Silly Love Songs

If you don’t know, even after the barrage of sickeningly sweet sentimental commercials for jewellery, flowers, and chocolate on tv and the pink and red decorations of hearts and Cupid that have adorned the malls since 2 days before Christmas, Sunday is Valentine’s Day.

I am not into all the mushy crap. You might think I say that because I am single but no, that isn’t it. It is just that the “holiday” is so commercially false and people expect way too much from it. The whole thing is so cliché that it is pointless.

All this clichéd mushy stuff got me thinking about love songs. I came to the realization that there aren’t many love songs being sung these days. Most that I came up with have been around for a long time. The wannabe “love” songs these days are usually about sex, lust, or falling out of love. And the artists writing these songs are no word smiths. Songs like “Birthday Sex”, “Invented Sex”, “Love in the club” and “Bed rock”.

Or maybe we can float on top my water bed
You close your eyes as I f*&k between your legs
We work our way from kitchen stoves, and tables
Girl you know I’m more than able to please, yeah

They crudely and explicitly describe acts with out even attempting to be suave or subtle. They go on about going deep, prying between legs, making people think they invented sex, and doing it on a dance floor without leaving anything to the imagination.

Yes some artists do have a way with words that disguise the songs. Like that new guy Robin Thicke and his song “Lost Without You”. That is no love song. It is a dirty lustful song.

You wanna
Touch yourself when you see me
Tell me how you love my body
And how I make you feel babe
You wanna roll with me

That is not about love. It is all in the way the lines are sung. Even Estelle with her song “Come Over” had me fooled. She uses the word love throughout the song but it is not about the imaginary abstract concept, it’s about using the polite term for intercourse.

Turn out the lights, give you all of my love tonight
Let’s do what lovers do, I’m ready for you
I don’t want to waste your time
So don’t make me beg tonight

I know these kinds of songs aren’t a new thing. There are lots of classics out there that people love that isn’t about love. Songs like “Smooth Operator”, “Sexual Healing”, even “The Girl from Impanema” are all very lusty. But they are all well written (both lyrically and musically) that make your mind work to find the meaning. Well “Sexual Healing” is pretty obvious but the song isn’t explicit.

Whenever blue tear drops are falling
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and
Honey I know you’ll be there to relieve me
The love you give to me will free me

I know sex is a part of relationships but where are the songs about the other part? The part about the joy of each other’s company, holding hands, the elation, the sweetness? Those songs used to be a dime a dozen with songs like “Close to You” by the Carpenters and “Misty” by Ella Fitzgerald. Frank Sinatra’s career was based on that, any crooner’s career actually. A song like “My Funny Valentine”. It isn’t about lust or sex, it is about loving a person no matter who they are. Going beyond the physicals and finding something deeper.

Don’t Change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay Little Valentine Stay
Each day is Valentine’s Day

But that is a cliché song but it became a cliché because it is good. But I don’t think all love songs are clichés. I had an argument with Cory who insists that a love song has to be a slow ballad. Umm…no. A love song is all about the lyrics not the beat. Songs like the “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, “I think I Love You” by David Cassidy, “Silly Love Songs” by Wings are also love songs even though they are peppy and fast paced.

You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs.
But I look around me and I see it isn’t so.
Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs.
And what’s wrong with that?

Gladly there are still love songs being made today. Yes they are few and far between but when you come across a good one it still makes you smile. They still conger up sunny days, skipping through fields, and having picnics with that special someone. Like “Think I’m in Love” by Beck, “Everyday is a Holiday” by Esthero, and “Blind Mary” by Gnarls Barkley.

She’s my friend, she doesn’t judge me
She has no idea I’m ugly
So I’ve absolutely nothing to hide
Because I am so much Prettier inside
I love Mary

Beck – Think I’m in Love

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They are just a little unconventional. The words are simple, the meaning deep, and the songs beautiful.

But who cares? Listen to whatever you want. I am not into that mushy stuff anyways.

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