Posted on 02/14/2011 3:41:46 PM PST by patriot08
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Valentine's Day Songs and romance have gone together since the beginning of time. Everyone falls in love sometime in their life, or reminisces about their past loves. Some of the greatest love songs have been with us since we can remember. . Throughout history, people have expressed their emotions through love songs and love poems.. The best love songs of all time have created magic and helped two hearts become one with their lovely romantic lyrics and rhythms.
Here are a few of my favorites- some old, some new and even some C/W.
What are yours?
MY HEART WILL GO ON- Celine Dion
Celine Dion's soaring ballad to lost love:
(beautiful lyrics)
Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you, That is how I know you go on
Far across the distance And spaces between us You have come to show you go on
Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on Once more you open the door And you're here in my heart And my heart will go on and on
Love can touch us one time And last for a lifetime And never let go till were gone
Love was when I loved you One true time I hold to In my life well always go on
Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on Once more you open the door And you're here in my heart And my heart will go on and on
You're here, there's nothing I fear, And I know that my heart will go on Well stay forever this way You are safe in my heart And my heart will go on and on
AT LAST- Etta James
It's not the first rendition of this 1942 tune, but Etta's is the finest, thanks to a strong, sensual delivery that says (or is it shouts?) I deserve this! No wonder every bride on earth thinks it was written just for her.
THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE- Roberta Flack
Originally a folk song from the 1950's, Roberta Flack made this classic truly her own in a soaring, sensual peformance.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston
Boom! goes the drum, followed by a split second of silence. Then, out of thin air: ''And I-I-I-I-I...'' Some prefer Dolly Parton's subtler original, but Houston imbued the song with so much drama and chilling technique — and scored such a massive hit — that hers has become definitive.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS- Foreigner
Don't scoff at this selection. The 1984 power ballad recorded by the British-American rock band Foreigner. The song hit #1 in both the UK and the U.S. Still gives me little goosebumps.
One could even interpret this song as spiritual. From listening and thinking about the lyrics, you can imagine one seeking God's love and guidance The wondeful choir reaffirms this emotion, and feeling, brilliantly in this song.
SOMETHING- Beatles
This is the only song written by George Harrison to be released as the A-side of a single by the group. It also quickly became the most covered song by the group outside of "Yesterday." It is one of the most perfect of love songs.
SOMEWHERE IN TIME-
The beautiful theme from 'Somewhere In Time'.
IF I COULD REACH YOU- Marilyn McCoo (5th Dimention)
The definitive 'other woman' song. Such a lovely voice this woman had!
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT- Andy Williams
Andy's soaring tenor on this one gets me every time.
STAND BY ME- Mickey Gilley
I like his version better than the most famous rendition by Ben E. King. There's just something about the soft, easy way he sings it.
ALWAYS ON MY MIND- Willie Nelson/Elvis
SAY GOODBYE- Lauren Kincade (from 'Forever Lulu)
This song is from the sweet little (but forgotten) movie,'Forever Lulu'. This is the only song the girl singer ever recorded and its only in the movie. It is said that the powers that be thought the little Asian girl wasn't attractive enough to be successful in the business- even though she has the sweetest voice.
Others: (In no particular order)
TONI BRAXTON -UNBREAK MY HEART
REO SPEEDWAGON -KEEP ON LOVING YOU
BEE GEES -HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS -UNCHAINED MELODY
LIONEL RICHIE/DIANA ROSS -ENDLESS LOVE
SINEAD O’CONNOR -NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU
NAT KING COLE/NATALIE COLE -UNFORGETTABLE
BOSTON -MORE THAN A FEELING
AIR SUPPLY -ALL OUT OF LOVE
KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON -ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
CYNDI LAUPER -TIME AFTER TIME
CHRISTOPHER CROSS -THINK OF LAURA
My Maria - B.W. Stevenson
If - Bread
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Nights Are Forever Without You - England Dan & John Ford Coley
All I Wanted - Kansas
Falling - Leblanc & Carr
If You Know What I Mean - Neil Diamond
Dance With Me - Orleans
Please Come To Boston - David Loggins
Love You 'Till the End - The Pogues
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
In Dino’s version, he sings of flying in the blue skies, he painted blue to be as the skies, because of his love for his woman.
At least, that’s how a lady explained it to me. The original Volare is a bit different from Dino’s version. But then, I like his version for it’s love potion quotient.
;-)
Millennia of love songs written and performed and we have to narrow it down to one? I'm at home with a cold, so I'm game. Reminds of the verse from the Randy Travis song "Deeper Than the Holler"
"From the backroads to the broadway shows with a million miles between
There's a least a million love songs that people love to sing
And everyone is different and everyone's the same
So this is just another way of sayin' the same thing"
The Beatles are an obvious choice to look at for about a zillion entries, but that is too easy. I'll pick another from that era. Here's a song that outsold even the Beatles in the UK in '65. Written and produced by Tom Springfield (Dusty's brother) who caught this group off the boat from Australia:
The Seekers: "I'll Never Find Another You"
Besides, Judith had a way of making modesty look sexy.
And here are the lyrics to “That’s All”:
I can only give you love that lasts forever
And a promise to be near each time you call
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone
That’s all
That’s all
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter’s night
That’s all
That’s all
There are those I am sure who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy
All I have are these arms to enfold you
And a love even time can’t destroy
If you’re wondering what I’m asking in return, dear
You’ll be glad to know that my demands are small
Say it’s me that you’ll adore
For now and evermore
That’s all
That’s all
“Beautiful” by Gordon Lightfoot
“The Last Thing On my Mind” by Jose Feliciano
“To Where You Are” sang by Josh Groban-songwriter Richard Marx
Miracle by Jefferson Starship, listen to the lyrics- erotic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tCrBF71JCU
Yeah...alright.
Thanks for the many replies, FRiends.
It’s been fun.
Actually, if I get a second shot . . . I start thinking about Nanci Griffith, who has been one of my favorite singer-songwriters for about thirty years (despite her politics). A fellow Texan.
When she first moved to Nashville, she was startled one Saturday morning by a knock at her door. She found one of the most famous Country/Western songwriters of all time, ancient Harlan Howard, standing there. ("I Fall to Pieces," "Streets of Baltimore" and a few hundred little things like that - the man who one said country music was "three chords and the truth"). Nanci considered herself an unknown.
Harlan looked her up and down and said "I just "I just wanted to meet the girl who had the guts to write a country song about being a streetwalker" ("Working These Corners"). Nanci invited him in, made him some blueberry pancakes and coffee, and they talked as they became friends.
He asked what she was worked on.
She explained that she was writing an album ("Little Love Affairs") where each song was about a different couple and a different aspect of their love. Harlan said he would be proud to write a song for the album.
Nanci didn't know what to say to Nashville's most famous songwriter for the last 40-50 years, but choked out "Mr. Howard? Part of the concept of the album is that it's personal, and I was going to write each song."
Harland laughed and said "Tell you what, little lady. I'm going to write a song about a love relationship that's so unique you won't be able to keep it off the album."
And he did, and he and Nanci became best friends.
The song is called "Never Mind" and is the story of two migrant farm workers who fall in love; she wants the relationship to move to a higher level and perhaps for the two of them to build a family together with her little boy, to leave the life of migrant farm workers if they can. The most poignant line (or funniest line, your choice), is when she explains how she knew he loved her:
"I first saw you picking oranges in Orlando, and all day you kept your ladder close to mine."
Now, if that's not love . . . in migrant farm worker terms . . . I don't know what is. The album's Little Love Affairs by Nanci Griffith. A couple of the other songs, like the Gulf Coast Highway duet, are stone-cold keepers.
Jimmy Buffett - “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw?”
Since you mentioned George, how about “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
Your ‘wedding march’ is actually “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Check it out.
I’m not much of a C/W fan, but I do love George and Tammy.
‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’, IMHO, is the greatest C/W song of all time and George the greatest C/W singer.
I love Tammy Wynette’s ‘Apartment No 9’
What an interesting story. Thanks.
Not being too much of a C/W fan, I shall have to look Nanci and the songs up.
(I do love George and Tammy, though.)
When I thought about this thread of the greatest love songs ever, I started doing research.
I looked at dozens of ‘top 25, top 50’ greatest love songs lists from many different sources.
My own list of favorites were on every list I looked at- with the exception of a very few.
I was surprised that not a one on FR listed any of these songs as being a great love song.
Others: "The Wayward Wind," "Please Forgive Me," "Tennessee Waltz."
Nanci's not a country/western singer. At one point, if you had to categorize her, she was a contemporary folk singer. Then Rolling Stone Magazine called her the "Queen of Rockabilly." There was a long period in the 1980s when she was the biggest US musician in the UK and was famous in Europe. She recorded 'From a Distance' two years before Bette Midler. Nanci's version went triple platinum in Europe.
When she did her tour for the album "Other Voices, Other Rooms," a series of duets of folksongs that had inspired her as a child, she had a huge surprise at Carnegie Hall.
After she was on stage, she was surprised by a huge group of friends who showed up to sing with her. I don't remember the full lineup. Perhaps John Price, Bob Dylan, Odetta, J.I. Allison & Glen D. Hardin (of Buddy Holly and The Crickets), Arlo Guthrie, Harlan Howard, Emmylou Harris, Lucy Kaplansky, Darius Rucker ("Hootie"), Bela Fleck, Ian Tyson (of the 60s folk group Ian & Sylvia). The people who showed up that night to see Nanci got their money's worth.
She's beloved by other musicians and musical artists.
Nanci's something of an unofficial member of Ireland's 'national treasure' group.
You can't really pigeon-hole her as country-western or anything else, except as Nanci Griffith. She was in Nashville because her record label tried to make her CW for a record or so. That was followed by using the same producer from the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album on her next works. Yeah. She's just Nanci.
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