The Expression of Love, How Tenderness Is Represented In Music
By Marie Deshayes
Human connection, often expressed through gestures like hugs and gentle touches, serves as a source of comfort and support in our lives. These tender moments with loved ones, whether it’s a soft smile or an unexpected kiss, hold significance regardless of age, gender, or culture. Beyond human actions, various forms of art, including literature, visual arts, and especially music, can also evoke tenderness. Music, with its ability to speak directly to the soul, offers solace and uplifts spirits with its emotive power. It serves as a direct line to the heart, offering comfort and evoking a wide range of emotions, including tenderness, find out more in The Expression of Love, How Tenderness Is Represented In Music.
Music often relates to main creative pursuits including literature and painting Tenderness can also be found in the tender smell of a fragrance, but probably the most direct is when hearing a love song.
Some famous names, such as Adele, Taylor Swift or even Elton John, have sung love songs but some are specifically about the tenderness of love. Over the whole time period of music love and tenderness have been an eternal theme.
If you want to have a read then carry on below but you can also listen to the songs here.
1. Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley (Folk rockabilly pop)
This iconic song by Elvis Presley comes from the 1956 movie of the same name and puts new words to a new musical adaptation of the Civil War song “Aura Lea“, published in 1861. Loved by his fans it has a gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics. Buy it here.
2. Try a little tenderness by Otis Redding (classic soul song)
Becoming a standard in the world of music, it was subsequently covered by singers such as Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Sammy Davis, Jr., Perry Como, and The Platters. Aretha Franklin performed it in a jazz rendition in 1962 for her album “The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin“. But it wasn’t until 1966 that this song became popular thanks to Otis Redding. Buy it here.
3. Tender Love by Mounika, Ocie Elliott (lo-fi hip-hop, electronic music)
That song features a clever combination of vintage and contemporary elements. Mounika, a French producer, sampled the vocals from the 1977 track “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain, infusing it with modern lo-fi hip-hop beats. This fusion of old and new creates a unique and nostalgic listening experience for fans across generations. Buy it here.
4. Tender by Delight (pop)
Delight’s “Tender” was originally written and recorded by the British band Blur in 1999. Delight’s cover of the song in 2001 brought it into the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, transforming the indie rock track into a lively and upbeat dance anthem. Buy it here.
5. Tender by Blur (Alternative rock gospel)
The distinctive chorus of the song showcases a large group of backing vocalists, including the London Community Gospel Choir. This addition occurred almost spontaneously during recording sessions when the band invited the choir to the studio. The outcome is a powerful and uplifting chorus that brings a soulful element to the song, enhancing its universal appeal and solidifying it as one of Blur’s most iconic tracks. Buy it here.
6. Tender Tender by Sean Paul, Beres Hammond (Reggae)
This song combines the unique styles of two Jamaican music legends from different generations. Beres Hammond known for his soulful reggae and lover’s rock music, while Sean Paul is famous for his dance hall and reggae fusion hits. Buy it here.
7. Tender is the night by Henry Mancini (jazz/ traditional pop)
This song is the theme song for the 1962 film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same name. The song, composed by Mancini, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Interestingly, Mancini’s lush and romantic melody perfectly captures the mood of the film, adding depth and emotion to the story of love, glamour, and tragedy set against the backdrop of the French Riviera. Buy it here.
8. The Tender Years by Liam Kelly (country)
This song was actually written by The American country music artist George Jones. It was first released by Jones in 1961, and it became one of his early hits. Liam Kelly’s rendition of the song introduced it to a new audience and showcased the enduring appeal of classic country music across different generations and cultures. Buy it here.
9. The Tender Trap by The Starlite Singers (jazz)
Frank Sinatra originally performed it for the 1955 film with the same title. Since then, it has become a cherished standard in the Great American Songbook, inspiring numerous covers by various artists throughout the years. Buy it here.
10. The Tender Land (Opera in three acts) Act 1: Trifle Slow by Aaron Copland (opera)
We finish with Aaron Copland’s opera “The Tender Land”, which was originally composed as an opera in three acts but did not achieve immediate success. However, its instrumental suite, including “Act 1: Trifle Slow,” became widely acclaimed, showcasing Copland’s ability to capture the essence of American landscapes and emotions through music. Buy it here.
Music can go straight to our hearts, whether it’s fast, furious and uptempo or long, slow and subtle, one even there to mend a broken heart, there is always a gentle tender tune to aid us in need. Who doesn’t love a soppy love song?
If you enjoyed reading The Expression of Love, How Tenderness Is Represented In Music, why not read The Smell of Romance: The Story of a Fearless Love.
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