As Time Goes By and other great love songs

As Time Goes By is 70 years old. That is if we count its birth from its use in the motion picture Casablanca in 1942. The truth though is that the Herman Hupfeld composition is 81 years old. As Time Goes By was first sung in the Broadway show Everybody’s Welcome in 1931.

It is an old song. But such is the impact of As Time Goes By on listeners that it remains a big favorite to this day. In fact, it is being constantly voted as one of greatest songs of all time. I am sure that many of you have had this experience a few times. The opening notes of As Time Goes By come on the air or from the band or a pianist nearby and a sigh breaks out from the people around you. 

You must remember this/ a kiss is still a kiss/ a sigh is just a sigh… And everybody goes aaaaah! They do the same for Someday…of The Way You Look Tonight or to Are the stars out tonight…of I Only Have Eyes For You. There is no mistaking it. As far as romance is concerned, the immense power of an old love song is eternally undiminished.

This does not mean though that the oldies, remember, The Way You Look Tonight was written in 1926, have a monopoly of romantic sentiments. A lot of beautiful love songs have also been written in recent times. These may rock or groove to a different beat but the message is always the same. As As Time Goes By says: The fundamental things apply as time goes by. Here are some of those songs: 

God Only Knows by the Beach Boys from the album Pet Sounds. Composed and arranged by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Tony Asher with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. This was the most sophisticated Beach Boy recording of the time with structure and arrangement inspired by the music of Bach. The tender intro with its clever use of French horns and a harpsichord is one of the most recognizable in modern music history. It was also the first pop song to use God in the lyrics in an awesome promise of undying love. I may not always love you…

Something by the Beatles from the album Abbey Road, 1969. The most romantic song by the Beatles was composed, not by Lennon and McCartney, but by George Harrison. This took a great deal of courage on his part because the band was then close to breaking up and leery of anything that may show them up as sentimental. And it did happen with this beautiful song. Harrison also sang the vocals and producer George Martin added strings for a heavenly finish. Something in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover…

Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, 1965. No other song expresses longing better than this one. It is no wonder then that it has crossed generations to become one of the greatest love songs of all time. Composed by Alex North and Hy Zaret, it was an Academy nominee as the theme for the movie Unchained. Then it was a hit for Lex Barker, the Righteous Brothers, George Hamilton and others. But the big windfall came when it became the theme for the movie Ghost in 1990. Oh my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch a long, lonely time…

The romantic tone of the Oscar-winning movie Titanic was set by Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On

There are also My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, 1997, the theme from the motion picture Titanic that won the Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammys, lots of other awards and has sold 15 million copies; Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley from the movie Blue Hawaii, 1961; Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, 1951 and as a duet with his daughter Natalie Cole in 1991; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack. Remember this in Play Misty for Me.

I Honestly Love You by Olivia Newton John; Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie; I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men; Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton; Only You by The Platters; Dedicated To The One I Love by the Shirelles; You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker; How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees; Please Don’t Ask Me by John Farham; If by Bread; In My Life by The Beatles; Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones; and Baby I Love Your Ways by Peter Frampton.

Like My Heart Will Go On, this is a list that can go on and on and on with one beautiful song after another being rediscovered. I hope I did not miss out on your favorites. If l did, do send me your choices and I will put out your own personal list.

Have a happy, utterly romantic Valentine’s Day.