We all have them, songs that seem to touch a secret place in your soul – sometimes secret even from you. They can grow and occasionally fester like an open wound, or they can fill you up, inspire you and occasionally even heal you. Sometimes they don't even reflect your musical tastes. They can be shameful secrets that you keep from family and friends. You feel like a drug addict craving your next fix. At times like those you thank the powers that be for MP3 players - the syringe of those suffering with this affliction. This is a special two-part Valentine’s day instalment of Songs that Touch My Soul.
Valentine’s day probably originated with the 14th century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer (author of the very first work of fiction in English The Canterbury Tales) who romanticised in poetry the legend surrounding several early (Roman times) Christian martyrs, all named Valentine, to fit in with the Medieval court’s fashion for romantic love.
So romantic love is certainly the basis and the reason for Valentine’s day – well that and the card and chocolate industry need the yearly boost – but I can’t help but think that romantic love is only part of the story. So in this, edition of Songs that Touch My Soul we will celebrate ALL kinds of love and even heartbreak, because where one goes the other always follows. Just a warning, this may be more than just gently dirty, I frequently fall directly into smut.
“Strange and Beautiful” – Aqualung
“I’ve been watching your world from afar… To me you’re strange and you’re beautiful. You’d be so perfect with me but you just can’t see, you turn every head but don’t see me”. Stalker love is still a kind of love right? We’ve all been in the throes of obsessive love, think about your first crush, or that teenage worship of an actor or rock star. It’s not lasting love, it’s not really love at all, but it’s so excruciatingly exquisite; the pain, the desire bordering on lust, your first real tingles of sexuality. This song encapsulates all of that perfectly, summing it up with alarming and evocative lyrics and ethereal, haunting, carnal piano and synth music.
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