Yeah, yeah, we should always tell people we love them, and we shouldn’t need to a day to do so. Blah, blah, blah. Just like Thanksgiving should be the only day we should give thanks. Except we DON’T always give thanks or show love. We get too busy or take each other for granted.
I have a very small family. My parents are deceased. My wife and each of my two sisters have but one daughter each. I feel as though it is necessary to tell them all, as well as my friends, how much I care for them.
I don’t know if I mentioned how much I like the website Pantheon Songs, which is attempting to create “a fictional Pantheon in which only the best songs will be included.” And only one song per band! Sometimes I agree, sometimes not.
His choice for the Beach Boys was spot on: God Only Knows. When I deigned to come up with Songs That Move Me a few years back, God Only Knows was #1. Of course, it’s my favorite Beach Boys song.
Those of you who have seen the movie Love Actually – here’s the trailer – will recall that God Only Knows plays at a pivotal late scene. The quality of this video is not great, but I still find it quite moving, still.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Parade magazine had a list of Americans’ All-Time Favorite Love Songs:
1. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
2. “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
3. “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge
4. “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
5. “How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gees
6. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
7. “Crazy” by Patsy Cline
8. “I Want To Know What Love Is” by Foreigner
9. “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
10. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
For the most part, meh.
Some local column asked about the Valentine’s Day proposal – romantic or cliche? I voted “nay – diminishes every subsequent v-day and if it doesn’t work out, sucks the joy out of the day altogether.” What dost thou think?
***
Bought Valentine’s Day cards a couple of days ago for my daughter’s class. It’s been a while since I shopped for these, but I was surprised that SO many of the items were licensed products, representing, e.g., the Disney princesses, Pixar’s Cars, and the animated Madagascar movies; disappointing.
I can’t believe Parade were serious – ‘I Will Always Love You’ has to be one of the worst songs of all time!
I love the list of great love songs….and sometimes I think that most of the holidays are turning slightly commercial, you must buy this or buy that, it is better to actually do something for someone. Have a Happy Valentines Day Rog. cheers.
It’s definitely a Hallmark Holiday.
Movie was good, ‘Lady in Red’ should be on the list along with several more that I will think of as soon as I hit the ‘submit’ button 🙂
The Valentine’s Day Proposal: as always, a proposal is best when there’s no pressure involved. I was proposed to a couple of times, and once I said “yes” just because of the social pressure (which lead to disaster later, when I felt I had the dump the guy.)
So if it’s (1) completely private (no one knows) and a genuine “pop” question, it’s okay. If it’s (2) just a formality (already asked, already accepted, this is just the formal giving-of-the-ring), it’s okay. If it’s anything else (e.g. a genuine pop question, but somewhere public like a restaurant or in front of family), then it’s not okay. IMHO.
Did you know that “Love, Actually” is enjoying an apologetic “thumbs-up” as a Christmas movie by critics? It’s true! Just as “Wonderful Life” was panned as “too dark,” and it didn’t help that it premiered in July (morons), “Love, Actually,” with its sparkling cast, especially Bill Nighy (OMG the TV spot on NY Eve!!!) and the ever-fantastic Emma Thompson and superb Colin Firth. The irony of casting Liam Neeson as a father who is mourning his young wife is so sad, though, since he lost Miranda Richardson a few years after this was made.
Finally: I LOVE THAT SONG! Yes, I believe it’s my fave BB song, too. Lovely, Roger.
As for “VD Day,” we anti-celebrate. No Hallmark, no jewelry (we make fun of commercials for those big stores and call them “The Gonorrhea of Jewelry”!). We simply do like always – cook dinner together, hold hands, and love each other completely. I really believe it’s good for our marriage to not cave on stupid holidays, including Commercial Christmas. Thanks, Rog. Amy