10 Great Love Songs
Tell us your 10 WORST Love Songs.
Feb. 11, 2009 -- If you're looking for ways to woo the one who has your heart these songs might work. Check out this list featuring some of the best love songs, as picked by the producers of GMA, just in time for Valentine's Day.
Come back tomorrow for a list of 20 of the worst love songs. Click here to vote for your least favorite love song and click here to tell us which love songs stink the most and why.
'At Last' by Etta James
At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh, yeah, at last
Can you sum it up any better than that? Talk about a love song for all seasons. Etta's famous tune even made its way into the recent 2008 Presidential election, sung by Beyonce for President Obama and first lady Michelle.
Good things come to those that wait, and real love can often be difficult to stumble upon. When you find it, hold on tight.
'Unchained Melody' by the Righteous Brothers
Consider these memorable lines from this 1955 classic:
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly,
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
The Righteous Brothers, one of many artists who recorded this song, certainly know how to tug at the heart strings. With lyrics that encapsulate the feeling of being separated from a lover, this is a ballad that most couples can relate to. Of course, anything sounds better when sung with the silky voices of these crooners, so take a moment before deciding to serenade your own loved one when they return home from work tonight.
'When You Say Nothing At All' by Allison Krauss
Actions speak louder than words, and in relationships, what you do can often scream volumes.
The smile on your face let's me know that you need me,
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me,
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall,
You say it best when you say nothing at all.
Show your love people — a nice box of chocolate, a dozen roses, or just a little hand-holding and you're in. No one's a mind-reader here, but a million "I love you so much"-es can certainly start to lose their significance after awhile if there's nothing to back it up.
'When A Man Loves' a Woman by Percy Sledge
After all: When a man loves a woman,
Deep down in his soul,
She can bring him such misery;
If she is playing him for a fool,
He's the last one to know,
Loving eyes can never see.
'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow,
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
Swoon ... Teenage girls everywhere during the '90s couldn't help but dream about Johnny Rzeznik every time Iris came on the radio.
He just wants you to know who he is, ladies. Rzeznik repeats that line at least seven times, so we get it, really. Women everywhere can rally in support behind the Goo Goo Dolls on that claim, because really who doesn't want their boyfriend to be up front and honest about who he truly is? Secrets never bode well in the game of love.
'Open Arms' by Journey
What can you say about Journey?
So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms
.
The 1980s was a great time for big hair, spandex, and of course, love. When a rock group of the caliber of Journey decides to take a stab at explaining love, you know you're going to come away with solid lyrics.
'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
That someone so unforgettable,
Thinks that I am unforgettable, too
Not many people can listen to this song without being reminded of dancing at a wedding… whether it be your own, someone else's, or even a movie character's. Here's one song that seems to really sum up the purest meaning of love. Besides, who can forget the image of Natalie Cole singing Unforgettable as an accompaniment to her father's original version?
'You're the First, the Last, My Everything' by Barry White
There's no way they could have made two
Girl, you're my reality
But I'm lost in a dream,
You're the first, you're the last, my everything
That's right Barry, let it all out.
They say true love is all consuming, and Barry White makes that point very clear. This song drives home the idea that being in love is akin to operating on an entirely different reality. All you can think of is the one you're with, and yep — out comes that pedestal for your beloved sit upon.
'Wonderful Tonight' by Eric Clapton
I feel wonderful because I see,
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all,
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you.
Let's face it — Clapton's right. When you've been struck by cupid, everything in life seems perfect. Mornings are brighter, your coffee tastes a little bit better, and even the frigid winter temperatures don't seem quite as chilly.
It's time to go home now and I've got an aching head,
So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed.
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light,
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight
And sure he end the song sounding a bit intoxicated, but perhaps he's drunk on on love.
'You're All I Need to Get By' by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Marvin Gaye is all about comparing nature with the exquisiteness of real love in this epic ballad.
Like an eagle protects his nest, for you I'll do my best,
Stand by you like a tree, dare anybody to try and move me
Darling in you I found
Strength where I was torn down
Don't know what's in store but together we can open any door,
Just to do what's good for you and inspire you a little higher,
I know you can make a man out of a soul that didn't have a goal,
Cause we, we got the right foundation and with love and determination.
Even when you listen to this song for the very first time, it's guaranteed your heart will start to speed up a bit instinctively. You can't help but desire a love a big as the ocean, and Marvin — the master of songs that motivate couples to break out the red wine and get it on already — easily describes loving at its finest.