I like music of all kinds but I’m a special kind of sucker for love songs, especially the sappy, “love conquers all” stuff. They totally contradict my generally practical cynical outlook on life and have on more than one occasion enabled me to have a more balanced take on a situation, with that particular song becoming permanently attached to that moment as a result.
Love songs in movies and TV shows are tricky because when not done right, or forced, they can completely ruin not just the moment but the whole story. When it works, though, it can be perfect, like The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” and Grey’s Anatomy. By the time I understood the lyrics and realized only the chorus had any connection to the show, and barely at that, it didn’t matter. It will always be associated with Denny’s death and every time I hear it, I recall that episode as clearly as if I just watched it the night before.
The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” is another one that’s permanently attached to a moment, in this case a real life one as it was our official theme song at the ’98 National Poetry Slam, the group of us singing it at the top of our lungs whenever it came on the radio. Years later, it still brings back all of the memories of that week in Austin, the ups and downs, the thrill of victory, how tight we were for those few days of intense bonding before returning to NY and life pulling us in various directions.
The latest song doing it for me, unconnected to any movie or TV show — though the video is rather affecting — is Bon Jovi’s latest, “(You Want to) Make a Memory”, which is arguably the best song they’ve ever done. (NOTE: I love Bon Jovi, so that’s not a statement made lightly.) The first couple of times I heard it, I didn’t realize it was them, and then I saw the video and was hooked and ever since it’s grown on me more and more. It’s a simple, heartfelt song that feels intensely personal while being completely accessible and the lyrics are as precise as any bit of poetry:
I dug up this old photograph
Look at all that hair we had
It’s bittersweet to hear you laugh
Your phone is ringin I don’t wanna askIf you go now, I’ll understand
If you stay – Hey, I got a planYou want to make a memory
You want to steal a piece of time
You can sing the melody to me
And I could write a couple linesYou want to make a memory
Jon Bon Jovi’s singing is impressively self-confident, not feeling the need to oversing or drop in any of his signature tics to ensure you know it’s him. It’s the kind of self-confidence that comes from years of experience and the comfort of knowing you’re established enough to do something a little different and not lose your audience. Its unexpected inspirational value for writing and performance is worth noting, but as love songs go, it’s vaulted into my Top 10, easily, perhaps Top 5 if I ever thought to actually make such a list.
