Sometimes you need to step away from things for just a moment and take in something that makes you smile or laugh out loud. If you need a break from the news or your work, here are several bite-sized videos that can brighten your day.
Music Videos
Some of these are more about the music than the video — you can enjoy them just as much if you just listen while doing something else — but others are all about the imagery.
Those Darned Accordions Cover Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire”
Seventy-four-year-old Clyde Forsman’s vocals are what make this so special.
The Cure’s Official Video for “The Lovecats”
I enjoy the song, but honestly, this one’s all about the video: the bad taxidermy, the fur suits, Robert Smith dancing around and around until you’re dizzy. Tip: I couldn’t embed this video, so had I to link to it. If it appears too big for your screen, hit the “full screen” icon in the bottom right corner of the video, and it will shrink to fit.
Munamies (AKA “Eggy”) Performs “Pomppufiilis”
I don’t understand a word of Finnish (an online translation says the title means “Feel Like Bouncing”), but I love this egg character and all of the people who willingly jump and down with him in the video. Be sure to watch the little kid on the right at about 2:06.
Kate Bush’s Official Video for “Them Heavy People”
Watch it for her expressiveness, the weird dance during the chorus, and the slow, dramatic “fight” at the end.
“Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Word Crimes” Video
There are lots of great “Weird Al” videos to choose from, but as a writer and editor, I had to pick this one.
The Otamatone Cover of “Take On Me”
This is a shot-for-shot remake of the original a-ha music video, all done with Otamatones. If you aren’t familiar with or don’t care much for the original, this probably won’t do a lot for you.
The B-52’s Singing “Quiche Lorraine”
I’ve always preferred the B-52’s older, weirder songs to their more popular — and normal — songs like “Love Shack.” This one is definitely weird.
OK Go’s Video for “Upside Down & Inside Out”
This video, shot in zero gravity, is just one of OK Go’s many amazing music videos. The song is fun, too.
Sakanaction’s Video for “Shin Takarajima”
The song is catchy, the video is humorous, and I love the asymmetrical suit the female guitar player is wearing.
William Shatner “Sings” to George Lucas
Does this count as a music video? I’m saying it does.
Ads and Other Videos
The one thing these videos have in common? They aren’t music videos.
This Sweded Version of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer
The term “swede” comes from Be Kind Rewind; it refers to short, low-budget versions of movies (or trailers). This shot-for-shot remake of The Force Awakens trailer is one of my favorites.
This Look Around You Clip
This bit from a British comedy series may only appeal to Gen Xers, but it definitely reminds me of science videos from my school years — even though the ones I watched were probably all created in the U.S.
The EDS “Cat Herders” Ad
This 20-year-old ad from the Fallon advertising agency in Minneapolis is probably my all-time favorite television commercial.
Any “Never Say No to Panda” Ad
I don’t remember how I came across Panda Cheese ads from Egypt (probably through my kid), but they’re great.
How are you feeling about this summer? Are you disappointed because you won’t be going on that eagerly anticipated trip? Have some of your favorite activities been canceled?
I am someone who looks forward to the summer. Whenever I can, I take a summer vacation away from home. Not this year. I look forward to summer events like CONvergence and the Minnesota State Fair, but they’ve been canceled. This year, I won’t be experiencing many of the things that make summer special for me.
I won’t pretend that anything can make up for the things we are missing this summer. But we can still have fun — albeit, not the fun we’d planned — if we’re willing to be flexible. Here’s how:
Carpe Aestas (Seize the Summer)
Don’t let a day pass without indulging in some sort of summer fun.
Create a summer playlist and listen to it as often as you feel like it. You can certainly include summer-specific songs like Banarama’s “Cruel Summer,” but don’t stop there. If there are songs that spark summer memories for you, even if they have nothing to do with the season, throw those in, too.
Eat summertime foods. What do you associate with summer? Fresh fruit? Hot dogs and potato salad? Iced tea? Make a list and make a point of having at least one summertime food every week.
Go outside as often as possible. This is good for you any time of year, but if you live someplace with brutal winters, it’s a crime not to enjoy the outdoors during the summer.
Make a list of achievable summer activities. You may not be able to go on a vacation or attend the state fair this year, but what about walking through a regional park, eating breakfast outside, blowing bubbles, or streaming a blockbuster from a previous summer?
If you have any outdoor space at all — even just a balcony — consider buying something that will help you enjoy it more: a patio chair, a croquet set, a container of flowers, whatever will encourage you to get outside.
Fake a vacation to your favorite spot.
I know — nothing can make up for immersing yourself in a new place. But if nothing else, a fake vacation allows you to take time out from the real world and indulge in some creative play.
You can order food from far away through a service like Goldbelly. Whether you have fond memories of eating lobster rolls in Maine or you’ve always wanted to try something from Betty’s Pies in Minnesota, you may be able to get it shipped to you. It’s not a cheap treat, but it’s less than a vacation away from home.
A less expensive route? Pull out some recipes and make food from a place you want to visit. For example, I recently recreated a particular Satu’li bowl combination from Disney’s Animal Kingdom by using the kale salad from this recipe, the fish from this recipe, and the chimichurri sauce from this recipe.
Speaking of Disney, you can relive your favorite attractions by watching a video, such as this Big Thunder Mountain video and this recording of the Once Upon a Time show, or by trying to recreate a ride yourself. One woman’s recreations of rides like the Tower of Terror inspired others to tackle their favorite attractions. Some of my favorites are this Disney employee’s recreation of the Kilimanjaro Safari and this family’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Another Disney resource is DParkRadio, which plays the same sort of music you’d hear piped into the parks.
Beyond Disney, there are all sorts of ways you can use videos, music, and books to vicariously experience a place. Visit Louisiana through the music of Buckwheat Zydeco. Experience New Mexico by reading Bless Me, Ultima. Travel to South Korea when you watch Parasite.
Of course, the Internet makes it easier than ever to “travel” from home. Many museums offer virtual tours. Airbnb Experiences have moved to an online format. And there are several animal cams that will allow you to see everything from wildlife to puppies and kittens!
Heck, fake an impossible vacation.
If your vacation this year is going to be a fake one, why not go all out and plan a trip to a past time or fantastical place? Take a vacation in Middle Earth or go back in time to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s DeSmet, South Dakota. Make seed cakes or corn dodgers. Make a hobbit hole terrarium or a braided rug. Pick a place or time you’ll never be able to visit, and make a list of ways you can vacation there this summer.
What are you missing? Weave that into your life.
When you go on vacation or indulge in a summer-only activity, what are you looking for?
Sometimes it’s something specific. If you go to the Minnesota State Fair every year, you may have foods, exhibits, or rides you seek out every time. Not all of these can be reproduced at home, but in many cases, you can capture at least some of what you love and miss. If Sweet Martha’s cookies are a must-have, you can purchase the frozen cookie dough at some Minnesota grocery stores. If you always have to see the seed art, you can look at images online, or start collecting seeds and creating your own art.
You also may be looking for something more general, such as relaxation, exposure to new things, or family fun. These things are still attainable this summer… though not necessarily in the way you had envisioned. Carve out lots of downtime in your schedule. Try new recipes or hobbies. Start a family game night. Figure out how you can meet your needs on your budget right where you are.
There’s no doubt that many of us will miss our usual summer fun this year. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the season. We just need to put some thought and creativity into it. Who knows? In years to come, we may cherish our memories of the summer we spent at home.
I have an annual tradition. Every January I request the latest Newbery award winner from the library. For the first time ever, this year’s award winner was a graphic novel.
I can see why it won.
C.S. Lewis once said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” Since he died before the term “graphic novel” was even coined, I’m sure he didn’t have stories like New Kid in mind when he said that. But this book fits his definition of a good children’s story: it can be enjoyed equally by children and adults.
New Kid is about Jordan Banks, a middle-class black kid who is starting seventh grade at an elite private school. He’d rather go to art school, but his mother wants to set him up for success in life. His father reluctantly agrees with her, telling Jordan he should at least give Riverdale Academy Day School (“RAD”) a try.
Jordan faces many of the challenges we all went through when we were his age. On the first day of school, older kids oust Jordan and his fellow seventh-graders from their lunch table, explaining, “This table is for sophomores.” He yearns for a growth spurt. He’s bogged down with homework. And when he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Alexandra — the weirdest kid in his grade — he’s afraid she will kiss him.
But he also gives readers the opportunity to see middle school through the eyes of a black person. For black readers, this can be refreshing. For white readers, it can be educational.
On his first day at school, Jordan scans the hallways for another kid who looks like him. As the school year progresses, he deals with all of the assumptions people make because of the color of his skin. As he takes public transportation between Washington Heights and Riverdale, he adjusts the way he looks to fit in. In Riverdale, he writes, “I do my best not to look cool AT ALL! No shades, and definitely no hood. I don’t even like to draw, ’cause people might think I’m going to use my markers to ‘tag the bus.'”
He also has to live with the awkwardness white people express around him as they try not to be racist. His soccer coach, whom he generally likes, tells him, “Just get out there and run fast. I know you can do that! I mean, because you look athletic! Not because… you know… We’re all created equal, Jordan. I really believe that.”
Partway through the school year, Jordan attends a book fair and reflects on the differences between “mainstream” books and “African American” books. In his sketchbook, he draws book covers and imagines reviews. A mainstream book review might read “A thrilling magical tale that is sure to inspire readers of all ages to never give up until they have found the treasure they seek.” Jordan contrasts that with his imagined review for an African American book: “A gritty, urban reminder of the grit of today’s urban grittiness.” Craft’s graphic novel defies this stereotype. Jordan’s challenge is not surviving the mean streets; it’s navigating between two worlds and wondering if he fits into either.
It’s been a long time since I was in seventh grade. I know I’m not the best judge of Craft’s ability to capture adolescence, but I believe he did it well. The difficulties of that age, like feeling awkward and wanting to fit in, don’t change much. Only the details change. Craft’s details like Xboxes and slang (“‘Hanging out,’ Mom,” Jordan tells his mother. “Not ‘hooking up.'”) seem to fit.
I will be putting a copy of New Kid in my Little Free Library. I have a feeling that whoever picks it up will be delighted.
I love reading to others; when my child was young, one of my favorite rituals with her was reading a bedtime story. But sometimes, I like it when someone else reads to me.
So when I heard about the podcast LeVar Burton Reads this past winter, I was eager to try some episodes. Who better to read you a story than Mr. Reading Rainbow himself?
I’m a few years late to the party–the podcast has been going since June 13, 2017. But LeVar Burton Reads has quickly become one of my favorite podcasts. During a season, listeners usually get one story each week, although Burton occasionally spreads stories out over two episodes. Episodes begin with a brief introduction to the story. Then Burton asks you to join him in taking a deep breath (do try it; it’s a nice way to get .yourself ready for what’s coming), and he begins to read to you.
Of course, the podcast’s quality is excellent. As an actor, Burton reads beautifully. The stories include sound effects and background music. They’re also varied. You’ll hear about a trickster in “Skinwalker, Fast-Talker” by Darcie Little Badger, face your own assumptions about race in Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif,” and ask yourself what you’d choose if you could leave a crumbling society to embrace a promise of a new life in a digital world as you listen to Ken Liu’s “Staying Behind.”
Burton tells listeners that the only thing these stories have in common is that he loves them, though I did notice a common theme in the most recent season. Many of the stories take place in a dystopian world–something to keep in mind if such stories would be too disturbing to listen to right now. I’ve listened to some of them. I couldn’t resist N.K. Jemison’s “Valedictorian,” which was every bit as wonderful as I’d hoped. But for now I’ve skipped “Let Those Who Would” by Genevieve Valentine, which is described in one short sentence: “A dystopian society tackles fake news.” Maybe later.
Among the other authors included in this podcast are Kurt Vonnegut (Burton picked a story of his that is not speculative fiction), Michael Chabon, Carmen Maria Machado, Ted Chiang, Octavia Butler, Ray Bradbury, Joan Aiken, and Neil Gaiman. Unless you are extremely well-read, you’ll meet new authors (I didn’t know about Darcie Little Badger before hearing “Skinwalker, Fast-Talker”), and you’ll hear new stories (at least, new to you) by authors you already knew and loved.
We readers often gravitate toward print. We’re the people who, left with nothing else to read, read the copy on the back of the cereal box when we were kids. But sometimes, it’s nice to let someone else read to you. If you’re up for another podcast in your life, seek out LeVar Burton Reads. You’re in for a treat.
But you can also find comfort just watching someone else cook. My favorite cook to watch? Jun Yoshizuki.
Jun’s Kitchen is far more than a collection of cooking videos. First and foremost, most of the videos include at least one cat. Jun and his wife, Rachel, own three, but most of the time you will only see Kohaku, or Haku for short.
Many of the videos begin with a bike ride to the grocery store, often through beautiful landscapes. Haku comes along in a carrier.
The videos are short — the longest video, which isn’t about cooking, is a little over 17 minutes, and most of the videos hover closer to the five-minute mark. They are artfully shot, and Jun’s cooking skills are amazing. Most of what he does I would never attempt: a two-day ramen project (condensed into a six-and-a-half-minute video), a sakura tree made of tempura. But the videos are less instructional than they are about watching Jun cook. His knife skills alone are impressive, and when you see the finished product, you always wish you could be there, trying the food with him.
Jun and Rachel have three other YouTube channels, but Jun’s Kitchen is the channel to go to for comfort. The next time you feel like you can’t take any more news or Zoom meetings, stop, take a deep breath, and watch Jun cook.
My family loved the Chocoholic Cookies from Diane Mott Davidson’s The Main Corpse.
Note: I’m sorry that I didn’t post a blog entry for a couple of weeks. My website required some updating, and when that happened, I discovered I could no longer use my theme (the theme affects how a site looks). That meant that I had some work to do to fix things. I’m not crazy about this theme, but I’m happy to have a working site again, so I’ll use what I have for now.
There was no doubt in my mind that at some point I was going to write about Diane Mott Davidson. I just hadn’t planned on doing that quite so soon. My initial plan was to reread (or in some cases, read for the first time) all of her culinary mysteries in chronological order, make at least one recipe from each book, and then blog about the series.
COVID-19 led me to decide to write about these books sooner rather than later. In fact, I’ve scrapped my content calendar in favor of posts that seem more appropriate for these crazy, stressful times. And when it comes to “something wonderful,” I figure I should be writing about something comforting — like light reading and good food.
Davidson puts the “cozy” in “cozy mystery.”
Like many cozy mysteries, Davidson’s books take place in a small town, and the mysteries are solved by a female amateur sleuth. In this case, the sleuth is a 30-something caterer named Goldy, who lives in the fictitious town of Aspen Meadow, Colorado. As a caterer, Goldy often turns to cooking when she needs comfort or wants to think things through. Davidson’s cooking scenes make these some of the coziest mysteries you will ever read.
I put some hazelnuts in the oven to toast, then melted a jagged brick of unsweetened chocolate in the top of our double boiler. I combined sun-dried cranberries and oversize morsels of semisweet chocolate in a bowl, then scattered the hazelnuts to cool on a plate. I began to feel better. By the time I was beating unsalted butter with sugar and cream cheese, I was humming… . (from The Grilling Season)
I also love the fact that Goldy unabashedly enjoys food.
Schultz settled me at his cherrywood dining room table, and then began to ferry out dishes. He had outdone himself. Plump, succulent shrimp nestled inside blue corn tortillas smothered with a green chile and cream cheese sauce. Next to these he served bacon-sprinkled refried black beans, a perfectly puffed Mexican corn pudding, and my fragrant Irish bread. A basket of raw vegetables and pot of picante made with fresh papaya graced the table between the candles. I savored it all. (from The Cereal Murders)
There’s more to these fluffy, fun books than food. I’ve fallen in love with many of the recurring characters, and I enjoy the plots. But if I’m being honest, I’m a sucker for Davidson’s food scenes.
This isn’t just a series of mysteries; it’s a series of mini-cookbooks.
Want to try those cookies Goldy is making as she puzzles over the motive for a murder? You can. While Davidson doesn’t include recipes for every single meal or treat she mentions in her books, she does include several. Many of those recipes are quite good.
I’ve only started cooking out of this series over the past year. So far, I’ve made several things from the first six books, and I’m quite pleased with the results. The worst of what I’ve made was still “okay,” and some of the recipes were to die for (sorry — couldn’t resist). In a few of the books, Goldy makes a lot of low-fat recipes: first, for a group of women who are concerned about fat content and later for a friend who has had a heart attack. I’ve found that those recipes are some of my least favorite. But there are lots of winners. In addition to the Chocoholic Cookies pictured above, my family has particularly enjoyed Rainy Season Chicken Soup (The Main Corpse), Julian’s Cheese Manicotti (The Cereal Murders), and Scout’s Brownies (Dying for Chocolate).
I’ll admit that finding ingredients right now can be dicey. But if you have a well-stocked pantry and want to cook your way through these days of social isolation, this series is a great resource. A cozy mystery and a cookbook… what more could you ask for?
Readers who have been with me a while know that I try to avoid recommending the things that everyone’s talking about. You don’t need me to tell you that you should watch Parasite or listen to Lizzo; you’ve already heard that a million times. But I take great joy in dredging up movies, music, and books from the past that you may have missed, or occasionally unearthing current entertainment that I think you might not have heard about. This week I’m going back to the ’80s to recommend two films about people having really bad nights.
After Hours (1985)
We’ll start with the darker movie: Martin Scorsese’s After Hours. Shortly after meeting a woman, Paul Hackett decides to visit her, losing his money en route to the place she’s staying… and then things get weird. He encounters a series of people who are connected with each other through a tangled web of relationships. Conversations, seductions, errands, all go uncompleted. Everything seems out of kilter. Paul and the people he meets have wild mood swings and say things you’d never say to someone you’d just met. As the night progresses and his problems escalate, Paul goes from wanting to get home to saying, “I just want to live.”
The cast of this well-crafted movie includes Rosanna Arquette, Linda Fiorentino, Teri Garr, John Heard, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, and Catherine O’Hara. See it when you’re up for something dark and strange.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Want something lighter? Adventures in Babysitting features a teen-aged protagonist, Chris Parker (Elizabeth Shue). When her boyfriend cancels their date, she accepts a babysitting job for the evening. Her night has barely started when a friend calls, begging to be rescued from the bus station. Chris takes the kids and heads into the city, getting a flat tire along the way. As with After Hours, it’s this initial journey that sets off the string of awful events. Chris, however, has better luck than Paul. She is more effective than he is at solving problems. She also meets up with people who come to her aid like helpers in a fairy tale. (You could say that Paul also meets helpers, but things always seem to go wrong for him.)
Adventures in Babysitting was remade by Disney in 2016, but it looks like the remake is significantly different from the original, and the 1987 version has the better rating on IMDB. See it when you want a frothy, fun adventure with a strong heroine.
YouTuber Safiya Nygaard is, technically speaking, young enough to be my child. She has drawers full of lipsticks; I own one lipstick, one lip pencil, one lip gloss, and two lip balms. She occasionally does things that make me squirm with discomfort, such as using a screw to apply mascara. (Keep that thing away from your eyes!) So how did I get hooked on her videos? And why am I telling you about someone who is so well-known that she has millions of subscribers?
Last question first: Most of my readers tend to be Gen Xers or Boomers. I’m assuming many of you don’t know any more about Nygaard than I did before my kid introduced me to her work. But I believe that her videos can be just as fun for someone who’s fifty as they are for someone who’s twenty-five. Much of that has to do with who she is as a person.
I have a soft spot for people who are willing to be silly. Watching Nygaard playfully wear a jean jacket with four-foot-long sleeves warms my heart.
She’s ever-so-slightly geeky.
I don’t know if Nygaard dives into geek culture beyond the most popular things, but I love hearing her Pokémon references, watching her try out Harry Potter sorting hat bath bombs, and seeing the Game of Thrones pillows on her couch. Safiya, the geek in me salutes the geek in you.
She’s both honest and kind.
Nygaard is very upfront about when content is sponsored… and when it is not. She gives credit to other YouTubers who have inspired her or have done something first. And when she offers up critiques, she isn’t mean-spirited. Nygaard proves that you can be both honest and kind.
She’ll teach you about everything from fashion to theme parks.
Nygaard’s videos are, in my opinion, entertaining first and foremost, but I’ve also learned things. I love her videos involving fashion history, including a video featuring bridal gowns from different time periods and a series devoted to looks from 1953 to 2007. Beyond learning about fashion history, I’ve learned many other useless but fun facts, such as the term for Disney-specific casual cosplay (Disneybounding) and the fact that there is a South Korean theme park dedicated to cheese.
Bonus: Her husband, Tyler Williams, is also lots of fun.
Williams has both filmed and been a part of many of Nygaard’s videos almost from the beginning. He supports her in whatever challenge she takes on, even if it includes (somewhat reluctantly) kissing her when she has toilet paper on her lips. I don’t often say, “What a cute couple!” but really, they are just that.
Ready to watch her videos?
I watched all of Nygaard’s videos because that seemed the only way to review someone who will melt every single one of Sephora’s lipsticks together. You don’t have to do that. I recommend starting with her more recent videos and deciding whether you will just subscribe to pick up the newest ones or work your way back as far as you want. In general, I think her videos have been getting better over the years, so if you randomly pick one from a few years ago and don’t like it, try something a little more recent.
Oh, and keep in mind: Some of Nygaard’s videos, like this “hairy chest swimsuit” video, are NSFW (that’s Not Suitable For Work, for those who didn’t know). You’ve been warned.
One more thing: At the end of every video, Nygaard asks people to “shmash that subscribe button.” If you like this blog, please consider “shmashing” its subscribe button. Just look for “Subscribe to Blog via Email” at the top of the right-hand column. Thank you!
The Ologies podcast erupted onto the scene with an episode on volcanology. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)
Have we reached peak podcast? It’s hard to keep up with all the podcasts I find worthwhile. Unfortunately my child recently introduced me to another good one: Ologies with Alie Ward.
The Ologies podcast is frequently described as a science podcast, and most of the episodes are indeed about scientific subjects. But Ward’s interviews with different -ologists don’t only include scientists. Alongside a cryoseismologist (a scientist who studies icequakes), a saurologist (a scientist who studies lizards), and a spidroinologist (a scientist who studies spider silk), you’ll find interviews with a mythologist (an expert on the stories humans tell and retell across cultures), a cosmetologist (a makeup artist), and a mixologist (someone who mixes cocktails).
Each episode features an interview with an expert in the field, sprinkled with asides from Ward. If her subject makes a reference she wants to explore, she’ll research it later and tell listeners about what she’s discovered. You’ll learn how people wound up in their particular field of expertise and what their work involves. You’ll also get answers to questions like “Do primates have cultures?” (They do. For example, different groups of chimpanzees will hunt differently.)
And the podcast is definitely not dry. You’ll hear all sorts of interesting stories, such as a bit about a man who carved a room out of a sequoia and tried to live in it, but he found the leaking sap too unpleasant. There’s also lots of silliness, including puns, some as bad as the one I made in the photo caption above, and some that are great. My favorite? The pun Ward made at the beginning of the “Teuthology” episode (teuthology is the study of squids): “It’s the moment you’ve been waiting months for — a cephalopodcast.”
When I looked Ward up online, I wondered how I’d managed not to hear of her until now. She’s a very busy woman. She acts, writes, and paints. She’s a science correspondent on Innovation Nation. She hosts Did I Mention Invention? With Alie Ward. She’s appeared with Georgia Hardstock on a couple of Cooking Channel shows; they’ve also done a podcast together. And she’s been hosting the Ologies podcast since September 2017.
If you’re thinking, “Hey, this sounds like a great podcast to share with my six-year-old,” you might want to check out a few episodes alone first. Ward keeps some episodes clean, such as “Potterology” parts 1 and 2 (yes, that’s “wizard science”), but other episodes get a little salty. Also, sometimes the discussion gets gross, though she’ll warn you if there’s a part you might want to skip.
If you listen to podcasts and are curious about the world, Ologies is a must. Jump in, subscribe, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon (you’ll get to ask questions of the various -ologists if you do), and catch up on previous episodes as you’re able. Ward and her guests will blow your mind and make you laugh.
And listen all the way through the credits at the end. Ward will reward you with a little “secret,” such as a story about when she thought she’d forgotten a friend’s birthday but was off by about half a year.
I believe that Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating all kinds of love, not just romantic love. So this year I decided to pull together one of my bizarre, genre-blending playlists for this blog in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Yes, there are some romantic songs on the list, including, I hope, some that will be new to you, but there are also songs about friendship and about spiritual love, as well as a couple of songs that don’t fit into any of those categories.
Lean On Me: Love That Supports
These songs are all about being there for friends, family members, and, yes, romantic partners. If you search for friendship songs, there are a few that show up again and again, including “You’ve Got a Friend” (Carole King), “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Randy Newman), and “Lean On Me” (Bill Withers), as well as “You’re My Best Friend” (Queen). That last song may emphasize friendship, but I categorize it under romantic love since the song is about friendship between spouses.
Here are some songs that might not immediately spring to mind when you think about your love for friends and family. All of them focus on the kind of love that says, “I’m here for you.”
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush
“When times get rough,
You can fall back on us.
Don’t give up.
Please don’t give up.”
I like Peter Gabriel, but the two things that I love about this song are Kate Bush and the gospel-inspired bridge in the middle of the song.
I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders
“When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do,
Nothing you confess could make me love you less,
I’ll stand by you.”
There’s nothing sweeter that you can say to a friend.
Isn’t That What Friends Are For? – Bruce Cockburn
“I’ve been scraping little shavings off my ration of light,
And I’ve formed it into a ball, and each time I pack a bit more onto it.
I make a bowl of my hands, and I scoop it from its secret cache
Under a loose board in the floor,
And I blow across it, and I send it to you
Against those moments when
The darkness blows under your door.”
I don’t think this is one of Bruce Cockburn‘s better songs, but I do love the imagery of sending a ball of light to your friend for them to hold against the darkness.
This Is It – Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald
“… But keep me near in your heart.
Know whatever you do, I’m here by your side.”
This song was Kenny Loggins’ way of telling his dad to fight for his life as he went through a series of surgeries. Although the focus is really on the need to take a stand against what’s challenging you, there is a sense of both tough and tender love as the singer urges the subject to “stand up and fight.”
Wow, the fog machine was working overtime in this performance.
Trouble Me – 10,000 Maniacs
“Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong?
Trouble me.”
The spirit of this song is much like “I’ll Stand By You.” Love between friends is a love that wants to share burdens.
You’re What I’ve Been Seeking: Spiritual Love
I’m going to get spiritual for a few minutes. While I am a person of a particular faith, I write this blog for people of any faith and no faith. If you’d rather not listen to spiritual songs at all, please just skip to the next section. Otherwise, here are two love songs that are generally spiritual and one with specific Christian references.
Bargain – The Who
“I’d gladly lose me to find you.
I’d gladly give up all I had.
To find you I’d suffer anything and be glad.”
When I was younger I thought this song from Who’s Next was about a romantic relationship, but at some point I learned that the song is spiritual. The lyrics are powerful.
“There’s a hole in my heart
That can only be filled by you.”
I don’t know a lot about the members of Extreme, but I do know that at least some of them, in particular Gary Cherone, have some sort of Christian background. That’s one of the reasons I read “Hole Hearted” as a spiritual, rather than a romantic, song. More importantly, I think this song is a lot healthier if viewed from a spiritual perspective; it’s a heavy burden to expect one person to fill a hole in your heart.
I Really Love – Norman Hutchins
“You are the air I breathe.
You are the song I sing.
No one can compare
To all the joy You bring…”
This is an overtly Christian song. I love singing along with the gospel choir when I’m alone in my car.
Am I the only one who hears a similarity between the beginning of this song and the beginning of Al Jarreau’s “Mornin'”?
Spread It All Around: Love for Everyone
I’m only including one song in this category, but it’s my ideal Valentine’s Day song.
Spread Love – Take 6
“What the world needs now…
… is love, more love is what we need.”
Oceans of Love for You: Romantic Love
The next group of songs have a romantic focus. Not in the mood for that? There’s one more song you might enjoy in its own category at the end of this list.
As – Stevie Wonder
“Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (always)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (always)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (always)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream…”
I’ve heard part of this used as a gospel song at the end of the film Black Nativity, but I think I can safely categorize it as romantic. Stevie Wonder has written some beautiful love songs. I’d say this is his best.
Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
“Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away.”
I confess I love this song simply because I love travel. It’s not very romantic if you’re a homebody.
I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
“Because you’re mine, I walk the line.”
This is one of the best songs I know about committed love. I also like the way the key changes with each verse.
If I Had $1,000,000 – Barenaked Ladies
“If I had a million dollars we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner.
But we would eat Kraft dinner.
Of course we would, we’d just eat more.”
If you can’t be silly with the one you love, who can you be silly with?
Isn’t It Time – The Babys
“Isn’t it time? You don’t have to wait…
Losing this love could be your mistake.”
In this song the singer debates “whether to go on alone or stay by your side.” It’s a love song, not a song about having a broken heart, so you know what the protagonist is going to decide. The best part of this song? The backup singers.
Night and Day – Ella Fitzgerald
“Night and day,
Under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me.”
Let’s turn up the steam a little, shall we?
Sea of Love – The Honeydrippers
“I want to tell you how much I love you.”
This is really schmaltzy. I apologize for nothing. Okay, if you actually watch the video, I apologize for exposing you to Frank Zappa(?) in a Speedo.
Thank You – Dido
“I missed the bus and there’ll be hell today;
I’m late for work again.
And even if I’m there, they’ll all imply
That I might not last the day,
And then you call me
And it’s not so bad…”
This is a sweet song about love that lifts your spirits, changing a bad day to “the best day.”
Waltz Across Texas – Sleepy Labeef
“… when you look at me with those stars in your eyes,
I could waltz across Texas with you.”
This is a very simple love song. I’m particularly fond of Sleepy Labeef’s version, because I love his voice.
Love Is Crazy: Not a Love Song
You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance – Bruce Cockburn
“Confused and solo in the spawning ground,
I watch the confusion of friends all numb with love
Moving like stray dogs to the anthem of night-long conversations,
Of pulsing rhythms and random voltage voices.
In spite of themselves, graceful as these raindrops creeping sperm-like across the car window.
Stay or leave, give or withhold,
Hesitate or leap.
Each step splashing sparks of red pain in every direction,
And through it all, somehow, this willingness that asks no questions.”
Sometimes romantic love seems crazy. Why do certain people end up together? Why do they make the decisions that begin or end a relationship? Why do we willingly risk so much heartache? This is the most poetic exploration of the insanity of love that I know.
I do wonder if Cockburn has ever considered rewriting the first verse just a little.
