Luv Songs.

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Luv Songs.

February 14, 2011 by 36x37

(via static.technorati.com)

Love: Hard to describe.

So hard, in fact, that the Greeks have four different words for it: Storge (love of family); Philia (affection between friends); Eros (sexual attraction) and Agape (unconditional love).

That linguistic breakdown helps, but it still doesn’t get it quite right. Love is too large and nuanced to divide into simple quarters. Each relationship would need to pick and evolve its own title to represent itself fully.

Consider: How is your relationship like anyone else’s? It isn’t. Therefore, let the writers in the room line up and shoot me for saying this: Words are too pedestrian to do the job.

That’s where music steps in as the great, bold communicator of the heart. With the right lyrics, composition and requisite bass drum, it can trap you in an emotion like you’re seated in a room, thinking eerily: “I’ve been in this place before. I’ve been here, and everything is exactly as I left it.”

So. On this great Hallmark Holiday of love, I give you a Valentine’s Day soundtrack of the most universal “rooms” I can think of. (We’ll stick with the Eros/Agape wings of the house today—after all, they’re the fussy little architects behind the strange confection of February 14.) May you find a room that suits you so you can sit for a while. Then may you stay put or move on as Cupid dictates.

~*~

Hopeful risk taking

Or, sullen denial

Elated discovery

Wistful Longevity

Unraveling

Getting the bad news

Stunned heartbreak

Low-down, busted dejectedness

Obstinate resolve

loneliness, longing and regret

Moving on

(Happy Valentine’s Day to All)

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Posted in Side Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 36x37, break ups, dating, happiness, love, marriage, Maura, Music, relationships, Valentine's Day, words, writing | 32 Comments

32 Responses

on February 14, 2011 at 7:46 am | Reply Kathryn McCullough

This is a great idea for a Valentine’s Day post! Unfortunately, I don’t have the bandwidth here in Haiti this morning to watch the videos, but I’m feeling it, nonetheless. Happy Valentine’s Day, Maura! I LOVE your blog!
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:46 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Thanks, Kathy! I hope you and Sara had a very happy Valentine’s Day!
on February 14, 2011 at 8:28 am | Reply margie

You’re such a wonderful writer!!
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:51 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Thanks, Margie!
on February 14, 2011 at 8:31 am | Reply lifeintheboomerlane

Great array! I think if you ask 100 people what love is, you’d get 200 different answers.
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:52 am | Reply 36x37
  
  I agree with you 100%, Renee–there could never be enough words to get it right.
on February 14, 2011 at 9:16 am | Reply sunshineinlondon

Thanks for the smorgasbord of love songs, Maura! Something for everyone. I agree with Margie – you write so beautifully, I’ve run out of words to tell you that!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you over that side of the pond.
Sunshine xx
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:53 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Thanks so much, Sunshine! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Mr. Sunshine!
on February 14, 2011 at 10:38 am | Reply Cheryl Andrews

What an intelligent heart you have! Thank you for a brilliant tribute to this one day in the year when we pause in our hectic lives to think about those we love whether in Storge, Philia, Eros or Agape! Cheryl
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:53 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Thanks, Cheryl. I hope you enjoyed the day!
on February 14, 2011 at 11:52 am | Reply pearlsandprose

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve never heard Buddy Guy’s version of Five Long Years before–his voice is perfect for it. Eric Clapton’s take is good too. Truly insane guitar work.

Happy Valentine’s Day.
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:55 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Oooo! I can’t wait to check out your link. As a former Columbus girl, I think you’ll like this: Did you know Eric Clapton met a local girl and married her? Now they have a few kids, and live along the Scioto River part of the year. He’s been known to frequent Hoggy’s BBQ on Fifth Ave in the Grandview Area. How funny is that?
on February 14, 2011 at 11:53 am | Reply pearlsandprose

P.S. Here’s the link:

http://bit.ly/e8AhD3
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:55 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Awesome. I can’t wait to listen! Thanks, Carole!
on February 14, 2011 at 12:30 pm | Reply kateshrewsday

Well, that’s my Valentine’s day evening sorted. Shove these on an ipod and press play. What with that, the candles and the curry, I can let the notes stalk my husband’s unsuspecting subconscious. he will be defenceless against my possibly questionable charm.
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:56 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Ha! Thanks, Kate. I have a feeling your charm isn’t questionable at all.
on February 14, 2011 at 1:45 pm | Reply jacquelincangro

Remember when we used to make mixed tapes for Valentine’s Day? Now we can make mixed You Tube videos. Love it!
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:56 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Ha! That’s funny–I actually thought about old mix tapes as I was putting this together. Great minds, they tend to think alike.
on February 14, 2011 at 6:34 pm | Reply Todd Pack

Too bad no one lets you program a radio station.
- on February 15, 2011 at 9:59 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Aw, thanks, Todd Pack. You’ve tapped into a lifelong dream. I think I’d be a total geek about it, but it would be Snoozetown to everyone else.
  
  Maybe you should run the boards someday. Your musical preferences are really diverse and well studied–you just don’t hear that kind of depth and breadth on the air anymore.
on February 14, 2011 at 8:17 pm | Reply erikamarks

Such a great post, Maura. I was just today listening to Paul Simon–the song The Only Living Boy in New York, I think–and I was thinking to myself, would that I could convey feeling and write as on-the-money as so many songwriters do–with a handful of words. Music is such a gift to our hearts. Thank you for these!
- on February 15, 2011 at 10:00 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Aw. Paul. I’d rank him right up there with John Lennon on the list of greats. Now I have “The Only Living Boy in New York” in my head. I’ll have to track it down today to hear the real thing.
on February 14, 2011 at 10:55 pm | Reply Amanda Hoving

What a nice melody for a such a Hallmark holiday Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend!
- on February 15, 2011 at 10:00 am | Reply 36x37
  
  Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours, Amanda! I hope it was a lovely one.
on February 15, 2011 at 1:12 pm | Reply writerwoman61

Yay…you put in an Arcade Fire song…they’re opening for U2 this summer at the concert we’re going to…

Wendy
- on February 15, 2011 at 8:21 pm | Reply 36x37
  
  Are you a U2 fan, Wendy? I’m thrilled you get to go! I’ve been half in love with Bono since I was 13. I hope you have a fantastic time, and I really hope you’ll blog about it. How great, too, that you’ll get to see Arcade Fire. They’re one of my favorites right now, and I hear they put on a spectacular show.
  - on February 15, 2011 at 8:30 pm writerwoman61
    
    Jim’s the big U2 fan, Maura…they’re his second favourite group after Queen…I think The Edge is very sexy though…
    
    Wendy
on February 17, 2011 at 5:21 pm | Reply e6n1

Great playlist!

A bit of Leonard Cohen wouldn’t go amiss too…
- on February 17, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Reply 36x37
  
  Thanks, e6n1! Glad you liked it…
on February 23, 2011 at 9:38 pm | Reply Posky

Some very good points on love and some very good picks for music. I’ve written a few love songs in my day but here is one that I’m into right now.

I think it has more to do with loving everyone a little more than just that special someone however.
- on February 24, 2011 at 7:48 am | Reply 36x37
  
  (!!!) How have I never heard this?
  
  I wish you offered classes in music appreciation, Posky. I’d be the dork in the very front row taking notes.
  
  While I was checking this out, I listened to Johnny Flynn’s “Wayne Rooney,” too. That was pretty incredible, and a great way to start the morning.
  
  What do you think of the new Radiohead?
  - on February 24, 2011 at 4:38 pm Posky
    
    For better or worse, I’ve been a Radiohead fanboy since way back. I’m pretty sure they are the only band I’ve ever worn on a shirt. With the possible exception of Pablo Honey, I consider all of their albums mandatory listening. I know all of the b-sides and have had friends invite total strangers over to hear me sing Radiohead at Karaoke. I even have my own favorite play-order for all of their major albums. However, I didn’t really like the new one when I first heard it- it almost hurt me that I didn’t like it. It seemed like it was moving backward and didn’t have the same amount of effort put into it as some of their other work.
    
    That said, things have started to change. I realized that this album is not as catchy or upfront as In Rainbows (especially from the start) and reminded myself that I didn’t really love OK Computer when I first heard it either. They’re always willing to try new things and, once again, they’ve done that with this album. I’ve listened to it once a day since last Friday and, at this point, I’m enjoying it. Before long, I’ll probably even be singing along and occasionally grooving. It’s not yet my favorite and I wouldn’t claim that’s it’s a complete change of form either, but it is a good complex album and not a couple of great songs with a bunch of filler.