Top Ten Love Songs

So my pal DT axed me, p'raps with Valentine's Day on his mind:

If you had to think of your 10 favorite love songs ever - rock-n-roll genre - how long would it take you to compile the list? We're talking visceral reaction, not pining over it for weeks.

Good question. Without the slightest bit of thought, I sat down and wrote out this here list, in this precise order:

”God Only Knows”—The Beach Boys
“Two for the Road”—Bruce Springsteen
”Black Eyed Susan”—Paul Westerberg
”Martha My Dear”—The Beatles
”Wonderful Tonight”—Eric Clapton
”Bucket of Rain”—Bob Dylan
”Freak Scene”—Dinosaur Jr
”Oh My Love”—John Lennon
”The Heart of the Matter”—Don Henley
“I’ve Been Waiting”—Matthew Sweet

So. There you have it. My utterly definitive list as of ten minutes ago, a list designed to stand the test of time, although I have little doubt I’ll be kicking myself in ten minutes for not having included Song X, whatever that is.

Hm. Lookit that. Didn’t even take ten minutes for the second thoughts to start. The only question now is, what do I toss to make room for “Top of the World,” by the Carpenters?

Feel free to post your own list in the comments. The best list will receive absolutely nothing beyond my limitless admiration.

Comments

[Mary]

1. My Funny Valentine - Elvis Costello version
2. Whenever I see your smiling Face - James Taylor
3. At Last - Etta James
4. Valentine's Day - James Taylor
5. Something - Frank Sinatra version
6. That's the Way Love Goes - Johnny Rodriguez version
7. When it don't come easy - Patti Griffith
8. You're Timeless to Me - John Travolta & Christopher Walkin (Soundtrack from Hairspray)
9. You've Got a Friend - Carole King & James Taylor singing
10. Raining on Sunday - Radney Foster....

[Mary]

One More......

11. In Spite of Ourselves - John Prine & Iris Dement

[DT]

My list, topped (as usual) only moments' later by Scott's brilliant brainstorm of his own.

Angel Eyes - John Hiatt (my wedding 1st dance)
Woman - John Lennon
All My Loving - The Beatles
If I Had $1,000,000 - Barenaked Ladies
Because The Night - Bruce Springsteen
Two Of Us - The Beatles
Golden Lady - Stevie Wonder
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Bob Dylan
If Only You Were Lonely - The Replacements

And now I feel stupid for not having "God Only Knows" on there. Perhaps we shall call it 10 1/2?

I've also realized a good chunk of these love songs - at least half - are either sad, desperate, or both. Fun place, my world.

[Terena]

Brought me out of lurk mode for this one..

You're The Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia

When I See You Smile - Bad English

Better Days - Springsteen

Orchard Road - Leo Sayer

Swayin' To The Music - Johnny Rivers

Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison

You and Me - Lifehouse

Even Now - Barry Manilow

Love of the Heart Divine - Chris Deburgh

True Companion - Marc Cohn

(apparently in my mind, all love songs are sung by men?? - you learn something new every day)

[sarah in va]

12. Groovy Kind of Love-Phil Collins

Happy Hearts Day. Hugs to the fam--

[xixi]

Rock and Roll Genre? That's hard hmmm

1. Something - Beatles
2. More than This - Roxy Music
3. The Way - Fastball
4. Woman - John Lennon
5. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
6. I Got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison
7. I Will - The Beatles

I give up - everything I think of is the Beatles.

[Emily]

1. Wonderful Tonight
2. In Your Eyes
3. Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
4. Take My Breath Away
5. The Way You Look Tonight (does that count?)
6. She
7. All The Way
8. God Only Knows
9. The First Time I Saw Your Face
10. Amazed

[DT]

Sara In Va -

"Groovy Kind of Love."

I gotsta tell ya. THAT is one inspired choice.

There are two things in this world I wish I thought of first.

One, of course, is Hot Pockets.

But the other is exactly what you wrote. "Groovy Kind of Love" is just a magnificent selection.

Wow.

[shannon]

I'll add my list for what it's worth
Crush - Dave Matthews Band
How Deep Is The Ocean - Etta James
Slow Dance - John Legend
Flying High - Jem
Have A Little Faith In Me - Jewel
I've Fallen In Love With You - Joss Stone
Cherish The Day - Sade
Time To Make You Mine - Lisa Stansfield
Love Of My Life - Santana feat. Dave Matthews
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow

[Tay]

You're the Best Thing -- Style Council
I Will -- The Beatles
Gypsy -- Suzanne Vega
Signed, Sealed, Delivered -- Stevie Wonder
You Don't Know Me -- Ray Charles
Just Can't Get Enough -- Depeche Mode
Only One -- James Taylor
You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) -- Aretha
Something to Talk About -- Bonnie Raitt
I Am Yours -- Derek and the Dominos

[scott]

Wow! Good stuffs here. I must say, Tay got me with "I Am Yours," a song I recently realized--and I mean recently, as in a few weeks ago--that I had been unjustly neglecting for twenty years. What an unbelievably beautiful song, lost in the brilliant maelstrom that is very possibly the greatest double album of all time.

And "Gypsy?" Oh my. If I could marry Suzanne Vega's voice I would. Not her. Just her voice.

But I cannot. Because, of course, I am already deliriously happily married.

And that's the only reason.

[Andrea]

Oh! Useless, time-consuming tasks! LOVE!

1. Falling Slowly-Glenn Hansard
2. Essence-Lucinda Williams
3. Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd
4. Time in a Bottle-Jim Croce
5. Could it Be Magic-Barry Manilow
6. More than This-Flawed Bill Murray version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZA5aRDjwmM)
7. In the Sun-Joseph Arthur
8. We're Going to be Friends-White Stripes
9. Forever in Blue Jeans-Neil Diamond
10.Because the Night-Patti Smith

/resumes lurking