# Overlooked love songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952 "2005-03-04T19:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/1 "2005-03-04T19:50:15Z")
I am starting to gather a music list for my wedding this September and I am looking for good love songs to be played at my reception. My taste in music is varied so I need songs that I may be overlooking as love songs. What can you suggest? As a side note, I would rather shoot myself in the foot than hear anything by Celine Dion or the like so please spare me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/2 "2005-03-04T20:18:04Z")
_This Must Be the Place_ – the Talking Heads _I Forgot That Love Existed_ – Van Morrison _How Long Has This Been Going On_ – written by George Gershwin, there are a lot of nice versions, I like Chet Baker’s, but Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, and Tony Bennett have all done it. _In Your Arms Tonight_ – the **Hedwig and the Angry Inch** soundtrack twicks, closet romantic 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/3 "2005-03-04T20:23:21Z")
I don’t know if it’s overlooked or not, but I’ve never heard it at a wedding (and I’ve been to about two dozen in the last year) _God Only Knows_–The Beach Boys This is perhaps my favorite love song of all time. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/4 "2005-03-04T20:27:21Z")
These are a few of the songs I’m putting on my wedding CD, hope it helps… I Fell in Love With A Girl - Big Star Question - Old 97s Crazy Love - Van Morrison Someone to Watch Over Me- Ella Nothing without you - Steve Earle Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone - Bill Withers Also, Sit on My Face by Monty Python, but that’s just for us. ---
**Author:** ![available\_light](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@available\_light](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/available_light)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/5 "2005-03-04T20:30:08Z")
I’m sure I’ll have to post again as more occur to me, but right off the top of my head I’d say check out “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds (can’t remember if it’s him solo or with Ben Folds Five). Very pretty, kinda unusual love song. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/6 "2005-03-04T20:41:08Z")
Thanks, these are some great replies a lot of which will probably be used. Keep up the good work. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/7 "2005-03-04T21:09:48Z")
Some of the songs mentioned [here](http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=187377) may be of interest to you. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/8 "2005-03-04T21:19:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t know if it’s overlooked or not, but I’ve never heard it at a wedding (and I’ve been to about two dozen in the last year) > > _God Only Knows_–The Beach Boys > > This is perhaps my favorite love song of all time. Mine too. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/9 "2005-03-04T21:50:58Z")
“Sweet Pear” from Elvis Costello’s _Mighty Like a Rose_ disc. It has one of the all-time great middle eights in a romantic song. Just don’t listen to the lyrics too closely, could be a bit of a buzz kill. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/10 "2005-03-04T21:53:26Z")
A favorite: _Have A Little Faith In ME_ **John Hiatt** ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/11 "2005-03-04T23:03:23Z")
Picture in a Frame by Tom Waits is a very tender and moving love song. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/12 "2005-03-04T23:19:18Z")
_One Foot Out the Door_ by Van Halen along with its lead in instrumental _Sunday Afternoon In the Park_ from the album _Fair Warning_. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/13 "2005-03-04T23:20:57Z")
Or _Moments In Love_ by Art of Noise. A great dance song (slow) with some truly beautiful vocal treatments. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/14 "2005-03-05T00:08:56Z")
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison (He seems to be turning up a lot here.) Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys Walk Through This World With Me - George Jones You Are My Flower - Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Love You Til The End - The Pogues Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty Is This Love - Bob Marley Three Little Birds - Bob Marley Don’t Get Me Wrong - The Pretenders Show Me - The Pretenders Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/15 "2005-03-05T00:41:56Z")
“Lovesong” by **the Cure**. You can’t go wrong with the Cure. Even better, singer Robert Smith wrote this song as a wedding gift for his wife, Mary (they’ve been married some twenty-odd years now). ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/16 "2005-03-05T00:53:17Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > “Lovesong” by **the Cure**. You can’t go wrong with the Cure. Even better, singer Robert Smith wrote this song as a wedding gift for his wife, Mary (they’ve been married some twenty-odd years now). That is one of the songs I am already planning on having played, in addition to a couple other Cure tunes. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/17 "2005-03-05T00:54:39Z")
The most heartbreakingly beautiful love song I have ever heard is “Miracles” by the Pet Shop Boys. I can also recommend “Home and Dry,” “Liberation,” and “It Always Comes As A Surprise.” ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/18 "2005-03-05T01:01:03Z")
A few more from our cd: La La Love You - The Pixies Bit Part -Lemonheads Oh My Lover and Find me a Home from the Detroit Cobras Starry Eyes - Roky Erickson Oh and Living in a World Without Her by the Pogues (well the pogues and whoever they got to sing for Shane McGowen on Pogue Mahone.) Mixing CDs is fun! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/19 "2005-03-05T01:31:46Z")
One of my favorite (straightforward, non-ironic, non-buzzkill) love songs is “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder. (Note: Stevie Wonder, like Paul McCartney and a few others, is a musical genius who is nevertheless capable of writing pure cheeze. “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” for example, is cheeze. “Overjoyed” IMHO is not; it’s a great song. And speaking of Sir Paul, there’s always “Silly Love Songs,” which is a _bit_ cheezy, but it doesn’t pretend to be otherwise, and it’s got a cool bass line.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952/20 "2005-03-05T02:47:39Z")
A few unusual picks: “I Can’t Make You Love Me” – Bonnie Raitt Lovely and delicate, both musically and in its sentiments, and thus would make a good first dance song, even though it’s too sedate to be a standard dance number. “Rich Kind of Poverty” – Sam and Dave A classic, if relatively obscure, 1967 R&B song that works as an anthem for couples who have love but no money – the idea being that we may not have two nickels to rub together, baby, but it’s still great, 'cause we’ve got each other… “We Have All The Time In The World” – John Barry, Hal David; voc. Louis Armstrong The love song embedded in the '69 Lazenby Bond On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, used in the falling-in-love montage, and elsewhere as an instrumental theme. Ignore the fact that in the movie, Bond’s bride is gunned down by Ernst Stavro Blofeld as the couple drives away from their wedding reception… it’s really a very lovely song for young couples! “No Matter What” – Badfinger An offbeat, somewhat gritty love song (and 70’s nostalgia trip) that doesn’t use the “L” word. A guy declares that, “no matter what” his girl does or becomes, he will always be with her. That may sound like a backhanded compliment of sorts and a shaky basis for a serious relationship, but the upbeat, resolute rock riffs suggest that their bond is for real. “Is It a Dream?” – The Damned Uptempo post-punk pop song from the '80’s (with luscious production values, 'natch) from that band’s cabaret-rock period. A song about being bewildered, befuddled, and bedazzled by love (or lust, anyway). “Earn Enough For Us” – XTC Almost deceptively upbeat, overtly Beatlesque number related from the point of view of a young groom and expectant father, from their Skylarking LP. Old-fashioned in its theme that the husband will try to be a good provider, albeit with the twist that he’s admittedly anxious about his ability to live up to expectations. An apropos song for couples excited about their uncertain future, it was a 60’s trip when it was released in '86; now its layered musical context will likely be lost on the youngest generation… even as they dance to it. “Here Comes Your Man” – Pixies Like XTC’s “Earn Enough For Us,” this was also an inspired exercise in pop formalism, with the great '80’s-'90’s punk rockers offering a pseudo Brill-Building '60’s (or even '50’s!) girl group pop bauble. Nevertheless, the result is fresh-sounding, powerful, and even ecstatic, surging on the strength of the simplest (but irresistible) chord progressions and a bouncy bassline. It’s the pop music equivalent of Microsoft Windows: _resistance is futile_. “Camel Walk” – Southern Culture On the Skids [SCOTS] Even more off-the-wall than “Here Comes Your Man,” this is the declarative song for all men whose girl “makes [them] want to walk… like a camel,” among other silly things. Funky, brash, with 60’s surf guitar and a bongwater redneck sensibility, this song was used over the closing credits and outtakes of the movie Flirting With Disaster. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-love-songs/292952.md?page=2)