Ethereal Love Mar 15 '02 (Updated Mar 17 '02)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Revelation [Digipak] by Journey From $12 Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned From $40 The Bottom Line It's not all about fair maidens and knights in shining armour...but your music dreams could include them. I’ve always wanted to make a romantic mix but somehow never got around to it; either it felt it wasn’t the right moment, or I didn’t have the time to get organized (this kind of stuff takes a lot of research, especially when you are sort of a perfectionist when it comes to music, as I believe I am). Funny, though, that it took me less than a week to compile these songs (and actually make it fit on to an 80 min. CD!), just in time to make the Valentine’s Day presentation to one who deserves it. This isn’t something that you want to casually give to someone who may be destined to leave you at some point. There is that need to be linked to this music forever, which is why you would give it to someone who will be forever in your life. 1. Someone To Watch Over Me – Sting from the "Someone To Watch Over Me" soundtrack I’ve always been a fan of the Gershwin songs and this one I always considered somewhat of a theme song for myself. Beautiful rendition from a man who doesn’t have the most silky smooth voice in the business, but seems to pull it off time and time again with these type of bygone era songs, accompanied only by piano. 2. I Would Die For You – Jann Arden from Time For Mercy Unlike the first selection, this song is by one of the best in the industry for seemingly effortless silky smooth vocals. May not be known by many, since she’s Canadian and probably gets most airplay from her home country, but puts magic into her voice on most everything she sings. 3. Your Ghost – Kristin Hersh from the “With Honours” soundtrack Appropriate title, since the vocals and music from this member of Echobelly are hauntingly romantic. Soft, subtle but says so much and the background vocals by R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe and illuminating percussion add that delicate ambiance to offset any type of lull. 4. Walking After You – Foo Fighters from The Colour & The Shape Probably not the type of band that you would think of have on a romantic mix, especially knowing lead singer Dave Grohl was once a member of Nirvana, but this song always seems to provide a good romantic mood, almost in slow motion, by combination of both lyrics and instrumentation. Essential for those who don’t like to admit they have that romantic side in them. 5. Here With Me – Dido from No Angel I had to struggle with this one a while, since I ‘m not into making mixes which have songs that you hear endlessly with radio airplay, but this one has enough to slip in under the wire. Such a beautiful voice and lyrical meaning in this song provides the convincing debate to the argument. 6. Come What May – Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor from the “Moulin Rouge” soundtrack I’m slightly upset over this song, mostly because it is trashed everywhere for being sung by actors and as being syrupy, which is what I am mostly against for my music repertoire (don’t mention Celine Dion to me, unless you are prepared for what’s coming). One of the better tracks from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which actually help convince me of the love story involved in the movie (it probably would have been a crock of sh*t otherwise, but that’s another story). 7. No Matter What – Boyzone from the “Notting Hill” soundtrack Probably the most glaringly out of place song on my list (did I mention I don’t like syrupy), but what can I tell you, I actually like this song. It hits all the right notes without being over the top, as these boy group songs usually are. 8. Wicked Games – Chris Isaak from Heart Shaped World Most likely a song on most people's romantic list and overplayed none the less, but nothing really needs to be said about this song except just get down and dirty. The weirdest note about this is that I recorded this from my girlfriend’s CD and gave this CD to her, and then she had the nerve to tell me she didn’t like this song. 9. Fall In Love With Me - Booth & The Bad Angel from the self titled recording A somewhat obscure song, mainly because I think you had to buy the CD to actually hear it. I have always been a huge James fan and the mix of the lead singer Pete Booth with Angelo Badalementi, of Twin Peaks theme fame, proves to be more than exhilarating, even despite it is somewhat electronic in structure. 10. Lost In You - Garth Brooks (as Chris Gaines) from In the Life of Chris Gaines Such a tragedy that good music had to come under fire for Garth’s nonsensical ideas of portraying himself as another person with a crossover music attempt (country to pop), with full fledged disguises and everything. Such a heartfelt and simple recording should not be lost in the politics and Garth’s voice cries of the pain and joy of love all at the same time. 11. Girl Of Mine – Blue Rodeo from Diamond Mine This smooth subtle country song is the only outright sad song of the selections. There is something about this song about love gone wrong that pierces your heart (“Too much to bear, too much I fall down drunk, too much I care”). It’s one of those songs that tells you to stay together forever since being without love is so hard. Another Canadian artist, so the popularity note applies here also; see #2 above. 12. Birds And Ships – Billy Bragg & Wilco from Mermaid Avenue I discovered this song by accident by buying the Mermaid Avenue CD on a whim and I probably don’t listen to it as much as I should, if only to give it airplay justice. Sweet tender vocals by guest artist Natalie Merchant (one of my top three favourites ever), accompanied by a Billy Bragg’s solo guitar, gives this song poetry or lullaby qualities. 13.Out Of The Woods – Sinéad Lohan from No Mermaid Another one of those discoveries, where she just happened to be playing in the area and I picked up the CD a week before her show. I probably could have picked a few songs from her, but this recording seemed to have that surreal effect of slow motion in time and in space. Also, the lyrics can be interpreted in many ways (which really means only she knows what she’s singing about), to let your imagination run wild. 14. Perfect Time – Máire Brennan from Perfect Time For being a long time follower of the Welsh group Clannad, this solo release of the lead singer from that group is a joy to behold. I believe the reference for this song is the love of God, but applies to any type of love. This one gives the feeling of waves in an ocean as the wonderful harmonies here make this song more than eligible to be played in a choir. 15. In a Lifetime – Clannad from Macalla This is most likely my favourite duet about love, partly due to the lack of recognition this song has received despite vocal accompaniment by Bono Vox from U2. I seem to get visions of a coming storm when hearing this, but also a calming effect when listening with someone I love, in which, for both points, I think is brought about mainly through the vocal arrangement. 16. In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel from So This once was and probably still remains my favourite love song, partly due to the film “Say Anything”, in which this song is featured, and partly due to the lyrics which say everything that I could possibly want to say. There is also something to applaud about the risks that were taken to include an African vocalist singing in his native tongue over top of the main vocal arrangement and then to make it work seamlessly. Pure genius for pure love. 17. Bizarre Love Triangle – Frente! from Marvin The Album Although the original danceable retro-alternative version by New Order is generally more popular, (and also quite good, don’t get me wrong), but I think the lyrics here are much more appropriate for this version by the now defunct Australian band, whereas it features only vocals and a lone guitar. Short and very sweet, kind of like a candy that you should suck on but tend to chew right away. 18. Surrounded – Chantal Kreviazuk from Under These Rocks And Stones Chantal may be better known for her cover version of “Leaving On A Jet Plane” from the Armageddon soundtrack (which was also an option here), but this mighty fine Canadian artist does music justice with her first, and I believe her best to date, single. As much a song about love as it is a song about not giving up hope, pure romance exudes from start to finish. 19. Marble Halls – Enya from Paint The Sky With Stars Another one from a former Clannad member, this song I call the coup d’état (for my relationship, at least) as it brings visions of chivalry, nights in shining armour and fair maidens into the picture and lets us live out our own fairytale with a happy ending. The queen of ethereal song stylings puts a full out effort here but not over the top, filled with dreamlike echoing vocals and soft and light instrumentation. A must for anyone head over heels.

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