To date I have received eight cheesy CDs. I suppose it's safe to offer my own humble playlist to the world.
"Giving You The Best That I Got," Anita Baker
My love for Ms. Baker defies all logic and was conceived before my first visit from Aunt Flo but after my discovery of Fred Savage. I only know about four of her songs, but man, are they some passionate songs. My favorite one is "Just Because," but I never really nailed the lyrics. This one is much easier to understand and seemed to set the perfect mood for ultimate cheesy goodness.
"Always," Atlantic Starr
Who doesn't love this song? So hopeful, so positive, so optimistic about life and love. This was another song with a confusing line; instead of singing, "When you come around, you bring brighter days," I sang, "You bring back the days." It made total sense at the time.
At Luke's and my wedding reception, the D.J. played this song and preluded it by saying it would be the only slow song of the night. Apparently they do this to provide at least one full dance floor for the photographers.
"Biggest Part Of Me," Ambrosia
When I was fifteen, one of the contemporary pop stations aired a show called "Love Notes" from eight to midnight seven days a week; I succumbed to the song's power after hearing it three times a night every other day during the entire summer of Nick, The Boyfriend Who Went Three Weeks Without Calling, the summer of my first French kiss (which at the time was called wrapping; is this familiar to anyone else, or was the term confined to the south side of Chicago?) and my first "I love you," my first experience of a boy looking into my eyes and telling me I was beautiful. Resistance would've been futile.
"Sometimes," Britney Spears
This song is really sweet and reminds me of a time when Britney was more into choreographed dances highlighting hand-over-heart gestures than flashing innocent passersby with Paris Hilton outside California A-list night clubs. Did you know that I once dressed up as Britney Spears on Christmas Eve? It's true. My parents had purchased a karaoke machine and I knotted a bathrobe at my midriff and planted two pigtails on the top of my head to sing my own rendition of "Hit Me Baby, One More Time."
Anyway, I really like this song.
"Penny Lover," Lionel Richie
It's impossible to play this ditty without singing to it. From the doo doos to the whoas, every note is delicious. The lines often responsible for bringing my vocal chords to life are "Now my love is somewhere lost in your kiss / When I'm all alone it's you that I miss / Girl, a love like yours is hard to resist /Whoa Whoa Whoooooa."
You want to sing along, too, now, don't you?
"I Knew I Loved You," Savage Garden
On the night of the bachelor auction where I purchased Luke like deli meat at the grocery store, this was the first song we ever danced to. I remember writing the lyrics out and mailing them to him with a letter before I returned to Saint Joe to start my senior year. Savage Garden lyrics! Ack! But this song can still make me cry--especially when Darren Hayes starts screeching at the end.
"The First Time," Surface
The only reason I know about this song is because of VH-1. Back when they hosted Top Twenty Countdowns with celebrity hosts. I think the video featured an interpretive dance. Another tearjearker. (No thanks to the dance.)
"God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You," 'N Sync
Yes, I've bawled over this one, too. Have you no heart at all?
"Far Away," Nickelback
I go back and forth over my decision to include this on my compilation. It's actually a great love song with little to no cheese factor and thus has no business on a CD inspired by the likes of Lionel Richie. However, they played this over a Zach and Kendall love scene on All My Children, and Zach is really hot with his shirt off. The fact that it reminds me of a soap opera hunk elevates it to at least slightly cheesy, right?
"Lucky One," Amy Grant
So happy! "Lucky One" makes me want to don a breezy white cotton dress and skip rocks on the beach. If I were any good at skipping rocks.
"Soul Provider," Michael Bolton
Believe it or not, this wasn't my first Michael Bolton pick. The CD originally featured "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," but that put me over my space limit by like, eight seconds, and by that time it was too late to do any major revisions, so I switched the two out. I like it, but I'll forever be reminded of what could've been.
"Cuts Both Ways," Gloria Estefan
Again, not my first choice. "Here We Are" was another song sacrificed due to space constraints.
"Endless Love," Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey
When I first heard this back in 1994, I had no idea it was a remake. Upon hearing the original, I decided Luther and Mariah still did it better.
"No Place That Far," Sara Evans
Half the songs on this disc have the power to make me cry. This video zeroes in on two old people on the brink of extinction holding hands in a forest and celebrating their love. Remember that when you hear this song and just try to hold back the tears, Internet. Just TRY.
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You," Michael Jackson and Some Other Woman
The eighties was a classic time for duets, and everyone knows duets are an essential element to numerous cheesy love songs. For some reason, the female performer is not credited for her musical prowess.
"Saving All My Love For You," Whitney Houston
I'm going to ignore the fact that Whitney's trying to seduce a married man with promises of sex because this is an AWESOME ballad to belt out in the shower. Just ask my parents, as they often heard my performances while I washed up for school.
"Now And Forever," Carole King
This one really tugs at the heart strings, which is why I included it, not because I think it's cheesy. I first heard it in the opening sequence of A League of Their Own.
"You're In Love," Wilson Phillips
I can recall the first time I saw a Wilson Phillips video. I was ten, it was summer, and the chart topper of the moment was "Hold On." I loved this group so much. I even have a recording of me and my older cousin singing this very song. She fastened masking tape over the top slots of one of my singles so we could use it. I thought that was so cool.
I almost included "Impulsive," but this one seemed to better represent the spirit of the cheese.
"Separate Lives," Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
"You have no right to ask me how I feel / You have no right to speak to me so kind"
After the first of many break-ups with Nick, I would listen to this song on my walkman and imagine him bumping into me on the street, his hand reaching to caress my face, his eyes silently apologizing for not being able to give me what I needed even though he wanted me more than anything else in the world. There really is something about your first love that takes your breath away and leaves you completely vulnerable, completely willing to compromise your own values just to be part of that chemistry a little while longer. This song reminds me of the attitude I wanted all of my ex-boyfriends to have, an attitude of I was wrong, but I love you and I'm going to fight for you, even if the words aren't actually there.
I have mixed feelings about this CD. I think it's a good representation of me, but there are so many other songs that deserved to be on there, too. But that's what's so great about a swap. Whatever your CD lacks is bound to manifest itself into the collections of other group members, so that together we make one complete whole. Or something.
Honorable mentions include but are not limited to:
"Midnight Train To Georgia," Gladys Knight and The Pips
"Near You Always," Jewel
"Too Many Walls," Cathy Dennis
"Color Of Love," Billy Ocean
"Save The Best For Last," Vanessa Williams
"Saving Forever For You," Shanice
"Can't Wait Another Minute," Hi-Five
"Breathe Again," Toni Braxton
Still working on the master play list. Still avoiding the gym like the plague. Am quite nervous about Weight Loss Wednesday.
I will look it up in a minute, but I think the girl singing with Scary Michael Jackson is Siedah Garrett (I swear, if I'm right, I'm going to feel like a big nerd).
Back to reading the rest of your list now......
Posted by: Nat | December 06, 2006 at 03:49 AM
I cannot believe you referenced Fred Savage! I knew there was a reason, I connected with you!
I had my playroom wallpapered with his face for years. I still wish he'd fallen for me instead of Winnie Cooper.
Posted by: takin chances | December 06, 2006 at 03:57 AM
Okay, I might have to order a copy of the Frema mix. :D
Posted by: Liz | December 06, 2006 at 12:23 PM
Great list!!
The masking tape (scotch worked just as well) over the little open box on the corner was the coolest trick.
And kissing called wrapping? Yes. I wonder if this is just a SS Chicago thing? Or were there New Yorkers and Oklahomans wrapping too? Who the hell named it that, anyway? What were you supposed to wrap? I spent a good amount of time pondering that in my young (boring) pre-teen life.
Posted by: Lost A Sock | December 06, 2006 at 01:22 PM
Oh, man. Soul Provider is good, but How Am I Supposed to Live Without You? Would have been amazing. Perhaps since I have liberated your mix from the physical confines of its CD, I will add this song in.
Also, the wrapping thing? Whaaaat? I can't speak for the rest of the nation, but we most certainly weren't calling it that in metro Detroit. At least, I wasn't. Maybe the cool kids who were actually doing those kinds of things called it that, but I couldn't tell you for sure.
Posted by: Dawnie | December 06, 2006 at 01:34 PM
I am *so* glad that Amy Grant made an appearance in your mix too. I still get all fluttery when I hear her on the radio.
And I'm gonna have to go with a big "Wah??" on the wrapping thing. Never heard that before!
Posted by: Angela | December 06, 2006 at 02:39 PM
I just recieved my first cd in the mail yesturday- and it was from you! yeah! i was so excited! You were good because you did all cheese. I only did half cheese and half fav love songs... mostly because for the life of me I can not find all my CD's after we rearanged teh house for the babies room! Sorry!
Posted by: mk | December 06, 2006 at 03:14 PM
Every time I hear Michael Bolton I think of Office Space. Great images.
Also, I always thought it was "Sole Provider;" glad to learn he's not a chauvinist pig.
Posted by: Squisita | December 06, 2006 at 04:28 PM
I tried to leave a comment yesterday but couldn't...I just have to say, I would totally ROCK OUT to this CD, and I never could have participated in the swap because there is just too much cheese to choose.
Posted by: Erika | December 07, 2006 at 10:08 AM