A Top 10 Romantic Song List

[charleychacko]

When considering our top ten romantic songs of all time the first thing that one things of is exactly how subjective this is. We all associate music with certain moments of out lives and where romantic music is concerned then it is even more subjective. One person may have deep romantic thoughts and happy memories when listening to Metallica whilst another may be provoked into tears by The Beatles. It depends on what we were listening to at the time something happened to us. Personally on of my most haunting romantic melodies is The Unforgettable Fire by U2 but we would be here all day if I was to explain why. The fact is, there are some songs that simply appeal to the romantic ear of the masses and it is these that I list here. Once again, you may have your own list and it is certainly as valid as this.

For people who are dating, music takes on a whole new meaning. We take out or our old favorites and remind ourselves of the music that makes us feel romantic. Romantic songs heighten our feelings, our moods, our sense of romance. Just like movies love songs are often imbued with a sense of sadness but none of us can denounce how important music is in our attitudes to love. Some of the best modern songs are written about love, dating and romance, it is the subject that inspires us to song the most.

One of the inspirations behind this list of top romantic songs was when I was recently watching Ali McBeal episodes. The series brought back and linked romantic classic music tracks to emotional scenarios and I have to thank the TV series makers for having the foresight to rediscover so many old music masters. Barry White didn't quite save my life, but Al Green may now be high on my music agenda. Well done guys.

Go and get your old CDs out and give some of these tracks or similar. Remind yourself of exactly how good some of these tracks are. In fact, why not get round your love don, or if you are single, just yourself and try and rediscover your very favorite romantic tracks. I will list my favorite lists here on a future occasion. Happy listening:



My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

Gosh you may hate this but it is a masterpiece of romantic melodies with the rousing crescendo towards the end. Who wouldn't want to stand at the front of a ship with arms outstretched. Whilst now the subject of parody in some areas, it still brings a lump to our throat. Ask yourself would you die for your girl ? She'd like to think you would...

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

An ode to your loved one and sung with heartfelt honesty by Mr. Clapton. The beauty of this song is in its romantic simplicity. A song about being proud to be with someone, a song of compliments and a song of love, you can't do better than this for classic romantic sentiment.

Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

Indeed I don't and neither do you which is why this song is such a romantic masterpiece. The gladiator of romantic modern classics in fact. Steven Tyler in full throttle, rousing lyrics and chorus and superb video to boot. The sentiment is there, the voice the attitude and even the opening few words are class "I could stay awake just to hear you breathing...". Get playing it now.

Wicked Game - Chris Isaac

It took me about 30 listens and views of the video before I grasped the true meaning of this song. Probably due to my own stupidity. Once grasped however it climbed up my all time top 10. Essentially a song constructed from different tenses about the affect a woman has on the male singer from was to is now. What a wicked thing this woman does to Chris who sings like a bird. It helped enormously that Helena Christensen was Mr. Isaacs partner in both life and video at the time of release and only helps heighten its meaning. Gorgeous.

No Ordinary Love - Sade

Sade always did have that kind of seductive voice that made you want to get naked. It was for no small reason that her voice was the sound of the entire wine bar sophistication of the mid 1980's. Often sadly now associated with a movie about selling your body for $1 million, the song should be better remembered not for the Robert Redford & Demi Moore film it accompanied, or the dreadful Sade video of a lonely mermaid, but for the soft undertones of the melody, the lilting tones of the song, the sadness, and the sheer romance of its lyrics. A beautiful song superbly scripted and one to make your heart melt, yearn and stretch. Moving.

We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters

Cheesy and corny? Absolutely not, a romantic masterpiece without equal. If you haven't played this in some time just listen to Karen's voice. It is like listening to perfection, like chocolate, like silk, with inflection and emotion. My silly words here cannot do this song justice, it just needs to be placed. A romantic all time classic, even more so when related to Karen's own tragic demise one month short of her 33rd birthday.

Wishing on a  Star - Rose Royce

This song appears in many a top ten list from its initial ear-piercing opening to the drop in tone as we move into melodic verse to refrain. The sentiment of the song is beautiful and captures in an instant the essence of what romance should be. A modern work of art and there was no way I was leaving this out.

Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye

Original, sexy and very very soave, this is music to make love by. What makes this song so romantic and so sexy is the way Mr. Gaye trapped every word and made us swallow it like oysters with champagne. Its late in the evening, the meal was excellent, she is sitting in front of the fire looking exquisite, what are you waiting for men? There could have been a mini baby boom down to this song.

The Day Before You Came - ABBA

I have always had a real soft spot for ABBA and this has remained unchanged over the last 25 years. A super group of true stature and without parallel in terms of music craftsmanship - song after song. It comes as a surprise therefore to some that I select this particular melody for this list. The fact is, the song deals with some extraordinarily powerful emotions and romantic ideas over its 6 minutes of so in length. Essentially Agnetha is telling us a story in retrospect about a relationship from beginning to end by telling with huge irony what her day was like before you walked through the door. Spine tingling and beautiful and the video is great too.

Me and Mrs. Jones - Al Green

Smooch music, kissing music, velvety notes, deep luscious tones, laid back lyrics. Who knows. The point is that this is Soul from the soul - maybe food for the soul if I want to use clichés. It's smooth, it's sexy it's an afternoon away from work with your sexy lover. Its romantic, it's slightly naughty and it makes us feel good. So good it made it into this top 10.

Your task now is to go and make your own list and rediscover some romance in your CD collection. If you want to send me your list and the reasons why I may well publish it here.