Eric Clapton Love Songs Playlist

Eric Clapton Love Songs Playlist

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Posted 2019-02-09 by Steven Gfollow
In February, I believe it is compulsory for anyone who writes regularly to have a column or two about Valentine's Day and the accoutrements of love. It's certainly expected that you will at least mention it. Now, being recently single-ised, I could not given a monkey's whatsit about Valentine's Day (ever notice the initials of Valentine's Day – VD – match something you don't want from a lover?) and so am more than happy to ignore it in all its myriad forms.

However, an online friend convinced me to write something about it. So, I did – a column of weird love songs . Apparently, that's not good enough. Apparently, it's not the spirit of the day. Apparently, I'm a big doofus. Meh.

So, I thought about the songs I like (or liked, I should say, when I had a partner) to help get my head into a romantic mood. Three of them were by or featured the same artist. That artist is Eric Clapton. And so, this column was born.

I have mentioned Eric Clapton a few times, most notably, his Christmas album of 2018 , which was quite wonderful. But, the fact of the matter is, as far as rock guitarists go, there are very few finer than Mr Clapton. And with over fifty years in popular music, he has a back catalogue the envy of many an artist.


I own a decent chunk of that catalogue.

However, at heart, Clapton is a bluesman. And the Blues is not a song genre of hope and joy; it is where you let all your emotions out, where you wear your heart on your sleeve. You feel "blue" when you're sad; the music often reflects that. Many of the songs on Clapton's albums are depressing or about depressing subjects or are sad. One only has to think of 'Tears In Heaven', written when his son passed away so tragically, to see that some of his best songs are borne of despair.

However, he has written some fine love songs, real love songs, not mourning a love having gone, missing someone, afraid someone's going to leave him, or some other form of negativity. And you could certainly do worse than have a quick Eric Clapton Valentine's Day playlist going…

So, let's get to it – 10 of Eric Clapton's best love songs.

'Layla' (by Derek & The Dominos)

not a proper video
Not the unplugged version, but the original version, with the chorus sung so passionately and then the guitar solo that just flows so gloriously at the end. He wrote the song to woo Patti Harrison away from Beatle and friend George; it worked. That Patti inspired not only this but also the most beautiful love song of the 1960s in The Beatles' 'Something' says what sort of a magnificent woman she is, a true muse.
Lyric example:
"%%Like a fool, I fell in love with you,
Turned my whole world upside down…%%"
'Forever Man'

Another more up-tempo song, a man professing his undying love for the woman he is with. The sentiment is laid there, stark, and he sings it so magnificently and plays one of his trademark guitar solos. It is a song that sounds like a love song but feels like a making love song.
Lyric example:
"%%How many times must I say I love you
Before you finally understand
Won't you be my forever woman
I'll try to be your forever man…%%"
'For Your Love' (by The Yardbirds)

not a proper video
Up the tempo again to something a little lighter and poppier (and the reason Clapton left The Yardbirds), but the sentiment in this song is certainly positive – for the girl of his desire, the singer would be willing to do anything. He adores her and wants her to know it and to feel like she is loved and wanted.
Lyric example:
"%%For your love
I would give the stars above
For your love,
For your love
I would give you all I could…"
'Tell Me That You Love Me'

not a proper video
A song that sounds as if it is one of joy, yet it is a man asking his woman if she loves him. He wants confirmation because he loves her. There is no hint she wants to leave him; he's just feeling insecure. It's a rare emotional lyric in any modern song, for a man to be so vulnerable, and that's why it makes this list.
Lyric example:
"%%Treat me gently and my heart will never roam
Straighten me out, pull me through,
Let me know that I'm still in love with you…%%"
'Let It Grow'

not a proper video
A ballad about love in general, but one that is full of hope and joy. Even if there is a clunky line ("…love is lovely…") repeated throughout, the song's sentiment is magnificent. It has a Blues feel; it has spiritual hope.
Lyric example:
"%%Plant your love and let it grow
Let it grow, let it grow,
Let it blossom, let it flow
In the sun, the rain, the snow…%%"
'Someone Like You'

lyrics video
This is a weird song. The singer is looking for drugs, but finds a girl instead, and decides she can make him have a change of lifestyle. That's love and devotion! It's slightly oddly presented, as though just seeing this girl can make him change, but that's what it is. It's love, and there is hope and there is redemption. It's what you need.
Lyric example:
"%%And then you came up on the other side
To brighten up my day.
I knew right away
That this could be my day…%%"

'Wanna Make Love to You'

not a proper video
Filled with 80s production and yet still a Clapton song with a too-brief guitar solo, this song says what it says on the cover – the singer wants to make love to the woman with him. Simple, not much more needs to be said. Still a fine song.
Lyric example:
"%%When the storms fall from the heavens
And the rivers, they stop their flow
If you just stop and talk to me
Honey, that's when I'll know…%%"
'Anything For Your Love'

not a proper video
Another 80s production overload, but that does not matter. The singer loves his woman and, much like The Yardbirds song, is willing to demonstrate that by doing anything for her. If anything, it is an update of the song 20 years later; the sentiment is the same; the delivery is more yearning.
Lyric example:
"%%Listen now baby, I'll tell you true
Just how much that I love you
I got a sweet feelin' I know is real
This kind of love you can't conceal…%%"
'Pretty Girl'

not a proper video
A love song to a man's wife, Clapton sings this as though he genuinely means it. He wants her to stay with him forever, and he's putting his heart on the line, telling her he will be there for her. This is a song of a man in love, but still a little insecure about where his partner stands, and that makes for an emotive song.
Lyric example:
"%%And when I'm feeling low and blue,
You always know just what to do…%%"
'Wonderful Tonight'

live video
And now we end at the most wonderful love song Eric Clapton produced. He tells of how his wife looks wonderful, but the way she acts is also wonderful, helping him to bed, waiting up for him, everything. This song brings back a number of memories for me. But Bel stands out at the moment (yes, there is a Mel as well, but Bel is the one here). She came to my school – took the day off from hers – to visit me. She really did herself up (there are reasons for that I won't go into), and as soon as I saw her, the lyrics of this song: "She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair/And then she asks me, Do I look all right?/And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight…" just hit me, and I associated the song with her for a long time. This is a beautiful song, one of the best love songs ever written. When I saw Clapton live at Adelaide's Festival Theatre, the guitar solo he played at the end had me mesmerised… So beautiful…
Lyric example:
"%%I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you…%%"

So, there you have it, an Eric Clapton Valentine's Day playlist. Hope you enjoyed it.

#lists
#music
#pop_culture
#quirky
#romantic
#valentines_day
%wneverywhere
85907 - 2023-06-11 07:15:41

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