It’s Valentine’s Day and you know what that means; love in all its forms. From romantic to platonic to familial and everything in between, there’s love enough for every moment that could possibly occur. However, that doesn’t mean the loving festivities need to end once the clock strikes midnight. With Valentine’s Day being my favorite holiday, I’ve compiled the ultimate playlist to celebrate love in whichever way your heart desires.
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[RELATED: Songs To Send Your Crush Subliminal Messages This Valentine’s Day]
A Selection of Love Songs to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
“Loom” — Zach Bryan
“Something in the Orange” might be the obvious choice when choosing a Zach Bryan love song for Valentine’s Day (and personally, if we’re discussing alternate takes, I prefer “Z&E’s Version” over the single), but there’s something about “Loom” that hits the right blend of longing and yearning and romance. Released in 2020, “Loom” features a man who has to see the object of his affection with someone else and wants to tell her he’s not the right man for her. “And how would I say that the man you’re laying with / Is not the man you should be laying with?” he sings, and it seems a little weird at first. But then there’s a rare moment of self-reflection in the lines “How would a boy like me put it? / A man with some sense probably wouldn’t / But I don’t give a damn, I am not a smart man / I’m gonna say some words I shouldn’t.” This paints a picture of a man who is overcome by yearning so deep that he can’t even take his own advice.
“Smooth Operator” — Sade
If you’re looking for a song that’s going to set the mood, Sade has had you covered for the past 40 years. “Smooth Operator” is the ultimate song for mood lighting, candles, fancy dinners, rose petals, and whatever sexy things you can think of for Valentine’s Day. Everything about this song hits perfectly: the saxophone, Sade’s sultry vocals, the quintessentially 80s drums and guitar. It’s a smorgasbord of sexuality, and it should always be on hand for Valentine’s Day. Or any other day, really.
“Passenger Seat” — Death Cab For Cutie
When you think of soft romantic Death Cab For Cutie songs you’re going to want to go directly to “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” I’m here to tell you to resist those urges, because “Passenger Seat” is vastly superior when it comes to soft romance. It’s a snapshot of one person driving another home at night and, evidently, they are either both in love or one is in love with the other. Either way, there’s some form of love involved. The lines “When you feel embarrassed / I’ll be your pride / When you need direction / I’ll be the guide for all time” in the bridge accompanied by the soft, lilting piano make this the ultimate romantic song. There’s something that has always felt unrequited about this song, but. not in the way where nothing will ever come of it. “Passenger Seat,” for me, feels mostly like two friends who are on the road to becoming something more.
“No One’s Gonna Love You” — Band of Horses
Despite the title, this is an intense romantic song. In the lyrics, “No one’s gonna love you” is followed by “more than I do,” which just says it all, doesn’t it? However, there’s a sense that things have fallen apart in this romance. “If things start splitting at the seams and now / It’s tumbling down / Hard” comes in near the end, which creates a sense of intensity and desperation. But it’s that last “if”—if things start splitting at the seams—that’s so important. There’s no guarantee that things will fall apart, but it’ll be intense if they do. However, after all that, still “no one’s gonna love you more than I do.”
“Little of Your Love” — HAIM
For this Valentine’s Day, let’s pour one out for all the crushes. “Little of Your Love” feels like having a crush, from the bubbly, funky melody to the lyrics asking for “just a little of your love, baby,” this song is perfect for singing loud and dancing crazy with your heart full. Valentine’s Day is all about love, whatever form it may come in, so why not experience love in all things? Love of the self, love of family, love of friends, love of your pets, even. Go ahead, give your dog a kiss on its soft little head in celebration of all things love.
Featured Image by Jacques Langevin/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
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