Do you hear that? I think it’s the sound of love! Valentine’s Day may get a bad rep for being a capitalist holiday meant to profit off our deep, mysterious feelings, but I prefer to think of it as a chance to celebrate all types of love. Every holiday deserves a good playlist, and Valentine’s is no exception.
Romeo & Juliet – Peter McPoland
Luckily, the song is much happier than its namesake. McPoland’s “Romeo & Juliet” celebrates the butterflies you get from young love. Listening to it will remind you of what it felt like to fall for your special someone.
Accidentally in Love – Counting Crows
Featured in the opening scenes of Shrek 2 (my favorite romantic movie), “Accidentally in Love” is the poster child for early 2000s whimsical rock. If sunshine was a sound, it would be this song. The upbeat melody and sweet lyrics perfectly complement the giddiness of being in love.
Acolyte – Slaughter Beach, Dog
Take a moment and stare at someone you love, preferably while they’re busy. Trace the outline of their face with your eyes, and allow the warmth of how much you love them to wash over you. Slaughter Beach, Dog, captured that feeling and put it in a song. Soft and slow, vocalist Jake Ewald’s gravelly voice sings a ballad of quiet love. If you crave a domestic life with your love, here’s the song for you. Darling, let’s get old.
Ankles – Lucy Dacus
Ankles celebrates the duality of passion and quietness that love can bring. A new-ish release from Dacus, she asks her lover to “…take me like you do in your dreams” and “help me with the crossword in the morning.”
There is a Light that Never Goes Out – The Smiths
Love can be melodramatic. To compliment that, here’s one of the most melodramatic love songs out there. The Smiths croon about being happy to die as long as they do so by their lover’s side. It may make you roll your eyes, but it might also make you smile.
Margaret – Lana del Rey
Lana del Rey sings it best – “When you know, you know.” The song was written for the artist’s friends, producer Jack Antonoff and actress Margaret Qualley. Del Rey’s soft voice curves around each refrain, a sweet ode to witnessing true love.
Leonard Cohen – boygenius
My favorite part of love (romantic, platonic, familial) is the feeling of being known. Boygenius captures that essence perfectly in “Leonard Cohen.” It’s a short song, but sweet. The warm vocals of Lucy Dacus give it a feeling of sunshine, looking at your person and just being so happy to have them.
Shake the Frost – Tyler Childers
My guilty pleasure? Country music. Childers is a perfect example of why country music should graduate from guilty pleasure to just enjoyment, but I digress. Childers minimizes the backing of this song, allowing his poetic lyrics to shine brightly. It’s one of the most well-written songs, perfectly encapsulating the way loving someone feels.
Can’t Keep My Eyes Off of You – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Picture this: It’s the late 1960s. Beatlemania is in full swing, and you’re hitting the local dance hall. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons start playing, and suddenly you’re swing dancing with that cute stranger you saw across the room. A bit of a throwback, “Can’t Keep My Eyes Off of You” was featured in the classic romcom “10 Things I Hate About You.” Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without dancing, and this is just the song to help with that.
Soup – Remi Wolf
Just because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean we only need to focus on love that’s fully blossomed. Celebrate good, old-fashioned yearning with “Soup!” Remi Wolf’s powerful, poppy ballad will have you jumping and singing along; “I don’t wanna live without you.”
However you celebrate Valentine’s Day – alone, with your partner, or with your friends – do it with music!
