Tag Archives: love songs

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

OK, this is only for the guys. And I mean the real guys. Guys who are men. And men who understand the importance of being men. If you fit this category and criteria, then this is a public service message you need to take to heart and practice for the rest of your days. Five simple words. Forget about Valentine’s Day 2025.

And not just Valentine’s Day 2025. Make it a lifelong habit.

And the key to why I implore you to do this is found in this description of Valentine’s Day I saw on Wikipedia.

“It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. And through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.”

Did you spot the key?

It’s in the last phrase, “commercial celebration of romance and love…”

And THAT is why you see such a huge push, this time of year, for you to buy chocolates and roses and champagne, etc. But I think it’s small-minded to fall for this commercialism of romance and love. Why in the world would you put such emphasis on ONE DAY to show your romance and love for your wife or girlfriend?

The answer is: you shouldn’t! Whatever “feels” you get from going the commercial route should NOT be relegated to one day out of the year. If you’re truly a real man, you look for opportunities, every day, to show her the romance and love.

Every. Day. Bam!

Now, that being said, a much better option, if you just gotta get her something (and this applies to women who gotta get him something), is romantic music. Because it doesn’t have an expiration date. It doesn’t include ingredients that are harmful to your teeth, blood sugar, or waistline. And it literally can be accessed any time. Day or night.

Of course, your ol’ pal, Tony, has just the ticket. A collection of love songs. All made in America, by an American who puts America first. So, even though they aren’t brand new songs, they were built to last a lifetime. Definitely don’t get ’em if you prefer junk made overseas by people who couldn’t care less about your special love.

Here’s a clip from the title song:

In case you can’t see it, here’s the link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7SJTvpFLwg)

And here’s where you can get a download of all the songs. So, even if you’re totally last minute stressed to find something, I’ve got you covered.

All For Love downloadable collection

Thanks for your support of a fellow American. And Happy Valentine’s Day 2025.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This might come as a shock. But over the course of my songwriter life I wrote some of my songs for girls. (gasp!) I know. What a sexist, toxically masculine thing to do. Right? But seriously, you gotta play to your strengths, as they say. But what most people don’t know is how I rewrote some of my original love songs lyrics and sang about a deeper, everlasting love.

And, thankfully, love songs lyrics aren’t all that difficult to change.

Because love…at least, real love…comes from the very center of your heart. Or at least it should. So, as a songwriter, I can let the love song flow out of my heart and direct it where it needs to go. And once I stopped focusing on girls (thanks to Elgielene), I could direct more of my musical energy toward the Source of music.

But I won’t just talk around the subject. I’ll share an example.

On my first CD (yes, CD) of Christian music, the first song is called “Have to Believe.” And it’s about an overwhelming feeling of responsive love for all that God has done for me. Almost like I couldn’t do anything BUT believe in a Creator who would do so much. A Creator who never gives me less than Truth and Love.

So, in the song I sing…

“And I have to believe…You did everything for me.
“˜Cause what I have to believe
Is the truth that sets me free.”

The original song title was “Hard to Believe.” And it’s a good example of how even the best love, here on Earth, doesn’t measure up to God’s love. The lyrics lacked the assured feeling of the revised version of the song.

Because, when you understand how much your Creator went through to provide you with everything you need to live, it’s not “hard to believe” He loves you. And when I say “everything you need to live,” I mean everything you need to live…forever.

And that knowledge makes it easy to change the focus of love songs lyrics from temporal to eternal.

Even when I don’t feel like I deserve the love.

Like the bridge of my song says…

“Well, I’m not sure if I deserve it.
I’m lighter than air and soaring like a bird,
And if I can love You any better”just say the Word!”  © 1996 Tony Funderburk

By the way, I’ve got a special sale going on right now. It’s what I call the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package sale. And it’s to help a woman (a pastor’s wife for over 20 years) who just lost her husband. I have only 80 first-run CD’s left of my first Christian CD called “Do Right.” And you can see more about it and get your limited edition copy at the link below.

Stay tuned,

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Get your limited edition copy of the Do Right CD here

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Ah, Valentines Day. I’ve been looking forward to this day since February 15th last year. Haven’t you? And I love buying expensive chocolates to celebrate Lupercalia and stay connected to that ancient deity who protected herds from wolves. Especially since that deity was an equal opportunity protector who used a she-wolf to do that. The same she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus. I know you’re probably getting pumped up for some chocolate now, too. Right?

OK, I know Valentines Day is different now.

And it’s all about love and adoration. And the chocolates and cards and romantic dinners are just ways for lovers to express all that lovey dovey stuff. (by the way, I’m not using the apostrophe because search engines still don’t know what they are…yeesh)

But it’s hard to forget all those other awesome customs, too. Like celebrating the coming of Spring. Or how about fertility rites. And we certainly can’t leave out how they used a lottery to pair women to men. I can just see guys popping into 7-Eleven to get those two dollar tickets every Wednesday and Saturday. Can you say, “Whole lotto love?”

Now, before you mistake me for a bah humbug dude when it comes to romance, I wrote the book. Well, actually I wrote a bunch of songs and put them in a love songs collection.

And now that I think about it, I’m still mighty attracted to my beautiful wife. So, maybe I should put some logs in the fireplace this evening and cue up my love songs collection. And then, maybe I should grill a ribeye and lay it on a plate next to some greens covered in olive oil and sea salt.

Mm..mm.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t like dessert after a hearty steak dinner. So, hmm…maybe some dark chocolate would be nice, too.

Yeah, maybe I can just forget about that whole Roman pagan nonsense and just focus on love. Because who cares about an imaginary she-wolf when there’s a real life she (or a he for you females) in the house? Am I right?

Happy Valentine’s Day. (Now, where’d I put my lottery ticket?)

Stay tuned,

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Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

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Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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I just read an article on Don Gibson, a songwriter from the 50’s and 60’s. And it said he sat down one hot, summer day, in 1958, and wrote two songs. “Oh Lonesome Me” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” And would you believe it? Those two very different love songs both became hits. In fact, Ray Charles recorded a version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You” that became the number 10 love song of all time. At least according to Billboard charts.

How about the other 9 of the top 10 love songs of all time?

Well, since you brought it up…OK. I’ll count ’em down like Dave Letterman’s top 10.

#9. This one’s a little hard for me to believe. But my taste doesn’t often sync up with mainstream. Anyway…you might remember a little group called Earth, Wind, and Fire. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter. Because this isn’t a song by them. Well sort of. But not completely. It’s a song co-written by Maurice White and Al McKay from EWF. And they wrote it specifically for the Hutchinson sisters.

Wait…who?

Yeah, the Hutchinson sisters. Better known as The Emotions. And their hit song was “Best of My Love.” And even if you weren’t born then, you’ve probably heard it. Because it’s been in movies. So, it’s too legit to quit.

#8. This is another surprise for me. It’s a song called “Because I Love You” by Stevie B. Apparently it was number 1 on the Hot 100 chart for 4 weeks back in 1990. And an interesting note…the songwriter, Warren Allen Brooks, said it’s actually a “spiritual song.” Of course, most listeners would never guess that. But he said “It’s really about me and God having a personal relationship.” Pretty cool that it was a hit for him.

#7. So, this one’s the third surprise in a row for me. “Let Me Love You” was a number 1 song for Mario for 9 weeks back in 2005. And I listened to a short clip. Yeesh. It’s one of those songs I call a crybaby boy song. But what do I know. It ain’t like any of my songs ever made the top 10.

#6. OK, now this one makes sense again. “I Will Always Love You.” And as far as I’m concerned, the Whitney Houston version is the only one we need. Nothing against Dolly Parton’s version. After all she had a hit with the song twice. But I’m not a country music fan. And Whitney’s powerful voice on this song is Grrrrreat!

We’re halfway…

#5. This one is a personal favorite. Because it was a tongue-in-cheek poke at love songs. “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney. And it’s a toe-tapping earworm I can hear even as I write this.

#4. You might have heard of a little movie from back in the 70’s that put John Travolta’s dance moves on the map. Saturday Night Fever. And the Bee Gees recorded 6 of the 17 songs for the movie soundtrack. “How Deep Is Your Love” ended up in the number 1 spot for 7 weeks in 1977.

#3. “We Found Love” by Rihanna is a robotic, electronic dance song. So, it’s weird, to me, that it’s this high up in the love songs category. But again, who am I to say? (just a guy who prefers a better quality music)

#2. Even though “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men was on the Hot 100 at No. 1 for 14 weeks, back in 1994, I still don’t like that it’s in the top 10 love songs of all time. Because it’s just another crybaby boy song. Dud.

And #1. I can’t believe I have to tell you this. But it’s “Endless Love” sung by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross. Now, I don’t have anything against either one of them. But there are so many other love songs out there that should have been…or could have been in the number 1 spot. And pretty much all the other spots for that matter.

Ok, I didn’t share all this chart topping music trivia just so I could be the next Casey Kasem (look it up).

No. I wanted to share something all these songs help prove.

Time.

Ever moving, never stopping, time.

Not timelessness. Because without time, none of those love songs would have any meaning. Especially when they refer to the passing of time just about all of the…well…time.

Particularly the number 1 song, Endless Love. Love couldn’t be endless if time didn’t exist. So, it would be a silly, even stupid, thing to write and sing about.

And you couldn’t put one note after another, which is what sheet music does by the way, if we existed in a constant state of timelessness. Matter of fact, sheet music even sets up a time signature. Three quarter. Four Four. Even Five Four when you’re in a band and you gotta take a break.

And because we exist in a constant flow of time, so does our Creator. Because in order for him to create us, He had to think one thought AFTER another. And He had to put one word AFTER another. And you can can’t put one thought or word or deed AFTER another if another thought or word or deed had not come BEFORE it.

Before and after. First and last. Beginning and ending.

Time moves on. And it waits for no one.
Days pass by. In the blink of an eye.
And before you can ask for some more
Start, today, looking for the one Way.

Stay tuned,

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Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Who writes songs for attention?

Short answer. Me. But before I go any further let me explain how I don’t mean songs JUST for attention. I’m talking about songs with an ulterior motive. And, in my case, that motive included breaking down a woman’s resistance. No, not the way you’re thinking. Get your mind out of there.  

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Songs for attention - not just honorable mention

I wrote songs for attention because they were my secret weapon.

Way back in 1985 I met a beautiful girl. And a bolt of lightning struck my amygdala and cerebellum like never before. Some might call it love at first sight. But it wasn’t that sugar-coated, namby, pamby silly lovestruck moment you see in dorky movies. Far from it. In fact, I didn’t even attempt to pursue her at that time. Because, as it turned out, she was married. And I already had a girlfriend.

And this striking woman lived and worked in an establishment, in Florida, where my band and I were booked for a month. So, any thoughts of a relationship were doomed from the start.

Then, almost a year later in April of 1986, I was booked back in that establishment as a solo entertainer. And I was booked as the “house act” for the top floor, snazzy jazzy, club overlooking the bay. So, that meant I’d be there for awhile. And on my very first night to perform, there she was. Working in that top floor club full time.

And we lived happily ever after.

NO!

The dream girl was still married to another. But at least I could see her and talk with her on my breaks. And as my time there continued we got to know each other a little better. And that’s how I discovered what an amazing woman she truly was. Because I could see she was doing her part to be true blue to a husband who was anything but. And that’s a story all its own.

As it turned out, I decided to go another way in my musical career. And I ended my “house gig” after only three months. That’s when my brother and I went on the road, full time, for a couple of years. And I left the dream girl behind. But…

Every once in a while I’d send her a card or note from the road. And I’d mail it in care of where she worked. Once in a while I’d be somewhere long enough to get mail in return. So, I’d write and ask her to write me. Purely as friends. And she only wrote me a few times in two years. And each time was a polite letter saying I shouldn’t write her anymore.

Shot down in a blaze of glory.

So, it was definitely time to throw in the towel and add it up to experience. Right? But I didn’t have one of my own towels handy, and I didn’t wanna steal one from a hotel. So, I didn’t throw in the towel quite yet. I kept sending a card or note every once in a while.

After a couple of years on the road, with my brother, I decided I wanted to come in for a landing. And I moved to Lakewood, Colorado with just my savings and dreams of making my stand in the Rockies.

I sent a few more cards and notes to the dream girl. But quite a bit of time passed with no replies.

So, I decided it was time to move on and maybe even find another “dream girl” in Colorado.

But then, one day in the Spring of 1989, I found an envelope in my mailbox from the girl in Florida. And she told me how she’d spent the previous months filing for, paying for, and getting a divorce. She said how there had been no marriage for a couple of years. And that she was finally over trying to make it work with a totally unfaithful man. And she said if I was still interested, she’d like me to call.

I said, “No way!”

Ha! Not really. I said, “Yes, I’d like that very much.” So, I called, and we talked for a long time. And that was when long distance calls were still awfully expensive. So, even though we started calling each other more than we could afford, I decided to get even more serious about letter writing.

And that’s when she began to get letters in her mailbox literally every day. Well, except for Sunday. But every other day. And many times, I’d send two, three, and four letters on the same day. Because I knew the beautiful girl would be wooed by guys right there where she lived. And I needed some sort of advantage.

That’s when I started writing, recording, and sending her songs. I knew other guys would have location advantage. But I was counting on my songs to get her attention. And I wrote her a bunch of songs…including one for her name.

As it turned out, my secret song weapon helped me win the day. And she asked me to visit her. I did. Then, she visited me. And then a knot was tied in a couple of hearts that is still strong over 31 years later.

So. There’s are some lessons in there for you single guys. I’m not gonna point ’em out. It’s up to you to find ’em and use ’em. But I will say this. If you’re a musician, and you decide to woo a woman with letters and songs for attention, make them be about true love. Not sappy. And certainly not with the selfish motive of sex. Instead, tell her things like…

I Like Your Style

I feel lonely…do you think about me?
I want to be feeling your arms around me.
And I need your touch “˜cause it would help me so much

I like your style…oh yeah
It always makes me smile
It could be habit-forming; watch out!

I really like your style…oh yeah
My finger’s on the dial
Ready to call you again; watch out!
“˜Cause I like your style…

I hear you say…just how you missed me today
And my eyes shine; I hope I’m not out of line
To say my heart and yours should not be apart

repeat chorus…

Anything I hear you say…
Always melts my heart away…
I like your style…

© 1989 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself a cool tee

Or how about some music for kids

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Love Birds Songs

I love birds. Always have. And love birds songs. Love those, too. All the beautiful colors, the rustling of the wings, and certainly their ability to fly. Wow! Birds are amazing, sparkling creatures. God makes cool stuff.

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Love birds, songs, candy, romance. Huh?

How did Valentine’s Day get to be a thing? I don’t mean the actual history of how it started? I mean, how did it get to be such a chocolate-filled, dining-out, romantic getaway thing?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against buying loved ones special gifts to show your love. Far from it. But do we really need a “special day”for it? My postulation (which is correct, by the way) has always been that the essence of Valentine’s Day should be shared every day. Repeat…every day. Not the same way every day. But every day nevertheless.

“But Tony,” you say. “What does this have to do with love birds songs? “Well, in the first place…thank you for getting me back on track. And, in the second place…not much.

Except…

This week contains that infamous holiday, Valentine’s Day. So, I’m gonna share a song or two I sold on a CD compilation a while back: “All For Love.”  But you’ll have to tune in to the The Power of God’s Love Podcast to hear ’em.

I wrote these love birds songs way, way back in my full-time musician days. And I remixed ’em, more recently, and served ’em up with an acoustic style. This first one is called…

All For Love

Sitting by the lake
Sipping on a drink
The wind is blowing by
And it makes me stop and think

A metaphoric day
And a melancholy night
I’m always in a battle
And I never win the fight

So why do I try? Why do I persist?
What could I be thinking of?
I’ll tell you why; it’s the reason I exist.
I do it all for love…I do it all for love.

All for love”
That elusive commodity
All for love”
That perpetual oddity.
I do it all for…I do it all for…I do it all for love.

Sitting by the fire
Staring at the stars
It’s pleasant times like this
That keep me up to par

But somewhere back at home
It’s another kind of night
Someone else is in a battle
And they seldom win the fight.

So why do we try? Why do we persist?
What could we be thinking of?
I’ll tell you why; it’s the reason we exist.
We do it all for love…we do it all for love.

Repeat chorus to end

© 1984___2019 Tony Funderburk

Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. When you do, I’ll send you links to 2 songs and 2 books that adults AND kids enjoy right away. Then, I’ll send you flashes of light from the faith, hope, and the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Silly Love Songs

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Paul McCartney wrote “you’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs”.

Well, like him, “I look around me and I see it isn’t so.”

Oh no.

That’s why I’ve barricaded myself in my studio (somewhat) and plunged into my 10 love songs Valentine’s Day project.

I have 7 more days to do 7 1/2 more songs. I feel pretty confident now ’cause like my friend, Jenny, said…it’s about LOVE.

And I’m fairly sure I can dig deep into my cold, dark heart and find some love.

🙂

Keep checking in with me to see how it’s going. There might just be something in it for you.

Stay tuned,
Tony