Afraid to Love

Link to my "Afraid to Love" playlist on Spotify

The theme of this week’s episode is “Afraid to Love” and our first song is “Half of My Heart” by John Mayer, from 2009 and features Taylor Swift in the duet parts.

In Italian “Afraid to Love” is “Paura d’Amare”, and our next song has that title. It is by Marco Masini from 1992.

In 1975 the English band 10cc released “I’m Not In Love”. It was the second single from the band's third album, The Original Soundtrack, and it topped the UK singles chart for two weeks, reached number one in Ireland and Canada, and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also reached the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.

“Dimentica” by Raf from 2006. The title means “forget” and he is asking his love to forget the past so that they can move forward and make a future together.

Now let’s listen to “Ghost Story” by Sting from his 1999 album “Brand New Day”.

And now, “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette from 1986.

Here is “Paura di Amare” by Eugenio Finardi from 1998. The title means “afraid to love” and he says that we all are afraid to love, we are all afraid to let ourselves go, and to let others see who we really are.

Next up is “Trouble Sleeping” by Corinne Bailey Rae from 2006. She’s finding it difficult to fall asleep, and is looking for the reason. She says “don’t say I’m falling in love”.

Our next song is “Quale Senso Abbiamo Noi” by Zucchero from 2013. This song can’t quite be classified under “afraid to love” but he wonders what is the sense of their life together, contrasting happiness and suffering, confusion and lucidity. He calls her his dragonfly, his goddess, and asks if what she wants to give him is heaven, or something else.

Now here’s “I’d Lie” by Taylor Swift. In a live session she said that she played this song for her high school talent contest. It’s about a boy she had a crush on, but never let him know because he claimed that he promised himself that he would never fall in love. The song has never been officially released, as far as I can tell (not available on Spotify at the time of this posting).

“Ho Messo Via” by Ligabue is from 1993 He lists all of the things that he has put aside, including his illusions and his regrets, but one thing that he is unable to put aside, even though he would really like to, are his feelings for the woman he loves.

“Don't Know Why” sung by Norah Jones is a song written and composed by Jesse Harris. It originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. A cover of it was the first single by Norah Jones from her debut studio album, “Come Away with Me” from 2002.

Jones's version hit number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and went on to win three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It remains Jones's biggest hit single in the United States to date, and her only one to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also a modest hit abroad, reaching number five in Australia, number 24 in New Zealand, and number 59 in the UK.

Now let’s listen to “If I Loved You” (from the Rogers & Hammerstein musical "Carousel") sung by Josh Groban & Audra McDonald, from 2015.

Our next song is “M'innamoro Davvero” by Fabio Concato from 1999. The title means “I fall in love, really”. He says “I feel strange, really. For some time now, it’s been like this. It happens every time that you are here”. And it seems that he is very much in awe that all of it is really happening to him, and he’s almost afraid to admit it.

And now here is “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri from 2011.

As my faithful listeners already know, I like to include at least one hard rock or heavy metal song in my weekly lineup. The one that goes best with this week’s theme is “As Long as It's Not About Love” by Dio from their 2000 album “Magica”. The words say “I am always afraid for my heart”...so “tell me sweet lies, as long as it’s not about love.”

Last up is “Dimmi Che Non Hai Paura” by Modà from 2004. The title means “tell me you’re not afraid”. The singer is asking his lady not to be afraid to fall in love again after having been hurt by someone else.

Be sure to tune in every week for a new episode of Love Songs, featuring host Marcy Coate. See the sidebar for current broadcast days and times.