Unworthy of Your Love

Out of context- Pretty Women

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:59pm

If you adapt the POV, "Our Time" is very much a love song.

However in context, the reprise of Not a Day Goes By nails it.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:04pm

Too Many Mornings.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:40pm

Not a Day Goes By, hands down. I cry every time I hear it.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 3:44pm

NOT A DAY GOES BY and LOVING YOU

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 4:08pm

Is "Unworthy of your love" considered a love song? That's pretty scary!

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 5:19pm

Too Many Mornings is the first song that came to my mind, followed by With So Little To Be Sure Of.

The best "LOVE" moment for me from a Sondheim show though is on the London recording of Passion when Ball does "No One Has Ever Loved Me" -- it's beautiful and completely heartbreaking.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 5:21pm

NOT WHILE I'M AROUND from SWEENEY TODD

UNWORTHY OF YOUR LOVE from ASSASSINS

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 5:21pm

MY FRIENDS from SWEENEY TODD