Top 20 Songs Recently I got into a discussion on the greatest love songs of all time and everyone in the discussion group compiled their own top 20 love songs.. including me. I thought it would be cool to present my Top 20 here. Turn on the mood music, imbibe some wine and read on.
1. Annie's Song (John Denver)	2. How deep is Your Love? (Bee gees)
Lyrics of pure auric splendor wrapped in the silken tenor of John Denver's voice, or, 3 minutes and 2 seconds of musical joy. Above all, such a simple song, straight from the heart, one you can play with just a guitar and bass as accompaniment (i.e. if you had J.D's vocal cords) As I have mentioned before, I am extremely piqued that I was not the author of this everlasting offering of affection.	Barry Gibb, in my opinion, is THE greatest (pop) songwriter of all time, and the absolute maestro of melody...and the reason why I don't write songs. Every 4 bars that I write get trashed after the routine torture test of comparison with work by the Great Gibb brother. Though the Bee gees have created literally a countless number of memorable melodies, this one stands out as a true sparkler. The lyrics, the production and the arrangements all add to the amazement of the musical experience. (By the way, did the acronym Bee gees stand for the Brothers Gibb, or just Barry Gibb? I'm confused.)
3. Making Love out of nothing at all (Air Supply)	4. Your Song (Elton John and Bernie Taupin)
Air Supply must qualify as the undisputed kings of sappy love songs, a band you could always count on in moments when you need such comfort. Mushy lyrics apart, this song stands out for its unmatched melody and arrangements as well.	It is said that Elton John complemented this cute Bernie Taupin lyric with his sweet melody in about 20 minutes. ... what can I say,  other than, that's what genius does... On the genius scale, lyricist Bernie wasn't far behind Sir John. Though the quality of the lyric is not consistent throughout (the second verse is kind of weak), it does have the most enchanting of lines such as "I know its not much, But its the best I can do. My gift is my song and this one's for you" And "You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen" which rival the work of the tentmaker himself, if you ask me :)
5. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight (England Dan and John Ford Coley)	6.Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (Sting.. ok, and the Police)
Sometimes simple, sensitive thoughts packaged in a simple melody can create a magical experience. Which is what this song does to me. As Dan Seals, "England Dan" has created several other memorable songs, but this collaboration with John Ford Coley is the one I cherish the most.	If there can ever be such a thing as a perfect up-tempo love song, this is it. Even as the world of the 80s was obsessed with synth-based pop, Sting was stealthily redefining music with his own brand of intense lyrics, inventive melodies and supremely confident delivery. Stewart Copeland's amazing work on the drums (after all, this was a Police song :)) is a delightful plus, and supposedly changed this song dramatically from the form in which it was originally recorded. As for Andy Summers, who was he again?
7.Nothing's gonna change my love for you (George Benson)	8. Something to talk about (Bonnie Raitt)
From the divinely melodious initial bars of the keyboard intro, this song will capture the imagination of every sensitive soul. Why on earth did George Benson step down from the pedestals of his "elite" jazzy upbringing to do this one favor for the lovesick? Do I really want to know?	I almost left my former girlfriend for Bonnie Raitt after listening to her in concert.. just kidding :) .. but I do think that Ms. Raitt is a powerhouse in the male-dominated genres of blues and rock.. so what if she is a late bloomer ? The combination of impeccable slide guitar playing, playful lyrics and a melody with a strangely wonderful twist to the blues idiom make this song a delight.
9. I just called to say I love You (Stevie Wonder)	10. Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan
Can such a simple statement be the basis for a powerful love song? Only if you mean it from the bottom of your heart, like Stevie Wonder did, in this classic from our teenage years. His words will be forever relatable. It doesn't have to be "No New Year's Day" or the "First of Spring" to tell someone that you love her... in fact you can do it on any "ordinary day" :)	I consider this song the rough edge of the otherwise smooth (read commercial if you want to) texture of this collection... How could the often "pitch-challenged", sandpaper voiced Bob Dylan become a musical legend? The answer, I say to myself, is that music, in its most basic form, is about a message and expressing oneself. And by that definition, Dylan was one of its most powerful messiahs. So what if even his love songs had an edge? I would willingly trade pens (or keyboards) with someone who can make observations such as the following about the fairer sex for posterity.... "Lately I see her ribbons and her bows, Have fallen from her curls" "She aches just like a woman, But she breaks just like a little girl" ... and play the soulful harmonica intro over and over..
11. If (Bread)	12. Change the World (Eric Clapton /Babyface- songwriter)
If Air Supply ruled the "sappy love song" territory in the early 80s, it was Bread's arena in the 70s, mostly because of David Gates' anodyne compositions. I only found out recently that, in addition to his success with Bread, he was also a much sought-after composer and arranger who created several hit movie themes. It was a tough choice for me to pick between this one and "Diary", they're both masterpieces.	Any lovelorn person would have, at some point, considered the phrase "If I could change the world.."... this song is a tribute to that feeling.  I don't have the greatest impression of Eric Clapton as a songwriter (which is why I let go of the choice of "Wonderful Tonight", which he composed), but as a performer, he is non-pareil.. and as I sit here, playing the acoustic guitar solo along with him  on my MP3 player, I decide that I have to include this song in the list.
13. Father Figure (George Michael)	14. Something in the way she moves (James Taylor)
Michael could (arguably) be THE voice of the 80s. If the words. "If you ever hunger, hunger for me, whatever you ask for, that's what I'll be" don't exude passion, the snake-like hiss that emanates from his throat as he mouths those lines does. The oriental inspired theme adds to the mystique of this phenomenal song.	No it's not the one George Harrison wrote... it's just another JT trademark campfire song. I can't decide if the acoustic guitar he plays or JT's voice sounds more soothing.
15. Girl (John Lennon/The Beatles)	16. For Emily, wherever I may find her (Simon/Garfunkel).
"Is there anybody going to listen to my story", he asks and you willingly listen... because you're  only too familiar with the girl in your life that "promises the earth to me and I believe her, after all this time I don't know why". Intense, personal, relatable. Quintessential Lennon.	When Simon's poetry meets Garfunkel's honey-sweet vocals, the result is the musical equivalent of nuclear fusion.
17. Stuck on You (Lionel Richie)	18. Have I told you lately that I loved you (Rod Stewart)
I guess its because I grew up in the 80s that I am partial to 80s musicians and songwriters, but if I had to decide on one person to write all my love letters for me, I would pick Lionel Richie any day.. he was  the prince of sweet talk and master of the art of the serenade.	Stewart has no pretensions.. he is a performer and nothing else.. and where absolute poise in rendition is concerned, he rivals Sting, in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if women literally melt listening to his crooning.
19. If you're not the one (Dan Bedingfield)	20.  Alone(Kenny G)
This song grew on me while I was listening to radio in Europe last year and didn't have much in terms of options as far as English programming was concerned.. it used to show up ever so often on the few English stations out there. For a brief moment I thought the song was by Michael Jackson, the delivery seemed uncannily similar to Jackson's  on "The Earth Song". Later I found out that it wasn't, and it took me really long to remember the name Bedingfield... I kept recalling it as Rodney Dangerfield. Anyway, the question this song poses, "If you're not the one, why do I dream of you"  is philosophically more relevant to me than "Is the glass half-empty ?"  so this one goes on... with just one spot to spare.	To decide on my "list", I created a playlist of my favorite tunes on Real Jukebox and kept listening to them continuously as I work from home, rearranging them according to my preference of the moment. I'm down to the last spot on my Top 20, and I have 3 songs left to choose from! Something (George Harrison), Michelle (Paul McCartney) and a composition by a musician who doesn't even sing.. Kenny G. It was difficult to let go of my Beatles loyalty, but I had to discard the Fab Two in favor of the springy-haired Jew who uses his soprano saxophone like a magic wand. The last few bars of this tune are sure to induce intoxication. With melody as rich, who needs lyrics?