Candlelight and soul forever
A dream of you and me together
Say you believe it, say you believe it
The opening lyrics of 2 Become 1, The Spice Girls’ third consecutive number one and their first Christmas number one. Taken from their debut album Spice (1995), it showed a softer side to the English group without losing their trademark cheekiness.
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
It’s not warm when she’s away
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And she’s always gone too long
Anytime she goes away
Taken from the song Ain’t No Sunshine by soul legend Bill Withers from his debut album Just as I am (1971). What a voice.
Kissing like a bandit stealing time
Underneath the sycamore tree
Cupid by the hour sends valentines
To my sweet lover and me
Slowly, Surely
Yours appetite is more than I know
Sweetly, Softly
I’m falling in love with you
The opening verse of US number one Wishing Well by the super slick Terence Trent D’Arby, from his debut studio album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby (1988)
It must have been love but it’s over now.
It must have been good but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love but it’s over now.
From the moment we touched ’til the time had run out.
Taken from the song It Must Have Been Love by Swedish band Roxette. Originally released in 1987, a slightly edited version appeared in 1990 as part of the Pretty Woman soundtrack and became their third US number one. The second of these was another classic, Listen to Your Heart.
Heart beats fast
Colours and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow
The opening lines of A Thousand Years by American singer songwriter Christina Perri. Released in 2011, it was part of the Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 film, where the tortured relationship within Bella Swan and Edward Cullen reaches its conclusion.
Beauty queen of only eighteen she
Had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her, she
Always belonged to someone else
Taken from the song She Will be Loved by Californian band Maroon 5, from their debut album Songs about Jane (2004).
The storm is breaking or so it seems
We’re too young to reason, too grown up to dream
Taken from the song Slave to Love by Bryan Ferry, from his UK chart-topper solo album Boys and Girls (1985). I’m a big fan of his elegant, velvety smooth voice, especially with his work on Roxy Music. Jealous Guy and More than This are my personal favourites.
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life, too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
Taken from one of Elvis Presley’s most loved songs, Can’t Help Falling in Love, which was first featured in Elvis’ 1961 film Blue Hawaii.
There’s a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours
Taken from the wonderfully romantic song Can you feel the love tonight by Elton John, from the award winning soundtrack to The Lion King (1994)
I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again.
The opening lyrics of ‘How Deep is your Love’ by The Bee Gees, from the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever (1977).
Alex Raphael 