This list started out as a summary of great melodies, but then I got all bogged down in whether or not to include Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven and lost my way. Readers of the WCFC know that this is not that kind of blog so I had to regroup. Now, instead of great melodies, let me draw your attention to those "oldies" that have that certain something that everyone wishes s/he could write into her music: A line that makes your heart drop and you think, "Man. That is the stuff." So here, they are, folks, my top 5 list of Oldies Heartbreakers:
1. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (a.k.a., "Wise Men Say" or "Only Fools Rush In")
"Take my hand, take my whole life too..."
Are you weeping softly yet? No? Are you human?
The universality of this song is made evident by the number of covers available on Youtube.com. I'm not a huge fan of the UB40 version, and I can't bring myself to listen to the A-Teem cover (some short-lived Swedish teen outfit), but the covers by just about every popular musical act of the 20th century try very hard to capture the magic of the classic. If you can sing or play an instrument, you should give into the wonders of this song.
2. "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys
"...so what good would living do me?"
This song gets me every time. Ev. Ree. Time. It's like Bryan Wilson went to the crossroads for this song, and the devil had to drive a hard bargain. *shiver*
3. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by the Shirelles
"So tell me now, and I won't ask again..."
Another amazing song that just boils down to that line. It is not so much what she is singing, but how she is singing it, like she knows she won't believe her lover, but she needs to hear the assurances. It is to weep!
4. "Lover's Concerto" by the Toys
"You hold me in your arms and say once again you love me, and if your love is true then everything will be just as wonderful."
I'm disappointed this song did not make it into the Top 500 rock songs of all time (Rolling Stone's list, anyway). I suppose it is a tad to orchestral for rock music fans, and they had to make room for 40% of the Beatles cannon, but still. This song is so sweet and uplifting, and how can you go wrong basing your melody on Bach's Minuet in G Major? (Short Answer: You can't!)
5. "(You're My) Soul & Inspiration" by the Righteous Brothers
"Without you baby what good am I?"
I've never been a fan of the "breakdown" in a song, when the performer feels the need to croon the spoken word to his imaginary lover, and I'll admit that this song is no exception. Still, when I was 6 or so, this was easily my favorite song, so much so that my parents took me to see the Righteous Brothers for my birthday. Actually, they took me to see Sesame Street live, but that was the opening act for the RB at the Kennedy Center. I think. I don't know, the memory is all muddied. But I still get all swoony when I hear this song.
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Here is the song that sent me all sideways on my original quest for the best melodies ever. It also makes me all weepy, AND it has absolutely stood the test of time.
"Greensleeves" by some English person with a lute (a.k.a. "What Child is This?")
The Celtic Women and most renaissance fairs have cornered the market on this song, which was composed in the 16th century, but it tends to be played a lot around Christmas because of the "What Child is This?" rewrite. It is just such an amazing melody that it continues to be played by anyone with a stringed instrument, including and especially dulcimers, lutes, and lyres. One's options are few when one answers to the medieval terpsichorean muse. It's nearly impossible to do this song poorly, but I tip my hat to Jethro Tull for showing me one can try (see for yourself).
N.B.: According to wikipedia, only jerks believe that Henry VIII wrote this for Anne Boleyn. Go figure.
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