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Twelve Favorite Love Songs
Music Triggers Memories
I’m driving my car down a quiet road on a warm spring day. Trees line both sides of the road, stretching into the distance. The windows are open and the breeze hits my face and softly caresses my skin. I turn on the radio and listen absent-mindedly to the music, only to have my attention captured by a song—a love song. My mind instantly races back to a very special evening spent with a loved one. I can remember the time, place and moment with complete clarity. I recall what the weather was like and what we ate for dinner. The song was playing that night also and even contributed to making the moment a powerful one. The recaptured instant ends simultaneously with the song—the rest of my drive is slightly melancholy as reality imposes itself back into my day. The memories are good, but they represent times long gone and moments that will never be duplicated.
We all have songs that remind us of special people or occasions. Music helps us capture moments and remember them. We identify some of the best memories in our lives with a song. When we hear it play, we revisit that magical instant. It can make us feel wonderful inside, although it might also make us sometimes look back and lament days gone by.
Can't Help Falling in Love
Images of Loving Memories





Favorite Love Songs
These are twelve of my favorite love songs. Some remind me of a special person or moment; others are included because I appreciate the way a particular song expresses thoughts of love or beauty. I have included my favorite line from each song, and the thoughts they bring to the surface for me.
I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (Moody Blues) “…I know I’ll find you somehow, and somehow I’ll return again to you…” A particularly special song for me that evokes wonderful memories, this is my favorite love song. This most lyrical tune is an ode to separation and hopes for reconciliation. It will always remain important in the soundtrack of my life.
Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers) “…Oh my darling, I hunger for your touch…” This magnificent song was never sung with more feeling than when performed by the Righteous Brothers, and for me it is the standard that all other love songs will be compared with. No personal list of love songs would be complete without this superb tune.
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley) “…Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you…” I remember when I was young watching Elvis sing this in the movie “Blue Hawaii”. This wonderfully simple number was a musical high point, even for Elvis Presley. It was also quoted in the final episode of “Happy Days,” as part of Chachi’s marriage vows to Joanie.
Voice Inside My Head (Dixie Chicks) “…Every time I’m feeling down, I wonder what would life be like with you around…” This song speaks to decisions we make in life and how things might be if our choices were different. I try not to think of personal decisions with regret, but I occasionally wonder what my life would have been like if some things happened differently.
Photographs and Memories (Jim Croce) “…Summer skies and lullabies, nights we couldn’t say good-bye, and of all of the things that we knew—not a dream survived…” This song was on the radio the night I took a woman I loved to the airport to return home. She returned for a time, but the song was prophetic—not a dream survived.
Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper) “…If you’re lost you can look and you will find me—time after time…” The lyrics are filled with words of strength that springs from caring and affection. I’ve been lost many times, and it warms my heart to believe someone will be there to help—every time.
Bliss (Alice Peacock) “…Even love is not enough to tell you how you make me feel. There’s only one word for this—it’s bliss…” This song represents love at its best. When the word love is insufficient to express one’s feelings, there is bliss. When you feel this good, you will always remember it.
Your Song (Elton John) “…I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words how wonderful life is while you’re in the world…” This song is charming and peaceful, speaking of a comfortable life of togetherness with a loved one. It talks about buying a house and building a life. It isn’t about passion or sexual energy, but about companionship.
Songbird (Fleetwood Mac) “…For you there’ll be no more crying—for you the sun will be shining. And I feel that when I’m with you, it’s alright…” I requested “Songbird” be played at my brother’s funeral. His passing away was deliverance from the pain he suffered while battling cancer, and I saw these words as an eloquent expression of how even death can be a blessing. The second line wasn’t about my brother and us; it was about my brother and God.
Lean on Me Tonight (Moody Blues) “…Tomorrow will be just like it was when we were young…” Love is not just for the young. I view this line as a tribute to “middle aged” love and appreciate its sentiment. Relationships might not endure, but we can still experience moments that make us feel young.
Josette’s Theme (Charles Randolph Grean Sounde) There are no spoken words to this song. I originally heard it on the Dark Shadows television series; the reluctant vampire Barnabas Collins offered a small music box to Maggie Evans as a token of his affection. I subsequently identified music boxes with expressions of love, and offered one myself as a gift.
I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher) “…I got you babe…” Sonny and Cher looked into each others’ eyes and sang this touching and deeply personal song to each other at the end of each episode of their television series. Even after they divorced and married other people, we still believed they were in love. Sometimes love continues even after relationships end.
There are many, many other powerful songs that evoke thoughts and memories of love. Remember Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" or the Commodores' "Three Times a Lady"? Who wasn't touched by Celine Dion's rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" for the soundtrack of the "Titanic"? The Bee Gee's "How Deep is Your Love" is another of my personal favorites. The Monkee's "Sometime in the Morning", Lionel Ritchie's "Hello", Styx' "Don't Let it End", the Carpenter's "Goodbye to Love", and Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now" are all wonderful and sometimes poignant love songs. I am a fan of so many love songs that speak to me and touch my heart. These are just a few.
I Got You Babe
Dedicated to romantics everywhere
This article is a tribute to lovers and lovers of love. It is about those special memories that add light and shadow to our lives. It is for every man or woman that ever had a beautiful moment immortalized by a song, playing softly in the background. It is for everyone who thinks back and remembers days of joy and nights of passion. It is for everyone who has ever played a song on a phonograph, record player, cassette deck, CD player or Ipod in order to stir the memories.
I got you, babe.

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Comments
If you included ABBA that would cover 12 songs alone. On my list I would have Cherish, and I Like Dreaming, cause dreaming can make you mine. Thanks for a good hub.
Hi Mike
Thanks for the post that contains songs I like too. Elton's your song is simple but very hummable
Mike, what a wonderful and sweet memory provoking hub. I love all the songs you listed. Love songs have a special place in our lives. Thank you so much for sharing these ones. You brought back some beautiful memories for me.
...I can see why you have 6 million followers - your hubs are like a labor of love and people sense that - and they are entertained and enlightened by your passion and knowledge! Ole!!!!
Anything by The Moody Blues always works for me. And " Unchained Melody " is an uber classic. I would like to put in " Love Song " by The Cure in the honorable mention column If I may
Time after Time..Cyndi Lauper..just love it,,Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Too. Great hub
OK Dixie Chicks is my vote and what a beautiful hub, as always,
Thank you Mike
Kimberly
ps-Elvis is second
It's funny how you can remember where you were when a certain song came on the radio. Some of the most beautiful love song lyrics are written like poetry. Very nice and lovely hub. Thanks, Mike.
Yes all great love songs and I think the sadness of ones like Elvis, to let such bad things happen and you can just never see why, so much talent and many of us cheated of so much more he could have given us, instead I was embarrassed for him. Covering these groups too, so many whys. Usually one answer though. Great hub, Ive always been in love with love, probably from birth,and probably from my love of music.
Mike, nice article on love songs. You picked some great tunes. You are absolutely right songs certainly trigger memories.
wow blow me away with every one of these songs! Though the only one I do not know is Bliss (Alice Peacock) . . which I will go find now for I am taking you word on it and I am sure I am going to love it because in my book you are head on with every other one of these terrific love songs! Thanks for sharing this ;)
Beautiful love songs indeed. I remember best Photographs and Memories, everytime I sing that it takes my mind to a place in Netherlands when I am riding a train and I passed by a tulip plantation and suddenly I stopped at the next station and took pics of it. Of course I am in love at that time and I still remember the feelings but not the man anymore, HMM< you made me remember that song, Night, Maita
you know, as soon as i hear the first few riffs of that Elvis song, my heart starts to melt. wonderful hub Mike.
Wow, Mike! We have some of the same faves!
I love this hub! Myself one of my old time favorites is 'Daydream Believer'. To me it is also a love song.
LOL _ Loved your hub! I spent so much time listening to music in my room as a teen that I think I can sing all of the songs you have listed here. My hubby laughs at me because he says I must know at least 200 songs. thank you for sharing not only your favorites, but how you feel connected to your favorites. very nice!
I enjoyed reading this - I also like "I got you babe". It's a pity things didn't work out b/w them.
It's so strange how you can hear a song and it brings back memories - some can make you smile, some make you laugh out loud and some make the eyes well up.
Nice, warm Hub.
Thanks.
Mike, Thanks for taking me back. You've picked some of my favorite songs. You are so right on with hearing a song which triggers you back to the very moment where your memories lie. These are wonderful triggers. Thanks for the journey back.
Sage
Loved your Hub, Mike! Everyone of the songs brought a wonderful memory back to mind. The videos were great choices. Can't Help Falling In Love is one of my favorites. Unchained Melody has always been my #1 first choice in love songs. And, as you said, the Righteous Brothers did an AWESOME rendition! Thank you so much for sharing your musical memories with us. Got me all misty! :P
What No ABBA? LOL Sorry could not resist. This hub made me smile nice job.
Awesome hub Mike! Love a few of the songs you mentioned, to be honest, haven't heard of about 70% of them though! Well that's what youtube is for!
Great trip down memory lane, Mike. Thanks
JEEZE!!! You picked some awesome songs!! I love the moody blues, holy cow.
Unchained melody is probably my favorite! I love that song! Good hub--funny how certain songs take you back to long ago days and loves gone down in flames. lol
Hey...btw..what's with the girl with the abe lincoln beard anyway? Is this a trick or something? Just curious of why you gave her more tetosterone than the guy? What is up with that? lol
Have a good night! Hope you are well! Love ya!
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