Love is in the Air!

Happy Valentine's day to those so inclined to celebrate the day. For those of you who are married, better luck next time. (LOL) Yes, the day that Carlton and Hallmark Cards colluded together on, clear cutting forests and increasing profits. Where bad poetry is rewarded with a paycheque and a greeting card.

It's been a rough year for romance, Ben and J Lo called it splits, Liza Minelli and David Geist apparently sobered up and realized they had married each other, even Barbie and Ken have called it quits. Ken apparently moving to Canada, to take advantage of newly liberated same sex marriage laws.

Indeed, it's the day of L'amour and in honour of the great day of our hero Valentine, we offer up a double shot of Fives. First off, Five songs to stir those romantic thoughts, setting your heart on fire. As Pink would say, "Let's get this party started"

SHANIA TWAIN-FROM THIS MOMENT. Ah, yes the popular wedding starter can render the strongest male weakened. The Canadian chanteuse weaves us a tale of undying love, growing stronger as the years go by. Definitely one to go to the Kleenex box for.

GROVER WASHINGTON JR.-JUST THE TWO OF US. Put this on low in the background with dim lights and let nature take it's course. You'll be humming along in no time. May even get lucky! BE sure to let the dog out before you start the CD though.

PEABO BRYSON and ROBERTA FLACK- TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE. Another song you would find at many a wedding. A stirring tribute to faithfulness, undying love and great harmony. If you count the ways you love, and celebrate them properly, you too can find romance.


STYLISTICS- YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW. The standard bearer for high school students of the 1970's. It was long, real long, or happily at least it seemed like it at the time. Causing many a teacher chaperone to scowl disapprovingly at the DJ. One of those songs, where you just spin around and gaze into each other's eyes. Who care's if you can't dance!

ANNE MURRAY-COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE. Who knew that Canadians were such romantics, must be all the cold weather. Our second flag bearer finishes up the list with the timeless classic dedication to a lasting love. Will you remember the song they were playing, as we danced and held each other tight. Always popular at weddings, it was for a while, one of the more popular songs to launch one's matrimonial adventure.



Of course not all those journeys worked out. As Barbie and Ken can testify to, sometimes love just doesn't last. So in support of hearing out both sides of the story. Here, we feature Five songs about Love that just went plain wrong.



CAROLE KING-IT'S TOO LATE. Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time, there's something wrong here, there can be no denying. One of us is changing, or maybe we just stopped trying. Hmmm, any bets she was in bed by herself. By the time you are repeating it's too late, baby, it's too late. You get the drift. Bye, bye, boyfriend .

BILLY JOEL-SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT. Originally tempted to put Just the Way You Are on the Happy Love Song list, I then listened a few more songs down and there it was, the perfect song about relationships gone awry. From a perfect start, to the bitter ending all in less than eight minutes. This one follows Brenda and Eddie, from the highs to the lows, it's all the same in the end. They started to fight, when the money got tight. They get a divorce as matter of course, parting the closest of friends. Wave bye, bye to Brenda and Eddie, then down that bottle of red or white.

FLEETWOOD MAC-GO YOUR OWN WAY. You can call it another lonely day. You can, Go your own way. Well the band was as messed up, as any failed relationship by this time. Swapping partners within the band, from town to town. Hardly talking to each other, from gig to gig. No wonder the song went on to be a monster hit. It was therapy for millions. If things are bad in your relationship, the mantra is Go Your Own Way.

THE POGUES-FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK CITY. Ah, and they say the Irish have no romance in them. Come along as we follow a happy go lucky couple, exploring life in the big city. Our hero, is dreaming of his beloved from the drunk tank. (not a good start to any relationship) By the time the song has ended , the refrain to remember is; You scum bag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot, Merry Christmas my arse and pray God it's our last. You get the feeling that Dr. Phil isn't going to be able to save this relationship.

MEATLOAF-PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT (Part III) The tribute to youthful love where all possibilities are still fresh. The song starts out as an upbeat cavalcade of joy, where they find Paradise by the dashboard light. But man, do things go wrong. STOP RIGHT THERE, I gotta know right now! Our hero being asked if he'll love her, forever? What'll it be boy, yes or no, yes or no, boy? Will you make her so happy for the rest of her life, will you love her forever, will you make her your wife." By the time he gets to the chorus, you know this is not going to work out. After agreeing to love her til the end of time, he's resigned to his fate! "he's praying for the end of time, to hurry up and arrive, cause if I have to spend another minute with you I don't think that I can barely survive", "it's all that he can do, so he can end his time with you". "Long ago and far away, it was so much better than it is today" Put a fork in this couple, they're done.

Here's hoping your Valentine Day songs, are more Murray and Twain, than Joel and Meatloaf!