Some of my friends and I are writing today about the songs that put us in the mood for Valentine's Day. My Valentines "mood" has generally been... dark. But as you know, my story has a happy ending so... Enjoy my trail of tears!
In junior high we had an annual flower fundraiser for Valentine's Day. Students could spend a dollar to have a carnation (white for friendship, red for love) delivered to other students during third period. I always held out hope for a red carnation delivery to my desk. I finally received one in eighth grade from a "secret admirer." I'm pretty sure it was from my pal Bob Rothstein... or my mom. It remains a carnation mystery. Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" was very popular that year (1978). It seemed that you could be loved just the way you were, as long as you just were one of the super-popular girls. Break out the sad, sad saxophone.
1991 brought the married guy friend who gave me six red roses for Valentine's Day. I told one of my girlfriends about this and she replied, "Where are the other six? With his wife?" The song of that moment was the newly released U2's "Love is Blindness." Ah, the forlorn 90s.
Valentine's Day the next year, I found a love letter penned by the guy I was seeing. It was addressed to Aimee. Cue the sad 90s song, that he and I listened to over and over, "Only Shallow" from the great Irish band, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless album. The irony of "our song" is not lost on me.
The Valentine's Day after my first divorce, my ex-husband left 100 red roses on my doorstep. It made me cry. My friend Jennifer came over and drove me to a local nursing home where I donated the flowers to the folks who lived there. More tears. Sarah McLaughlin's "Adia" was the song of the time. There's a reason they use her music for those sad dog commercials. Sniff, sniff.
On Valentine's Day 2007, nine-month-old Baby Bob and I arrived in Berlin. We were joining up with Mr. Rosenberg and his band who was on tour. With our crazy travel schedule, the baby and I had been up for almost 48 hours. I was weepy and delirious from lack of sleep. When I got to the apartment where we were staying, I collapsed in tears and fell asleep for 18 hours. I slept through Valentine's Day, but I did get to spend it with the two loves of my life. The song for that time is from Mr. Rosenberg's band, Lavender Diamond. It's called "When You Wake for Certain." It's still one of my favorites.
Please check out some other fine song choices for your Valentine's mood from these lovely writers:
Mrs. TDJ
Laurie White
Oh, Lisa, we have almost the same life stories, but lucky lucky us, the wonderful happy ending is shared, too. Happy Valentine's Day, my friend!
ReplyDeleteLove to you, Alexandra! xoxo
DeleteQuite the journey! And I've loved Billy Joel since my mother and I bumped into him once at Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island. He was (and still is) a hometown guy who took a pic and signed autographs while making jokes. Happy Love Day lady!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Taya! xoxo
DeleteMy wife bought me Piano Man on vinyl and then started listening to the Billy Joel channel on Sirius XM radio with me. I'm *this close* to convincing her of Billy's awesomeness as a love song writer.
ReplyDeleteHappy V day to you
"She's Got a Way" is one of his best! xo
Delete"It seemed that you could be loved just the way you were, as long as you just were one of the super-popular girls. Break out the sad, sad saxophone."
ReplyDeleteWell. If that ain't high school.
THAT'S the Lavender Diamond album we listen to all the time, btw! Love it. And this post.
xoxox
Thanks for taking us here, Nancy! xo
DeleteIt is really nice for me. By listening to those songs, I feel so relax. Thanks.
ReplyDelete