Ballads and Love Songs
My current favourite playlist on my iPod is one I’ve labelled “mellow”. It’s a wide-ranging list in terms of styles and genres of music, but all the songs have in common that they are neither loud nor quick-tempoed. Many of them are love songs of one sort and another, though not all. It’s got pop and jazz and folk and standards and ballads by rockers and more. It’s pretty much the antithesis of my “workout” playlist.
Because it is my favourite playlist, everything on it is getting a little too familiar and overplayed. I know there are lots of songs out there I’ve forgotten about and many, many more I’ve never heard. So I thought I’d ask about your favourite mellow music to see if I can discover something new or be reminded of something old I should add. I’ve done some exploring, but I imagine you know of things I’d never find on my own.
I don’t care what decade it comes from – my current mellow list includes everything from Ella Fitzgerald to the Eagles to Ed Sheeran – or whether it’s obscure or so mainstream you’re embarrassed to admit to liking it. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so there are more than a few potentially embarrassing names in my own collection, and I’m not the least bit averse to things that are/were popular just because they’re popular.
Please share if you’re willing. I’d love to read about your favourite song titles/artists to the comments. Thank you!
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This is my Sky Ian Tyson, Alberta Blue The Travelling Mabels, Gentle On My Mind Glen Campbell Breakfast in Dublin Heather Sullivan, Four Strong Winds Ian Tyson, Going With Him Someday Soon Ian Tyson
Loving her Was Easier Kris Kristofferson
Hi Kathy!
Jonathan Coulton has a range of nerdy songs – many would fit a mellow ballad playlist. “I like you in glasses” is a love song about growing old together. “I’m Your Moon” is from Pluto’s moon to Pluto after it was downgraded from a planet. Most of his songs are on YouTube so you can check them out.
My go to men and women of romance are: Otis Redding – too many to mention/Steve Earle; Days Aren’t Long Enough/Gretchen Peters; The Way You Move Me/ Foster & Lloyd; Crazy Over You / Linda Ronstadt; Long Long Time/ Cat Stevens; First Cut/Jackie DeShannon; When You Walk in the Room/Dire Straits; Why Worry/ The Moody Blues; Once Upon a Time/John Prine; In Spite of Ourselves/Johnny Reid; Dance With Me/ Hoyt Axton; Lion in Winter/The Hollies; I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight and last but not least Judy Collins; Someday Soon. I literally could go on and on as music is my first passion.
Thanks for all the great suggestions, Kathleen, Jill and Nancy. I know some of these, but not all. Will definitely check them out.
Currently loving:Anchor by Mindy Gledhill, Human by Christina Perri, kiss me by Ed Sheeran and hearse by Ani Di Franco