I’m titling this blog, Some of My Favorite Romantic Songs, because really there are so many songs about love and romance from which to choose. My list today is probably different from what my list would be tomorrow.
My guess is that there are more songs written and sung about love than any other topic. Not that all songs about love are romantic because there’s nothing romantic about suffering from a broken heart or your baby leaving you for someone new. I mean, I think Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss is hauntingly beautiful, but I wouldn’t call it romantic. (Of course, Allison Krauss could sing the phone book and it would sound hauntingly beautiful.) And when that guy from Nazareth sings, “love hurts,” it sounds like someone is ripping his heart from his chest – affecting but not too romantic.
I picked four romantic songs to share with you today, and each song embodies a different aspect of romance. But to me, each is undeniably romantic. So in no particular order, here are four of my favorite romantic songs – for today:
Song #1: “Making Memories of You,” Keith Urban
This song is all about sweet, forever love. “I wanna sleep with you forever. I wanna die in your arms. In a cabin by a meadow where the wild bees swarm.” This is also a total “wedding” song. “I’m going to love you. Like nobody loves you. And I’ll win your trust making memories of us.” The intimate setting of this performance adds to the romanticism of the song. So fall in love with Keith...and the song:
Song #2: “I Belong to You," Lenny Kravitz
This song has a sensuous underlying beat that emphasizes the possessive nature of the relationship. “I belong to you and you, you belong to me too. You make me feel complete. You make me feel so sweet.” The romance here is a slow, simmering burn. "You are the flame in my heart. You light my way in the dark. You are the ultimate star." Wow! Again, it doesn’t hurt that Lenny is a sexy man. I really like this video. Although the video isn’t romantic in a typical way, Lenny in the water and against the tree and then everyone dancing in the street is sooo hot and sexy. Enjoy!
Song #3: “Accidentally in Love,” Counting Crows (from Shrek II)
The love story between Shrek and Princess Fiona is undeniably romantic. While she’s still a beautiful princess, Fiona falls in love with an ogre. And once Shrek falls in love with the beautiful Princess Fiona, he loves her even more in her ogre form. But the romance between two ogres has to be fun, and this song reflects the fun and excitement of romance. “Well baby, I surrender to the strawberry ice cream never, ever end of all this love. Oh this love! Well I didn’t mean to do it, but there’s no escaping your love.” Pure exuberance. Have fun!
Song #4: “Read My Mind,” The Killers
Love can also be wondrous and scary. For me, this is a soaring song about taking a chance on life and love. “Woman, open the door. Don’t let it stay. I want to breathe that fire again. She said, I don’t mind if you don’t mind ‘cuz I don’t shine if you don’t shine.” The lyrics in this song are beautiful poetry. “It's funny how you just break down waitin' on some sign. I pull up to the front of your driveway with magic soakin' my spine. Can you read my mind?” I just love that image. And then at the end, “The stars are shining like rebel diamonds cut out from the sun. When you read my mind.” Enjoy a great song with a rather silly video set in Tokyo (love the Japanese Elvis).
Hope you enjoyed my romantic songs for the day. What are some of your favorite romantic songs?
14 comments:
"Somewhere my Love" from Dr. Zhivago. Maybe too sad, but so beautiful.
Carly
Great post! I love the Lenny Kravitz song! Will have to add that to my playlist. One of my favorite romantic, sensual, passionate songs is
The Dolphin's Cry by Live though the water in this video is a bit scary. I think it represents love. Anyway this is probably more passionate than romantic.
Hey Carol, Two songs that come to mind right now are Kathy Mattea's Where've You Been, and also her Battle Hymn of Love. We played the latter song at my wedding 'reception', which was really a bunch of us sitting around my brother's living room. Totally wished I hadn't wasted such a good song on my 'practice' marriage.
The first few lines of that song are 'I will plege my heart to the love we share, through the good and the bad times too...And the song Where've You Been makes me tear up every time I hear it. If I remember the story correctly, she wrote the song about her mother and father in law and their love.
What gorgeous songs, and every single one of them new to me, which nails me. When I try to think, it isn't individual songs that call to me, it's voices: Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra (oh yes, even ol Blue Eyes), Carly Simon, James Taylor -- what a pity they couldn't keep it together! -- and, because we were just playing it last night, Miles Davis' Bess You Is My Woman Now, when you don't need the words -- the music goes right through you.
Carly, yes, that's a sad song. I haven't seen that movie in the longest time.
Nicole, every time I listen to Lenny's song, I get it stuck in my head. I think his vocals are great on the song too - understated and smoldering.
Jordanne, you'll just have to come up with another romantic song at your NEXT wedding!
Beppie, I'm glad I introduced you to some new songs. The grandkids never watched Shrek?! Oh my - I love Sinatra's voice - smooth as silk or a good cognac (and I don't even like cognac).
I love Nazareth, Carol, Love Hurts is such a great song. :-) And I also love Lenny Kravitz. I grew up listening to hard rock, classic 60s and 70s rock,so some of my fave romantic songs will probably make you chuckle. *G*
Still Loving You by the Scorpions
Open Arms by Journey
Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon
Let Me Take You Home Tonight by Boston
I was thinking of Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago. There was a true love, but there are others too numerous to mention. I liked all of yours, too, Carol.
Sandy
I love My Immortal by Evanescense... I think that is a love song. And Beauty and the Beast. Also there were some great love songs back in the 70s-80s but I they aren't popping in to my tired head right now!
The love song that STILL gives me goose bumps is, "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick. When my husband and I were dating, he came over to my apartment to take me out, but I wans't ready yet. While I was in my room dressing that song came on the radio and he started to sing it to me. My heart raced, I swear. I'll never forget it.
Oooh another one is "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner.
Donna, I love all those songs! On Dancing With the Stars the other week, a couple danced the waltz to Open Arms - very romantic.
Sandy, yes there are too many to mention or think of. That's why this is my list today!
Martha, Evanescence is great. Lots of great romantic songs from Disney movies!
Anne, that's a great story. Isn't it amazing how songs can just bring back a precise memory?
Nicole, lots of big romantic ballads from the 70's.
Carol, I like that Keith Urgan song, and I knew the Shrek song (something to do with having watched the movie with my kids umteen times). Collin Raye has a song called, "Love Me" that is great. He's also got one called, "The Gift." I like "Open Arms", and one that is very special to me is the Richard Marx song, "Right Here Waiting", it came out about a month before my hubby (then boyfriend) was deployed to Germany in the Army and I used to play it to him over the phone. It starts off "Oceans apart, day after day..." I was 18, he was 19. And that was 19 years ago! Yikes! :) Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Stacey, I can't wait to see Keith Urban at the Staples Center in L.A. this summer! I LOVE that Richard Marx song. What a sweet memory it has for you.
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