The Valentine’s Day mixtape for single folks

Feb 14, 2010 by Joshua    1 Comment     Posted under: music, music feature

After consulting with a music-savvy team of shy romantics, I have selected 15 songs for those of you who plan to spend Valentine’s Day on your own. The selection reflects my own musical tastes, but as a perpetual third wheel, I feel my experience on the subject should support the choices that I have made. So queue up the playlist get comfortable with a warm blanket and a nice book – and maybe a box of tissues and some junk food. The list begins after the jump.

1. “Love Stinks” by J. Geils Band – Okay, so this one is a bit of a joke. Still, while the night is young and the couples are out gallivanting about and having fun, it helps to blow off a little steam. Love stinks! Shout it out!

2. “Your Love Alone Is Not Enough” by Manic Street Preachers – Even if someone’s got love, what good is that? Love is flawed. It’s not enough to save the world. Listen as this sweet duo pin love to the wall and rough it up a bit.

3. “Modern Love” by David Bowie – Ever felt like all the drama and nonsense that is attached to love these days is just ludicrous? How can anyone believe in modern love? Bowie tells it like it is.

4. “If I Apologised” by Josephine Cronholm – Let’s suppose for an instance that there’s something to love. It can be so tense, so stressful. It can never be perfect, not like one might envision and hope. With words by Neil Gaiman (who certainly isn’t short on love these days), this tune may tug some heart strings.

5. “Take It Back” by She & Him – Is love worth it? Can anyone be trusted with your heart? Zooey Deschanel’s melancholy voice casts a skeptical tone on love.

6. “Handle With Care” by Traveling Wilburys – This power band may be composed of talented guys, but they aren’t afraid to show their sensitive side. This tune may be more of a love song than most of the rest, but it isn’t without its doubts on the subject. Also worth checking out is Jenny Lewis’ cover of the tune, which she has sung with various other performers.

7. “Runnin’ Out of Fools” by Neko Case – A cover of a song by Aretha Franklin, this track slaps love in the face. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Case can tell you all about it with gusto.

8. “For Today” by Jessica Lea Mayfield – For a 19-year-old, Mayfield has a rather mature grasp on human emotion. Listen as she croons about a love that leaves her feeling lonely.

9. “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley – Maybe some folks have love in their lives, but for reasons out of their control, they find themselves alone on Valentine’s Day. Maybe something is keeping them apart from their love. For all those hungry for love and found wanting, this tune may strike a chord.

10. “Secret Heart” by Feist – Perhaps you don’t hate love. Maybe you’re just afraid of it. A lot of us are just too shy to express our true feelings. For those of us who keep our love on the inside, Feist has an anthem that beckons one to open up and let the emotions flow. The album version of the song is rather sweet and mellow, though the version linked her is a little more intense, but it is a lovely live performance.

11. “If You Find Yourself Caught in Love” by Belle & Sebastian – B&S are the kings of melancholia. Who else went through high school with one of their tunes always in your thoughts? This tune is sure to help anyone who finds it difficult to sort out his or her emotions concerning love.

12. “Crown of Love” by Arcade Fire – Surely, a notable portion of those without plans for Valentine’s Day are the sort who lost love but still pine for it. Forgiveness, regret, guilt – it is hard not to center on such feelings. Of course, the tune picks up a bit toward the end, but it is hard to say if it is because of a drive to overcome or a fit of desperation.

13. “For Emma” by Bon Iver – As soon as this song starts, I get an image of a man sitting at home, the air still for lack of movement, as he reflects on a lost love. Relax. Take it in. Have not a care in the world.

14. “Benefit of the Doubt” by Dark Dark Dark – What’s done is done. Sitting alone on such a day as Valentine’s Day can lead one to self-reflection, an analysis of the past. The ghosts of one’s past loves may visit. Dark Dark Dark captures this sort of feeling well.

15. “The Organ Donor’s March” by Vermillion Lies – Okay, so this one’s a bit of a joke as well. It didn’t seem right to end on a sorrowful note. This sisterly duo takes a fresh spin on the concept of “giving” one’s heart to another, turning  a complex medical operation into a metaphor for love. One might find it a bit creepy, but it is certainly endearing.

So what do you think? Are there songs that you listen to when you are feeling particularly out of love? Feel free to comment and share your own favorite songs for the single soul.

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