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Never Gonna Let You Go – Sergio Mendes

martinsejas — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:27:06 +0000

The way I “discovered” this song from Sergio Mendes is quite interesting. In fact, I didn’t even know who Sergio Mendes was. So I discovered a new artist as well as the actual song Never Gonna Let You Go.

Here’s how the story goes.

I was lying down on my bed the other day and all of a sudden I started to think about songs I’d heard in the past, in particular, my childhood. It was then that I started to recall a certain CD which had about 10 piano songs and which I used to listen regularly a long time ago because they had great songs. I then started to wonder where I could find that CD. It had to be stored somewhere around the house.

So after consulting with my mother, I found the CD stacked away in a little cupboard with a whole heap of other CDs which the household used to listen to ages ago. The CD is called “With Love From David James” and has 10 piano love songs. So I started listening to each one in my room and each song brought back a memory and a smile to my face. It was a wonderful experience!

It wasn’t until I got to the 9th song that I started wondering “who sings that great tune?” The CD cover simply said that the name of the song Never Gonna Let You Go, but that’s about it. So I did a bit of research and discovered that the artist was Sergio Mendes. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that he was in fact Brazilian. So how often does a Brazilian composer write a powerful and memorable song that is so successful?

Sergio Mendes is certainly a very unique artist because he composes in both English and Portuguese and is primarily a bossa nova artist. The fact that he composed an adult contemporary love song is quite rare for him.

Lyrics-wise, this ballad is about asking your ex-lover forgiveness for the wrongs you have committed and setting out to make everything right by opening up and showing more love than ever before.

I feel so fortunate and grateful to have finally discovered this great 80s ballad and this has quickly become one of my favourite love songs of all time.

Below you can find a rare live performance of the song by Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller in 1984. Although it is a shortened version of Never Gonna Let You Go, it is an absolutely wonderful and emotion-charged performance to be cherished. Enjoy!

Top 10 Love Songs

martinsejas — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:49:46 +0000

Coming up with a list of the Top 10 Love Songs is not an easy task especially when you have previously come up with a list of the top 30 best love songs.

Another thing that has affected the 10 songs I’ve chosen is the fact that my tastes and preferences have changed ever since I came up with that top 30 list. In fact, you will find that 3 of the songs featured in this list didn’t even make the cut in the original top 30 ballads list.

So believe me, when I say, that these are my current Top 10 Love Songs, at the time of writing this post. I expect to change again in the future, although probably not so drastically.

It must be remembered that this top 10 list is in no particular order.

1. Everything I Do (I Do For You) – Bryan Adams

One of the biggest ballads of the 90s, “Everything I Do” is up there in many people’s list of the best love songs ever composed. It is the most modern original composition in this Top 10 Love Songs list, making it even more special and unique. Easily Bryan Adam’s biggest hit in terms of commercial success, this continues to be a favorite at weddings.

2. Hard To Say I’m Sorry – Chicago

Peter Cetera’s voice is almost inseparable from this classic love song. This was the song that revived the fortunes of Chicago after a commercial slump in the late 70s and the early part of the 80s. This is probably the one song that will forever remain in my Top 10 Love Songs list and probably yours too.

3. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

Few songs have such a vocal performance as powerful and as memorable as this song. Originally a country song from Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston remade the song completely, so much so, that it is considered to be her song, rather than Dolly’s. The fact that it was part of a successful film The Bodyguard, guaranteed the success of this song.

4. Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century. While originally recorded and released in 1965, its popularity with modern audiences is due to its inclusion in the 1990 hit movie Ghost. Old fashioned and traditional, yet sincere and timeless.

5. Don’t Know Much – Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville

Don’t Know Much is one of the simplest yet one of the most powerful love songs ever made. It explores how people may not be sure about a lot of things in life yet the one thing that they’re always sure about is that they are in love with their partner. This is the song I would play at a first dance at a wedding. Certainly deserves its place in the Top 10 Love Songs list.

6. Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie

Probably the most well-known ballad of the 80s, it is about 2 lovers that declare their complete, limitless and eternal love to one another. It continues to be in high rotation on adult contemporary radio stations as well as at weddings. While the song was successfully remade by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross, it doesn’t top the original in my opinion.

7. Close To You – The Carpenters

More often than not, this is my most favorite love song of all time and deserving of a place in this Top 10 Love Songs list. But that’s probably because I’m a big fan of The Carpenters and simply adore Karen Carpenter. I haven’t been able to find another song that is sweeter, simpler and more beautiful. The lyrics are touching. The arrangement is perfect. The voice is certainly from above. A timeless classic.

8. It Must Have Been Love – Roxette

This song always reminds me of the movie Pretty Woman and the scene where it is played. It is played as Vivian (played by Julia Roberts) is leaving Edward (Richard Gere) for what appears to be the last time. The lyrics of the song explain that all that she has gone through with Edward “must have been love” even though it looks to have ended.

9. Waiting For A Girl Like You – Foreigner

You may be surprised to find that I’ve chosen this song in this Top 10 Love Songs list instead of Foreigner’s other big hit, I Wanna Know What Love Is, which is generally considered to be their best ballad. All I can say is that this is one of the songs currently going through my head, for many different reasons. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful song, often overshadowed by their other hit. An interesting fact is that this song spent a record 10 weeks at number 2 on the US charts without ever reaching number 1.

10. Sara – Starship

Easily my favorite power ballad of all time, 2 ingredients make this song both powerful and memorable. Firstly, the emotive lyrics demonstrate the rollercoaster that relationships can be especially when they end. Secondly, lead singer Mickey Thomas’ vocal performance is very genuine and combined with the great lyrics creates something that tugs the heart.

As stated at the beginning of the post, I did previously write a series of posts about the 30 Greatest Love Songs of all time, on which this list is based. You may be interested in seeing how my choices have changed slightly since then.

There is a good chance that I will go back and update this list before the end of the year. If I don’t, please remind me to do so. You may not agree with some of my choices, but I hope that this is a relatively good list of the Top 10 Love Songs.

Greatest Love Of All – Whitney Houston

martinsejas — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:31:18 +0000

Greatest Love Of All is one of the most inspirational songs ever written enhanced by the flawless performance of one of the greatest voices in music, Whitney Houston. While there is little doubt Houston’s voice is a key factor behind the strong delivery of the song, it is the lyrics that makes the song tremendously inspiring and empowering.

The 80s were a decade of great unforgettable ballads, however, I tend to think that Greatest Love Of All is overlooked as one of that decade’s greatest ballads for 2 reasons. Firstly, it is not your typical love song where a girl sings about a guy or a guy sings about a girl. It is a love song, but the love it focuses on is love for oneself rather than a significant other. Secondly, it was one of seven consecutive number one hits for Whitney Houston and as a result, it was overshadowed by her other hits, most notably I Have Nothing and I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

The main reason why I simply admire this song because it reflects my own life and the path I have chosen to take. About 18 months ago, I was going through a period of disorientation and doubt where I felt that my life had little or no sense of direction. Most importantly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward a couple of months later and I had a new lease of life and empowered to make the most incredible life possible. It was also during this period that I realized that if I didn’t love myself first, then how could I expect anyone else to love me. When I started to love myself more and started to follow my own path in life, my life completely changed. I have been able to meet some amazing people and embark on wonderful projects such as this music blog.

Beautiful Lyrics

I heard this song for the first time in months yesterday, and much like Bette Midler’s song The Rose, I felt an instant connection to its message because it seemed to be about my life in the last 18 months. I hope to dissect the lyrics of this song so that you can see the true beauty of this song.

“Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be”

Unfortunately, as we grow up and become adults, we are told to “stop dreaming” and to get serious about life. As a result, we start to believe that it’s okay to give up on our dreams and as a consequence we end up unsatisfied. As children, we knew no barriers and no limits and we believed that anything was impossible. It’s a tragedy that this is destroyed as we grow up. Kids should be constantly encourage to keep dreaming and to never stop dreaming, because it is the dreamers that make things happen. This is what Greatest Love Of All is explaining here.

“And so I learned to depend on me”

The message here is that we are ultimately in charge of our own destiny. No one can determine that for us. We cannot depend on others to take us on a certain path. We must choose the path for ourselves. Quite often, people blame others for their situation when by taking responsibility for what’s happening, you can start looking for opportunities and solutions rather exaggerating the problem.

“I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadows, if I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe”

This line is an accurate reflection of why I chose to follow a different path 18 months ago. There is no more fulfilling way to live than by living according to your beliefs. I think it is one of the keys to true and eternal happiness. Whitney Houston puts a lot of emphasis on the second part of the line, making it even more powerful.

“Learning to love yourself, it is the Greatest Love Of All”

By far, the truest line in the whole song. This is the central message of the song and it is the most empowering message you can have. My life changed when I started to love myself. Loving yourself creates a powerful virtuous cycle. When you love yourself, you start taking care of yourself more, you smile and carry a contagious aura. Other people feel your positive energy and get attracted to you and started sharing their love too. This leads to greater love and pleasure in your life which in turn makes you love yourself more. The cycle continues from there.

You can look up the entire lyrics from the song on the web.

Incredible Voice

Apart from I Will Always Love You, I think that Whitney Houston delivers her most powerful and memorable vocal performance in this song. When she was having her greatest success in the latter part of the 80s and the early 90s, there was no one who could compare to her voice. Along with Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, she is recognized as one of the most talented singers ever. It was a shame that her career took a turn for the worst in the mid-90s, however it seems that she is currently on the comeback trail.

Whatever happens to her career, Greatest Love Of All will remain one of her greatest songs and one of the most inspirational songs to listen to.

The Rose – Bette Midler

martinsejas — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:22:33 +0000

There are few songs that ring so true like The Rose by Bette Midler. In fact, the first time I heard it, it left me without words and on the verge of tears. While Bette’s vocal performance is pretty much perfect, it is the lyrics of this song from 1979 that are both sad and empowering. The Rose is a constant reminder that we only live once, and hence we must not fear making the most of our lives.

History Of The Rose

The Rose was written by Amanda McBroom, an American songwriter who also had a career as a singer and cabaret performer. The song itself was the theme song from a movie also titled The Rose, which starred Bette Midler herself. It was loosely based on the life of 60s rock star Janis Joplin and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Actress for Midler’s interpretation of the main character. The song became of one of her biggest hits and reached number 3 on the US Billboard Charts in 1979.

Meaning Of The Lyrics

While I do appreciate Bette Midler’s amazing vocal performance, it is the lyrics that really make the song what it really is. They are absolutely beautiful and I challenge you to find better, more empowering lyrics. I could potentially go through every single part of the lyrics and explain them all in great detail, but that would take up many posts. Instead, I would like to focus on dissecting the meaning of a couple of lines from The Rose.

“It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance”

How many times have you chosen not to do something because you were afraid of failure? We, as humans, are sometimes (if not often) fearful of having our hearts broken, either through relationships or business, that we do not allow our hearts to spread love to a greater amount of people. In addition, we do not open our hearts to receive love, care and affection from others around us and hence it never learns to dance.

“And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live”

Easily one of the saddest lyrics ever written, this reminds me of a famous quote from James Brynes. It goes: “Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.” We tend to fear a lot of things that have not even happened to us, and this fear constrains our soul and its true potential, and hence, it never learns to truly live.

“Just remember that in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes The Rose.”

Easily the most beautiful lyric in the song, there are few lyrics that are as touching and meaningful as this. You may not realize it, but this final line in the song is a metaphor for the human experience, that despite our failures, downs and problems, there always is and always will be a human love and warmth underneath. It may take a while to come up to the surface, but it is there, and it will get reborn and flourish once again.

Bette Midler Live Rendition

Now it’s time to showcase Bette Midler, and her live rendition of The Rose. Sit back and enjoy one of music’s greatest voices interpreting one of music’s greatest songs.

I really hope you enjoyed the live rendition and understood my analysis of some of the lyrics of this magnificent classic song. We tend to overlook a song’s lyrics and just focus on the beat and rhythm these days. Do yourself a favor and find a song with meaningful and empowering lyrics. The Rose by Bette Midler will never cease to empower people for many years to come.

Top 30 Classic Love Songs Of All Time (Part 4)

martinsejas — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:10 +0000

by Martin Sejas

It’s been a while since the last part of this special series of posts. Just like the 3 other parts, Part 4 showcases 5 more great classic love songs. I’ve included videos of each song for your convenience.

Enjoy Part 4 of this special series of posts.

16. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

If you had to choose the ballad with the best vocal performance, Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” would probably be your pick. You may be surprised to know that this was remake of a country song from Dolly Parton. It became the theme song of the 1993 movie The Bodyguard starring Houston, and expresses the protagonist’s sadness at leaving their lover, but that they will always love them forever. Despite this causing the protagonist pain, they know that it’s the right decision and wish
them both luck and love in their future. Houston’s voice resonates like no other making this song simply unforgettable.

17. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie

Probably the most recognizable of duets, “Endless Love” is about how lovers declare that their love for each other has no limits, given how much they adore each other. Despite being sung more than 25 years ago, it still resonates and pulls people’s heart strings more than ever before. Arguably the best ballad from the 80s.

18. “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

The fact that “Unchained Melody” is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century is a testament to the high regard many artists have for this song. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard this song before. The Righteous Brothers’ 1965 recording remains the most well-known rendition and its inclusion in the 1990 movie Ghost certainly helped its popularity among modern audiences. One of the oldest yet
most beautiful compositions about love ever written.

19. “Don’t Know Much” by Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville

One of the simplest yet one of the most powerful love songs ever made. It explores how people may not know what’s going on in the world or what their future holds, but the one thing they do know for sure is that they love their partner. This is a perfect song for a moonlight first dance and it’s difficult to find a better song for such an occasion. Simply magical.

20. “Best Of My Love” by the Eagles

One of the simplest ballads from the classic rock/country genres, “Best of My Love” expresses the protagonist’s feeling that despite problems with their lover, that they always give their lover the best of their love. A great ballad to sing to the one you love on a guitar or around a campfire with friends.

Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.

Wanna write a love song yet know absolutely nothing about music? This may be what you’ve been looking for.

“Stay Another Day” – EAST 17

martinsejas — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:28:18 +0000

Written by: Tony Mortimer, Rob Kean & Dominic Hawken
Released: 1994

US Charts: N/A
UK Charts: #1 (5 weeks)
Other Charts: #3 (Australia), #1 (Sweden)

It’s always a nice feeling to find an amazing song when you were least expecting it. That’s what happened a couple of weeks ago when I was just surfing through Wikipedia and ended looking back at UK Christmas Number One singles, where I found the song “Stay Another Day” by East 17. I’d never heard the song, let alone the band, so I had my reservations when I found out East 17 was a mid-90s British boy band. However, I was proved wrong by this somber yet beautifully written song.

The song was mainly written by the band’s lead singer Tony Mortimer in honour of his brother who had just committed suicide. He was helped by songwriters Rob Kean and Dominic Hawken while Christmas bells were added to the end of the song in order to give it a Christmas touch and appeal to the Christmas singles market, which is a huge deal in the UK. It was successful as it became the 1994 Christmas Number One single.

Most notably, “Stay Another Day” was the band’s first ever ballad as their previous songs were mainly rap or hip-hip. East 17 became one of the most successful boy bands of the 90s, especially in the UK, charting 18 songs in the UK’s Top 20 over just 8 years.

Lyric-wise, the song focuses on the pain that protagonist would suffer if their loved one left them. The protagonist doesn’t understand why they would want to leave them after coming so far and just wants them to stay another day.

The song is also notable for its lack of drums, which was not common in a pop song back then and still isn’t even today. The combination of everyone’s voices in the chorus is probably the highlight of this sombre yet reflective song. Enjoy!

Lyrics can be accessed here.

Chords can be accessed here.

Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.

Top 30 Classic Love Songs Of All Time (Part 3)

martinsejas — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:39:06 +0000

by Martin Sejas

Due to popular demand here is the third part of the Top 30 Classic Love Songs of All Time. Just like Parts 1 & 2, Part 3 presents another 5 songs each with a short description. Enjoy!

11. “One Sweet Day” by Boyz II Men & Mariah Carey

Any song that is able to remain at number 1 for sixteen consecutive weeks is indeed a great song. “One Sweet Day” did just that in 1995 and still remains the record until today. A tribute to a fallen comrade David Cole who was Boyz II Men’s manager in their early career and who had worked with Carey previously as well, this classic ballad explores the emotions felt at the death of a loved one, however, they know that they will meet again “one sweet day.” Never have so many great voice blended so well together than on this record.

12. “As Long As You Love Me” by The Backstreet Boys

Consider the signature song of the Backstreet Boys and one of their earliest songs, “As You Love Me” is a simple ballad exploring the protagonist’s unconditional love for someone because nothing really matters “as long as they love each other.” The vocal performance of the singers is a notable highlight making this song one of the few great ballads from the late 90s.

13. “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden

With one of the most recognizable openings as well as a catchy chorus, “Truly Madly Deeply” conquered people’s hearts the world over in 1998. The protagonist promises to be everything and anything their lover needs them to be because they are truly, madly and deeply in love with them. Another one of the last true classic ballads in contemporary music that is standing the test of time.

14. “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler

Bette Midler’s signature song, “Wind Beneath My Wings” expresses one’s gratefulness for the person in their life because this person is a hero and role model for them. In addition, this person allows them to fly higher than an eagle in life because they are simply the “wind beneath their wings.” As one of the most touching and romantic love songs of all time, it’s a must-listen and it’s a song that won’t be forgotten too easily.

15. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

Forever attached to the movie Titanic, for which it was the theme song, “My Heart Will Go On” is frequently included in many greatest love songs compilations as well as being one of the Celine Dion’s signature songs. It became one of the highest selling singles of the 1990s and still continues to touch people’s hearts today. It could be argued that it was the movie that made the song’s success possible, however, it is a wonderful timeless and unforgettable ballad in its own right.

Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.

Wanna write a love song yet know absolutely nothing about music? This may be what you’ve been looking for.

“Into The Night” – BENNY MARDONES

martinsejas — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:30:31 +0000

Written by: Benny Mardones & Robert Tepper
Released: 1980

US Charts: #11
UK Charts: N/A
Other Charts: N/A

It never ceases to amaze me how some singers or bands only have one hit song and then fade away into obscurity. The question that is always asked is: why? Just when you think an artist or band have gotten their big break, they cannot seem to reproduce the feat. “Into The Night” by Benny Mardones is a great example of this. In fact, I was not able to find a lot of information about any other songs Mardones made during this career. Despite this, “Into The Night” is a great 80s song to chill out to and that’s all that really matters.

What you may not know is that “Into The Night” is only one of two songs in the history of the Billboard charts to reach the Top 20 on 2 separate occasions. It was released in 1980 for the first time and peaked at number 11. After this, Mardones faded into obscurity seemingly never to return again. He didn’t return, but his song did. In 1989, an Arizona DJ put his song on his radio’s playlist as the result of a segment called “Where Are They Now?” So it’s ironic that his status as a one hit wonder led to radio putting his song on their playlist. This time, the song peaked at number 20 on the Billboard charts.

Lyric-wise, the song deals with a man being in love with a person much younger than yourself, in this case, a sixteen year old girl. The protagonist goes on to explain that the people against this love are fools that know nothing about love. You may have been in such a position yourself once. Even if you haven’t, you will surely understand that love can conquer all barriers, even age differences.

I really hope you adore this song as much as I do. “In The Night” by Benny Mardones may be a one hit wonder, but that’s irrelevant when you have a classic 80s song.

Lyrics can be accessed here.

Chords can be accessed here.

Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.

Top 30 Classic Love Songs Of All Time (Part 2)

martinsejas — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:53:23 +0000

by Martin Sejas

I know it’s been a long time coming but here is the second part of the Top 30 Classic Love Songs of All Time. Just like Part 1, Part 2 presents another 5 songs each with a short description. Enjoy!

6. “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” by Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton’s most famous song from 1989 comes with an emotional and hard-felt performance. The lyrics express a man’s anguish and sadness at his separation from his lover. While the verses may not be too inspiring, it is the memorable chorus that transforms this song into a classic ballad, not to mention Bolton’s voice.

7. “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders

“I’ll Stand By You” expresses the loyalty of someone supporting their lover in times of personal darkness. The singer states throughout they will “stand by you”, “never let anybody hurt you” and “never desert you.” They are powerful, touching lyrics capped off with a flawless and memorable performance from lead singer Chrissie Hynde.

8. “I Finally Found Someone” by Bryan Adams & Barbra Streisand

This classic ballad explores the elation that someone feels when they have met someone special who they think may be “the one” they’ve been searching for all their lives. This moment is described as giving them a feeling of completeness in their lives which is exactly what everyone feels when they find their true love. It’s a song that stays with you for a while after you’ve listened to it.

9. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler

A classic power ballad penned by legendary songwriter Jim Steinman, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is one epic of a love song. At more than 7 minutes long, it explores the highs and lows of someone’s love life. There are the highs of falling in love and the lows of separating from your love, all of which is described as a ‘total eclipse of the heart.’ There’s no doubt that this song will always feature best love songs lists for a very long time.

10. “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago

Undeniably one of the greatest love songs ever composed, “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” is a classic in every sense of the word. Chicago’s most famous and most successful song deals with the pain someone feels at being separated from the one they love. However, the singer recognizes that it won’t be easy and that it will hard to say he’s sorry. The highlight of this song is Peter Cetera’s voice which is both unique and irreplaceable.

Stay tuned for next article in this 6 part series which will feature another 5 of the greatest classic love songs of all time.

“Here We Are” – GLORIA ESTEFAN

martinsejas — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:07:43 +0000

Written by: Gloria Estefan
Released: 1989

US Charts: #6
UK Charts: #23
Other Charts: #7 (Ireland), #12 (Australia)

“Here We Are” is one of Gloria Estefan’s most recognizable ballads and continues to be a favourite on Adult Contemporary radio stations. The song explores the deep feelings of love that two lovers feel when they have their own little private moments. It’s these moments of passion and love that everyone craves for and by listening to the lyrics closely you can even reminisce about such wonderful moments that you’ve had in the past.

The song was released as the third single of the hugely successful album “Cuts Both Ways” in late 1989. It was her first album credited to Estefan as a solo artist even though long-time band Miami Sound Machine had helped her make this album. While not as commercially successful as the first single of the album “Don’t Wanna Lose You”, “Here We Are” is still a very well-written and composed classic ballad. The lyrics describe wonderfully the actions of two lovers sharing a private moment of passion and love which everyone can easily imagine.

The song reached number 6 in the United States, becoming Estefan’s ninth Top 10 single in that country. It also reached number 23 in the UK and number 7 in Ireland. I sincerely hope you enjoy the above video of the song which I put together in honour of the immensely beautiful Gloria Estefan. Enjoy!

Lyrics can be accessed here.

Chords can be accessed here.

Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.