I realize I’m going to get torn to shreds by my fellow Indyscribers for the utter cheesy sappiness of this post, but I don’t care. It’s Valentine’s Day, I’m in love, and someone actually loves me back. The confluence of those three conditions is rare, so I choose to wallow in the spectacular sickening sweetness of it all, because, hey this never happens to me. Here are my top 10 favorite love songs.
10. Crimson and Clover – Joan Jett
Because that guitar rocks.
9. Set the Prairie On Fire – Shawn Colvin
A lush, scorching song about the intoxication of sex that never once mentions the word.
8. It’s Only A Paper Moon – Ella Fitzgerald with The Delta Rhythm Boys
A depression-era song about how the transforming power of love can make even the poorest folks rich.
7. Wonderful! Wonderful! – Johnny Mathis
The “heavenly choir” background chorus is so over the top that I couldn’t possibly leave it off my list.
6. On the Street Where You Live – Andy Williams
One of those songs you want to sing on a public street, when you feel like shouting how you feel to the entire planet, possibly while dancing around lightposts in the rain and making an complete spectacle of yourself.
5. Good Things – Bodeans
The lyrics may sound like the singer is pleading his case, but the delivery makes it clear he knows that they’ll be together.
4. Bus Stop – The Hollies
An unconventional, trippy sixties love tune that celebrates the spontaneity and unexpectedness of love.
3. A Kiss to Build a Dream On – Louis Armstrong
That low rumbling voice is classic.
2. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Mama Cass
“And now to sing this lovely ballad, here is Mama Cass.” A simple, quiet, haunting song that needs nothing extra to express the power of love.
1. Head Over Heels – The Go-Gos
Because it was featured in the sweet movie “13 Going on 30” where we went on our second first date. It’s light, fun and probably describes our relationship better than any other.
And you chose such wonderfully cheesy clip art to go with this story! Ha.
My very favorite, my Lloyd Dobler song (that I wish someone would stand outside my window and play on a boom box), is “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders. That song rocks.
Others on my list: “Feels Like Heaven” by The Cure; “Waiting in Vain” by Annie Lennox; “Fragile” by Sting; “Secret World” by Peter Gabriel; “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire; “Amado Mio” by Pink Martini; and “Jump” by The Pointer Sisters — that too is helped by its appearance in a movie (Love Actually). Plus a zillion more from the crooners — Frank, Dean, Michael Buble, etc. — like “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Bewitched” etc.
After I wrote this, I got my Entertainment Weekly in the mail and discovered they have a huge article on the Top 50 Greatest Love Songs. Not a whole lot of overlap with my list, but lots of good stuff.
I read the article in EW as well and they were pretty spot-on (giving props to Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps”) Here are some I get all giddy for…
“I Was Made to Love Her”- Stevie Wonder
“(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” – Jackie Wilson
“I Want Someone Badly” -Jeff Buckley with Shudder To Think
“All That I Can Say” – Mary J. Blige
“You Are My Sunshine” – Johnny Cash
“I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Ray Charles
“Sunday Kind of Love” – Etta James
“The Shining” – Badly Drawn Boy
“P.S. You Rock My World” -eels
“The Sweetest Thing” Lauryn Hill
“A Song For You” – Donny Hathaway
“I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” – The Ramones
“You Belong to Me” – Bob Dylan
yeah, that’s true. still, Johnny Cash makes the heart grow fonder (or something like that).
I think that “You Are My Sunshine” falls in into the heartbreak/stalkerish category of love songs, technically. The chorus is all shiny happy, but the verses are pretty odd. I think if you did it as a punk song, it could be pretty sinister.
Sorry Steph – I’m way too jaded to even flame you for posting a story about love songs 😀
I’m with you all the way. You’ve chosen some classics, and I can tell you listened to music from the womb. Ella can’t be beat for a love song, can she? Try a little Louie Armstrong for a rough sounding but very moving love song – he’ll tear your heart out.