Bette Midler's famous song 'The Rose'
compares love to a flower, a river, a razor and a hunger. Love is the
topic of many songs, in an attempt to illustrate the emotions and
feelings that are evoked when someone is in 'love'. Oftentimes, stories
of heartache and/or unrequited love are lamented... other times the
joys of passion and unconditional love are celebrated... seeking one's
soulmate is the ideal in some songs, while others encourage finding a
fun 'for-now' partner.
In the Christian world, the ideal love of Agape describes a selfless
love that is concerned entirely with the well-being of the other. This
counters our American cultural philosophy of 'me-first', and requires a
level of vulnerability and trust that many people fear. And yet, in
its ideal manifestation, agapic love can be fulfilling, exhilarating and
sustainable in a loving relationship. Many sappy love songs describe
finding your soul mate, the 'one' who is perfect for you, but many
wonder if a person really has a 'soul mate' that is the only one they
can be happily in relationship with for the rest of their life. Please
read this article
on finding one's 'soul mate' and the weakness that may lie in that
search and the assumptions/expectations that go along with it.
As you reflect on some of your favorite songs, consider the messages
about love and relationship that are explicitly or implicitly described
in the lyrics. In your blog post, you should include reference to at
least 5 songs (the reference can be in the form of direct quote or
general summary of the song's message). Respond to the following
prompts in a cohesive reflection-- not in the format of question1:...
question 2...
Prompts:
What are the qualities and characteristics of love that you
seek to experience in dating/committed relationships? Where do you see
these illustrated in music? Do you believe in the quest for soul mates
as described in the article? Why/why not?
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