The greatest love song of all time.

[DipDipDive]

Is The Very Thought Of You by Nat King Cole.

Runner-up: The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You

You can name some too, I guess, although there's really no point.

[RobMoney$]

Because it's easy to love someone who loves you in return.
But when someone's been cheatin' and stepping all over your heart and you still love them soo much it hurts, that's some other level type shit.


"I've been loving you too long" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTgvsA-2B74) by Otis

"I don't know why" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d48n4ESFgE) by Stevie.


Also,
"Turn off the lights" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfKLB6dw9YE) by World Class Wreckin Cru never failed at helping put a girl in the mood.

[DipDipDive]

The Very Thought Of You may not be an expression of mutual love. It could be the ramblings of a crazed stalker for all we know.

[Guy Incognito]

Something - the beatles

[Randetica]

i dont know but it sure doesnt come from someone like whitney houston or mariah carey

[Guy Incognito]

is what a wonderful world a love song? Or is that in another category? It does say i love you in it but its not really a song about love is it or is it?

[DipDipDive]

Well, the use of "i love you" in that song is in reference to brotherly love for humankind. Regardless, it's about love for life, so I think it counts. (y)

[Guy Incognito]

Well, the use of "i love you" in that song is in reference to brotherly love for humankind. Regardless, it's about love for life, so I think it counts. (y)

DDD i dont want to fuck up your thread or anything but if i start thinking about songs that mention the love of something instead of the love between two people then that slightly broadens the choice of songs

stand by me - ben e king

for some reason this thread has made me think about really old songs, i suppose that means they have stood the test of time

good thread idea btw(y)

[DipDipDive]

Good point, let's stay on the topic of romantic love. :)

[Documad]

Sadly, the thread title keeps reminding me of Whitney Houston singing The Greatest. Because loving yourself is the greatest love of all.

[mickill]

I kinda agree with Rob about the whole presence of tension or something prohibiting that makes a love song that much more heart-wrenching.

That's why someone like Paul McCartney (while generally considered a great writer of loves songs and the hopeless romantic of the group) never really got it right. His songs were all pretty much written from the perspective of an admirer, all happy-go-lucky and shit. Even in his post-Beatles work. Meanwhile, from very early on, Lennon had this restrained and almost dire outlook on love (from Baby's In Black to Hide Your Love Away, all the way up to Don't Let Me Down), which was so much more heartfelt. Maybe that just stemmed from real life tension with his wife and his affairs etc, I don't know. That's just my take on it.


Just A Little Misunderstanding (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4JYF_nNjco) - The Contours (Perfect example of what I'm talking about)

Strung Out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13YekiweeI) - William Bell & Mavis Staples (There's some serious underlying hostility here)

Who's Loving You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOxIKJTTB2k) - The Jackson 5 (1000x better than the original, btw)

Tracks Of My Tears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVbfES9DVLc) - Smokey (the accompanying video actually makes it seem less convincing)

Band Of Gold (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-tpVZUzElE) - Freda Payne (Self explanatory)

That's How Strong My Love Is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7VeLodVlw) - The Stones (over the OV or Otis version, yes)

I'll Hold You In My Heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC4PZOhmXQA) - Elvis Presley (You can hear how the band wants to stop towards the end and how he won't just stop playing the piano and let go already. Done in one take, btw. How real is that?)

A Little Bit Of Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlYAWpdv7P0) - Brenda Russell (just a good song, actually)

[Documad]

I really hate Band of Gold. I have an irrational level of hatred for that song that goes back to my childhood.

[mickill]

Maybe this stems from self hatred or something. It's just wrong to hate this song.

[mickill]

Few more:

I Forgot To Be Your Lover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQ8ZlBugJI) William Bell (heartbreaking)

Someday We'll Be Together (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXGz8i0I2L0) - The Supremes (the official stalker anthem)

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxxkwBQk_o) - The Shirelles (Again, hopelessness. No he will not.)

Right Back Where We Started From (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckCwBAhz4oc&feature=related) - Maxine Nightingayle (still a lot of conflict under all that happy shit. Documad probably hates this song though, but that's ok)

[DipDipDive]

Alright, you self-loathing jerks. I'll bite. In terms of pessimistic, downtrodden love songs, You Really Got A Hold On Me by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles is hands down the greatest.

Most of Patsy Cline's catalog is up there too, namely Crazy, Heartaches, I Fall To Pieces, and She's Got You.

[Documad]

Someday We'll Be Together (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXGz8i0I2L0) - The Supremes (the official stalker anthem)
To me, this has always been a "we're breaking up the group" song.

The Supremes song that has made me weepy since I was a kid is the dreadful "I'm Living in Shame."

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxxkwBQk_o) - The Shirelles (Again, hopelessness. No he will not.)

That's not a great love song. It's a losing your virginity song.

[Documad]

Maybe this stems from self hatred or something. It's just wrong to hate this song.

I think I found it disturbing because he was a closet homosexual and I didn't understand what that was about, I just knew that it was wrong for him to marry her if he wasn't going to sleep with her. All this popped into my head when I heard that song in my friend's mom's station wagon in the 70s.

[mickill]

What, virgins and straight people who marry gay people can't love or feel love-related pain or something? Come on!

[mickill]

Alright, you self-loathing jerks. I'll bite. In terms of pessimistic, downtrodden love songs, You Really Got A Hold On Me by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles is hands down the greatest.

Most of Patsy Cline's catalog is up there too, namely Crazy, Heartaches, I Fall To Pieces, and She's Got You.

Now doesn't that feel good?

[Documad]

What, virgins and straight people who marry gay people can't love or feel love-related pain or something? Come on!

Those are painful songs but to me they're not love songs.

Another song that's always bugged me is Midnight Train to Georgia. Even as a tiny kid dancing to the radio in my suburban basement I knew that I'd rather be a career gal in the big city than follow my man to Georgia.

I've always liked Me and Mrs. Jones, even before I understood what their "thing" was.

[mickill]

You're entitled to your opinion of those songs, Doc. Even if your opinion is poo.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqmgldSVgXM) - Frank Sinatra (incontestably a love song)

[Guy Incognito]

its a tricky thing this cos there's lots of different songs about different kinds of love but i have come to the conclusion there is no greater song about love than...


say a little prayer - aretha

[Documad]

You're entitled to your opinion of those songs, Doc. Even if your opinion is poo.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqmgldSVgXM) - Frank Sinatra (incontestably a love song)

Yeah, that's a favorite. Also anything Dean Martin.

I like a few of U2's love songs.

I rarely like sappy ones, but every once in a while there is one that is just perfectly sappy but it still works -- The Air That I Breathe, by the Hollies for instance. I'm a sucker for music that swells.

[mickill]

I can't stand the Hollies, but I'm with you on the Dino and U2.

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos doesn't always stick to the script, but there actually is a few great love songs on that album. Namely the title track, Bell Bottom Blues and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLPHz8KT9No&feature=related) pretty great Little Wing cover. This may be a loose definition of "love" considering Jimi kind of wrote it about groupies, but the guitar is pretty awesome on it.

Obviously it wasn't cool for him to be lusting after George Harrison's bird either, but the agony on Layla is so real.

[Helvete]

I like U2's With or Without You. It was in the movie 'Ne le dis à personne' and I think it really fitted the emotion of the film and was the perfect. A great movie by the way.

[hpdrifter]

The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You



This one gets my vote. It is sexy and romantic at the same time. It might, in fact, be my favorite song of all ever.

Whenever I hear it I turn to jelly.

[yeahwho]

yeah like rob and mickill say, conflict/obsession works well within the love song,

two brilliant examples, Foreigner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2cUX0CNA8) and Jackie Wilson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nEfuE8Pw4U).

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was also done by the New Jersey Mass Choir... I have the 12 inch somewhere, it's musically on a whole different level, extremely uplifting.

[paul jones]

I like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsI1t66rxzQ

[roosta]

I'll Be There - The Jackson 5

[pshabi]

Well, since this is mostly oldies, I'll drop some slightly less old nominations:

Sinead O - Nothing Compares 2 U
George Michael - One More Try

[Kid Presentable]

Method Man and Mary J. Blige - All I need (Razor Sharp version) reminder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56_K6q_LoNk&feature=PlayList&p=A1D5CB53829A9435&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51)

[gbsuey]

Pretty much tongue in cheek but stick with it!!

Divine Comedy-If (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPc4Om9IsM)

[Randetica]

Method Man and Mary J. Blige - All I need (Razor Sharp version) reminder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56_K6q_LoNk&feature=PlayList&p=A1D5CB53829A9435&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51)

word, i always liked the remix version much more

[mickill]

^For some reason I thought you were a dude.

[mate_spawn_die]

"Can I Cum In Your Mouth" (http://www.zshare.net/audio/65439396b0ecc2ed/) by Blowfly

[mickill]

a dude can't shed some tears watching the possible end of one of the best sitcoms of all time? :confused:

I don't think I even read that part of your post.

[BangkokB]

you ppl disappoint me

Elton John: Your Song

followed by Rocket Man

and Slayer's 213 where Tom screams "How I loved...How I loved to Kill YOU!"
Poetry! Not a Dry Eye in the House

[HEIRESS]

"Nothing takes the place of you" Toussaint McCall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6I4fUnICdI)

[HEIRESS]

This song just does something to me:

You know what to do - Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMDV11Boa0I)

[paul jones]

If this doesn't get your prey's underwear off then they must be made of cardboard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmi60Bd4jSs

[Randetica]

the power of love - fgth

[EN[i]GMA]

Is The Very Thought Of You by Nat King Cole.

Runner-up: The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You

You can name some too, I guess, although there's really no point.

Since you provided an incomplete list of the songs that aren't the best love song of all time I figured I'll just post the real one:

By My Baby by the Ronettes.

That is all.

[DipDipDive]

No.

[rirv]

Always on my Mind anyone? Nothing hits harder than regret.

[yeahwho]

Yeah, you got to mix it child
You got to fix it must be love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqogVTN1PM)
Its a bitch
You got to mix it child
You got to fix it but love
Its a bitch, alright

[nodanaonlyzuul]

Method Man and Mary J. Blige - All I need (Razor Sharp version) reminder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56_K6q_LoNk&feature=PlayList&p=A1D5CB53829A9435&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51)

That song rules. And someone already mentioned the Beatles - Something and In My Life. Classics by Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye are a given.

I don't know about "of all time" but I personally like these.

Call me a sucka, but I always liked L-O-V-E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErVP6xLZwg). I Would Die 4 U (http://www.imeem.com/people/BjEfNz/music/E-VhKQTO/prince-i-would-die-4-you/) and I Wanna Be Your Lover (http://www.imeem.com/people/xBaOax/music/RAKVo0om/prince-i-want-to-be-your-lover/). My boyfriend made a mix tape for me when we first started dating that had 100 Yard Dash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udPZwivhERY) on it. Sometimes I'll want to hear I Can't Help It (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnhWML43NI8).

[A. Chimendez]

Something-The Beatles

Such Great Heights-The Postal Service

[skra75]

The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You


That song is great. I always thought it was kinda dark though, like This song by Percy Faith, covered by The Ventures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2u5xQ3-81c&feature=related)

[DipDipDive]

Crying by Roy Orbison must be mentioned.

That is all.