Throwing back to the week of June 6, 1976, we find Wings atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Silly Love Songs,’ the band’s third #1 song in the U.S. This was Paul McCartney’s 27th #1 hit in America as a songwriter, setting a record that he holds to this day (the number is now 32).
Written as a response to critics (and his old pal John Lennon) who called his music sappy, ‘Silly Love Songs’ leans unapologetically into the corn. And it paid off, spending five weeks atop the chart and becoming the #1 overall song of 1976. That made McCartney the first artist to have the #1 overall song with two different bands.
Lyrically, this song is quite basic, but it does some interesting things musically, including dipping a toe in disco and employing some Beach Boys-style harmonies.
My favorite use of ‘Silly Love Songs’ is in the ‘Elephant Love Medley‘ from the 2001 film Moulin Rouge. It’s a perfect use of the song’s corniness to sell a truly romantic connection.
You’d think that people would’ve had enough of silly love songs
I look around me, and I see it isn’t so
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs
[Pre-Chorus]
And what’s wrong with that?
I’d like to know
‘Cause here I go
Again!
[Chorus]
I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you
[Verse 2]
I can’t explain, the feeling’s plain to me (I love you)
Now can’t you see?
Ah, she gave me more, she gave it all to me (I love you)
Now can’t you see?
[Pre-Chorus]
What’s wrong with that?
I need to know
‘Cause here I go
Again!
[Chorus]
I love you
I love you
[Bridge]
Love doesn’t come in a minute
Sometimes, it doesn’t come at all
I only know that when I’m in it
It isn’t silly
Love isn’t silly
Love isn’t silly at all (Yeah, yeah!)
[Break]
How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?
How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?
How, can I tell, you about, my loved one? (I love you)
How, can I tell, you about, my loved one? (I love you)
[Chorus]
I love you
I love you
I love you (I can’t explain, the feeling’s plain to me. Say, can’t you see?)
I love you (Ah, he gave me more, he gave it all to me. Say, can’t you see?) (That’s it)
I love you (I can’t explain, the feeling’s plain to me. Say, can’t you see?)
(How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?)
I love you (Ah, he gave me more, he gave it all to me. Say, can’t you see?)
(How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?)
I love you (I can’t explain, the feeling’s plain to me. Say, can’t you see?)
(How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?)
I love you (Ah, he gave me more, he gave it all to me. Say, can’t you see?)
(How, can I tell, you about, my loved one?)
[Verse]
You’d think that people would’ve had enough of silly love songs
I look around me, and I see it isn’t so, oh no
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs
[Outro]
And what’s wrong with that?
Meet Me In Montauk 