Thursday, February 21, 2013

Love is in the Air

With Valentine’s Day falling this month, our blog theme is about favorite romances---books or movies.

That’s a bit of a challenge for me because I can’t really say what my favorite romance movie or novel is. I know so many point to Casablanca as the best romance movie, but I’ve seen it a couple of times and both times it left me..meh.  As for novels, I can’t really pinpoint one of those either because there are too many of them. However, it’s more the author’s work I enjoy most when I think of best in romance. For instance, I’m a fan of  all of Nora Roberts'  romance series—ie; The MacGregors (several books in that series), The Quinn Brothers,  The Calhoun Women...just to name a few. She has such a way with character and plot, you can’t help but fall in love right along with them.  Another author who does an awesome series is Allison Brennan. Her work is romantic suspense and there’s more emphasis on the suspense than the romance, but her current series, featuring FBI candidate Lucy Kincaid, is fabulous! And what’s even better about it is each book builds on the relationship between Lucy and her boyfriend, Sean Rogan (who’s so alpha male you can’t help but drool when he comes onto the scene.)

Anyway, these two authors are what compel me to write and become a better writer, but honestly, when I sit down to write a romance, books and movies are not what motivate me and my characters. In fact, it’s music. Love songs, to be exact.  When I sit down to write, one of the first things I do is turn on the satellite to the music channels and plug in “love songs”.  The poetry and music of the songs really brings out my romantic muse.

Before I started working on this post, I went online to Google top love songs of all time and I was surprised by some of the songs on the list because to me they were ‘break-up’ songs, not love songs.  For instance, Lisa Lisa’s song “All Cried Out” is a beautiful song, but not one that’s going to want my characters dropping to one knee.

So I made my own list based on the songs that most inspire me and included two that weren’t even on the list, (and yes, I know they date me).  And of course I can't not include the song my husband chose for our first dance. Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse. 

 So, here's my list: 

1.       Wonderful Tonight                         Eric Clapton

2.       I Will Always Love You                  Whitney Houston

3.       Endless Love                                      Lionel Richie & Dianna Ross

4.       Always                                                 Atlantic Starr

5.       Your Song                                           Elton John

6.       Unchained Melody                         The Righteous Brothers

7.       My Heart Will Go On                     Celine Dion

8.       How Do I Live                                    LeAnn Rimes

9.       Here And Now                                  Luther Vandross

10.   From this Moment                          Shania Twain

11.   We’ve Only Just Begun                 The Carpenters

12.   Laughter In The Rain                       Neil Sedaka

 
Pretty eclectic, huh?
So what love song get’s you in the mood? ;-)

8 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Love, love, love your list, Terri...and dating myself, I can sing-a-long with almost all of them. However, I am distracted by noise so no music in the background for me when I write.

I don't remember Shania Twain's From This Moment but I love Rod Stewart and the song that has the words 'you are my lover and my best friend ... you're in my soul' would rank up there on my Top List as well as Maggie May.

Sarah Raplee said...

Great post, Terri!

The love songs that inspire me are more like character themes.

For example, the ex-con heroine in my first book's theme song is Desperado, by Clint black (I think)-"Your prison is walking through this world all alone."

Her hero's theme song is Shameless by Garth Brooks-"I'm Shameless when it comes to loving you."

Robin Weaver, Author said...

Interesting post, Terri. WONDERFUL TONIGHT is one of my favorites too. I've always wondered how Eric Clapton, with his raspy voice, manages to create such great music. And, of course, Unchained Melody is one of the all time greats--ties in perfectly with GHOST being one of my favorite romance movies.

B. A. Binns said...

I agree, Wonderful Tonight and Unchained Melody are two of my all-time favorites. Now I have to go home and listen tot hem again.

Judith Ashley said...

How could I have forgotten Unchained Melody? I used to play it over and over and over again on my 45.

Terri Molina said...

There are just so many great love song, but Wonderful Tonight, for some reason, just makes me melancholy. :-)

Thanks for commenting ladies.

Diana McCollum said...

One of my favorites is country song "Check Yes or No" by George Strait. It starts with them in third grade, love at first sight. And ends with them married and still happy. I love a good story, and Country music always tells a story. Another one is more contemporary "When a Man Loves a woman" by Percy Sledge. That song always gives me chills!!

nora snowdon said...

i love when a man loves a river by percy sledge, too. and that river by jim byrnes. great post, terri. now i'm going to turn on my stereo...