Who doesn’t love a love song? They’re hard to resist. And in 2008, there were some very intriguing love songs that got a lot of radio play and Internet downloads.
I have picked 10 of the popular love songs that I liked this year. One of the things I really enjoyed was the variety in the songs – they’re not just all “I love you, etc.” Some are playful and light; others a bit dark and obsessive; some are just plain romantic.
My picks for the best love songs of the year:
• “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” Alicia Keys. Great sound – like a throwback to old school R&B; ballads. She has such a strong, yet plaintive expression in her voice, as she sings this – the emotions are so real and so heartfelt.
• “Clumsy,” Fergie. You know how you get all distracted and foggy when you’re in love? This is a song about that “falling in love” and tripping all over yourself. Cute and light-hearted. Some might write off Fergie as just another celebrity, but her songs are really very clever and well done.
• “Love Remains the Same,” Gavin Rossdale. This song makes me swoon. Great lyrics, wonderful sentiments, and what could be more romantic than swearing eternal love? Love it.
• “Pocketful of Sunshine,” by Natasha Bedingfield. You know that feeling of being newly in love and holding it in like a secret? That’s the theme of this song. You can hear the glee in her voice when she sings, “I got a love and I know that it’s all mine.”
• “Bleeding Love,” by Leona Lewis. This was another one that grew on me gradually. I guess the blood and vein imagery in the song turned me off at first. But then I came to appreciate the emotion being expressed. There’s a very deep and slightly disturbing tone to this, somewhat obsessive. But we’ve all had a love like that in our pasts, haven’t we?
• “I’m Yours,” by Jason Mraz. Another fun, playful, serious-but-not-too-serious song. It’s got a great island reggae-ish vibe to it, and I love the way Mraz sings it. “I’m Yours” is also a song about taking chances and choosing what makes you happiest.
• “Won’t Go Home Without You,” by Maroon 5. An unexpectly sweet song from this band, with the lead singer begging his love to come back to him.
• “No Air,” by Jordin Sparks. Another song with a theme of obsessive love. Sparks has a very expressive voice and she uses it extremely well on this song. You feel the strength of her emotion as she compares being away from her lover to being deprived of air.
• “Realize,” by Colbie Caillat. A very simply stated and lovely song about that moment that you first understand how special that other person is to you.
• “Whatever It Takes,” by Lifehouse. A couple goes through a rough patch and then tries to work things out. I really like this song because it shows both sides of a situation, and how two people can make their relationship work if they each give a little. A good life lesson in a beautiful song.
