I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why,
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

I have not heard many people refer to Roxette’s “Listen To Your Heart” as a great song but I am presenting it here as a top 500 song of all-time. The melody is so catchy and it is such a perfect vocal for a power ballad. Also, make sure to list to DHT’s version. It is much more stripped down than Roxette’s version, and it can help you hear just how well-crafted the song is.

If there is anything negative about Roxette’s version, it is that the instrumentation and production is a bit over the top. But that was the 80s. Underneath the synthesizer and guitar solo there is a beautiful song.

The lyrics are great. It sounds like the narrator is counselling a friend or daughter to look twice at the good thing she has with her current relationship before she throws it away. Sure, the relationship may not be as wild as it once was, and the relationship doesn’t seem as “magical”, but there is love there, so “listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye”.

Listen To Your Heart Lyrics

I know there’s something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yeah
You’ve built a love but that love falls apart
Your little piece of Heaven turns too dark

Listen to your heart when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart, there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yeah
They’re swept away and nothing is what is seems
The feeling of belonging to your dreams

Listen to your heart when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart, there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

And there are voices that want to be heard
So much to mention but you can’t find the words
The scent of magic, the beauty that’s been (beauty that’s been)
When love was wilder than the wind

Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before, oh

Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) when he’s calling for you
Listen to your heart (take a listen to it) there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going and I don’t know why
But listen to your heart before
You tell him goodbye

Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (take a listen to it)
Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (take a, take a listen to it)
Listen to your heart
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, ooh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)
Listen to your heart (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Listen to your heart (oh, oh)

Songwriters: Rolf Letekro / Tony Harnell

Once I had a love and it was divine/
Soon found out I was losing my mind.

Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” is a song that bridges the gap between 70s disco and the electric keyboard-heavy, synthesizer sound of the 80s. This time period was probably the driest stretch of great music for rock and pop music: 1975-1990. This is a great representative of the disco sound. Disco was simply the dance music of the 70s. It is comparable to club music of the last 20 years: usually it is best when you are in a certain mood, and for the most part there are few great songs in the genre.

Many things combine to make “Heart of Glass” a fantastic song. Deborah Harry’s unique vocals really drive the song and give it the signature “Blondie” sound. She uses unexpected phrasing and changes in octave to create a unique sound. The synthesizers work for this song. For most songs, synthesizers are the wrong choice; for this song it is the right choice. The fuzzy guitar goes along with it perfectly.

The lyrics of “Heart of Glass” also matches the music well. The lyric is about how she seems to be perceiving her love is one thing when it is another: Usually she thinks it is good when it is really bad. The music is so out there that you feel like your reality is being skewed. The fuzz boxes, wailing organ and sliding up the guitar makes me picture neon lights, or carnivals with fun-mirrors. Great production!

Lyrics Heart Of Glass

Once I had a love and it was a gas,
Soon turned out had a heart of glass.
Seemed like the real thing, only to find,
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind.

Once I had a love and it was divine,
Soon found out I was losing my mind.
It seemed like the real thing but I was so blind,
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind.

In between
What I find is pleasing and I’m feeling fine.
Love is so confusing there’s no peace of mind.
If I fear I’m losing you it’s just no good
You teasing like you do.

Once I had a love and it was a gas,
Soon turned out had a heart of glass.
Seemed like the real thing, only to find,
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind.

Lost inside
Adorable illusion and I cannot hide.
I’m the one you’re using, please don’t push me aside.
We coulda made it cruising, yeah…

Yeah, riding high on love’s true bluish light
Once I had a love and it was a gas,
Soon turned out had a heart of glass.
Seemed like the real thing only to find,
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind.

In between
What I find is pleasing and I’m feeling fine.
Love is so confusing there’s no peace of mind.
If I fear I’m losing you it’s just no good.
You teasing like you do.

Songwriters: Chris Stein / Deborah Harry

And if you live by the rules of it’s over/
Then I’m sure that that makes sense.

Dido is another singer who is criminally underrated in the music world; she has several all-time great songs, some of which you have heard, some you haven’t.  “White Flag” you have heard.

Dido’s “White Flag” is about a relationship that is over-in most senses of the word- but Dido will not give up on it. She will not wave her white flag and give up on the relationship. He doesn’t think she should love him anymore, but she does, and she will go down fighting to save the relationship.

It is interesting to note that in the relationship Dido describes she seems to be the one at fault, but the song is universal in that anyone who has tried to save a relationship can relate. Even those who have valued a relationship and want to fight for it can rally behind this song. It is a classic.

Dido’s music uses a lot of percussion and synthesizers to achieve her sound. She is a great live performer. If you love music, you must see her Live at Brighton Academy performance on dvd. It is one of the best live performances I have seen. Also, live, Dido’s songs sound a little more raw, and her voice sounds more alive. Check it out.

White Flag Lyrics

I know you think that I shouldn’t still love you
Or tell you that
But if I didn’t say it, well I’d still have felt it
Where’s the sense in that?

I promise I’m not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be

I know I left too much mess and
Destruction to come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can’t talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of it’s over
Then I’m sure that that makes sense

I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be

And when we meet
Which I’m sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I’ll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I’ve moved on

I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be

Songwriters: Dido Armstrong / Richard W. Jr. Nowels / Rollo Armstrong