OMG! I’m In Love: Various Artists
SONY MUSIC (3 CDs), Rs 399
Can’t stop gushing about your favourite love songs? OMG is definitely one of the best collections for you. 51 sentimental songs for the one you love… There’s the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and a bit of the new millennium, so take your pick and program your player accordingly.
Our picks from CD 1 include Savage Garden’s Truly Madly Deeply, Train with Drops Of Jupiter, balladeers Air Supply with All Out Of Love, Backstreet Boys with Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), Natalie Imbruglia on the heartbreaking Torn, and Toni Braxton’s soulful voice on Unbreak My Heart. The high-pitched vocals of Alicia Keys on Fallin’ are notably sharp and hit the right place…your heart. Other artistes that make a cut here include Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson among others.
CD 2 begins with an instrumental by smooth-as-silk saxophonist Kenny G on his spine-chilling You’re Beautiful, to the smooth voice of Sade on By Your Side. We can’t leave out John Mayer with his extremely lyrically satisfying Your Body Is A Wonderland. Darryl Hall and John Oates bring back the magic of the 80s with You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling (remastered version 2003); to pop goddess Whitney Houston’s anthemic Saving All My Love For You. We strongly recommend Cheap Tricks’ The Flame. Don’t miss out on a bit of country if you feel like it with John Denver’s golden super hit Annie’s Song. There’s also Gareth Gates with a cover of The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, to other artists like Outlandish, The Tony Rich Project and Ten Sharp.
On CD 3, we go back to the 60s with Where Do I Begin (the theme from Love Story) from Andy Williams who opens the 17-track playlist with this old favourite that is still played at many pre-dawn parties. Another hit-maker of the 70’s Shakin’ Stevens writes the words for you when you have none to say, with the very meaningful Because I Love You. INXS, a band that’s been around for over 30 years, and who lost their lead singer Michael Hutchence, bring their glow here with Afterglow. Boyband Westlife comes away with My Love, while the nasal-toned Willie Nelson picks on an Elvis classic Always On My Mind, with another oldie Neil Sedaka on Oh Carol. Don’t miss Gladys Knight and the Pips with Hero (Wind Beneath My Wings); true classic material in an age of EDM.
A collection you just cannot turn away from, music to remind you of your first love, to wind you up when you are down, to put you in the mood for dancing and songs even to say goodbye. Though no lyrics are included, you really don’t have to say the words.
Verus Ferreira is a music journalist for over three decades. He is the author of The Great Music Quiz Book and The Great Rock Music Quiz Book and the founder of Musicunplugged.in
