Music is Better than Candy and Flowers: Make a Moment

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I go through my usual routine.  Someone at work will ask me “What are you getting your wife for the big day?”. I follow that with a solid, resolute, “nothing”.  Wait, before you gasp and think to yourself what a terrible person I am, let me fill you in on a few things.  I have been very happily married for seventeen years now and I am very deeply in love with this woman.  That is precisely why I do not need Hallmark or FTD to tell me I need to tell her so.  I bring my wife flowers unexpectedly (I hope) when I feel she needs them.  She may have had a bad day, so it is a pick me up or on a good day it’s a celebration.  I try to let her know every day how much she means to me.  So, I don’t need the guilt trip from my co-workers or the television to remind me.

What do I do?  Well, I try to show her by making her favorite dinner.  Yes, I can cook, I don’t just fumble around pretending to make a gourmet dish and coming out with a mess on a plate.  I will leave her a note or drop her an email in the middle of the day to let her know she is on my mind.  Yes, when you have found the right person this still happens after the six-month mark.  We also both really enjoy music, so we will leave musical reminders to each other.  Sometimes romantic, sometimes funny, sometimes it’s just off the wall. 

A song can be an overt love song, have only a line or two, or have no romantic intent whatsoever and it can still have meaning.  We probably have more or “our” songs than most people.  Some remind us of a particular day, others for what they say and some for completely unexplainable reasons.  Sorry, no explanation for the last one.  But music is one of the ways we connect. 

I will hear one certain song and always remember the way my wife sang it into my ear as we danced.  I will hear another and think of the dinner we were having when it played.  Sharing these moments with the person you love is what keeps you together.

In honor of the day that I hate more than any other (although there are some others very close, but that is another post.) here is my list of most romantic songs to play for your special someone, old school edition.  That’s pre-1980 kids.

So, without further ado and in no particular order:

1.      The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes for You

2.      Sam Cooke – You Send Me

3.      Nat King Cole – When I Fall in Love or Unforgettable

4.      Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – The Nearness of You

5.      Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon, I’ve Got a Crush on You, or You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me.

6.      Etta James- At Last

7.      Dusty Springfield – The Look of Love

8.      Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

9.      Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman

10.   Elton John – Your Song

11.   Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed

12.   Hall and Oates – Sara Smile

13.   Billy Joel – She’s Got a Way

14.   Patsy Cline – Crazy

15.   Al Green – Let’s Stay Together

Is this the definitive list, oh no.  Did I leave songs out?  Sure, I did.  Some of these songs may not even seem romantic to you, that’s okay.  You may have heard another version and like it better.  That’s fantastic.  This is just the start. 

I made a point to go with older songs because those that get radio saturation lose meaning when it is everyone’s song.  Choose an older song and it can seem like yours alone.  The song that will mean something only to you and your partner. 

Here is my wish for you and your special someone.  That you should find a few songs with a deep meaning or connection for only the two of you.  If I helped you find one with my list above, great.  If I only gave you a direction that is fine with me.  Everyone deserves to have a moment that no one beside the two of you understand.  You hear the song on the radio, your eyes meet and you just know.  That is better than flowers, a box of candy or even a ring that someone else told you to buy.  This moment was created by you and it is yours forever and you don’t need a date on a calendar to know it is special.

I won’t tell you to have a happy Valentine’s Day. 

I will wish you a very romantic day for you and that special someone, every day.  Turn on the radio, your song may be playing right now.