Now That’s What 411 Calls Music Volume 1: The One With Love Songs
Posted by Michael Nalbach on 02.20.2006
The ULTIMATE love song mix!
Editor's Note: Today we present you with the first of many editions of Now That's What 411 Calls Music. The title may be cheesy, but this is a feature that has been in the planning for months now, and is now finally coming to fruition. Much like last year's essentials lists, this is a list of sixteen essential tracks put today in mixtape form that each writer chooses. The rules were simple: sixteen tracks, however you want them. Time wasn't a constraint, seeing how chances are those tracks wouldn't exceed an eighty minute blank CD anyhow. So now you can get a taste of eclecticism as you read this weekly feature. That's what our writers would call music...what about you?
- Brandon Ratliff, 411 Mania Music Editor
If anyone knows a thing or two about heartbreak, falling in love or dealing with unwanted advances, it's me, 411Music's resident lothario. Ehh, maybe I have been more on the receiving end of broken hearts then on the giving, but you see, that's why I am such a specialist in helping you craft the ULTIMATE breaking up, getting over, moving on mix that you will ever hear. So pay attention!
01: Babyface "What If?"
Wow, what a stirring R&B ballad. A man returns back to the site of an old love, inquiring on her whereabouts. Sadly, he is informed by a friend of the girl that she has moved on and he should to. But Babyface takes one last minute to reflect on what was, what is, and what could have been. Real powerful stuff, and highly under rated and overlooked when it comes to your R&B power ballads.
02: Journey "I'll Be Alright Without You"
This one is kind of mid-tempo, and builds to a power chorus. Its your usual standard Journey fare, but instead of going with a clichéd choice, I figured I'd drop this one on you. Steve Perry's voice always cuts through sadness like a hot knife through butter, and the instrumentation and chorus make this a must have.
03: Queen "Somebody to Love"
Queen. Greatest rock group of all time? Maybe. Freddie Mercury is a one of a kind talent, and the usual grandiose production on display here makes the emotion all the more too real. Over bright pianos and classic Queen guitar work, Mercury laments about being alone and wishing, somebody, anybody, could find him someone to love. Don't we all?
04: Yellowcard "Ocean Avenue"
I might catch some flack for this one, but screw you guys, this is my mix after all. I suppose it holds a special place near and dear to my heart because it reminds me of a personal love that got away. But it's pop-punk essence and reminiscent lyrical quality is enough to take anybody back to a time when "things were better". It reminds me of wistful, reckless young love, sharing nights that never end, and wishing you could get it back. Truly poignant, yet simple, stuff.
05: Elvis Presley "Always on My Mind"
Wow, what a song! The orchestration, the intial buildup at the beginning, you just know something powerful is about to smack you right in the face. Elvis belts out the song with such raw emotion, you know it's coming right from his heart, and indeed it was, as this song is a cry for affection to his neglected love Priscilla. I love the breakdown in the middle, and the way it ends on such a somber note. It's a song you almost expect to have a happy ending, but like many real relationships, it just fades out.
06: Stevie B "Dream about You"
Talk about your semi-obscure songs! Stevie made an extremely minor name for himself in the early nineties with some "skating rink"/90's dance club style ballads. This was, in my eyes, his crowning achievement. Beautiful vocals, lyrics about pining for a love you no longer have, and a great musical arrangement make this one of the best overlooked heartbreak songs of the nineties. Download this now.
07: Fleetwood Mac "Silver Spring"
An epic ballad to say the least. I really dig it's subtle nature up until the last two minutes or so where they really lay it on thick. Stevie Nicks impresses with her strong, vindictive vocals to close out the song. It's one of those grand, overblown ballads that you can't help but rocking out to.
08: Air Supply "Making Love Out of Nothing at All"
What else do you expect from the mind of Jim Steinman, mastermind behind Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler? Air Supply's crowning achievement: dramatic pianos, swelling vocals, and an almost operatic in scope quality to the chorus. Just when you think it's done, the song keeps coming on stronger and stronger. If you aren't moved by the emotion in this song, the frustration over a love that COULD have been, then you are just a heartless bastard.
09: Ne-Yo "So Sick"
The newest entry on the mixtape. Ne-Yo's second single impresses me even more than his first, paving the way for what should be a stellar debut album. What I like about this song, is the tone of it all. He's had it with the whole relationship, but he still can't quite put it away. Nothing overly schmaltzy or contrived, truly a state of mind I think everyone can relate to.
10: Crowded House "Don't Dream it's Over"
Here we go, everyone knows this. Big in the 80's, I seem to remember it from "90210" personally, but I am still a youngin. Such a sad and depressing yet bleakly uplifting song at the same time. You can tell the lead singer knows the relationship is on it's last legs, and you can't tell if he is trying to convince himself or the girl that it's not over! I really love the melody and the emotion in this song, its top notch stuff all the way.
11: All-American Rejects "Swing Swing"
Admittedly probably the only song I've heard by them, but hell, if this is the only knowledge I'll ever have of them, I'm fine with it. I like the rockish guitars, the high pitched whiny vocals add to the emo-angst, and the catchy chorus will be "swing-swinging" through your head for weeks to come.
12: Lionel Richie "Stuck on You"
I am a huge Richie fan, but this is definitely my favorite song of his. "Guess I'm on my way/ Mighty glad ya stayed"…we all know the words. Turn the lights down low, grab that special someone, and make this the, ahem, climax to your mix and you are in business.
