Most Romantic Songs

Seems like every other song you hear nowadays is about love in one form or another. There’s the I-hate-you diatribes or the sappy boy band ballads or sometimes the “you’ve broken my heart and I can’t go on living” country sounds but every once in a while you’ll get a song that is complete romance—the real thing—that makes you sigh and think fond thoughts.

Takes some serious talent to come up with a song like that.

1. "With or Without You" by U2. Yes I was raised in the 1980s and as such am a firm believer in the power of the Great U2. Andrew reported to me recently that a teenager heard him listening to this greatest of groups since the Beatles and said “Why does everyone over 30 think U2 is so great?” To which I reply, “D’uh!?!” It needs no explanation, they simply ARE great.

Twenty years ahead of their time this is their most romantic song and one of my all-time favorites which I can still listen to over and over again with that beautiful base and haunting lead guitar. "I'll wait . . . for you . . . "

The words aren't the most romantic but I think what gets this one on the list is the romance of the melody and the beat more than anything. Anyone over 30 going to argue with me on this one?

2. "She" by Elvis Costello. “She may be the face I can’t forget, the trace of pleasure or regret, may be my treasure or the price I have to pay. She may be the song that summer sings, may be the chill that autumn brings, may be a hundred different things within the measure of the day . . . She may not be what she may seem inside her shell . . .

The lyrics to this song prove without a doubt that somewhere if there is a Mrs. Costello she’s gotta love the romance flowing from that man’s guitar.

3. "The Way You Look Tonight." When you have a song that has been performed by Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald you really can't argue that it's one of the greatest songs ever. "Some day . . . when I'm all alone . . . when the world is cold . . . I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight." I can't pick my favorite version, the song just IS. No matter who sings it.

4. "Moon River" by Henry Mancini. Also a song to win an Academy Award (#3 won best song in 1936) it won "Best Original Song" in 1961 for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

"Two drifters off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see; we're after the same rainbow's end, waiting 'round the bend . . . my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me. " It has the romance of friendship and the dual search for happiness that attracts me. Then there's that gorgeous lilt and cadence while thoughts of Audrey Hepburn in black dresses flit through my mind. Good song.

5. "Annie's Song" by John Denver. I saw a PBS show that said this is the number one wedding song across the United States, that if someone's getting married they most often have this as THE song. I'm not sure how PBS figured that, I mean was there a camera crew at every American wedding for the past decade waiting for that crucial moment when the bride and groom would take a turn on the dance floor? Or maybe they just polled everyone at one of the producer's weddings and called that good. However they arrived at the conclusion I thought it seemed to be one of those statistics you hear that really has nothing to back it up except that most people would agree it's just a beautiful song. Maybe that alone is enough to give credence to the claims.

"You fill up my senses like a night in the forest, like the mountains in spring time, like a walk in the rain."

6. "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong. There are others who have sung this but I love Satchmo's version the best, with his raspy, croaky voice the song has that bit of the whimsical playfulness that makes it not only romantic but fun and addicting. "Give me your lips for just a moment and my imagination will make that moment live; give me what you alone can give, a kiss to build a dream on."

7. "Faithfully" by Journey. I have to give a nod to those high school dance days where my teen girl heart sucked up every ounce of romance it could get from songs like these--and others by Bryan Adams and Peter Cetera that unfortunately did not make this list (sorry guys).

"Alone" by Heart, "Heaven by Bryan Adams" and numerous Chicago songs were the stuff I lived for back then but on this end of 30 the only one that I still find to be romantic is this ballad. I think I've mentioned my mother's thing for Steve Perry's voice and she must have been onto something because I still love this song. "Two strangers learn to fall in love again, I get the joy of rediscovering you . . . I'm forever yours faithfully."

8. "When You Say Nothing at All" by Alison Krauss. I'm feel sheepish including this one at it all but it seems I can't come up with a song list without including it somewhere--kind of like Lord of the Rings when it comes to movie lists. If you prefer the male version try listening to Roan Keating's cover but Krauss' crystal voice gets extra points for beauty and as such as even a touch more romance than others.

"The smile on your face let's me know that you need me, there's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me. A touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all."

9. "Hey Julie" by Fountains of Wayne. This most catchy of tunes is not only perky and fun to sing along with it's terribly sweet. "Hey Julie, look what they're doing to me, trying to trip me up trying to wear me down. Julie I swear it's so hard to bear it and I'd never make it through without you around no I'd never make it through without you around."

10. "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. For some reason this song reminds me of "Lady in Red" which would have to top my list of songs I dislike (and that's putting it mildly) but whereas Chris de Burgh's song reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard this song I find appealing and full of romance. Must be the voice?

Or possibly Mr. Clapton's wicked guitar skills. "And the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize how much I love you."

11. "Let My Love Open the Door" by Pete Townshend. You wouldn't necessarily picture this guitar-smashing front man for the Who to make a list of romantic music but darn it, this is one sweet song. It would be good in an acoustic version too--let's see . . . who should sing it? I'm not that big on Townshend's high pitched incoherence I think it could be improved with the likes of Chris Martin of Coldplay--though I wouldn't let his band in on it, he'd have to do it solo acoustic or not at all. Are you with me Gwyneth? "Let my love open the door, let my love open the door . . . to your heart."

12. "Hey there Delilah" by Plain White T's. Just to be a little eclectic in my taste you know. I'm including it here to alert you to the power of an acoustic guitar to woo women. It's kind of like one of those super villain mind control machines or something because when you get a good ballad on an acoustic guitar suddenly females are like putty in the hands. It's a theory I'd like to try to test but it's not exactly something you get a government grant for.

"Hey there Delilah, I've got so much left to say, if every simple song I wrote to you would take your breath away I'd write it all, even more in love with me you'd fall. We'd have it all."

And the best part? Apparently I'm a natural tenor because the song is completely in my range and I can do a mean harmony in near perfect thirds through the whole thing.

13. "You Were Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson. Yes there are others but here I'm going with Mr. Nelson's cover who despite his desperate problems with the U.S. government can sing a good tune or two. "Maybe I didn't hold you quite as often as I should. You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind." Full of sadness and regret it still is hopeful and oh so romantic. Good going Willie, two thumbs WAY up.

14. "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton. I debated about giving this one to Whitney Houston or Dolly and there are cases to be made for both songs being the better of the two but in the end I differed to she who wrote it. Fair? You be the judge.

I guess if you think about it it's a sad song and I kind of had it as a rule that this list, to be truly romantic, really needed to avoid the sad stuff but nonetheless the song is undeniably full of love and emotion. " If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you every step of the way . . . I will always love you." I guess I'll include it because the love is still there even if they go their separate ways. Never seen the Bodyguard movie by the way. Not that you asked or anything.

15. "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers. Ah, now we get to the very best of the best. "Righteous" is the right word here because you can pack no more romance into a song than that which you get here folks. I dare you to listen to it without getting all sappy and mushy. Go ahead, I dare you.

"Oh my love, my darling, I hunger for your touch a long lonely time." It should be like in sports when they have a superstar player retire and they end up retiring the number? This song should be retired because honestly it should be against the law for people such as Cher to get hold of it. Really.

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