We all know the effect that music has over us. A song can lift our spirits or bring us to our knees with melancholy.  Much to the chagrin of my inner circle, I fantasize about the music career that I did not have. Fantasy carries me along with every lyric and vibrates my body with each beat.

Dazed and in a dream state, songs have the power to transport me into a different time, floating down a stream of capricious emotions.  I am not a musician. I am not a singer. I am not a songwriter … but damn I wish that I was. There is no finer gift than the gift of music in my humble opinion.

These ten songs stand out for me because of their ability to translate the one emotion that quite literally drives us all crazy at least once in our lifetime, if we are lucky. Love.

No matter what genre the song may be: Neo Soul, Blues Rock, Folk Pop, Indie Pop, Downtempo Soul, Rock, Jazz, Indie Rock, Soul or Blues Rock … the song, when it is about love, it always remains the same. These 10 songs are here to prove that fact.

Bittersweet. Painful. Beautiful. Scary. Confusing.

Love is a shape shifter. Love is a mystery maker. Love just is.

1. Iyeoka “Simply Falling”

There goes my heart again
All of this time I thought we were pretending
Nothing looks the same when your eyes are open
Now you’re playing these games to keep my heartbeat spinning
You show me love, you show me love
You show me everything my heart is capable of
You reshape me like butterfly origami-yeah,

You have broken into my heart
This time I feel the blues have departed
Nothing can keep me away from this feelin
I know I am simply falling for you.

 

2. The Black Keys “Everlasting Light”

Let me be your everlasting light
The sun when there is none
I’m a shepherd for you
And I’ll guide you through
Let me be your everlasting light

Let me be your everlasting light

3. Sarah Jaffe “Stay With Me”

You say go, I’ll go
if you wanted to take it slow
we’ll take it slow
put your hands over my eyes
I’m happy to be blind

I’ll be damned
it’s happening again
in minutes we’ll see ourselves
in a whole new light
and pieces from our shelves
will take flight

Please stay with me
stay with me

4. Foster The People “Waste”

You know it’s funny how freedom can make us feel contained
Yeah When the muscles in our legs aren’t used to all the walking
I know if you could snap both your fingers that you’d escape with me
But in the meantime, I’ll just wait here and listen to you when you speak… or scream

5. Chet Faker “Love & Feeling”

Scrambling words to make you fall
Make you cold so you want more
Got to keep it all in line, all in line

And now you know, the less you give
The more I pull, the more I wish
Rapacious from the very start

But I hold in line away to live
And you come close just a little bit
Now everything, it seems okay

6. The Fray “Love Don’t Die”

If I know one thing, that’s true
It ain’t what you say, it’s what you do
And you don’t say much, yeah, that’s true
But I listen when you do

A thousand years go by
But love don’t die

If I know one thing, that’s true
It’s that I’m never leaving you
And you don’t say much, yeah, that’s true
But I lose it when you do

Don’t let them tell no lie
Love don’t die

No matter where we go
Or even if we don’t
And even if they try
They’ll never take my body from your side
Love don’t die

7. Melody Gardot “Love Me Like a River Does”

 

Love me like a river does
Cross the sea
Love me like a river does
Endlessly
Love me like a river does
Baby don’t rush you’re no waterfall
Love me that is all
Love me like a roaring sea
Swirls about
Love me like a roaring sea
Wash me out

8. The Heavy “Be Mine”

Take all my money
Take all my time
Take all the stars that hang above me
Be mine!

Take all my tears
Covet my eyes
Take what you need
To make you love me
Be mine!

9. Hozier “Like Real People Do”

I knew that look dear
Eyes always seeking
Was there in someone
That dug long ago
So I will not ask you
Why you were creeping
In some sad way I already know

I will not ask you where you came from
I will not ask you and neither would you

Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips
We should just kiss like real people do

10. City And Colour “The Girl” 

I wish I could do better by you,
’cause that’s what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work.

While I’m off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I’m yours to keep
My beautiful girl

 

Wishing you love … the love that you deserve. No matter what song happens to be playing on the radio.

Photo Credit: Simon Gorny via Compfight cc