The Top Ten Romantic Tunes of All Time

Ah, the power of love! Your heart beats faster, your eyes open wider, and you're much more likely to listen to a love song. Each February 14, and during the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, the musical choices of the nation turn more romantic.

Over the years, some wonderfully potent love songs have been recorded. In fact, the most difficult part of writing this article was trimming the list down to just ten tunes.

So, if you don't find your favorite love song here, send me an e-mail at immedia@pacbell.net and let me know your desires on the subject. Meanwhile, you might want to visit www.romantic-lyrics.com or www.theromantic.com for a large selection of songs, often with the complete lyrics.

But right now, sit back, relax, pop a chocolate bon-bon in your mouth, and read some surprising facts about the Top Ten Love Songs for Valentine's Day (in chronological order):

"Someone to Watch Over Me," George and Ira Gershwin, 1926.
The birthplace of this lovely and moody number was an otherwise light and frothy Broadway musical called "Oh, Kay." The song was originally fast-paced, but soon moved to the ballad form, in keeping with the lyrics. There have been evocative renditions of the song every year since it was first composed, with a wide variety of artists contributing notable versions, including Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, rapper Queen Latifah (although hers is not a rap version), trumpeter Chris Botti, pianist Keith Jarrett, blues legend Etta James, Barbra Streisand, and Sting, who sang it over the opening credits of the 1987 Ridley Scott film of the same name.