When it comes to concept albums, few are as ambitious, eclectic, and beloved as *69 Love Songs* by The Magnetic Fields. Released in 1999, this three-disc opus features exactly what its title suggests—69 tracks, all centered around the theme of love. Written by the band’s creative mastermind, Stephin Merritt, the album covers an astonishing range of musical styles, emotions, and narratives. It has become a cult classic, lauded for its wit, melancholy, and ingenious songwriting. One song in particular, “The Book of Love,” has transcended the album to become a standout piece, partly due to a famous cover by Peter Gabriel. Reflecting on this, Merritt has wryly remarked, “Peter Gabriel’s cover of *The Book of Love* bought me a house.”
### The Origins of *69 Love Songs*
The idea for *69 Love Songs* came to Merritt in the mid-90s when he was sitting in a New York bar, imagining writing a cabaret-style revue. His grandiose vision was to write 100 love songs, each in a different musical style, but he eventually settled on 69—a cheeky number that suited the album’s playful and subversive tone. The goal was to create an album that would explore love from every conceivable angle, be it romantic, ironic, tragic, or absurd. In true Stephin Merritt fashion, the songs are filled with dry humor, emotional depth, and clever wordplay.
The range of musical styles on *69 Love Songs* is staggering. Merritt draws inspiration from folk, jazz, country, electronic, Broadway, and even punk. He said, “I’m just not interested in making albums where every song sounds the same.” The album features not only Merritt’s distinctive baritone voice but also guest vocalists like Claudia Gonson, Shirley Simms, and others, adding even more variety to the album’s sound. Despite the diversity of styles, there’s an underlying cohesion to the project, as every song is united by its exploration of love in all its forms.
### The Book of Love: A Standout Track
Of all the songs on *69 Love Songs*, “The Book of Love” stands out as a fan favorite. Its simple, repetitive lyrics and minimalistic arrangement—just Merritt’s voice accompanied by a ukulele—belie its emotional impact. The song’s deadpan delivery contrasts with its tender subject matter, giving it a bittersweet quality. The lyrics muse on the idea that love, for all its complexities and mysteries, is often mundane and filled with trivial moments: “The book of love is long and boring / No one can lift the damn thing.” Yet, within that boredom, there is beauty, as the song continues, “But I love it when you read to me / And you can read me anything.”
This combination of humor and sincerity is what makes “The Book of Love” resonate with so many listeners. Its simplicity allows people to project their own experiences onto the song, making it both universal and personal. In an album filled with irony and wit, “The Book of Love” offers a rare moment of earnestness, and that vulnerability has made it one of The Magnetic Fields’ most enduring songs.
### Peter Gabriel’s Cover: A Turning Point
While *69 Love Songs* was critically acclaimed upon its release, The Magnetic Fields remained a cult band with a devoted but relatively small following. That began to change when Peter Gabriel, the iconic musician and former Genesis frontman, covered “The Book of Love” for the soundtrack of the 2004 film *Shall We Dance?*, starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. Gabriel’s version is radically different from the original, replacing the sparse ukulele arrangement with sweeping orchestration and a rich, emotional vocal performance.
Gabriel’s cover introduced *The Book of Love* to a much wider audience, and it quickly became a popular choice for weddings, anniversaries, and other romantic occasions. Merritt, known for his cynical sense of humor, has often joked about how Gabriel’s version changed his life. In an interview, he quipped, “Peter Gabriel’s cover of *The Book of Love* bought me a house,” referring to the financial windfall he received from royalties.
Though Merritt’s comment was tongue-in-cheek, there’s no denying that Gabriel’s cover significantly elevated the song’s status and brought newfound attention to The Magnetic Fields. It also speaks to the versatility of Merritt’s songwriting—while his original version of the song is stripped-down and wry, Gabriel was able to transform it into a grand, heartfelt ballad that resonated with a mainstream audience.
### The Legacy of *69 Love Songs*
Today, *69 Love Songs* is regarded as a landmark album, not just in the indie pop genre, but in music history. Its experimental nature, combined with Merritt’s sharp lyrical insight, has cemented it as a timeless work. Fans and critics alike marvel at how Merritt managed to maintain a high level of quality and creativity across 69 tracks, each one exploring love from a different angle.
Some songs, like “I Don’t Believe in the Sun” and “Busby Berkeley Dreams,” delve into heartbreak and melancholy, while others, like “Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits” and “Reno Dakota,” are whimsical and absurd. Merritt’s gift for writing about love in such a multifaceted way ensures that there is something for everyone on the album, whether you’re a hopeless romantic, a skeptic, or somewhere in between.
The album’s legacy is also tied to its influence on other musicians. *69 Love Songs* showed that ambitious concept albums could still be commercially viable and creatively fulfilling in the modern era. It also inspired countless artists to experiment with genre and form in their own work.
### Merritt’s Reluctant Stardom
Despite the album’s success and the attention that followed Gabriel’s cover, Merritt has remained characteristically aloof about fame. Known for his introverted and often curmudgeonly persona, he is more interested in writing music than in basking in the spotlight. Even so, the impact of *69 Love Songs* is undeniable, and its success has ensured that Merritt will be remembered as one of the most distinctive and innovative songwriters of his generation.
For The Magnetic Fields, *69 Love Songs* is both a career-defining achievement and a timeless exploration of love in all its forms. As fans continue to discover and rediscover the album, its songs remain as poignant and relevant as they were 25 years ago. And for Stephin Merritt, the legacy of *69 Love Songs* is secure—both in the hearts of fans and, of course, in the house that “The Book of Love” bought.
