MCG Valentine’s Day Love Song Playlist

Posted by Rachel on 12 February 2012 in Be Inspired, Things We Love | 0 comments

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Shakespeare once wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.” I would heartily second his sentiment as I think back to moments in my life where love and music intersected in very tangible ways. The lovelorn songs I listened to on my walkman while pining over my childhood crushes…the song Ben and I deemed “our song” while we were dating in college…the song that was played for our first dance at our wedding…

So, we decided it would be appropriate to round out our week of recipes with a Valentines Day playlist through the eyes of some of our regular contributors. Plus, as we mourn the loss of the queen of the love song, Whitney Houston, and look forward to the Grammys tonight, there is an abundance of reasons to celebrate the music that inspires us to love each other better.

Renae:

They Can’t Take That Away From Me by Billie Holiday

I love jazz. I love how it can instantly transform your surroundings into someplace…well…cool. My husband and I often have date-nights at home; we put our two-year-old to bed and eat a late candlelit dinner after cooking it together in the kitchen. (My favorite so far was our first attempt at a soufflé…it surprisingly turned out amazing and since our mixer broke, we even beat all those eggs by hand!) We always listen to jazz. I particularly love Billie Holiday’s distinct and soulful voice…I can almost smell the smoky, sexy vibe of a 1930s jazz club when I listen to her…making me forget about the dried peanut butter on the dining room chairs and the toy explosion in the next room. “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” is sweet and reminds me of all the silly things I loved about my husband when we first started dating.

Kristina:

Remember The Mountain Bed Words by Woody Guthrie, performed by Billy Bragg and Wilco

My husband and I listened to this song a lot when I was pregnant with our son. In particular, I will always remember a moment when I was 8 months pregnant; we were driving home from Minnesota to Michigan, we had just crossed the border into Michigan, it was late and dark, this song was playing, and one of my husband’s hands was on the steering wheel and the other was on my belly. I felt at peace, and full of joy and hope.

And a couple more favorites…

This Old House by Matt Epp

The Book Of Love by The Magnetic Fields

Karen:

Find Yourself by Brad Paisley

Back in 2007, I was in Taiwan hosting a short-term missions team. My husband Luke was on that trip, but I had no idea he was interested in me. One evening, we were out for dinner at a Korean restaurant, when I asked the people at my table, “If you could marry any movie character (not movie star), who would it be and why?” Luke was sitting at the table and answered, “Sally Carrera from Cars.” I forgot his reason, but a couple months later, after I found out he was interested in me, he told me, “You’re Sally Carrera.” Since it started for us in a “far off place”, this became one of our first songs.

Sara:

Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson

I love easy hits, even have it programmed into my car. Take My Breath Away was our wedding song, but I have a long list of favorites.

I couldn’t help but share a few more…

Make You Feel My Love by Adele

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

All Out Of Love by Air Supply

Valentine by Martina McBride

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt

Maggie:

My Love Is Your Love by Whitney Houston

This song was really popular the year that Chris and I got married and I wanted to use it as my wedding recessional. At the last minute I was talked out of it – big regret! It will always remind me of planning my wedding, the anticipation that I had to be married to Chris, and how much I love him. it’s one of those songs that just makes you excited to be in love.

Rachel:

Hey Leonardo (she likes me for me) by Blessid Union of Souls

It’s not the best song to slow dance to, but it one of our first songs when Ben and I started dating. We started out very much as friends…going to class, working as debate partners, and serving on student government, so once we actually started dating, we could say without a shadow of a doubt that “she likes me for me” and not just for the outside stuff. I believe I still have a CD floating around here that Ben made for me with the song on it and a personalized label, complete with our picture on it.

I Get To Be The One by JJ Heller

It’s not just our significant others that get our love on Valentines Day, and I couldn’t let the opportunity pass by without a mention of this tearjerker. Maggie reviewed JJ Heller’s most recent album, Deeper, last fall, and this song gets me every time. I sing it to my kids whenever I can…”I get to be the one/through birthdays and broken bones/I’ll be there to watch you grow/I get to be the one.” and I mean it with all my heart.