St. Valentine Approved Love Songs
Love songs can be so annoying, and that’s coming from someone who has a Valentine. They can be so cliché, so unoriginal, so repetitive. Some feel too manufactured to be real. I think there’s something detectable in real love songs that lets you know that whoever’s singing is being openly honest and incredibly vulnerable as they set their innermost thoughts to a drumbeat. They find new ways to express their emotions, trying to put those intense feelings into words. You know it’s a real love song when it makes you feel something inside, whether it be that warm, tingly feeling that sets your whole body ablaze, or that deep, straight-to-the-heart feeling that makes your eyes well up. Those emotions are hard to explain, even for me. I’ll let these songs do the talking instead. After all, they’re St. Valentine approved.
Someone To Spend Time With – Los Retros
There’s nothing sweeter than spending time with someone you love. Even if you aren’t doing much – lounging around, basking in the warmth of the sun on a bright day, sitting in comfortable silence as rain pounds on your window, being in your own separate worlds, but together. The joy of comfortable silence, knowing that nothing needs to be spoken aloud for you to understand each other. “My sweetheart, where are you? / I need someone to spend time with / To give and share all my love.”
Warm – Dre’es ft. Mia
Having nothing but each other, clinging to them like your favorite warm blanket. This song is about falling for someone, maybe a little too quickly for your own good. It seems crazy, but it makes sense. Does it feel scary? A little. But what’s life without a little exhilaration, especially with that someone right by your side? “Little afraid it’ll be a disaster / But I know that I don’t wanna crash without you / You’re the one that makes me come alive.”
Coming Home – Leon Bridges
A classic in my book, this song has been in my library since 2015. It feels so warm, so all-encompassing, like the best hug you’ve ever received from the person you love the most. Leon Bridges' voice slides along this track so smoothly, you feel yourself getting swept away in a sea of adoration and affection. The tide is set on bringing you home, back to your one and only. “I'm coming home / To your tender sweet loving / You're my one and only woman / The world leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, girl / You're the only one that I want.”
I’ll Be Your Mirror – The Velvet Underground, Nico
Tender sweetness. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This song sings to the part of love that makes your heart ache when you realize they don’t see themselves as you see them. They don’t see the beauty in the little things that make them up, the loveliness of their features and mannerisms and little quirks. The perfect beauty that they might perceive as imperfect. If their reflection isn’t showing them all of those little things you love, take the mirror’s place. “I find it hard to believe you don’t know / The beauty that you are / But if you don’t, let me be your eyes.”
One Million Lovers – The Growlers
Out of one million possible matches, there’s no one quite like yours. Brooks Nielsen croons about spending the entire day daydreaming about his love and the brand new feelings he feels because of her. It can’t be explained, but is there really a need to spell it out? It’s real and travels deep in your soul, filling you up with bliss. There’s no need to explain that. Yours is the only one for sure, it just makes sense. “I know nothing stays the same / There's always change / But you and I will remain.”
I Only Have Eyes for You – The Flamingos
This classic by The Flamingos is the definition of being head over heels. The lead vocalist, Nate Nelson, is so lost in love that he can’t even tell if the stars are hanging in the sky, if he’s in a garden or a busy street, or if anyone else is around for miles. he’s totally focused on his one and only, the only one he sees. His focus is so narrow and pointed right in her direction, you can almost see the cartoon hearts pop out of his eyes. “Maybe millions of people go by / But they all disappear from view / And I only have eyes for you.”
Weak for Your Love – Thee Sacred Souls
Is there anything better than relationships where the guy is whipped? There’s something so satisfying about hearing a man sing his heart out about feeling weakened by his love for a “pretty lady.” He worries for the fate of his heart, which rests in her hands, under her control. He’s at her will and he loves it, no matter how many times he claims he can’t stand it. All of this combined with the gorgeous soul-infused track that floats in and weaves through lead singer Josh Lane’s crystal clear notes makes for a beautifully hypnotic song. “You have my heart inside your hands / Baby, be careful what you do with me / You have control of all the strings / Baby, be careful what you do with me, me.”
Lottery – Kali Uchis
A golden pick from Kali Uchis’ discography is this slow R&B inspired track. She’s hoping to convince her fizzled out former flame to take another chance on her, to take a gamble and enter into the lottery of love once more. It didn’t work out between them the first time around, but now Uchis is ready to work through their issues and put her all into their relationship. The odds are unclear, but there’s a chance they could hit the jackpot. The risk could be well worth the reward, but you’ll never know until you try. “But I'm willing, if you're willing / I'll be see through / Can you take this chance on me? / Love is like the lottery.”
Midnight – Khruangbin, Leon Bridges
There’s no better way to describe this song than to liken it to falling in love as summer evenings turn into summer nights. In this collaboration with Khruangbin, Leon Bridges reflects on a time when he had this sweet, warm summer love driven – quite literally – by the excursions he and his girl would take in his car every night. Driving along, enjoying the breeze filtering in through the windows, catching glimpses of each other in the mirrors. An entire love story set inside a car as it flies down the highway away from town. Who knows? Maybe they can go for another drive sometime. “I remember how it was back then / We were just young ones / And on that night, you said you loved me softly / Left a haze on the window.”
Sparks – Coldplay
Would this even be a love playlist without this song? God. It’s so sweet, but it’s tinged with the pit-in-your-stomach feeling that accompanies vulnerability. It feels like reassurance mixed with the more bittersweet, aching feelings involved in a relationship. Your heart is theirs, and all you can do is hope they let you hold onto them for as long as possible. “But I promise you this / I'll always look out for you / Yeah, that's what I'll do / My heart is yours / It's you that I hold on to.”
Pretty Boy – The Neighbourhood
I don’t know if it’s Jesse Rutherford’s sincere, soul-bearing voice, or the general delicate nature of this song, but it makes tears prick my eyes every time it plays. It doesn’t matter if the world is collapsing on itself in a fiery mess or if he’s seconds from taking his final breath, everything is alright if they’re by his side. Things may be going to hell around you, but doesn’t having that person next to you make it feel like life is just perfect? Instead of feeling the bitter freezing cold of loneliness, their presence brings a warmth to your life that melts you down to your core. It’s like magic. “And if it's all over / I'm taking this moment, ooh, with me, nah / Wherever I'm going / I'm happy you're coming, ooh, with me / With me, yeah.”
Like Real People Do – Hozier
Hozier? On a love songs playlist? Groundbreaking. I don't care how many times you’ve heard this song, if you just take a moment to listen – and I mean really listen – to each soothing note and guitar strum, to every harmony and gentle piano chord. It’s sweet and soft, like a tender kiss on the cheek. It's gorgeous. and what’s real love if not gorgeous? “I will not ask you where you came from / I will not ask you and neither would you / Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips / We should just kiss like real people do.”
Cómo Te Extraño Mi Amor – Leo Dan
Maybe not as happy as most of the other songs on this list, this song is centered around the anguish you feel when you miss someone you love dearly. They occupy your every thought, no matter what you do. It’s enough to make you feel like you’re going crazy. The only cure is their love, and you’re willing to wait until the end of time for their return – it’s your destiny. “El dolor es fuerte y lo soporto / Porque sufro pensando en tu amor / Quiero verte, tenerte y besarte / Y entregarte todo mi corazón.”
Will I See You Again? – Thee Sacred Souls
Is this the real thing? Or just a fleeting fling? Should we pursue this? Or just go back to being friends? These are the questions asked with incessant desperation in this gorgeous, soulful song. All of these uncertainties could go away in an instant, if their special someone would just take a leap of faith and be honest about what they want. It could be so good, if only. Love is so complicated, yet so simple. Just answer the most important question – will there be a next time? “‘Cause I could be so good to you / If you would just take that chance / Said I could be so good to you / If you would just jump that fence, baby.”
Cover Art by Madison Case. Edited by Madison Case.