So Alina invites my scrutiny with this link from Nerve, a Valentine’s Day list of the best love songs from the last, um, 69 years. I can’t resist.

Glaring admissions, there are.

Among them:

Jackie Wilson, “Your Love” — If forced to pick just one, this would be my favorite song. Ever. In the history of songs.

The Temptations, “My Girl” — Obvious, yes. But how could any list exclude sunshine, on a cloudy day?

Otis Redding, “My Lover’s Prayer” — Otis at his achiest.

Nick Cave and Johnette Nopalitano, “The Ship Song” — “I must remove your wings, and you, you must learn to fly…” Cave’s creepy barritone and Nopalitano’s angelic cry mingle with rapturous results.

Solomon Burke, “Flesh and Blood” — Written by Agitator.com favorite Joe Henry. From Burke’s new CD, which you should now run — don’t walk — run to go purchase. Play it tomorrow as you wine and dine your inamorata. You will get laid. I promise.

Billie Holiday, “My Man” — Her sultry, playful, seductive best. Wish I could’ve have seen her live.

Madonna, “Live to Tell” — OK, ok. Before you ask me to hand over my penis, let me explain. This really is a great song. And I was turned on to it a few years ago while at an Evan Dando show. Opening act was Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago, doing a solo thing. He covered the song, and it was spectacular. Listen to it again. Go ahead. I won’t tell.

Louis Armstrong, “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” — Easy, laid-back romance. Really the only way Louis’ raspy wail could’ve pulled “romance” off.

Van Morrsion, “Tupelo Honey” — Bob Dylan once said this song has been around since the beginning of time, Van just happened to have been the mechanism the Gods chose to find it and deliver it to us.

Bob Dylan, “Just Like a Woman” — Speaking of Dylan, I guess I’d pick this one if I had to choose just one, by a hair over “Most of the Time.” Like most of his bests, it’s beautiful in its simplicity. “She makes love just like a woman,/But she breaks just like a little girl.”

Woody Guthrie, “Ingrid Bergman” — As performed by Billy Bragg and Wilco. Guthrie’s randy but lovely tribute to the Swedish Godess/actress.

Sam Cooke, “You Send Me” — At first I thought it was just infatuation…

Velvet Underground, “Pale Blue Eyes” — Captures love’s frustrations, and, ultimately, helplessness — all in cool, minimalist VU fashion. Linger on.

Chris Isaac, “Somebody’s Crying” — You want “longing?” We’ve got “longing.”

Elvis Presley, “Suspicious Minds” — My favorite from the King.

The Black Crowes, “Girl From a Pawnshop” — Had to include something from my favorite band. An overlooked gem. Also, check out the bluesy “Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye.”

Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t She Lovely?” — A love song to the mother of Wonder’s child, where the “she” is Wonder’s baby daughter, “less than one minute old.”

Led Zeppelin, “Thank You” — Big wedding song way back when I was just a wee little Agitator.

Sinead O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” — “Haunting” is usually the word used to describe this song. Would be even better if Prince had spellcheck.

Elvis Costello, “Alison” — His aim is true.

Guns n’ Roses, “Estranged” — More of a breakup song than a love song. But Jesus, what a song.

I’m sure I’m overlooking dozens more. If it’s sex songs you’re after, check here. We covered that months ago.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 13th, 2003 at 9:15 pm by Radley Balko and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.