Forget The Love Songs; Love Is More Complicated Than That!

“I will replace my heart with a battery and give you mine to use.”
“Because of the love I have for you, I will buy you the world.” “I will
take you to the moon for you to know that my love for you is real.”
“M3ky3 m’akoma na mama wo half” (I’ll divide my heart into two and
give you half). All these are but a few lines from some love songs.
The simplest definition that I can assign to love is a strong affection
for someone that includes sexual desire.
For many centuries, we have been hearing countless of songs that
talk about love. Be it Rhythm & Blues, Hi-life, Hiplife, Country, Pop,
Soul, etc…
Love songs extol true love and sometimes lament love lost. Most, if
not all of the songs have strong musical appeal. From their tuneful
melodies via heartrending lyrics to danceable rhythms. They touch
emotions and can create an almost hypnotic romantic mood.
Do love songs promote a realistic view of romantic love?
Love songs celebrate a world of melodrama and tortured passion, in
which love often finds the perfect resolution. Unfortunately, perfect
love is very scarce and hard to find in real life. Yet, love songs make
us think this is so easy and simple.

Another popular motif in love songs is that love is instantaneous
(Love at first sight). One popular song declared that love came
suddenly after the first hello and the first smile. Love songs thus
teach that love is blind, recognizing strengths but refusing to see the
weaknesses.
How valid are such expressions? Can a first impression really be the
basis for a lasting relationship? How can a person truly love and get
committed to someone on the very first day of meeting that person?
One of my female friends asked some few days ago if love simply
involves the tingling feelings one has for someone. I understood her
point of view because; people tend to propose as soon as they begin
to have romantic feelings for that person.
Love sees strength but does not ignore weakness. Real love is
developed over a period of time as knowledge is acquired of another’s
personality and qualities. Yet, this is not the kind of love often
described and portrayed in love songs.