DAILY DIRT: Let the countdown of love (songs) begin

From Lonestar to Sophie B. Hawkins, let’s start the ball rolling … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,059 of The Daily Dirt

1. Acknowledged as the longstanding Doctor of Love, I would like to offer what I feel are the 20 most romantic songs — both for couples who have enjoyed a long and lasting relationship and for those couples who might just be on the fringe of spending forever together.

I’m going to break this thought into a two-parter, to conclude Sunday in this same space. 

For the couples reading this, you’re welcome. And remember, I’m always here to help. (Before you start, I’ve attempted to keep the songs on this list to the ones that have a softer, romantic feel to them, so don’t expect to find “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston or “I Want to Know What Love Is,” by Foreigner. No screaming allowed in this countdown.)

Let the love countdown begin:

• 20. “Amazed,” by Lonestar: Yes, country groups have great love songs, too.
• 19. “Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green: This is one of those songs that the moment you hear the first few seconds of the opening you know an Al Green vocal is right around the corner. So smooth.
• 18. “The Way You Look Tonight,” by Rod Stewart: Frank Sinatra may have made this song famous, but Rod the Mod gave it an entirely new life with this 2002 presentation.
• 17. “You’re Still the One,” by Shania Twain: She dedicated this to her husband at the time (1997), Mutt Lange. Now, she dedicates it to Frederic Thiebaud, her husband since 2010.
• 16. “Your Song,” by Elton John: Still my favorite Elton effort, which dates to 1970.
• 15. “Rings,” by Cymmaron: “Ring, Ring, come on in, we got James Taylor on the stereo … “
• 14. “This Guy’s In Love With You,” by Herb Alpert: The perfect song for a couple’s first dance at their wedding reception. 
• 13. “Truly Madly Deeply,” by Savage Garden: Thu Australian duo’s big hit in 1997 was eventually named one of the nation’s all-time top 30 songs.
• 12. “Roses Are Red (My Love),” by Bobby Vinton: I first heard this song while sitting in a restaurant in Ashland, Ohio, one afternoon in 1962. I loved it then, and love it now.
• 11. “As I Lay Me Down,” by Sophie B. Hawkins: I was sure Sophie B. would be one of the megastars in the ’90s, but after two hit songs she just disappeared.

2. Did you know (Part 122)

• That the 155-year-old Campbell Soup Company plans to drop “soup” from its corporate name, rebranding as The Campbell’s Company. In addition to its lineup of soups, Campbell now owns snack brands like Goldfish, Snyder’s of Hanover, Cape Cod, Pepperidge Farm and others. 
• That the top five NFL franchises, in terms of worst all-time win percentage, are: 1. Buccaneers (.406), Cardinals (.422), 3.Jaguars (.424), Texans (.430) and Falcons (.437). 
• That Chuck Norris once walked into a Wendy’s and ordered a Big Mac. And got one.
• That the legendary Jim Thorpe, while playing football at Carlisle College in 1912, scored on a 97-yard touchdown run against Army. One of the opposing players on that Army team was future U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• That the role of Sundance in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was originally meant for Jack Lemon, not Robert Redford. Hmmmm ….

3. The Daily Dirt’s top 10 college football teams entering play today:

• 1. Georgia (2-0): Bulldogs, who lead a list of six SEC schools in our top 10, have won 41 consecutive regular-season games.
• 2. Ohio State (2-0): Buckeyes are idle this week. They probably need the rest after those demanding opening wins over Akron and Western Michigan.
• 3. Texas (2-0): Longhorns have the equivalent of a bye this week, playing UTSA. In case you missed it, UTSA is actually being mentioned as a potential new member of the rebuilding PAC-12.
• 4. Ole Miss (2-0): Rebels’Jaxon Dart may have the best name for a quarterback in all of college football.
• 5. Alabama (2-0): The Tide needs to make a statement today at Wisconsin after struggling a week ago vs. South Florida.
• 6. Miami (2-0): For real or not? This week’s opponent, Ball State, probably will not help provide a definitive answer.
• 7. USC (2-0): Trojans are off this week, then head to The Big House in Ann Arbor on Sept. 21.
• 8. Missouri (2-0): The Tigers enter this afternoon’s game against Boston College as much as a 16-point favorite.
• 9. Tennessee (2-0): Vols host Kent State today, but then things get real. Tennessee and Oklahoma tangle a week from today in Norman, Okla.
• 10. Penn State (2-0): Much was made last week about Notre Dame paying Northern Illinois $1.4 million, only to be upset by NIU. Well, Penn State paid Bowling Green $1.5 million to come to Happy Valley and almost beat the Nittany Lions.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — The most underrated song on the first half of our love countdown might be that Sophie B. Hawkins selection. If for some reason you’ve never listened to it, I highly suggest taking three or four minutes to do so. I think you’ll be a fan.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. We are long overdue to hear a selection of letters from the lovelorn and the sage wisdom of The Doctor of Love.