so, ask any gen-xer what are the most iconic, romantic scenes in movies from their childhoods, and inevitably, they will tell you the boombox scene in say anything. john cusack holds up one of those antique contraptions that used to be necessary to listen to music and blares peter gabriel’s in your eyes to the object of his affection. girls swooned, guys thought it cool, and peter gabriel‘s song rushed to the forefront of all gen-xers love song lists.

the former genesis frontman is more than that song, however, and has, over the years, built up an impressive catalogue of music. last year, he released a compilation of cover songs he did entitled scratch my back – and on this album, he recorded a sublimely gorgeous version of the magnetic fields’ the book of love. simple as it is lush, the book of love is the sort of love song that won’t give you a cavity.

the book of love is long and boring
no one can lift the damn thing
it’s full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing
but i
i love it when you read to me
and you
you can read me anything
the book of love has music in it
in fact that’s where music comes from
some of it is just transcendental
some of it is just really dumb
but i
i love it when you sing to me
and you
you can sing me anything
the book of love is long and boring
and written very long ago
it’s full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
and things we’re all too young to know
but i
i love it when you give me things
and you
you ought to give me wedding rings
and i
i love it when you give me things
and you
you ought to give me wedding rings
and i
i love it when you give me things
and you
you ought to give me wedding rings
you ought to give me wedding rings

(mp3) the book of love by peter gabriel

i’m sure many of you remember how it was used in the scrubs finale – perfect:

buy scratch my back, the album the book of love is off of, HERE.