Silly little love songs, Sonoma-style

How many roses should you give your Valentine? One rose apparently means “you are the only one.” Giving three roses means “I love you.” Six roses means “I want to be yours.” Nine roses means “I want to be yours forever.” Ten roses (no doubt inspired by the Bo Derek movie) means “You are perfection.” Giving your loved one 11 roses means “You are the missing stem that makes a perfect dozen.”

Lovingly presenting your mate one dozen roses means that you, as a couple, are perfect.

Of course, to place yourself well into the “I am over the moon in love with you” category, you could also sing her/him a love song. Since love is a very common theme in song, you should have no trouble selecting the perfect tune to convey your feelings.

Some members of our large stable of local musicians shared their thoughts about love songs, specifically the ones they like to perform. Most will be singing these songs at home this Valentine’s Day, as Cupid’s been COVID’ed, and he’s staying home, too.

Kerry Daly, lead singer in the eponymous Kerry Daly Band and the dormant Long Story Short, explained why “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson is her favorite love song. Daly said, “I really enjoy performing that song. It’s a classic lost love/longing song. I close my eyes when I sing songs like that to channel the feelings of the song. And it always goes over well, too, which makes it that much more fun to perform.”

Rona Brackett from the vocal group Shameless related that one of their favorite love songs is, “‘Sway” - a hit for Pussycat Dolls in 2004 - because it is sweet and sexy and romantic, but very much now because it is in Spanish. “We hope that the Dreamers will be safe and the immigrants will be loved and respected once more for all they do to bring their beautiful customs here to share with everyone,” she says.

Mark Dennis, who performs in a duo with his friend Mark Willson and also fronts the Vox Populi ensemble, contributed another thoughtful comment. He wrote, “This may be an odd answer, by my favorite love song is “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, because it captures the feeling of unrequited love in such an intense way. The line, ‘You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t’…what a killer.”

From the dynamic duo Acoustic Soul, Jackie Holzhauer said, “My favorite love song is by Ruthie Foster called ’Real Love.’ The title alone grabbed me, but also the passion she evokes and the honesty with which the pointedly asked her subject if what they have is real. She also gives us the message to be grateful and celebrate love when we find it.”

Jodi Stevens, co-owner of the Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, wrote that “At Last” is her favorite love song. She texted, “Etta James was inspiring, an icon and innovator with a breathtaking voice. It was my wedding song.”

Novato’s splendid pianist Dallis Craft, who plays locally with the New Copasetics, wrote, “The first song that pops into mind is ‘My Funny Valentine.’ Ever since I heard Kim Novak sing it in ‘Pal Joey,’ I always make a point to sing it on Valentine’s Day. I also love Randy Newman’s ‘Feels Like Home to Me’. His classic Americana chords and melodies always resonate with me.”

Our lively Ellen Toscano was apparently flummoxed by the question. She wrote, “Actually, a lot of the songs I sing are angry non-love songs like, ‘You Oughta Know,’ ‘Exes and Ohs’ and ‘I Will Survive.’’”

Then she warmed up and offered, “I love singing ‘(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To’ by Weezer. I usually sing it as a duet and it’s a really cute, uptempo, fun song about a couple, their story and getting engaged.”

Graham Edwards fronts the local band Loosely Covered (playing at Murphy’s Irish Pub on Feb 13). He texted, “My favorite is ‘Everlong’ by the Foo Fighters. To me, love is an endurance race, not a sprint. And the song’s plea not to give up, even when I say when, just nails that sentiment to me. In fact, that line was featured in my wedding vows, with credit attribution, of course.”

Glen Ellen band leader and vintner Rich Little mentioned one of his own compositions as his favorite love song to perform. “Send a Kiss to Me” was written for his wife, Joan, in 1982. A sweet mid-tempo song, it includes the line, “And then you came and tapped me on the shoulder, one starlit night, now send a kiss to me, baby.”

Grammy-winning singer songwriter Rodney Crowell took a moment on a chilly night in Nashville, Tennessee to respond, “Maybe my best is ’Closer to Heaven,” he said about the song off his 2008 album “Sex and Gasoline,” “because it is about spiritual love. It is not religious at all, but very prayerful and loving towards creation: friends, family and the natural world. I feel closer to center when I perform it.”

Crowell was a close friend of the late-Texas songwriter Guy Clark, who wrote this writer’s current favorite love song, “I Don’t Love You Much Do I.” The simple and sincere love song is on Clark’s great “Boats to Build” album. He sings it as a duet with the wonderful Emmylou Harris.

(I have only performed it publicly once, with the equally wonderful Jenni Purcell. Be assured I’ll sing it again Sunday night in a private COVID-safe kitchen concert.)

Sing that song, folks, and Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!