Day 38 - Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Elton John

1994

Disclaimer: All perspectives, opinions, and memories in this entry are mine and mine alone. Some content is rugged, raw, and - sometimes - NSFW, but it's all authentic and included with purpose.

Why It’s On The List:

I mentioned yesterday that “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was my song with Jack. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” has been my song with Kate since the first night she arrived. We were at the hospital and Sum had fallen asleep. Kate was fussing and I picked her up and just started to sing and this was the song that came out. She stopped and looked at me like, “Wait, what is that?”

I’ve sung it to her every night ever since. She always looks up at me when I do. Our own little moment in our own little world.

Addition to this post - Just last week we were watching "The Lion King" as a family. Kate usually runs around and plays nears us when we are watching TV but this time, she stopped dead in her tracks as "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" started playing. She immediately looked at me and pointed to the screen. Then she ran over and climbed up on the couch next to me and sat there for the entire song.

What a moment.

Listen to "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" here:

Favorite Line:

I can't get over the fact that Elton John wrote TWO versions of the same song and both of them are awesome.
I love the imagery and phrasing in the radio version. So many great lines:

"An enchanted moment
And it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior
Just to be with you"

and

"There's a time for everyone
If they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope
Moves us all in turn"

and

"There's a rhyme and reason
To the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager
Beats in time with yours"

But my favorite line from this song actually comes in the theatrical version:

“Can you feel the love tonight

You needn't look too far

Stealing through the night's uncertainties Love is where they are”

For the past 26 years, I have not been able to process/reconcile how epic “stealing through the night’s uncertainties” is as a lyric. The phrasing and depth to that concept is otherworldly to me. No lie, I’ve spent at least a combined year of my life thinking about how you would even begin to come up with such a simple lyric that says and conveys so much. Genius.

I've already mentioned my #1 all time favorite line and #2 as well. "Stealing through the night's certainties" joins that list as #3.

Listen to that version here:

While We're Here:

My Top 5 favorite animated Disney Movies of all time:

5. Robin Hood - We still regularly say "Oo de laly!" around the Mahler house.
4. Oliver and Company - Billy Joel as a streetwise pooch in 80's New York City? Can't get much more up my alley.
3. Hercules - Played up the rigors of celebrity set against a Greek backdrop. 
2. Beauty and the Beast - Beautiful story, elegantly told with fantastic music.
1. The Lion King - Legit good movie, regardless of being animated or aimed towards kids.