Top 20 Songs About Love: Songs 15-11

Now for week two of this four-week series. In case you missed it, here's last week's list. This week's list contains some classic songs about love that even the old folks will enjoy (not to mention one or two that they used to stone people for). That's really all the introduction that I care to write, so let's get on with the list!

#15: Bright Eyes - "Kathy with a K's Song" - This seldom heard song by Conor Oberst has to be one of my favorites of his. Featured only on two EPs (one of which never saw the light of day in the US), the artist's assertion that "Love is real" is made all the more powerful by his trademarked half-crying, half-singing voice. Oberst sings, "Love is real. It is not just in long distance commercials" and by the end of the song he's screaming "I can hear it now" at the top of his lungs with every bit of humanity inside of him. It's a touching song, but one that's tough to listen to because of the raw earnesty that it presents. Still, if you've got 6 minutes to waste, you could spend it listening to something worse (like every other song on the EP, for example).

#14: Frankie Valli - "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" - This classic love song has been featured in just about every fictional love story caught on film that happened to take place in the 1960s. Of course, that type of movie isn't really my thing and it wasn't until I saw "10 Things I Hate About You" that I realized what an awesome song it was. And then a few years later I hear a version of the song that Muse did, and I finally fell in love with it. Unsurprisingly, the Muse cover is my favorite version of the song, but I have to give credit where credit's due. The fact of the matter is that the song may never have been a classic if it weren't for Frankie Valli. So for that, I commend him with the honor of being #14 on a list on some random blog. You're welcome!

#13: The Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You" - Like the previous song, this one is featured in almost every romantic movie that was made before 1970. When you hear them singing "Are the stars out tonight? I don't know if it's cloudy or bright" the first thing that pops into your head is a sky blue Pontiac parked at make-out point. After that, one of two things happens. One, the couple make out, or two, they get murdered by some psycho with a machete. Maybe that's just what I think of. All that aside, you have to give it up to the Flamingos. This song is timeless, and just as cool today as it was back in 1959. Word.

#12: Eagles - "Wasted Time" - This classic song by Eagles was featured on the "Hotel California" EP. Of course with such awesome songs like the title track and "Life in the Fast Lane," it's often overlooked. Not by me. When I was younger my mother had a copy of this record, and I used to listen to this song over and over again. It deals with two ex-lovers, one of which is trying to make himself believe that all the time spent with the other wasn't wasted, but that it meant something. Of course, if the song itself doesn't get you all teary-eyed and emotional, then the string reprise that follows it sure will. It's one of the most under-appreciated Eagles songs of all time, and if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Hotel California." It's one of the greatest rock albums ever made anyways, so you really have nothing to lose.

#11: Sufjan Stevens - "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!" - Ahh, here we are back at the indie songs. Of course, when you think of indie love songs, you don't necessarily think of Sufjan Stevens singing about a wasp stinging his best friend. But wrapped up inside of all the typical Sufjan Stevens nonsense is a song about loving a friend. Sure, this isn't exactly romantic love, but it's still love. You're instantly captured as Sufjan reminisces about a time that his best friend was bit by a wasp while swimming. At the end of the song when he sings "My friend his gone. He ran away. I can tell you, I love him each day" it just breaks your heart because we all know what it's like to say goodbye to a friend you'll never see again. So what if it's not the standard boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl formula? It's an amazing song anyway, and one everyone should hear.