MARCIA GRIFFITHS, PAM HALL, AND KAREN SMITH, REVEAL THEIR FAVORITE LOVE SONGS!

By Kediesha Perry—
Observer writer—

WHEN reggae meets romance, the result is usually raw passion. Today being Valentine’s Day, lovers will undoubtedly be listening to their favorite songs.

Three of Jamaica’s top artistes spoke to the Jamaica Observer about their favourite love songs.

For Marcia Griffiths, they are: These Streets (Tanya Stephens), Wanna Be Loved(Buju Banton), Is This Love (Bob Marley), For You (Dennis Brown), My Man (Etana), Tonight (John Holt), You Look Like Love (Cynthia Schloss), I’m in love With You (Beres Hammond), So I’ll Wait for You (Freddie McGregor), and I Wanna Wake Up With You (Boris Gardiner).

Griffiths, who is known for ballads like Really Together and Truly, explained why Gardiner’s 1986 hit is number one in her heart.

“The lyrics are strong and covers everything that everyone is saying. I Wanna Wake Up With You speaks volumes,” she said.

Pam Hall also shared her favorites. Heading the list is Hammond’s Come Back Home, which she describes as a great “begging chune”.

The evergreen Hall has also made her name doing romantic songs such as Book of Life and Perfidia.

Karen Smith, whose hits include Wide Awake in A Dream, enjoys rocksteady and reggae ballads. Her top pick, Sweet Sensation by The Melodians, resonates with her because of the beat.

“ Sweet Sensation is my favorite because the bassist on the original recording is my husband Jackie Jackson. It is a simple love song with a great beat that sums up the sweet sensation of love in two verses. It is also one of my favorite bass lines that he plays. I sing this song all the time,” she explained.

Other Smith favorites are Love Has Found Its Way, Inseparable (Dennis Brown), They Gonna Talk (Beres Hammond), No Ordinary Love (Alaine), Tell Me Now(Marcia Griffiths), Love Doctor (Romain Virgo), Sweet Talking (The Heptones), Don’t Stay Away (Phyllis Dillon) and Memories by The Score (John Holt).