Playlist 9: Love Songs, Part 1- Eileen

Since Valentine's Day is looming on the horizon, we thought we'd each share our favorite love songs with you, to woo your fair maiden/ handsome knight, or just so you can bask in their general loveliness. Up first, Eileen:

Playlist 9.1- Love SongsHere's one for the lovers ;)

1. THE CURE- Just Like Heaven
‘I promise that I’ll run away with you’.
Not only one of my favourite love songs of all time, but one of my general favourite songs of all time. The classic tale of girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, boy doesn’t show it and girl’s too insecure to realise he loves her. Heartbreaking, beautiful, a classic.

2. YEAH YEAH YEAHS- Modern Romance
‘This is no- and there is no- modern romance’
I think what makes this song so touching for me is Karen O’s voice. Modern Romance is from ‘Fever to Tell’- an album in which she is frequently heard hysterically screaming and shouting, in a way only she can. So, when she comes out with vocals like this- soft, raw- it adds to wonderful honesty of the song.

3. BON IVER- Skinny Love
‘Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind?’
Because not all great romances work out. I suppose that’s the beauty of love- its fragility. What makes a good love song for me is that gentleness and tenderness- big, overblown romantic statements with belted vocals and a full orchestra don’t seem to have the same sincerity as a guy, and a guitar, and something real to say...

4. SAY ANYTHING- Alive With the Glory of Love
'When I watch you, I wanna do you right where you're standing.'
... Having said that, here’s a big overblown love song. I can’t help myself- with lyrics as honest as this, who can’t fall in love with this song? I guess it’s the musical equivalent of ‘The Naked Man’.

5. THE BEACH BOYS- Wouldn’t It Be Nice?
'It seems the more we talk about it, it only makes it worse to leave without it'.
The love song for every teenager, who wish instead of waking up to a cold cup of tea and nagging from your parents, you could wake up beside the one you love. Aaw.

6. REGINA SPEKTOR- Samson
'I cut his hair myself one night, a pair of dull scissors in the yellow light...'
Spektor has several times rewritten biblical or mythological stories, such as Oedipus. In Samson, Spektor doesn’t see a story of betrayal, but a love story- and it’s a story she narrates beautifully.

7. CAT POWER- Sea of Love
'Come with me, my love, to the sea, the sea of love'.
I remember my grandparents dancing to the original song when I was a kid, and Marshall does a pretty good job of filling this cover with just as much sincerity as the original. Lovely.

8. CITY AND COLOUR- Casey’s Song
'With you on my mind and my heart held in your hands, screaming: 'Break Me'.'
Ok, so I thought I’d round up with pretty much my favourite song ever. There’s something in the simplicity of it- the exquisite tone of Dallas Green’s voice, the beautifully-played guitar- that gets me every time.

You can listen to the whole playlist on the nifty little I-Pod below. Enjoy!

For more information about this playlist, click here >>>