Best Ten Songs Featuring the Word "Dear"

I recently made my first keyboard error while purchasing music from Amazon.com. I had the urge to hear "Stone Cold Crazy" from Queen's Sheer Heart Attack album, so I typed the album title in the Amazon.com prompt. I scrolled down the list of all the great songs on that album, such as "Killer Queen," "Tenement Funster," and "Flick of the Wrist."

Having long ago downloaded those tracks, I stopped at "Stone Cold Crazy," which was track #8. Somehow, though, I clicked the Buy MP3 button for track 9, "Dear Friends." I neglected to read the message Amazon sends before deducting the money from your account, assuming I had selected "Stone Cold Crazy."

I discovered my error when I went to my downloads and saw "Dear Friends" instead of the song I had wanted. I actually felt less of an idiot when I played the track, recalling the times I used to play it on vinyl.

I did realize, however, that Freddie Mercury's delivery, as good as it was, could not place "Dear Friends" among the best ten songs that have Dear in the title. The fact that lasts barely over a minute certainly did not boost its rank among these ten gems:

10. "Dear Miss" by Anton Barbeau: The folk/pop/glam-rock Barbeau penned this stalker-song for his most recent album, Plastic Guitar. The slow acoustic strum and hypnotic keyboard work make it very appealing on the surface, but the unexpected electric blurts give it the feel of The Flaming Lips.

9. "Dear Valentine" by Guster: One of the many catchy tunes from Ganging Up on the Sun, the track actually reminds us of something good about winter besides Christmas and snow days.

8. "Dear Mr. Fantasy" by Traffic: Probably the group's most recognizable song, it does represent their bluesy electro-psychadelic sound.

7. "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles: The second track from the White Album showcases the beauty of a mellow John Lennon. (He also lightened up with another Dear track close to making the list, "Dear Yoko" from Double Fantasy.)

6. "Dear Employer" by The Minus Five: Scott McCaughey's alt-country/pop band actually broke through with Down With Wilco, which contains this track that every disgruntled worker would love to write.

5. "Dear Landlord" by Bob Dylan: The folk-rock bard addressed this kiss-off to greedy people everywhere, making the track a perfect fit on the quiet but anti-establishment John Wesley Harding disc.

4. "Dear God" by XTC: The title is misleading, for the lyrics exude doubt in the existence of such a being.

3. "Martha My Dear" by The Beatles: The second "Dear" song from the White Album showcases Paul McCartney's ability to compose a catchy, if somewhat inane, love song.

2. "Dear Sara" by Scott Miller and the Commonwealth: Miller's Appalachian Indie rock never sounded better than it does on this track from the album Thus Always to Tyrants. The song gets even better when he breaks into a contagious rendition of "Barbara Allen."

1. "Dear Abby" by John Prine: The folk legend sings four of his problems to the advice columnist, each one getting him deeper into trouble. Her response is characteristically the same for the leaky fountain pen problem as it is for the unhappy groom of the shotgun wedding.