Songs for a hopeless romantic February 14, 2006
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Uncategorized.trackback
I was trying to have an opinion on Valentine’s Day, I really was. I was trying to be upset or angry or happy or all “girl power.”
I wrote and rewrote and just butchered a post about the day last night. I didn’t have anything special to say. So I cranked the iTunes and tracked through some of my favorites.
I listened to a range of love-themed songs, from the classic wedding tune “At Last” by Etta James, which can single handedly melt my heart when I have become cynical, to the wrenching “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, which is enough to make me want to crawl under the covers and cry for days when I can commiserate.
There is the slightly sad, but ultimately hopeful “Ready for Love” by India Arie, about being ready for and open to mature feelings of love. And the dismal “I Know” by Fiona Apple, which captures that moment when you delude yourself into thinking he loves you and lower yourself to being in the background and waiting.
When I am coming out of the fog of romanticism and need to feel empowered, no song lifts by spirits like “Right To Be Wrong” by Joss Stone. But before I get there, I’m always going to stop by for some Aretha “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” And I’d be lying if I neglected to mention that “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is one of those cheesy disco songs during which I give myself permission to sing loudly and do hand motions while in public.
The bitter break-up anthem for people my age, “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette has come in handy at times. (As has “Untouchable Face” by Ani DiFranco and the absolutely miserable “Grace is Gone” by the Dave Matthews Band.) And I’ve always found it quite ironic (but, like, really ironic) that the same woman who penned one of the most forcefully angry love-is-over songs also (on the same album) has one of my favorite songs for new loves and new crushes and possibilities in “Head Over Feet,” (from “Jagged Little Pill”) which I have giddily enjoyed since high school.
While we’re talking new love, I listen to “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” year-round, because it describes that time in the beginning before the other shoe has dropped when you are just ecstatic to even be approaching the object of your affection. And songwriter John Hiatt gets me every time with “Feels Like Rain,” because who doesn’t love to spend a lazy rainy day in the arms of the person they love. And yes, Joni Mitchell, I can drink “A Case Of You” and still be on my feet.
I am a huge fan of the terribly overplayed and over hyped “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flats, because at my core I always be a hopeless romantic and I can honestly still say I believe there will be a moment when all of the dating disasters, the unreturned phone calls, the silly games and emotional unsteadiness, crying into a pillow and having “just one more glass of wine” will make sense and end with me happy with a guy who is going to love me for all of my ridiculousness and flaws and who will just get me.
And if there’s not, there’s always tequila and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Sing it, man.
Good call on all fronts…however, I personally will be going with your latter suggestion. Bon Jovi and a shot…although I’ll sub out the tequila and sub in vodka rocks and give a three cheers to being single!
What a lovely post, with a stellar assortment of songs. For the more lovelorn times, I also love “Inside of Love” by Nada Surf and Shelby Lynne’s “Waiting on the Day”.
I’m a big fan of “Don’t Think Twice” by anyone that does it…(Dylan song re-covered 1000 times). It’s a perfect blend of “I’m over and don’t care” and “What the hell was I thinking in the first place!?!?!”
I know what you mean about being a hopeless romantic, I just wrote about that today…
I also wanted to comment on the last sentence of your Towel Snapping post, it’s not just women that that applies too. I totally agree with what you said there.
Sigh. So many of your songs are on my playlist. Sooooo many.
Hope you’re having a happy valentine’s day…
So did you go out and purchase grey’s anatomy yet?
I gotta get me some of those on my playlist too. Here’s some good ones, one for your sad romantic and one from the other side of the fence, Liz Phair’s “Why Can’t I” and then Liz Phair’s “It’s Sweet”… although don’t listen to it if you’re not planning on calling somebody back, because then it just makes you feel guilty and want to drink more.
Great list! Good call on Alanis and Ani. I also listen to most of those. I also love No Doubt (Sunday Morning, Bathwater, Simple Kind of Life, Don’t Speak, etc.) and Limp Bizkit (Nookie, Re-arrange, et al.) when i’m upset/sad/pissed off.
there are more, but i can’t think of them right now…
Excellent playlist. I’m having a hard time because secretly I love Valentine’s Day, but that’s apparently so cliche and uncool if you’re single, so I kept all my red shirts and socks with hearts on them in the drawer today.
Check out ‘Single’ by Natasha Bedingfield. I think you’ll like it.
Oooh lemme add a few
Black - Pearl Jam
Motorcycle Drive By - third eye blind
Shame -Stabbing Westward
What do I have to do - Stabbing Westward
How’s it gonna be - Third Eye Blind
I’m Movin’ On - Rascal Flats
Beautiful Disaster- Kelly Clarkson
(Can you tell I’ve recently made a love sucks mix? lol)
Love your choices. I would add “To Make you Feel My Love” to my play list today, because it’s just so sappy…I mean if I wasn’t all angry and bitter…
**HUGS**
Love all those songs. Music plays a huge part in my life too (I have a song for every single occasion - even when it’s gray and raining and absolutely nothing is happening anywhere in the world? Yep, I have a song for that).
Btw, monkeypants I kinda like Valentine’s Day too. And horror! I don’t even try to hide it.
i feel the urge to go check out each and every song that you listed. i love how music and lyrics can sometimes just speak to me. yeah i admit i like “bless the broken road” too. it gives me that glimmer of hope that everything i’ve had to go through in the dating scene will just make sense one day… hopefully…
I always listen to the A-Team theme on Vday.
I have no idea why.
Good list of songs you got there…some I love and others I haven’t heard, so I’ll have to check those out.
I tried to feel something for VDay too, but really I didn’t care much for the day, I was too busy watching the Olympics!
Great blog though, thanks for the song pimps!
Good day!