Should We Be Sick Of Love Songs?
Not too long ago, the R&B artist, Ne Yo was sick of love songs, and he ventilated his feelings in the song “So sick”. Believe me, when I say that I understand his grievance.
The most prevalent theme in music and song writing is love. Since, the invention of radio in the early 20th century, the ears of every music junkie like myself, have been inundated by a plethora of love songs. Despite the romanticization of love, there is still little love reflected or externalized in our daily dealings with self, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, strangers, etc. Apparently, love songs have yielded poorly. But, should we be fatigued? I think not!
The fact that love songs are multifarious indicates a deficit, a lack, a scarcity. Chances are that, should love abound amongst humanity, the need to sing about it would not suffice. It would flow in surplus and we would be immersed in it, if need be.
Perhaps, then, we would not wait till a certain day to celebrate love because love celebrations would become generic, a daily ritual, starting from within ourselves for ourselves and then extended towards others.
Imagine, a world where everyone loved themselves? There would be no hurt, pain, trauma, envy, jealousy, hatred, backstabbing, gossip, etc. That is the world of my dreams! As I wait for it to manifest, I am still going to entertain the love songs.
By the way, there are three kinds of love songs. The first is what I call the bright and positively inclined with a happy ending. They are often pledges of adoration and devotion laced with tenderness and passion. The second is bluesy and melancholic, you know, like the ones often sung by Ms. Toni Braxton or Mariah Carey, while the third is tutorial and dissects the anatomy of love like Mary J. Blige’s “That’s What Love Is” or Millie Jackson’s “Love Is A Dangerous Game”.
The following is a playlist of 50 bright love songs to mark the Valentine’s day, and who says we can’t replicate this celebration, daily? Methinks, that each day ought to be a Valentine’s day!
3T. "I Need You" Brotherhood (1995).
All 4 One. "I Can Love You Like That" And The Music Speaks (1995).
Anita Baker. "Sweet Love" Rapture (1986).
Atlantic Starr. "Masterpiece" Love Crazy (1991).
Babyface. "Exceptional" The Return Of The Tender Lover (2015).
Backstreet Boys. "I'll Never Break Your Heart" Backstreet Boys (1996).
Barry White & Isaac Hayes. "Dark and Lovely (You Over There)" Put Me In Your Mix (1991).
Bill Withers. "Just The Two Of Us" The Ultimate Collection (1980).
Celine Dion. "Power Of Love" The Colour Of My Love (1993).
Chaka Khan. "Through The Fire" I Feel For You (1984).
Chanté Moore. "Precious" Precious (1992).
Cyndi Lauper. "Time After Time" She’s So Unusual (1983).
Davido. "Aye" (Non Album Single, 2014).
Donna Summer. "Heaven Knows" On The Radio: Greatest Hits, Volumes 1 & 2 (1978).
Destiny’s Child. "Brown Eyes" Survivor (2001).
Donnell Jones. "I Wanna Love You" Where I Wanna Be (1999).
Dru Hill. "You Are Everything" Enter The Dru (1998).
Enrique Iglesias. "Hero" Escape (2001).
Evan Rogers. "Call My Heart Your Home" Faces Of Love (1989).
(The) Gap Band. "Yearning For Your Love" Gap Band III (1980).
George Benson. "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" 20/20 (1985).
Joe. "All That I Am" All That I Am (1997).
Jon B. "Someone To Love" Bonafide (1995).
KC & Jojo Hailey. "All My Life" Love Always (1997).
Lenny Kravitz. "I Belong To You" 5 (1998).
Levert. "ABC-123" For Real Tho’ (1993).
Lionel Richie. "You Are" Lionel Richie (1982).
Luther Vandross. "Always and Forever" Songs (1994).
Mary J. Blige. "I'm in Love” Mary (1999).
Mario. "Let Me Love You" Turning Point (2004).
Maxi Priest. "Close To You" Bonafide (1990).
Maxwell. "Fortunate" Soundtrack to the film, Life (1999).
Michael Bolton. "Said I Loved You...But I Lied" The One Thing (1993).
Michael Jackson. "Liberian Girl" Bad (1987).
Miki Howard. "Ain't Nobody Like You" Femme Fatale (1992).
Monica. "Angel Of Mine" The Boy Is Mine (1998).
Nancy Wilson."Can't Take My Eyes Off You" A Capitol Records Release (1969).
New Edition. "I'm Still In Love With You" Home Again (1996).
(The) O’ Jays. "Emotionally Yours" Emotionally Yours (1991).
Paula Abdul. "Rush Rush" Spellbound (1991).
Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle. "A Whole New World" Soundtrack to the film, Aladdin (1992).
Prince."Betcha By Golly Wow" Emancipation (1996).
Sade. "Kiss Of Life" Love Deluxe (1992).
Shai. "If I Ever Fall In Love" If I Ever Fall In Love (1992).
Shaggy. "Chica Bonita" Hot Shot (2000).
Shanice. "Lovin' You" Inner Child (1991).
Smokie Robinson. "One Heartbeat" One Heartbeat (1987).
Stevie Wonder. "I Just Called To Say I Love You" Soundtrack to the film, The Woman in Red (1984).
Stylistics. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" Let’s Put It All Together (1974).
Sylvester. "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" Step II (1978).
Terence Trent D’ Arby. "Sign Your Name" Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D’Arby (1987).
Tina Turner. "The Best" Foreign Affair (1989).
Tina Turner. "Whatever You Need" Twenty Four Seven (1999).
Toni Braxton. "That Somebody Was You" Kenny G’s The Moment (1996).
DISCLAIMER: The songs on this page solely belong to the creators, respectively. They are utilized here for illustrative and entertainment purposes, only.
