Love Songs – Day 9
Love is bigger than words, better than ice cream and worth sticking around for. At least that’s how today’s contributors, a couple of weathered old sailors themselves, see it.
In ways, every great song is a love song. And that greatness isn’t measured by physical perfection, but in what a song does to the listener. Love is exciting, frightening, difficult, easy… but mostly, it’s all that matters. What keeps love achingly sweet is the taste of salt and the promise of more sugar to come. Over time, the tastes of a great love blend into something more complex, but music reminds us of the purity of certain instances, of moments when we think, “I wish everything could stay just like this forever,” or “God, I hope this is over soon.” My most memorable love songs wouldn’t necessarily win a Great Taste in Music medal, but never fail to grab me by the heart and drag me to deep places: Exuberance. Turbulence. Peace. And so, here are three of the dozens of songs that shake me up, in no order of importance.
Sarah McLachlan: “Ice Cream”
It seems most people who know this song think it’s about a relationship gone bad, but the lyric “It’s a long way down to the place where we started from” is the giveaway. “Ice Cream” is about starting low and rising high. Beautiful.
John Lennon: “Stand by Me”
While Ben E. King’s original 1961 recording of this song is simply amazing, John Lennon’s version is grittier, somehow more real to me. Hearing this version of “Stand by Me” is like listening to a firefighter who just pulled nine children from a burning building – and lost one of them. It rips me up every time.
Goo Goo Dolls: “Slide”
If “Ice Cream” didn’t do the trick, this one will surely jettison me from whatever cool factor chart I might have aspired to, but I don’t know how you can hear “Put your arms around me/ What you feel is what you are / and what you are is beautiful” and not be just a little affected. Unless your soul is made of stone.
TCD Co-founder Mehrdad J. Dalamie only needs one perfect song.
“Last Dance” — Sarah McLachlan: No words but it speaks volumes.
Look for more Power of Three: Love Songs this week on TCD!
Read more!
Love Songs from 93.3’s CV and Jane; Lisa Townsel Day 1
Love Songs from Salvation Army’s Faithe Colas; Cesar Rojas Day 2
Love Songs from Sunset Playhouse’s Jonathan West; Judith Ann Moriarty Day 3
Love Songs from WMSE’s Erin Wolf; DJ Hostettler Day 4
Love Songs from TCD’s Tom Strini and Barbara Castonguay Day 5
Love Songs from TCD’s Erin Petersen and tomjulio Day 6
Love Songs from TCD’s Ted Bobrow and Patti Wenzel Day 7
Love Songs from Singer/songwriter Lisa Gatewood and the MSO’s Frank Almond Day 8
