If music be the food of love

If music be the food of love, play on.

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

 

 

Second only to the actual persuit of love comes our fondness for songs about it. So what makes a good love song? With Valentine's Day just around the corner it is worth considering where love songs might fit in the Kilsby Open Music repertoire.

The love song is universal, recognising, as it does, no cultural or geographic boundaries. To my ear, and to my mind, they fall into four basic types. Songs of unrequited love, full of longing and heartache, that demonstrate our reluctance to 'get over it' and move on.  Of course the circumstances might have a bearing; songs of lost love through the intervention of a romantic third party are a bit different to those of untimely death of our dearest.

Then there are songs of adoration for one's girl/boy, like Clapton's Wonderful Tonight, with all of their virtues extolled and no mention of any vices they might possess. For songs about lost love or chance encouters that had their moment and the subsequent heartache look no further than Fleetwood Mac. Their longevity is largely due to the relationships that provided a deep well of material covering all aspects of romantic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEnp3in3gTA engagement.

And of course, there are songs of lust. OK, so lust doesn't necessarily qualify as love. I was thinking of posting a link to Trey Songz', 'Panty Droppa', but I don't think anyone will be disappointed that I didn't. If you want to find it, you can.

These themes crop up across the genres and through the ages. While the language might change a bit, the sentiments expressed are clearly recognisable. How about some of these?

According to the associated descriptions, this is one the oldest known love songs of the British Isles. To me, it seems more like an explanation of some good riddles than a love song, and a boneless chicken has a slightly different connotation these days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OORxUZP2Ez4

What about the last thing on Tom Paxton's mind; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sECA4wP5BE a definite Kilsby favourite, particularly when Paddy sings it.

No list of mush would be complete without this Clapton classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx3EQQQ6yjM Eric sings of the gratitude of a husband who is put to bed by his beloved, because he is too drunk to manage it by himself. True love indeed!

Because of the importance of love songs, and the close proximity of our first open session of the year to Valentine's day, there is prize for the best performance of a love song, as voted by audience and performers. Come back and see how we got on.