Though I wrote "Room In Your Heart" especially to sing with Ema (whom you can hear on the EP), there was never any target for the sentiment of the song. It's one of very few love songs I've written without anyone in mind. It makes me wonder how many songs that we assume are written from this really personal, emotional place, are actually just bits of theater—characters that the singer is taking on for the duration of the song.
Then again, I think all love songs are about the people we've loved, even if we're not singing about them directly. When I sing along to my personal favorite love songs by other musicians, I'm always picturing someone in my mind, even though I know the song was written for someone I've never met. Here are ten love songs (in no particular order) that have gotten me through rough times:
1) "Dinner at Eight" by Rufus Wainwright (actually about his father, but still counts)
2) "The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel (from The Light in the Piazza, the musical)
3) "Love Ridden" by Fiona Apple
4) "Red Right Ankle" by The Decemberists
5) "Waltz #2" by Elliott Smith
6) "Sea of Love" by Tom Waits/Cat Power
7) "Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin" by The Magnetic Fields
8) "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel
9) "The I Love You Song" by William Finn (From The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
10) "There, There" by Radiohead
Anyone else have what it takes to create a top ten best love songs? I'll make it easier: Top five. One person who gives me a list will win a free copy of my EP. Try listening to it while in love!
-tommy
http://www.tommywallach.com
Get my new EP at iTunes.
*Comments must be posted by Sunday, February 1st for a chance to be drawn by Gather to receive Tommy Wallach's digital EP for free.


Comments: 68
1. flightless bird, american mouth - iron & wine
2. i'd rather be with you - joshua radin
3. they bring me to you - joshua radin
4. fade into you - mazzy star
5. love story - taylor swift
6. stolen - dashboard confessional
7. hands down - dashboard confessional
8. crush - dave matthews band
9. crash into me - dave matthews band
10. brightest - copeland
11. i'll be your lover too - robert pattinson
& i'm sure i could come up with LOTS more ! haha.. imma sap !
1. ' Always' By Bon Jovi
2. " Because you loved me" by Celine Dion
3. 'As I Love You' by Shirley Bassey
4. 'Wonderful tonight' by Eric Clapton
5. "Always & Forever" by Heatwave
6 'I Got YOu BABe' by Sonny & Cher
7 'We've only just begun' by the Carpenters
8. 'Then he Kissed me' by the Crystals
9. 'Chapel of Love' by the Dixie Cups
10 'My Love' by Paul McCartney
Mazzy and Dave. I hear you. I love "Crush." I really do.
Tommy Wallach
1-Goodbye My Lover-James Blunt
2. Faithfully-Journey
3. When I'm Alone With You-Sheera (hope I spelled that right)
4. Unchained Melody-Righteous Brothers
5.Cherish-?
6. I'm Not In Love-10cc
7.I Honestly Love You-Olivia Newton John
8.Soldier Boy-My husband was in Nam at the time.
9.Wait for Me, I 'll Wait for You- Bruce Springsteen
10. Still-Lionel Richie
I have a ton I love, and many I just cannnot recall the real name, but at almost sixty, I still have a rock'n'roll heart, love all kinds of music, and have just to many favorites to remember. I would love to have yours... Ellen B
1) I'll Always Love You-Whitney Houston
2) Wind Beneath My Wings-Bette Midler
3) Always and Forever-Heatwave
4) The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face-Roberta Flack
5) Nothing Compares 2 U-Sinead O'Connor
I know not many will agree. But I have to say my number one favorite love is song is:
1. Tesla - What ya give
2. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
3. Cinderella - Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone
4. Firehouse - Love of a Lifetime
5. Journey - Faithfully
6. Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
7. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To U
8. Roxette - Listen To Your Heart
9. Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole - Unforgettable
10. Lionel Richie - Hello
Okay I have to add a 11th one :
Madonna - Crazy For You
1. "I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You" -- Foreigner
2. "Chanson pour Ezra" -- BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, words by Sharon Arms Doucet
3. "Hot Chili Mama" -- BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
4. "Poems, Prayers, and Promises" -- John Denver
5. "Unchained Melody" -- Willie Nelson
6. "By My Side" -- Godspell
2. Dear God- Avenged Sevenfold (this has special meaning for me because I'm a Marine girl)
3. Something About Us- Daft Punk
4. The Luckiest- Ben Folds
5. Sunshine- Floetry (my boyfriend threw this one on the list).
Unchained Melody-Everly bros.
Take my Breath away-Berlin
My love-Paul McCartny
Faithfully-Journey
Amazed (was our song for our wedding)
Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Wind Beneath My Wings-Bette Midler
When I'm Alone With You-Sheera (hope I spelled that right)
Unchained Melody-Righteous Brothers
'Wonderful tonight' by Eric Clapton
'I Got YOu BABe' by Sonny & Cher
'We've only just begun' by the Carpenters
'Then he Kissed me' by the Crystals
'Chapel of Love' by the Dixie Cups
'My Love' by Paul McCartney
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Yesterday - The Beatles
Nothing Compares to You - Sinaed O'connor
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
1. At Last- Ella Fitzgerald
2. Sooner or Later- Madonna
3. The Way You Look Tonight- originally Fred Astaire, but I like the Michael Bublé version.
4. How Deep is the Ocean- Irving Berlin
5. Strong Enough- Sheryl Crow
N'Sync-This I Promise You
If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks
Faithfully - Journey
On The Coast Of Somewhere Beautiful - Kenny Chesney ( When my husband was thinking about me when he was in Iraq he would play this)
I Cross My Heart - George Strait
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
Amazed - Lone star
Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
1. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
2. Reasons (Live Version) - Earth Wind & Fire
3. You are my Starship - Norman Connors
4. Ao Que Vai Nascer - George Duke (Milton Nascimento on vocals)
5. As - Stevie Wonder
6. Another Star - Stevie Wonder
7. Voyage to Atlantis - The Isleys
8. Can't HIde Love - Earth Wind & Fire
9. I Write a Song for You - Earth Wind & Fire
10. Nothing Compares to You - Sinead O'Connor
2. Breatless by The Corrs
3. I'll be there for you Bon Jovi
4. Open Arms by JOURNEY
5. PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS -MAYBE I’M AMAZED
6. AEROSMITH -I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING
7. FOREIGNER -I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
8. BILL MEDLEY/JENNIFER WARNES -I’VE HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE
9. LEE ANN RIMES -HOW DO I LIVE
10. VANESSA WILLIAMS -SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
2.If I ever Fall in Love Again by Anne Murray and Kenny Rogers
3. Nobody Loves Me Like You Do By Anne Murray and Dave Loggins
4.Love Me by Collin Raye
5.I'd Love You All Over Again By Alan Jackson
6.When I Said I do- By Clint Black
7. I Do - by Paul Brant
8.Can You feel The Love Tonight? by Elton John
9.I Just Called To Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder
10.Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Do you miss me tonight by Elvis P
Give back my heart, you red-neck woman by Lyle Lovett
Georgia by Ray or Willie
Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers
There's a woman by Righteous Brothers
Wonderful Tonight by Clapton
Annie's Song by John Denver
Fun!
1. I only have eyes for you
2. Will you love me tomorrow
3. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
4. Pretty Woman -
5. Under the Boardwalk
6. Just the way you are - Joel
7. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Flack
8. Endless Love - Ross and Ritchie
9. Happy Together - Turtles
10. You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
2. When a Man Loves a Woman- Percy Sledge
3. Wonderful Tonight-Clapton
4. Whiter Shade of Pale-Procol Harum
5. Hungry- Lita Ford..not really romantic...but sexy as hell!
6. Good Morning Beautiful-Steve Holy
7. Maybe I'm Amazed- Wings
8. Long Cool One- Robert Plant
9. Its in His Kiss- Cher
10. Shameless-Garth Brooks
2. Open Arms by Journey
3.Run to you by Byran Adams
4.With orwithout you by U2
5.Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
6. Lips of an Angel by Hinder
7.Heaven can Wait by Meatloaf
8. Goodbye Blue Sky by Pink Floyd
9.The Flame by Cheap Trick
10.Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
my list is unique because some of these are not your classic love songs. But to me they are the best love songs since they represent times/ memories in my life when I was happily in love. The first time I slow danced with a boyfriend was to "Stairway to heaven". "Time After Time" represents a loving relationship that ended mutually. And the best lyric is in the song "In Your Eyes" "In your eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches......."
1. Layla by Derek and the Dominos
2. Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney
3. Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers (like so many others I see!)
4. You are so Beautiful by Joe Cocker
5. Without You by Harry Nilsson
I just realized that the reason these flow to the surface first is the sheer emotion of each, the singer is singing his heart out without a care as to what anyone might think, as long as their love gets the message.
Lady-Kenny Rogers
Could I have this dance - Anne Murrey
You aint woman enough to take my man- Loretta Lynn
R-E-S-C-E-P-T- Think it was Aretha Franklin, sang by many performers
I may be old but I do like a lot of the modern authors. It's just that most don't compare that strongly. A few of Neil Diamond's would list in there well also, Sweet Caroline coming quickly to mind. Could I have this dance by Annie Murray is a very good one as well.
Such songs as You are so Beautiful are too focused on looks to be top love songs. Looks has little to do with love. But everyone has their own favorite and probably they reflect upbringing and times as much as the quality of teh songs!
2. "Joy" by Harry Nillsen.
3. "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead.
4. "No Class" by Motorhead.
5. "Phallus in Wonderland" by Gwar.
2. "Make Me Smile" by Chicago
3. "Burnin' Moonlight" by Stop the Truck
4. "Unchained Melody" by anybody who ever sang it
5. "Pocket Full of Gold" by Vince Gill
2 " over You " Chris Daughtery
3" Dig" Incubus
4 " Angels" David Archuleta"
5" With You" Chris Brown
6" What About Now" Chris Daughtery
7 " Crush" David Archuleta
2. I Guess that's why they call it the Blues by Elton John.
3. You're the Inspiration by Chicago
4. In Your Eyes by Journey
5. You Don't Have to Say You Love me by Dusty Springfield
Always-Stevie Wonder
I Will Always Love You-Whitney Houston
Love Supreme-John Coltrane
Distant Lover-Marvin Gaye
If THis World Were Mine-Cheryl Lynn and Luther Vandross
Bonus-The Shadow of Your Smile-Diana Krall
Onward by Yes - from the not very well received Tormato album, 1978.
But to be honest...
Forever and Ever - from my 2nd album - Virtual America, 2003 - www.cdbaby.com/rbs2
Source of Color - from my 4th album - Killing Time, 2004 - www.cdbaby.com/rbs3
I'm Going To Take Care of You - from my 3rd album - Woody, 2006 - www.cdbaby.com/rbs4
It may sound shamelessly self-promoting (and it is), but I do have a fondness for these songs. After all, I went to the bother to write, record, and publish them.
rbs
www.RobertBruceScott.com
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
Fallin' by Alecia Keys
Til There Was You - Beatles
Layla - Derick and the Dominoes
And I Love Her - The Beatles
Forever Love - Reba McIntyre
Love Me - Collin Raye
When I Said I Do - Clint Black & Lisa Hatman Black
Cherish - Kool & The Gang
Wicked Game - Chris Isaac
From the Beginning - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
More Than Words - Extreme
You're So Good for me - Humble Pie
Never Tear us Apart - INXS
Misty - Johnny Mathis
Chances Are - Johnny Mathis
I envy the Wind - Lucinda Williams
For my Lady - Moody Blues
Come Away with me - Norah Jones
Turn Me On - Norah Jones
You Dont Know Me - Jann Arden
The Way You Look Toonight - Tony Bennett
I'll Stand by You - The Pretenders
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack **
Love of My Life - Dave Matthews & Carlos Santana
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Conner
Thousand Years - Sting
Have I told you Lately - Van Morrison
At Last - Etta James
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
Time of the Season - The Zombies
I Just Wanna Make Love to You: Willie Dixon. Once again, why beat around the bush? My band plays the Foghat version.
Heartbreaker: Led Zeppelin. This is the most anguished and tortured ode to womankind ever recorded. If it doesn't win, you all are into musical theater and American Idol.
Thank You: Led Zeppelin. You want "tender?" I;ll give you tender. "Kind woman, I give you my all, Kind woman, nothing more."
Whole Lotta Love: Led Zeppelin. You want love? Stop screwing aound with masturbaters like Coldplay, Maroon 5, and The Cure. Put on a Zeppelin album, turn it up, and leave your door unlocked.
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
You're in My Heart - Rod Stewart
Woman - John Lennon
On the Wings of Love-Jeffery Osborne
My Forever Love- Levert
Call My Name-Prince
Turn Off the Lights-Teddy Pendergrass
This Is Love-Kelly Rowland
Send Her My Love-Journey
I'm Going Down-Mary J Blige
I'm Still In Love With You-New Edition
Lost Without You-Robin Thicke
Anytime and Back At One-Brian McKnight
Angel of Mine-Monica
Love-Musiq Soulchild
Kissin You-Total
2. i'll be there for you- bon jovi
3.love of a lifetime-firehouse
4.because you loved me-celine dion
5.faithfully-journey
6.the way you look tonight-elton john
7.i swear-boys2men
8.i wanna be there-blessed union of souls
It's got the love groove, all gears.
~"Fade Into You" - Mazzy Star
~"Feels Like Home" - Chantal Kreviazuk
~"Songbird" - Eva Cassidy
~"I Will Love You" - Fisher
~"If Walls Could Talk" - Celine Dion
~"Here With Me" - Dido
~"I Love You" - Sarah McLachlan
~"Angel" - Jon Secada
I am sure I have a ton more but I can't think of them at the moment. These are my best ones for now.
2. Hello Darling - Conway Twitty
3. Touch the hand - Conway Twitty
4. Stay - Sugarland
5. Good morning beautiful - Blake Shelton
6. This kiss - Faith Hill
7. Picture - Kid Rock and Sheryl Crowl
8. We're going to hold on - George Jones
9. Not a moment to soon - Tim McGraw
10. Nobody wants to see us together - Akon
1. In this life by Collin Raye
2. Love me tender by Elvis Presley
3. Open arms by Journey
4. Faithfully by Journey
5. I never thought by Dan Hill
6. I cross my heart by George Strait
7. It's your love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
8. Crazy for you by Madonna
9. Groovy kind of Love by Phil Collins
10. The Dance by Garth Brooks
1. Your Song - Elton John
2. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
3. Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
4. In The Heart Of The Night - Poco
5. Biggest Part Of Me - Ambrosia
1. Glory of Love-Peter Cetera
2. Broken Wings-?
3. Sundance Love-Robert Mirabal
4. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me- Dusty Springfield
5. Power of Love-Celine Dion
1. Thank You by Led Zeppelin
2. Waking Up Alone by Paul Williams
3. The Dance by Garth Brooks
4. Something About the Way You Look Tonight by Elton John
5. You'll Accompany Me by Bob Seeger
6. Fool If You Think It's Over by Chris Rea
7. Theme From a Summer Place (instrumental version)
8. I Can't Find The Time To Tell You by Orpheus
9. Oh Darling by The Beatles
10. Here, There, and Everywhere by the Beatles
I have at least 10 more.