FDLF's Top Ten Love Songs

Situation: In honor of the upcoming Grammy’s telecast, IT’S MUSIC WEEK at “Friends Don’t Let Friends”. The next few posts on the blog will be related to music, with the week culminating in a final recap of the awards show itself. Today’s task: each of our top ten (yes somehow we were able to choose ten) love songs.

She Says:

Yet again, I could have gone on and on while working to complete this assignment. I know some people might be appalled that I have not added Stevie, Whitney or Barry to my list. I wanted to include them, but there was pressure to chop the list and I had to end somewhere. *shrugs*

So here are my ten “can’t eat, can’t breathe, can’t sleep” love songs, with a few honorable mentions.  After reading, feel free to comment with your own!

1.  How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes - Fav Lyric: “…And I, baby, I don't know what I would do… I'd be lost if I lost you...If you ever leave, Baby, you would take away everything real in my life…”

2. Adore by Prince – Fav Lyric: “…If God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see. Love's too weak to define… Just what you mean to me…”

3. I Know What Love Is All About by Anthony Hamilton - Fav Lyric: “…You showed me what it really felt like to be loved, and kissed, and held, and prayed for, and wanted, and nurtured and guided, and ohh to be understood…”

4. A Song for You by Donny Hathaway – Fav Lyric: “…I love you in a place, where there's no space or time…” *sobbing*

5. Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith – Fav Lyric: "I could stay awake just to hear you breathing…Watch you smile while you are sleeping…”

6. Heaven Can Wait by Michael Jackson – Fav Lyric: “…I wouldn’t wanna go if I can’t see your face, can’t hold you close…What good would Heaven be, if the angels came for me I’d tell them no…” (Like MJ is soo bad he telling God, Heaven, and the angels, “NO!” #ripMJ)

7. Love Ballad by LTD & Jeffrey O – Fav Lyric: “…What we have is much more than they could see…”

8. So Amazing by Luther Vandross - Fav Lyric: “…It's so amazing to be loved, I'd follow you to the moon in the sky above…” (I want a man to put on his space suit and follow me to outer space. *deep sigh*)

9. My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration by Teddy Pendergrass – Fav Lyric: “…I want you to keep on liftin' me up.. (higher) Alright… (higher) Alright.. See, you got me, you got me doin' things, (higher) I've never done before, (higher)… See, you inspire me, you inspire me…”

10. ‘Cause I Love You by Lenny Williams – Fav Lyric: “…oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…”(This song right here? This song right here?! It is the pinnacle of love songs! It is a classic in every sense of the word!  I mean Lenny made you feel this sh*t!!)

Honorable Mentions:  Ain't Never Loved A Man by Aretha Franklin; Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion; Please Don’t Go Away From Me by Boyz II Men; Love’s Holiday by Earth, Wind, & Fire; and Love Need Want You by Patti LaBelle

He Says:

Who would have thought I could use more brain power to compile a list of my top 10 love songs, than I used for anything else I have done this week. Nevertheless I love “Love” and I love music even more. I could have written a list of 250 classics but here is my list of 10 cuts that will never leave the rotation.

1. A Song for You by Donny Hathaway - Donny Hathaway is the greatest soul singer of all time! And this is by far one of the best songs ever written and produced. The beauty of the song is that it begins with a simple, captivating melody played on piano.

2. No Ordinary Love by Sade - Smooth! Enough said.

3. Submerge by Maxwell - I heard this song many times while listening to the “Embrya” album, but never realized its power until it was played before “the moment”.

4. Adore by Prince - Prince has produced hit after hit but this song is believed by some to be one of the best songs ever produced. Smoothness, sexiness, honesty, intrigue and passion are all encompassed in this 7 minute track.

5. Sensuality (Pt 1 and 2) by The Isley Brothers – When it comes to slow jams by The Isley Brothers, most people think of “Between the Sheets”. But this track tops that one, in my opinion.

6. Blue in Green by Miles Davis – This happens to be one of the most sultry and passionate jazz pieces of all time. The simple combination of the trumpet and horn instantly invokes feelings of love.

7. If I Ever Fall In Love by Shai- This is a 90s classic that will never die. Simple harmonies along with honest lyrics allowed brothers all over the country to sing this song to their ladies.

8. Distant Lover by Marvin Gaye- Shout out to all the lovers who can’t see their sweethearts whenever they want to. Marvin put it down for all of you.

9. Evergreen by Luther Vandross - No ‘love music’ list could be complete without some “Luffa”. Most people are unfamiliar with this remake of the Barbara Streisand classic; but Luther ends up taking the reins and making it his own.

10. Night and Day by Al B Sure- Light Skinned Brothas in the house! This is my list and I say this is a classic. End of story. LOL

Honorable Mentions: Make It Last Forever by Keith Sweat; Moments in Love by Art of Noise; In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington; I Love You More Than Words Can Say by Otis Redding; Inside My Love by Minnie Ripperton