Yesterday, my students initiated an interesting discussion on the definition of the word love. They pored over dictionaries and talked about what they thought the word meant and the different ways in which it was used. Then, we looked for quotes by famous people on what the word meant, a search that resulted in several memes, including a personal favorite that I present here:

Since the word love is pervasive in pop music, the discussion ended with me promising that I'd see what the lyrics of pop music could tell us about the definition of love. So, earlier today I ran the phrase "love is" on the collection of songs making up Billboard's year-end Top 10 charts (1951-2016). The search resulted in 103 hits in 38 songs. Removing three songs that raised more questions about love than they did answers ("I Want to Know What Love Is", "Twisted", and "Another Night") left 88 "love is" constructions in 35 songs. Left in were "love is" constructions in which love was modified, as in my love, your love, and even falling in love.

Fig. 1: What "love is" in Billboard's year-end Top 10 charts (1951-2016) (Lamont Antieau, wordwatching.org)

If you'd like to do a word search of these constructions, click here. The password is "loveis".

Finally, here are videos of three songs that use the "love is" construction in their titles:

Uploaded by felixbautista on 2013-06-21.

Keyboardist/Songwriter Gary Wright performing "Love Is Alive" on the Midnight Special TV show, 1976. Featuring a young Steve Porcaro {keyboards for TOTO, Michael Jackson, Herb Alpert, Pablo Cruise, Brothers Johnson, etc.} on synthesizers along with rockin' ladies on cowbell + tambourine ;-) Awesome Minimoog bass.

You're now at Andy Gibb (Love Is) Thicker Than Water lyrics page Andy Gibb (Love Is) Thicker Than Water lyrics are the property and copyright of Andy Gibb. Andy Gibb (Love Is) Thicker Than Water lyrics and all other song lyrics provided for educational purposes.

And a favorite from outside the collection:

Sweet performing "Love Is Like Oxygen" on the German music show Disco from the 20th March, 1978. Hosted by Ilja Richter. This version features the original line-up. Brian Connolly - lead vocals Andy Scott - guitar, synthesizer, vocals Steve Priest - bass, vocals Mick Tucker - drums, percussion, vocals "Love Is Like Oxygen" was originally featured on the 1978 „Level Headed" album.

And it would be remiss to not have this, no matter what the title is:

John Lennon - LOVE L'amore è vero, il vero è amore L'amore è sentimento, sentire l'amore L'amore è desiderio d'essere amati L'amore è contatto, il contatto è amore L'amore è aspirazione, aspirazione all'amore L'amore è chiedere d'essere amati L'amore sei tu Tu ed io L'amore è sapere Che noi possiamo Essere L'amore è libero, la libertà è amore L'amore è vivere, vivere l'amore L'amore è bisogno di essere amati

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