Truth be told, I could count ten songs as great love songs in 3 minutes, so trying to limit the songs to ten is unbearable, but I will try to combine my own opinions, radio and cd sales.
I know what my #1 song will be but otherwise, the songs will not be in any particular order.
I am open to all genres, so the list won't be limited to any genre. It does seem,however, the songs are limited to the 50s up.
Okay. Here we go.
10. Hitting the charts in the summer of 1963 and remaining there for 10 weeks, 'Be My Baby,' by the Ronettes is literally hypnotizing. Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of this "all girl group" with heavy emphasis of the wall of sound by Phil Spector and Ronnie's little girl voice, and lyrically with pure love for the other person makes the list. What tells music lovers everywhere that it belongs on the top 10 of songs is Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and a brilliant songwriter on his own, said the first time he heard 'Be My Baby' he was driving on the freeway and was so blown away that he had to pull his car over on the freeway and listen. I understand that one.
9.The Rolling Stones didn't have many ballads, but when Keith Richards came up with 'Wild Horses',(he was playing his guitar and switched keys and got the chorus and got the title from there) it was magic. It only hit #28 on the charts in 1971 for 5 weeks, and is on the album 'Sticky Fingers.
8. Legends by Bob Marley, 'No Woman No Cry,' the slow version, has got to be one of the sexiest, unified in poverty,politics, ganga, it is simply the most unifying song I have ever heard.
7,6,5,4,3, It was hard to get it down to just 5 songs by The Beatles' or 'Paul McCartney' on his own or with Wings or their friends.
7. 'My Love.' Paul wrote it for his lovely wife, "the lovely Linda." 6. 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' another one written for " the lovely Linda. When you have two songs like that written directly from the pen to the paper, you know the truth of it as it is being written is truth to page.. 5. 'In My Life,' considered a Lennon song, though Paul says he wrote the middle 8th, is lyrically soft and simple, with perhaps the most moving and loving of any song.4.'Wonderful Tonight.' Eric Clapton, a cousin of sorts to the Beatles, wrote this song for his and George Harrison's wife, Patti Boyd, is the best belly rubbing music I can think of. 3.'Your Song' by Elton John. Another very real lyric where you can see what they're singing.2. Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye. No Comment.
And my number 1 love song of all time, without reservation, is 'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys. At one time, it was 'In My Life,' by the Beatles, but I really listened to Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys and 'God Only Knows' took over by leaps and bound.
Of course, there are hundreds more that belong on this list, but given my own self limiting number of 10, it's a pretty good list.
Of course, there are brilliant albums where may songs on the entire belong such as 'Tea For the Tillerman' by Cat Stevens,' Madman Across The Water' bye Elton John,' All Beatles albums, 'Harvest' by Neil Young, 'Legends' by Bob Marley and so many more.
I would love to hear what your picks are. Please write about them in the comment section.
Love Love Love--it's all you need.
Comments