The inspiration behind love songs

I was planning to write about something else when I saw this feature in Rolling Stone Magazine. Titled Hearts and Bones and written by Michael Ansaldo, it is a list of songs for famous Valentines. I know, V-day has come and gone but this is just too interesting to pass up. I would love to come up with a local version but it will come out like a tabloid column and I cherish the friendship of many of those whose names and songs will be mentioned.

There is nothing here from J.Lo to Ben but I am sure all you music buffs out there would love to know that Faith Hill’s Breathe was inspired by Tim McGraw and Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me a River was his heartbreak tune for Britney Spears.

Here are some of them:

Don’t Speak, one of the best recordings by No Doubt was composed by soloist Gwen Stefani after they broke up for the band’s bassist Tony Kanal.

Harvest was Neil Young’s love song that heralded the beginning of his relationship with actress Carrie Snodgrass. She appeared in Wild Things and The Ballad of Billie Jo.

03 Bonnie and Clyde by Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles, pop music’s likable twosome of the moment, duets in a love song inspired by one another. Hip hop can also be romantic.

You’re So Vain was written and recorded by Carly Simon more than 30 years ago for somebody she still refuses to name. Some say it was Warren Beatty. Others aver it was Mick Jagger.

I’m a Fool to Want You has lyrics written by Frank Sinatra in 1951 for the beautiful actress Ava Gardner who became his second wife.

Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake for Britney Spears. He denies it but that girl on the video is very recognizable as the look-alike of somebody. Ansaldo calls them this generation’s Frank and Ava.

Uptown Girl by Billy Joel was his love song for gorgeous model Christie Brinkley. They are now divorced.

She Belongs to Me by Bob Dylan is a strange kind of love song only the likes of the legendary folk artist could have written for his female counterpart, Joan Baez.

Breathe is Faith Hill’s sensual valentine for her husband, country music star Tim McGraw.

Angie by the Rolling Stones is said to have been inspired by Angela Bowie, then married to David and having an affair with Mick Jagger.

Rosanna by Toto for actress Rosanna Arquette who dated the band’s singer and guitarist Steve Lukather during the early ’80s. The song was later chosen Record of the Year at the Grammys.

Carrie-Anne by The Hollies was inspired by the muse of rock music during the ’60s, Marianne Faithful then in a tempestuous relationship with Mick Jagger. (Mick Again). So the Hollies’ Graham Nash called the song Carrie-Anne and not Marianne.

Stevie by Beach Boy Brian Wilson who still has to admit if the girl in his song is indeed Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. Romantic music lovers like to think it is and the legend has grown over the years.

Birthday Song by Australian rocker Ben Lee for his girlfriend actress Claire Danes. He wrote it as a gift on her 20th birthday.

Hearts and Bones is Paul Simon’s musical post mortem to his marriage and later divorce from actress and author Carrie Fisher, the original Princess Leia of Star Wars.

Layla by Derek and the Dominoes. This must be rock music’s most celebrated love song. Derek was really Eric Clapton who fell in love with Patty Boyd whom he disguised as Layla because she was married to George Harrison.

2004 Brit Awards

Meanwhile, speaking of swinging London, the glamrock band The Darkness bested Daniel Bedingfield, Blur, The Coral and Dido to win the top prize for the Best British album with Permission to Land at the 2004 Brit Awards held at Earl’s Court London, last Tuesday, Feb. 17. The Darkness also won the trophies for the Best British Group and the Best British Rock Act. The Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music went to the ’80s pop group Duran Duran. Other winners were:

British Male Solo Artist: Daniel Bedingfield

British Female Solo Artist: Dido

British Single: White Flag by Dido

British Urban Act: Lemar

British Dance Act: Basement Jaxx

British Breakthrough Artist: Busted

Pop Act: Busted

International Male Solo Artist: Justin Timberlake

International Solo Artist: Beyonce Knowles

International Album: Justified by Justin Timberlake

International Group: The White Stripes

International Breakthrough Artist: 50 Cent