The ABC's of Music

Here it is, part 3, complete with downloads!  LOVE SONGS!

M: My Body is a Cage - Originally: Arcade Fire, Cover: Peter Gabriel

Such a beautiful song.  All about the pains of being unable to be with the one you love.  I know a lot of people freak out and vehemently think the Arcade Fire version is ultimate, but I think the cover by Peter Gabriel is super haunting.  Give it a try!

N: No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand

Oh Franz Ferdinand, you guys can have my babies.  This song is hot and sassy and all about all those hurt feelings and misconceptions that come between boys and girls.  And it’s got a fantastic beat.

O: One Sweet Love - Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles is so precious and talented.  Most people have heard her song “Love Song”, but you know what?  ”One Sweet Love” is just as gorgeous (maybe even more so in my opinion).

P: Paradise By the Dashboard Lights - Meatloaf

CLASSIC ALERT.  Mealoaf kicks all sorts of ass, and this song and all of it’s hilarious parts describe perfectly what can happen when you try to bargain love for hot lovin’.  And if you haven’t seen him kill it in the music video, I suggest you do so.

Q: Quit Playing Games With My Heart - The Backstreet Boys

90’s ALERT!  I had to have at least one boy band love song on here, and The Backstreet Boys really kicked off the whole teenage heart-throb movement in the 90s, so what better than “Quit Playing Games With My Heart”?

R: Rollercoaster of Love - Originally: The Ohio Players, Cover: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Love is a rollercoaster, baby.  This song is that.  Done.

S: Say Yes - Elliott Smith

Oh, baby.  Poor Elliott Smith.  Rest in peace.  Easily one of the most talented singer-songwriters I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, Elliott Smith has a way of making you feel tingly and strange with his spider-webby voice and his brilliant guitaring.  No love song is more pleading and sad than “Say Yes”.

Songs about love!!  Adorable!  Part 2!

G: Gay Pirates - Cosmo Jarvis

A song about love, of the gay-pirate variety.  But beyond the clever lyrics and cute concept, this song is all love and devotion, baby.  Not to mention that it has the most adorable video of all time.  Please, please go watch it.  Right now.  Again, if you’ve already seen it.  Love.

H: Human Hands - Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet

First of all, whoever you are, you need to be listening to more of Sondre Lerche.  Just because you aren’t confident in your ability to pronounce his name out loud does not mean he isn’t one of the most talented singer/songwriters I’ve heard in ages.  Human Hands is not only a great example of a song about being hopelessly in love, but it was also in Dan In Real Life a Steve Carell movie , or whatever.  

I: I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness

Every once in a while, I think we all need a little dose of glam rock.  And when that salacious mood strikes us, it’s time to listen to The Darkness.  If you missed it on the radio several years ago, you need to hear it now.  It’s the power of love times falsetto, guitar solos, and some kick-ass beats.  After listening to this, you will believe in a thing called love.

J: Jump Down - B*Witched

Yes, there is a B*Witched song on my list.  Please don’t run away.  No, stop!  I understand folksy, Irish-inspired 90s pop isn’t for everyone, but give the song a chance.  It’s light, fun, cheerful, and all about first-time falling in love.  It’s adorable.  Whatever.  I’m moving forward.

K: Kiss From a Rose - Seal (acoustic, live)

This song was in the original Batman Trilogy by Tim Burton (it was a trilogy, right, guys?), so you should probably know it.  Plus it gets played on the radio at least 4 times between the hours of 10 pm and 4 am.  But for real, it features Seal’s sexy voice, bizarre lyrics (seriously, what is a kiss from a rose on a grave…?), and lots of talk about love.  The sexy and mysterious kind.  Done deal? I thought so.

L: L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole

Wow, what an individualistic choice.  The title isn’t even LOVE or anything.  You know what?  Shut up.  It’s been devastatingly popular since it came out… 47 years ago.  And who can resist that jazzy crooning by Nat King Cole.  And it was in the Parent Trap. Case AND point.

Love ‘em, hate ‘em, songs about love are approximately 43% of the music playing on the radio right now.  It would be a higher percentage, except writing music under the influence of love can have dastardly, annoying results.  Anyway, here it is, the ABCs of songs about love, part 1!

A: At Last - Etta James

At Last.  It’s a song that will played at at least ten of the weddings you will go to over the course of your life.  It’s the type of song that couples start dancing to in the middle of completely inappropriate situations, like shopping for real estate or waiting at the dentist’s office.  Because goddamn, this song is romance, and romance is love.

B: Baby You Can Drive My Car - The Beatles

This song is just flippin’ adorable.  The Beatles have arguably written some of the greatest classic love songs of the past 50 years, but they can also write completely happy-go-lucky adorkable songs about a guy letting his girl drive his car.  Cause, baby, he loves you.

C: Crazy For This Girl - Evan & Jaron

Do you remember the 90’s? I hope you do, because this song was the definition of what it felt like to love someone when they were popping around in the time of Nirvana and brightly colored leggings.  It was this one hit wonder that played during my first date (and I’m sure many others’).  

D: Dreaming with a Broken Heart - John Mayer

The sadder side of love.  The break-up.  Still in love, but perhaps not reciprocated?  Ah well, John Mayer (who, granted, is a giant douche bag) knows how to write songs about broken hearts.  And this just may be the greatest one.  

E: The Engine Driver - The Decemberists

I’m biased, because I think the Decemberists are FUCKING PHENOMENAL, but beyond that, I think this song is splendid in it’s own right.  Its haunting and heartbreaking and doesn’t necessarily make perfect sense but a repeating chorus of “And if you don’t love me/Let me go” sends a resounding message.

F: Faithfully - Originally: Journey, Cover: Matt the Electrician

“And being apart ain’t easy on this love affair/Two strangers learning to fall in love again”.  I can’t even.  Long distance love.  The pain.  And yet the strength.  The original version by Journey is downright brilliant, but I wanted to share the version by Matt the Electrician, because it really is stunning and completely precious.  

I’ve been thinking of doing a music tumblr for some time… And after a long day at work I’ve decided to do just think.  Every so often, I’ll be uploading tracks by genre/topic, organized by alphabetical letter!

This post isn’t very exciting, but I had to write something.  You’ll see.  It’ll be great.