Top 20 Greatest American Standard Love Songs Ever Written

In reviewing some music blogs today, I see several have listed their picks for the "Top Love Songs" of all times. As you would expect, most of these lists move away from the outstanding songs in the Great American Songbook. I can understand this since many of these bloggers are a lot younger than I am. Does this mean that when a song ages, it loses its ability to move the listener into a romantic frame of mind? I think not! On the other hand, just because a song is new does not mean it too can move the listener into a romantic frame of mind.

There are a couple of new songs that need to be considered on any "Love Song" list like:

1. Your Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Stevie Wonder

2. Your Song by Elton John

3. You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker

4. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

I am sure there are more that can be added to the list, but I am still into the "Great American Songbook" list. If anyone has any additional candidates, please let me know.

One last comment about the current postings on the greatest love songs. How is it possible that I did not see even one posting of "My Funny Valentine" on the day before the most romantic day in America?

I get the greatness of a lot of recently written new love songs, and it's too bad that more young people are not exposed to some of the great, older love songs.

For anyone that missed my November 8, 2009 list of the Top 20 Greatest American Standard Love Songs, here it is again:

1. The Nearness of You

2. Here's That Rainy Day

3. Embraceable You

4. My Funny Valentine

5. What's New

6. The Very Thought of You

7. Body & Soul

8. You've Changed

9. I've Got You Under My Skin

10. In The Still Of The Night

11. Over The Rainbow

12. Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered

13. Someone To Watch Over Me

14. Night And Day

15. At Last

16. They Can't Take That Away From Me

17. All My Tomorrows

18. All The Things You Are To Me

19. Misty

20. The Way You Look Tonight

McCartney Lights up New York

I just listened to the 2 CD set of Paul McCartney's "Good Evening New York" and I would like to share a few of my thoughts with you. First this collection contains 33 great songs that were big hits for Paul. The first question you might ask is why would any McCartney fan who most likely already owns most of these songs want to buy them again on this collection. The answer has to do with the emotional differences in songs that our produced perfectly in a studio compared to songs that are captured during a live performance. It is widely known that Paul has always tried to reproduce the same musical sound and arrangement for any of his live performances, however the differences between live performances and studio recordings of the same song can be surprisingly great. The factor that causes these changes is the emotion of the live audience and its effect on the performer.

In my opinion, this is exactly what occurred during the recording of this live McCartney concert. It seems to me that the emotion of the audience makes full contact within the performer and the results are emotional charged music that can't be produced in any studio.

The songs while old seem reborn again with excitement and emotion. Its like the music that is coming out of the CD is alive in it own right.

I don't consider myself a great McCartney fan but I have to admit that I was moved by this great collection of songs. To me they are better than the original recordings. There is one thing I am sure of, every McCartney fan should be running out and buying this CD collection. You won't be disappointed!