The Greatest Unrequited Love Songs...From Musicals! Jun 29 '04    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line Who needs any other depressing URL songs when you've got these? Just set this CD spinning and let yourself wallow in URL-ness. :) I've seen several lists of unrequited love (also known as URL among some people) song mixes, but very seldom do I see anyone mention the great unrequited love songs that are showtunes! And I've discovered that some of the very best unrequited love songs are showtunes. Here are some of the ones I've compiled for myself that really tug at my heart-strings. #1- "Notice Me Horton" from Seussical Okay, given that it's a song sung by a bird to an elephant and thus has some rather odd lines in there, it's still a love song and has a childlike quality to it that I absolutely love. Halfway through the song, Horton (the one admired from a distance, if you couldn't tell from the title) joins in the song, although his affections are aimed in a different direction. I will not give up hope. I was hooked from the start When I noticed your kind And your powerful heart. So notice me, Horton... The way I notice you. #2- "I'm Not Saying A Word" from Blood Brothers Besides being a sucker for a good tenor song (and, boy, is this a LOVELY tenor song!) it also sounds so much like something I might say or write, I have to include it on here. In it, a young man finds himself nearly professing his love for someone else's girlfriend, but then evades actually outright saying it. (Similar to "If I Love You" from Carousel, which isn't on this CD, although it could be.) I'd just tell you that I love you If it was me... But I'm not saying a word, I'm not saying I care. #3- "On My Own" from Les Miserables It is THE classic showtunes URL song- how could I not include it? It's also the first good URL song I ever heard and identified with. In this song, a girl who has fallen head over heels in love wanders the streets of Paris at night, imagining her guy by her side. On my own, Pretending he's beside me. All alone, I walk with him till morning. Without him, I feel his arms around me, And when I lose my way I close my eyes, And he has found me. #4- "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar If you can find a good copy of this that isn't too whiny, it's absolutely beautiful. The plaintive melody and the agonizing lyrics really brings out the confusion of unrequited love. Should I bring him down? Should I scream and shout? Should I speak of love, Let my feelings out? I never thought I'd come to this. What's it all about? #5- "Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins Uh, well, the actual story of this song is of two people who killed for the one they loved. But if you ignore that and just listen to the song, it's immensely cool. It took me a few listens to get into it, as it's got a simple melody but some great, if just a tad bit obsessive, URL lyrics! I am unworthy of your love, Charlie darling, Let me be worthy of your love. I'll find a way to earn your love, Wait and see. Then you will turn your love to me #6- "I'm Not That Girl" from Wicked The perfect "the guy I like is with someone else" song! Just discovered this one a month ago or so and fell head over heels in love with it. Hearts leap In a giddy whirl. He could be that boy, But I'm not that girl. #7- "Painting Her Portrait" from Jane Eyre Wow. Talk about an intense song! The story is, Jane's in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester, but he's practically engaged to someone else. Jane keeps thinking that he MIGHT feel something for her, but to steady her feelings she paints two portraits - one of herself, and one of Mr. Rochester's fiance. Then she compares the two to remind herself of the contrast in appearance, breeding, and charisma between the two of them. Wonderfully full of angst. You should be ashamed, Jane. Why would he trade his silver For some unpolished metal? Why would he settle for a slave When he could have a queen? #8- "Losing My Mind" from Follies One line implies that it's not quite a URL song, but the mood's right. The best version EVER is Michael Ball's version from his album "The Musicals." Oooh. Sends shivers up my spine, it's so full of sad URL-ness. The morning ends, I think about you. I talk to friends, I think about you. And do they know? It's like I'm losing my mind. #9- "If I Can't Love Her" from Beauty and the Beast So maybe most of us aren't hideous beasts that no one could ever love, but it's still a heartbreaking song that I can even relate to at times. The Beast's utter despair over ever getting Belle to love him is thoroughly evident! No hope left within me, Hope I could have loved her and that she'd set me free. But it's not to be. If I can't love her, Let the world be done with me. #10- "Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde Jekyll and Hyde has to have some good ones, I thought when I was pulling together my list for this CD. And it did - this one is absolutely lovely. It's more of a generic "some day my prince will come" type song but definitely has a bit of specific URL in it... But if someone like you Found someone like me, Then suddenly Nothing would ever be the same. #11- "Let's Play a Love Scene" from Fame A simple song about a friendship evolving into something more. Definitely a good addition to the list! If we could find a way to start And learn to play the part, A perfect scene from a play unknown, Let's play a love scene of our own. #12- "I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray A happier song. Definitely reflects the up side of URL - the "does (s)he like me?" side. In this song, Tracy suddenly thinks that the guy she likes likes her back, and suddenly her world is all bright and sunshine-y and she knows what her wedding is going to be... one of only a few cheery URL songs I can stomach. One little touch And love's knocked me out and I can hear the bells My head is spinning... I can hear the bells Something's beginning... #13- "Out Of My Dreams" from Oklahoma! A very simple song about dreaming about love. I'm actually not utterly thrilled with this one yet, but the lyrics are so clearly URL-ish that I'm sure it'll eventually grow on me. Out of my dreams and into your arms I long to fly... #14- "Being In Love" from The Music Man Another generic "some day my prince will come" song, except this one captures the loneliness of being unloved, along with the frustration. I still love my being in love with someone, But tell me, why couldn't there be Somebody being in love with me? #15- "Lonesome Polecat" from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers I had to have something cheery after thirteen very depressing URL songs... so there's this song. It's not exactly upbeat... and it's told from a guy's point of view (which doesn't quite work for me), but it's fun and awesome to sing to. I'm a lonesome polecat Lonesome, sad and blue 'Cause I ain't got no feminine polecat Vowin' to be true #16- "I Hate Men" from Kiss Me Kate Would any angst-y URL CD be complete without this? It's just so much fun... and although I've never gone for the guy-bashing, all my friends do. Definitely reflects some good anger. :) I hate men. I can't abide 'em even now and then. Than ever marry one of them, I'd rest a virgin rather, For husbands are a boring lot and only give you bother. Of course, I'm awfully glad that Mother had to marry Father, But I hate men.

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