Top Ten Love Songs of All Time

Now love songs aren't really my bag, baby (but I guess Austin Powers is), but in the wake of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be fun to post what I personally think are the top ten love songs ever written. And to culminate this list, my video of the week will be a live performance of #1 on my list. I heard many of these while scrolling around on the the radio yesterday, and their popularity as wedding first dance songs, prom anthems and thematic music in television shows and movies is totally undeniable. Here goes, and if you have any problems with this list (and I expect you to) please chime in with a top ten of your own.

10) "Hello" - Lionel Richie
9) "Everytime you go Away" - Paul Young
8) "It Must Have Been Love" - Roxette (on the Pretty Woman sountrack. Don't ask me how I know that. Everything about this song is so incredibly 80s, I love it. The video features satin bed sheets blowing in the wind while Roxette belts her heart out in an abandoned loft style apartment. Incredible.)
7) "I'm Always in Love" - Wilco (this is an especially personal choice for me. Many of you probably don't know of this song, or this band, but if you're curious about Wilco and like romantic-themed tunes, this is a good place to start even though the song is a little faster than the typical love song. I'd love to see them back at the Filene Center again after their opening slot for Natalie Merchant in 2000)
6) "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" - Poison
5) "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" - Bryan Adams (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)
4) "Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton
3) "Wicked Game" - Chris Isaac (A frequenter to Wolf Trap's Filene Center stage)
2) "Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye (total classic)
1) "God Only Knows" - The Beach Boys (Great friends of Wolf Trap and return performers year after year. Such an amazing song, not just in lyrical and thematic content, but I think one most brilliantly crafted songs in the 2nd half on the 20th century, if not of all time. The three part vocal harmony between Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, and Bruce Johnston is an absolute work of art. I've chosen a live 1980 performance of this song with Carl on lead vocals as my video of the week. Enjoy, it's phenomenal.)

And like I said, if you feel compelled to chastise me for one or several of my choices, please comment with a list of your own!

Have a great weekend,

Graham