Love Song Urban Legends: Valentine’s Day Edition
Love Song Urban Legends: Valentine’s Day Edition
With Valentine’s Day here, we think about the love songs that shape our lives. Yet, behind these sweet tunes are intriguing urban legends and stories that turn them into captivating tales. This Valentine’s Day edition explores the myths and mysteries of popular love songs, revealing surprising stories that deepen our appreciation for the music that inspires and unites us.
Welcome to a new feature where Let’s Talk About The Music steps away from the current independent music scene to pay homage to the legacy of music from the past. Today’s musicians owe their presence to those who came before them, paving the way.
*PLEASE READ*
For those reading on your phones: The very last song in the article will appear as the first song after the article on your phone.
ALL of the music videos for each song are located at the bottom of the article.
For those viewing on a computer, the videos will appear in the side panel.
Love Song Urban Legends:
Valentine’s Day Edition
For almost as long as I can remember having access to the Internet, I’ve always enjoyed the website Snopes. I prefer the earlier and better-categorized incarnation of the website, but I appreciate the intensive research into tracking down the origins of specific rumors, urban legends, spooky stories, and potentially false claims.
So, what do urban legends have to do with music, let alone Valentine’s Day? Well, urban legends surround many songs and music artists. For example, there’s the famous “Paul is dead” rumor: Paul McCartney supposedly died in a car accident and was replaced with a lookalike. If you’ve seen the movie Meet The Parents, then you know about the rumor that the song Puff The Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary is about marijuana. (Also, R.I.P. Peter Yarrow). Another legend proposes that Hotel California by the Eagles concerns a cult that worships Satan. (Actually, it isn’t… it’s about Thanksgiving. [ See my tribute for more. ])
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I am going to apply my curiosity regarding urban legends and discuss four love songs that have interesting rumors or false stories surrounding them. I'll also present information debunking those claims—as best I can, anyway. You may not find this topic fascinating and be wondering why I’m not doing something along the lines of “Top 10 Love Songs.” Well, because 97% of all existing songs are essentially love songs! It's the most common topic for songs! It would make more sense for me to just do a “Top 10 Best Songs." But on to our investigation.
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? by Elton John
If you’re a Disney fan, then you are familiar with the narrative. The song begins and ends with Timon & Pumbaa lamenting over losing their bodyguard—excuse me, friend—Simba, as he falls in love with his old best buddy, Nala. The central section is sung by an off-screen artist with brief interjections by Simba and Nala.
When the movie first premiered on television, a bit of behind-the-scenes trivia revealed that the filmmakers originally planned on having Timon & Pumbaa sing the entire ballad. For many years, a small portion of this alleged “Timon & Pumbaa" version has circulated via DVD bonus features or on YouTube, but it is clearly not the full song.
Elton John has declared in a few interviews over the years (seemingly confirming this bit of lore) that he was the one to convince the filmmakers to shift the focus of the song more towards Simba and Nala. Nathan Lane, voice of Timon, echoed these comments in a [ 2024 article by Entertainment Weekly]. Lane noted, “Elton John was mortified that the warthog and the meerkat were singing it. He said, 'The reason I wrote the score was because I wanted to have a Disney love song. I didn't want it to be sung by the rat and the pig.'"
So, is it all true? Did the originally planned version of Can You Feel The Love Tonight? have the film’s comic relief duo sing the entire piece, until John complained and the song was reworked? And, is there a full version of the Timon & Pumbaa rendition floating around somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered, or sitting concealed in Disney’s vault of rejected ideas?
The answer is… absolutely not.
A few months after the Entertainment Weekly article, the Archive website posted a chunk of old Lion King demos, including a few early demos of Can You Feel the Love Tonight? One of those demos happens to be this. It’s the full version of the supposed “Timon & Pumbaa” version. This reveals that for years, we’ve only been hearing the first part of the song. After the duo finishes their part, the focus of the song shifts to Simba and Nala, and they’re completely in the spotlight for the rest of the ballad.
If you find movie trivia as interesting as I do, then you know that nearly all movies go through a developmental phase, especially animated films; every scene, sequence, or song gets changed, altered, and rewritten numerous times. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? possesses many different demo versions, and the alleged ‘Timon & Pumbaa” version is simply one of those early arrangements.
As for Elton John’s claims, I would write that off as misremembering certain events. Nobody’s memory is perfect. I have no doubt, though, that John wasn’t pleased with “the rat and the pig” taking up half of the song and spoke up about it, especially with the cynical edge it presents. But I believe having Timon & Pumbaa begin and end the song in the final version is a nice compromise. I'll add that many celebrities often stretch the truth when sharing anecdotes, to make behind-the-scenes stories sound more interesting than they might actually be. Looney Tunes fans will know that Mel Blanc, Chuck Jones, and Bob Clampett were notorious for this.
For myself, I’m one of those who likes to dig into celebrity stories and find out what’s true and what isn’t; sometimes, what’s historically factual should be better publicized, and not what seems the more entertaining anecdote. This is partially why I felt this would be a great idea for an article. However, before we go on to the next urban legend: Are you bummed that Elton John may be retiring? Then consider seeing an Elton John tribute performance. Elton Dan and the Rocket Band is an exceptional recreation of the later years of Elton John. Their next upcoming shows include appearances at the Stiefel Theater in Salina, Kansas, on February 22 at 7:30 pm; and at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, Illinois, on March 15 at 9 pm.
Fire and Rain by James Taylor
It’s not uncommon for a song to have enigmatic lyrics, so much so that people try to make sense of it, as in our example above of Hotel California. (That song is totally about Thanksgiving!) When James Taylor released Fire and Rain, arguably his most well-known song, people attempted to piece together the seemingly disconnected lyrics. Taken at face value, it’s easy to view it as a straightforward mournful song about a lost love.
However, analytical people think there are deeper layers to the lyrics. Dissections of the song inspired a story about how the songwriter, James Taylor, had a girlfriend named Suzanne, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time due to being on tour. The rumor relates how Taylor’s friends arranged a surprise for him: they buy plane tickets for Suzanne, so she can travel to whatever city he’s performing in and meet up. In some versions, Taylor is aware of Suzanne’s plan to fly to him, while in other renditions it's kept secret.
Unfortunately, tragedy strikes as Suzanne's plane crashes and she is one of many passengers killed. This detail is inspired by the lyric, “sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground," with her death being the meaning behind, “I always thought that I’d see you again."
Sure, that’s a sad story—but is it true?
According to Snopes, parts of the song seem legit, but not in the way you’d think. Snopes goes into detail about Taylor’s early life and how he experienced many hardships before his big break. The Suzanne in question refers to a childhood friend of Taylor’s named Suzanne Schnerr, who had tragically committed suicide while he was recording his first album. His friends kept this information from him, as they worried it would interfere with his songwriting, and he did not find out until six months later. Taylor also clarified that the lyric, “the plans they made put an end to you," referred to the gods or the fates and not his close friends.
Before Taylor began a solo career, he was part of another music group called the Flying Machine which was not successful; this had severely depressed Taylor and his fellow bandmates. The other portions of the song represent Taylor’s struggles with drug addiction and how much fame has impacted his life overall.
Much of Taylor’s life and career is highlighted by the tribute band Taylor Made (ha-ha) led by musician Larry Murante, who can be found on Facebook. According to his bio, Murante has "won more than 18 awards in US and international competitions for songwriting and performance, including grand prize winner of the International John Lennon Songwriting Contest," among many others. Check out Taylor Made performing Up On a Roof.
Taylor Made can be seen live on March 9 at the Royal Room in Columbia City, Seattle, WA, at 7 pm; doors open at 6 pm. They will also appear on July 17 at King County Fair in Enumclaw, WA, with time to be announced.
Love Rollercoaster by Ohio Players
Not long ago, I was watching Twitch streamer Amy Sumisu; I’m not sure how the topic came up, but I mentioned the “scream” heard in Ohio Players’ Love Rollercoaster. Listen carefully at about 1 minute and 23 seconds. Did you hear it? Of the love song urban legends mentioned in this article, this one might be the most outlandish, and there are a few variations of it.
In the years since the song’s release, many have speculated the origin of the scream. The simplest idea is that it’s just a regular scream like what people do when they’re on an actual roller coaster, but that’s no fun. Probably the least crazy of the explanations is that the scream is a pre-recorded one from a 911 call or an inmate at a psych ward. Another story is that the group was recording in a studio apartment when a nearby female resident was being murdered, and her scream got picked up by the group’s microphones.
But the most chilling variation of this legend centers around the model who posed for the band’s album cover containing this song. Supposedly the honey covering the model was heated to make it bright and flow better (I’m not sure of the science behind that), but this in turn burned the model’s skin beyond full healing. The model, Ester Cordet, shows up in the studio during the recording of Love Rollercoaster, demanding compensation for her injuries and/or threatening to sue, as her modeling career is now ruined. The manager then kills her, and that’s Ester's scream we hear in the finished track. With that version of events, the “scream” in the song certainly sounds more foreboding—even if the timeline of events seems a bit eschewed. As Snopes points out, what band creates its album cover artwork before they’ve finished recording their songs?
The real answer, of course, is as mundane as ever. Band member Jimmy “Diamond” Williams explained that the scream is performed by fellow member Billy Beck, who simply had the ability to make a high-pitched scream of that fashion. Williams claims that a DJ made an offhand joke about the song containing the scream of a murdered woman and it snowballed from there. The DJ remains unknown, but it would be very interesting to track that person down and ask them how they feel, knowing they contributed to a piece of pop culture, even if it was a falsehood.
I Awake by Soundgarden
Now, this love song urban legend (or breakup song, as it more likely is) will be a little different from the previous examples, and I’ll explain why in a few moments. Unlike the three pieces and artists discussed above, I had never heard of this song, nor was I familiar with Soundgarden. The only items I knew beforehand were that the lead singer is Chris Cornell and that he happens to share the same name as the creator of the MST3K info site Satellite News (www.mst3kinfo.com). But, those who are fans of this group probably know this song and its lyrics fairly well.
The story regarding I Awake is fairly basic compared to the previous three rumors. The composer for Soundgarden, Hiro Yamamoto, received a note from his girlfriend, Kate McDonald, and these are the lyrics you hear in the song. Depending on who tells you the story, Cornell either found the note in the studio or while at Yamamoto's house, and he thought the words would fit the music that had already been composed. The point is, the lyrics heard in the song are actual words written by Yamamoto’s girlfriend. Some say it’s a breakup note, while others feel it could have been more innocuous. Others believe the note was written by Yamamoto for his girlfriend.
Whatever the case, the tale adds some intriguing context to a heavy metal song with incongruous lyrics. What’s frustrating for me, though, is that I cannot find a source to back up any of the above claims. When I try to locate any confirmation, I only find heresy from fans with no citations. This leads me to believe that this could be similar to the Love Rollercoaster example, and maybe a DJ, or perhaps just a fan, made a joke about the origins of the song’s lyrics and the quip spread.
The only real evidence of this rumor being fact is that Kate McDonald is listed as a co-writer for the song. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily prove the truth of her writing a breakup note and those words being used in the song. It could be something more mundane, like she and Hiro Yamamoto sat down and worked out words for the music. This isn’t me trying to be a buzzkill, I just think that until something more concrete comes up, this will continue to be only a rumor.
Chris Cornell would continue performing until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a wonderful legacy for his fans. However, guitarist Jason Reed has been keeping Chris' work alive since 2018 with his music group Superunknown, named after Soundgarden’s 1994 album. Check out the Superunknown documentary, and their official Facebook page. If you want a Chris Cornell performance at your local establishment, you can contact for bookings at rachel@blueravenartists.com.
And there you have it: four love song urban legends! Three of them studied and debunked, with one left a total mystery. (*plays X-Files theme song - Video*)
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Valentine’s Day. And even if you’re single, go out and buy yourself some chocolate!
The final song of the article.
Superunknown Documentary
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? by Elton John
Chip Away The Stone LIVE! Performed by:"SWEET EMOTION" The Aerosmith Tribute Band.
DELETED SCENE: Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Sung By Timon And Pumbaa) - The Lion King
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Demo)
Elton John tribute performance:
Elton Dan and the Rocket Band
Fire and Rain by James Taylor
Love Rollercoaster by Ohio Players
most chilling variation of this legend centers around the model who posed for the band’s album cover containing this song. Click the button below to learn more.
Soundgarden - I awake (Legendado)
Do you enjoy this special Holiday Tributes series that we have thoughtfully created for our readers? We would love to hear your thoughts! What other intriguing topics or themes would you like to explore and read about in future articles on our platform?
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