Favorite romantic movies / books / songs
By Jeff Salter
Not quite sure what to write about during this week of Valentine’s Day, I looked up my blog from this time last year:
https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/valentine%e2%80%99s-day-in-retrospect/
That was me recalling (among other things) my most notable childhood crush.
Our actual topic is “Favorite romantic movies / books / songs.”
Well, I covered my favorite romantic movies in one of my very first blogs here at Four Foxes One Hound: they are “Love Story”, “Romeo & Juliet”, and “Dr. Zhivago”. For a bit about my reasons, please read that column:
https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/movies-that-got-to-me-or-still-do/
Right now, my favorite romantic novels are – quite immodestly – my own manuscripts [HA!]… and our analysis will have to wait until after they’re published.
That leaves my favorite romantic songs, which is also the portion of our topic which Founding Fox Jillian and Cajun Fox Danica have covered earlier this week.
Favorite romantic songs
Besides the theme songs from the three movies I mentioned above, here are several which (in no particular order) tug at my heart-strings:
* Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)
* Leaving on a Jet Plane (Peter, Paul, & Mary)
* Love is Blue (Paul Murat)
* This Guy’s In Love With You (Herb Alpert)
* several songs by the Beatles
* 3 or 4 songs by Neil Diamond
* 2 or 3 songs from their Greatest Hits album (Bee Gees)
* 2 or 3 songs by Abba
* 2 or 3 songs by the Righteous Brothers
* 2 or 3 songs by Billy Joel
* 1 or 2 songs by Shania Twain
I’m sorry I can’t recall some of the specific titles by the groups (or individuals) above, but just knowing their names will tell you what kind of music sends me.
There are more artists I can’t even think of at the moment, but when I hear their songs, my heart listens intently.
Question:
Who are your favorite artists for romantic songs?
Which song(s) would top your list?
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Can you hear the drums, Fernando? I LOVE ABBA. 🙂 There’s quite a few here on my top romance playlist, also. As well, I’d add some songs by Josh Groban. 🙂
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Yes, Laurie, Fernando is one of my favorites of Abba’s hits. It’s an odd song in many ways, but the tearful edge in the voice of Agnetha (?) really gets to me. Their costumes were over-the-top garish, but their music was mostly outstanding.
Not familiar with Josh Groban, but perhaps I’d recognize something if you’d hum a few bars.
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Gosh, there are so many. BUT Coldplay is my go-to band with me and the DH. Anything by them is amazing.
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LOL, Tonya. I’ve seen several references to “coldplay” and assumed it was a musical service which provided tunes … like satellite radio. So this is really a group? Who’s in it?
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Great list! These come to mind off the top of my head:
I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner
Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
Faithfully – Journey
Breathe – Faith Hill
Love Song – Taylor Swift
Lots of new ones out there, but I can’t remember them. Darn that short term memory. LOL I’m getting old!
Love Josh Groban too!
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Melissa, my memory is shot also. But I recognize at least one of your titles and several of your artists. I just can’t put a tune to those titles.
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It’s hard to get past that Jimmy Buffett classic, “Why Don’t We Get Drunk. . . .”
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Ha. Yeah … that’s classic down-to-the-bone ROMANCE. LOL
The Beatles had a song entitled, “Why don’t we do it in the road?”
Not only are the lyrics in-your-race, but the melody and instrumentation is awful.
Of course, looking at a list of top-selling “romantic” songs in the U.S., I was shocked at many of the titles I saw.
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A few in no order.
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
My Heart Will Go on – Celine Dion
Everything I Do – Bryan Adams
I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
I Fall to Pieces – Patsy Cline
Foreigner, Journey, Eagles, Elivs, and Bon Jovi have great love songs. And since I’m a rock n roll chick, I love all the rock ballads, too. Too many to list!
Jenn!
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Jenn, I love that song (among others) by Patsy Cline. She had a beautiful voice, with such a range.
I can take Celine Dion or leave her, but (in my opinion) she got over-exposed around the time of the Titanic movie and I prob. just got sick of her.
Eagles — yes. They had some great stuff.
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Elton John once sang about Nakita with eyes of ice and fire, on the other side of the wire. “If there ever comes a time when guns and gates no longer hold you in, look toward the west and find a friend.”
That wall has been down for many years now. Wonder if she ever crossed over?
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I’m not familiar with that song, Susan, but it sounds like one I should look up.
I like several of Elton John’s musical hits.
Never cared for his costumes, but … whatever.
Thanks for visiting again today.
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Ah, sappy love songs. One would think my own wedding song would be the first to pop in my mind, but no, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin spoke more to our situation at the time rather than something like “Endless Love.” (Also not my favorite. Okay, but not a fave.) I do have a weakness for some of those Disney tunes though with “When You Wish Upon a Star.” I cry every flipping time. (*Grabs a tissue…again!) I also dig Elton John’s “Your Song” which was my sister’s wedding song. Someone else mentioned the Aerosmith song. Excellent choice. But I have to mention my favorite Bon Jovi song, “Living on a Prayer,” which is about sticking together through the tough times. (Now there are dogs howling in pain five miles away from my attempt to sing. “Take my hand…we’ll make it, I swear….Whoooooaaa – oh! Living on a prayer!”)
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So … dogs howl when you sing, Micki?
When our terrier Belle will NOT otherwise come (as we’re calling her), my wife will launch into her rendition of “The hills are alive with the sound of music” … and Belle comes running.
We haven’t figured out exactly why, but it’s nevertheless entertaining to witness.
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Great post, Jeff.
I like your artist/song choices. We listened to ABBA non-stop in my mom’s car.
My very first album was The Carpenters. Rainy Days and Mondays still kinda get me down.
I also loved anything by Olivia Newton-John and Jim Croce.
Kimberley
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Thanks, Kimberley.
Yes … the Carpenters. Karen C. had a beautiful voice and could hit such wonderfully warm low notes.
I also like some of Olivia’s and Jim’s.
We should put together a ‘party tape’ … or is that a term which even exists any more?
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Lionel Ritchie’s love songs always get to me, and I hate to sound cliche but I really do love “I Will Always Love You,” by the late great Whitney.
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Glad to see you again, Tiffany.
Yes, Witney had a fantastic voice. What a shame things turned out as they did in her life.
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Just about every Faith Hill/ Tim McGraw duet but especially Let’s Make Love
Love Story-Taylor Swift
Luke Bryan has several in particular-I don’t want the night to end
Yes several Shania Twain songs
There are more but I just can’t think of them at the moment
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I think it’s cool when married performers really seem to love each other … and sing together.
Not familiar with Luke Bryan.
Shania T. is a gifted songwriter as well as great performer. and she’s CUTE.
Thanks for visiting again, Lindsay.
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Great list Jeff. I like most of your choices and I’d sure like to read one of your favorite romance stories by you. I’m sure they are super!
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Thanks, Jillian.
Hopefully you will some day.
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