6 love songs for valentine’s day
So. I was writing something and Stew singing “Love like That” came on the stereo.
It’s one of those poignant songs which would be imperfect sung by anyone else. The song made me think what would be the five songs I would put under one of those thoughtful couple moments in a TV show or movie when the couple is at one of “those moments”.
You know these moments. They kind of crack open what was and let’s what will be out.
They are that perfect romantic song which increases its perfectness when it is heard over one of those special moments in a TV show or movie (you know pretty much every movie John Cusack has ever been in when he realizes the girl is his). For example, when John Cusak and KateBeckinsale meet at the end of Serendipity (Nick Drake’s Northern Sky is awesome in the scene).
Or when Orlando Bloom realizes Kirsten Dunst is the special girl in Elizabethtown (Sun kil Moon is singing Kentucky Woman).
This seemed like a perfect post for Valentine’s Day this year.
All that said. The songs I am going to suggest are pretty much below the radar. Certainly not top 40. But used in a TV show or movie? Amazing. And really really nice when you bring it home. These would be the six I wish someone would use and are nice to listen to on valentine’s day:
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1. Stew “Love like That” (with Everwood video).
Stew is a big guy who has an interesting voice and has written some really eclectic odd stuff but also some really nice stuff. He sings along with a little woman who harmonizes with him perfectly. Love like That is awesome. You never get tired of listening to it.
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2. Trespassers William “Lie in the Sound”
If ever a song was written that matched a voice style this is it. “I love you more than I should” is an opening line that is delivered in a way that puts you in a mental space where you know exactly the time and the place you yourself were ‘there.’
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3. Jann Arden “Don’t give up on Me” (using bad One Tree Hill video).
The majority of Jann Arden’ stuff is pretty ordinary. With this song she captures the true essence of someone asking for some patience with their flaws. I am not sure I have ever heard a better song than this one with this message.This was used on the TV show Felicity perfectly.
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4. Nickel Creek “When you come back Down” (and, no, that’s not Nickelback, it’s Nickel Creek).
Someone could do an entire scene over the entire song. It is about letting someone ‘free’ and loving them so much you promise them to be there no matter what. The guy’s voice has this fragile strength to it that makes the song fearful and fearless at exactly the same time. Beautiful song. Bluegrass has never sounded better.
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5. Well. This is actually the “heartache” love song trio because I couldn’t pick just one. They are almost interchangeable in their sound and the beautiful twinge of heartache and longing.
– a. Over the Rhine “Latter Days”
Over the Rhine’s music is all over the place. They don’t really seem to write that many love ballads. Latter Days is sadly emotionally crafted. It captures the emptiness felt when someone who you love is not there. And the simple beauty when they are there. “I love the way that you dance …” … perfect.
Her voice is perfect for the song. It’s one of those songs I cannot envision anyone else singing.
It took me forever listening to this song to understand they were saying ‘displaced.’ Doesn’t matter. The opening of the song sung by Maria Taylor I believe is fragile in its words and fragile in her voice style. This song seems to dip right into real life and explain unexplained feelings.
– c. Fisher “Closer”
Another fragile sounding voice asking “is it wrong to want to be close?” It is simple. It is complicated. It would be amazing in the right situation.
6. Ok. ok. Before everyone says “where is the more upbeat one” because these all sound so sad … You Dance is the upbeat love song which should probably be used under every wedding scene in a movie:
eastmountainsouth “you dance.” 
The songwriter, and singer, Peter Bradley Adams only did one cd as eastmountainsouth and then he did a solo cd. Doesn’t matter. His best songs are always a duet with a woman. You Dance is impeccably written. Heartfelt without being sappy and you almost feel like you have stepped into the middle of a couple’s sincere thoughts for each other. Like I said earlier it should be used for any wedding.
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(a bonus) Renee Stahl “Adore”
It has an absolutely stunningly beautiful opening refrain.
“i was on a ferris wheel that overlooked the sea, you were on the chair right next to me. is it truth or fantasy. then you turned and looked at me and said … I adore you …”
She has a wonderful flowing voice which soars above an almost trance like beat. Beautifully crafted.
All done.
There you go. For your listening pleasure and, who knows, maybe they will appear in a movie one day.
And it is my music post for valentine’s day.
Stew. First time I saw him live I thought, “this may be the worst music I’ve ever heard.” The second time (which happened to be the next evening as He – and Heidi – were opening for Counting Crows two consecutive nights in New Orleans about 8 years back), I thought, “This may be the best music I’ve ever heard.”
i chuckled. i have never seen stew live but i admit i have a love/hate relationship with his music. love like that is amazing. The Sun i have always Wanted is possibly one of the greatest songs of all time written from a father to a daughter. stunningly beautiful song. Tomorrow Gone? beautiful. and then there is the Dutch Painter cd. yikes. maybe 2 songs on it i can listen to. Guest Host is a 50/50 mix. some very very strange stuff. but. when he relaxes and just sings he and heidi can make musical magic.
You’ve heard “Passing Strange” and “The Negro Problem?” Yea, the songs you mention seem to be him transparent. I love the tension in some of the odd lyrics and beautiful music, but in the ones you mention he seems to “let go” of the lyrical sculpting. And be.
Before his Broadway days he used to do these “song portraits” (his phrase), in which people would essentially pay for a song, after one provided biographical info. I don’t know what the fee was. So about 7 years back I was celebrating “10 years clean in New Orleans,” as well as our 10 year wedding anniversary, and my wife surprised me with a song portrait called, “Would you rather be happy or would you rather be right?” We couldn’t afford it, but my Mom coved the cost, which was neat because my wife & Mom didn’t get on
well, so it was a good team effort. The cd arrived, my wife sat me down beside the boom box, with me not having a clue what it was, played it, and then we both broke out in waves of tears. It was a glimpse of the unity/joy that was to
come in our marriage years later, when we began to practice some “enlightened self interest” at the start of 2010. And then we fell in love with each other at 16 years married. Love like that. 🙂
well michael … now THAT was a good valentine’s day story. thanks for sharing.
Hi Bruce,
I found your blog recently which I think is very interesting. I currently work with Peter Bradley Adams and Kat Maslich-Bode, both now solo artists formerly in the group “eastmountainsouth”. I just wanted to let you know that both of them, along with some other truly talented singer-songwriters have some free songs available for download on our website, http://www.misharamusic.com
Just click on the ‘free songs’ link there.
Enjoy and if you like them, feel free to re-post or share our site with your friends. We know that the best way to spread great music is through word of mouth. Thanks for taking the time to write about great talent and helping others learn about them.
Regards,
Linda Baker
ok. peter bradley adams. awesome performer. and eastmountainsouth cd still remains one of my top cds from top to bottom. a great listen. i visited the website (didnt download music) just to see what it is all about and i now have three new cds i will buy. Kat’s new one sounds awesome. plus. she closed the deal when she referenced her love for the Blue Nile “hats” cd which is tied for “the best sunday morning coffee cd ever” (soundtrack for 30something is the other). i encourage all my readers to go to the site. check out the music. support good music. thanks linda. at minimum i never knew who the talented voice was that was singing along with Peter in eastmountainsouth (and please ask them to do another cd).
Love songs can be found in the histories and cultures of most societies, though their ubiquity is a modern phenomenon. A highly controversial and startling explanation of the genesis of love songs can be found in Denis de Rougemont’s “Love in the Western World”. De Rougemont’s thesis is that love songs grew out of the courtly love songs of the troubadours, and that those songs represented a rejection of the historical Christian notion of love. -“,:
Go look at our new blog as well
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