Hi Melanie! Thank you so much for having me as your guest today on bookworm2bookworm!
I’m a sucker for a great love song. I suspect most romance fans are. There’s something so beautiful about the quintessence of love refined down into a three-minute burst of melody and heartfelt lyrics.
In honor of my seventh historical romance, SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED, out 25th September from Forever, I’m listing my seven favorite love songs. It’s really difficult, though – after all, most great songs are love songs. There’s something about the romantic urge that lends itself to melody!
7. Undisclosed Desires by Muse: this song played constantly in my head when I wrote MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION. There’s a savage tenderness in the lyrics and in the music that really hit me hard and so suited the love building between Ranelaw and Antonia.
6. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol: skinny Irish guy lying on pedestrian crossings in New York, singing about longing. What’s not to like?
5. Heroes by David Bowie. The bleak, doomed romanticism of this one always gets me right in the solar plexus. There’s something about Bowie’s tortured baritone above that wall of sound – like the Berlin Wall he’s singing about perhaps? – that cuts straight to the heart. Definitely one for the tragic romantics!
4. If I Loved You by Rodgers and Hammerstein: I love that this song from CAROUSEL is about NOT being in love, but by the end of it, they’re both head over heels. Not that it does them much good. It’s not the jolliest of plots, CAROUSEL. Actually I could have done a whole post featuring beautiful love songs from musicals. Oh, well, next time I write a book with ‘seven ‘in the title.
3. I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra (and Cole Porter): oh, no, more longing. What is the story? The lyrics of this one are just gorgeous and I think Frank Sinatra’s version gives a wonderful balance between the unconvincing outer “I really don’t care” to the hidden message of “You’re breaking my heart.” Sigh.
2. Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers: who doesn’t love this song? It reappears as a hit with every generation and I’m not at all surprised. It’s simple but it’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful. A true classic. And it must have done wonders for enrolments in pottery classes!
1. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You by Frankie Valli: hard to pick a number one love song but this one is just breathtakingly beautiful and with its simple lyrics, so true and sincere.
Oh, no! I haven’t been able to fit in Something by the Beatles or Angie by the Rolling Stones or… Perhaps next time I’ll have to write 14 Nights in a Rogue’s Bed! I’m sure my hero and heroine won’t mind!
OK, that’s my seven favorite love songs (for today anyway). Any favorites of yours in the list? What are your seven favorites? What do you think makes a great love song? One commenter today wins a signed print copy of SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED which includes lots of scenes with Jonas and Sidonie making beautiful music together. International giveaway! Good luck!
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