Photo Credit: The Miami Hurricane
Curated playlists based on your current relationship status
Tannaaz Zaraineh, Features Editor
Up until now, I’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day with mixed feelings. Some years, I had a deep hatred for its consumer-oriented message, and other times it was more about the chocolate sales. Sometimes, though, I liked all the hearts and red and pink frills. Truthfully, based on my dating history, I’ve only managed to celebrate it once in my life with someone else. Even then, it was uneventful and nothing I expected it to be. So with that being said, if anyone wants to treat me to a Valentine’s date, friend or reader, be my guest. I am very openly taking applications and milk chocolates at the moment.
But the point of this article isn’t really about me – it’s about you, the reader! With today’s bombardment of media, one that continues to reign is music; it’s something we collectively enjoy. And lucky for us, there’s a plethora of love songs, breakup songs, and all things relationship-related, perfect for Valentine’s Day. I’m sure that at some point most of us have listened to a sappy song, or one that got us crying either in public or in the shower. We’ve all made playlists when we couldn’t find the right words to explain how we feel. It’s a human experience. I guess this holiday has the power to strip away our masks and make us display how we truly feel.
I’ve decided to curate playlists based on your relationship status. Maybe one of you out there needs it because you couldn’t find a song that works with your current feelings. No matter what you’ve got going on, I’ve got you covered. Those with the asterisk symbol (*) are songs that are my personal favourites and that I think fit best within their given category.
Single and loving it:
*“Impala” by Adèle Castillon
“BOY BYE” by BROCKHAMPTON
“Bye Bye Blues” by Les Paul and Mary Ford
*“Karma” by Taylor Swift
“Colors” by Ava Maybee
“ALIEN SUPERSTAR” by Beyoncé
“Hit the Lights” by Selena Gomez
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
“Glad He’s Gone” by Tove Lo
“Jackie Chan” by Tiësto, Dzeko, Preme, and Post Malone
“No Love” by Summer Walker and SZA
“Gimme More” by Britney Spears
*”Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Best Life” by Naps and GIMS
You recently broke up with someone and feel free. You are loving this new stage in your life and maybe even feel indifferent towards your ex. Or you’ve been single for a while and you’re just having a good time. Either way, you can’t go without Taylor Swift and “Karma.” Adèle Castillon’s “Impala” is in French, but the lyrics are about her feelings after breaking up with her former bandmate/boyfriend. Fun fact: he was the other half of their duo called Vidéoclub, and now she’s singing about how much fun she’s having without him. Woo! #YouGoGirl
Single and crying it out:
*“Heat Waves – Stripped Back” by Glass Animals
“Cruel Summer” by Bananarama
“Neptune” by Sufjan Stevens
*“Fourth of July” by Sufjan Stevens
*“Summer’s Gone” by Paul Anka
“Angel Eyes” by Julie London
“All I Want” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Haunted” by Taylor Swift
“Sept. 16” by Kid Cudi
“Love’s the Only Way” by Cage the Elephant
“Alone Again” by The Weeknd
“Counting Sheep” by Myles Cameron
“Nobody” by Mitski
“Nostalgia” by Suki Waterhouse
“Selfish” by Madison Beer
Maybe you were just dumped or ghosted by someone you really, REALLY liked. Or maybe you broke up with them but you’re still hurting, and that’s normal too! Sufjan Stevens is practically the king of sad indie music. Any stripped back songs by Glass Animals will leave you feeling ALL the feels, and any Weeknd song should be a go-to if you want to start your listening session off strong.
I’m a mess and it’s all over the place:
“NAPLES” by Brevin Kim
*“No Good For You” by FUR
“Are You Bored Yet” by Wallows
*“Sidelines” by Wallows
“Orange Girl” by Dreamer Boy
*“Starcrossed Losers” by The Fratellis
“Between the Lines” by Aminé
*“tears in the club” by FKA twigs ft. The Weeknd
“Solo” by Demi Lovato
“Decode” by Sabrina Carpenter
*“Tulsa Jesus Freak” by Lana Del Rey
“Know Better” by Lucy Fer
“In The Kitchen” by Renée Rapp
*“At the End of the Day” by Wallows
“Complicated,” as in you like them but deep down you know they’re no good for you. You can’t get them out of your head no matter how hard you try. “At the End of the Day” by Wallows is probably one of the best songs on their most recent album Tell Me That It’s Over. It’s got catchy ‘70s-esque synths with lyrics that practically beg you to share them with somebody (or to cry to alone). “Starcrossed Losers” is super bittersweet because you and your crush aren’t meant for each other, but there is still the desire for something – anything – to go right. The song is able to mask its disheartening verses with its lively rock elements and use of Romeo and Juliet as reference, but you can’t help but notice its melancholic message. And “tears in the club” will likely cause you to cry. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
We just broke up/I hate them:
*“Constant Repeat” by Charli XCX
“Boyfriends” by Harry Styles
“I Hate U” by SZA
“Plus Jamais” by Aya Nakamura and Stormzy
“Space Ghost Coast to Coast – Stripped Back” by Glass Animals
“Heartless” by The Weeknd
“Ifhy” by ericdoa
“Good Ones” by Charli XCX
“I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift
*“Unless You’re Drowning” by Emotional Oranges
“Burning Bridges” by OneRepublic
“Night Shift” by Lucy Dacus
“good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo
*“Woo” by Rihanna
*“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
This category of songs is pretty explicit in the message they get across (and the title of the category itself). You truly could not care less about the other person. Maybe you’re tempted to send one of these to the ex who pesters you nonstop before blocking them, I won’t judge! “Woo” by Rihanna does the job well, it’s like she’s releasing all of your angry energy for you – thanks @badgalriri! Emotional Oranges generally has great R&B songs, and “Unless You’re Drowning” is a great reminder to not contact anyone you shouldn’t be texting.
Single but ready to mingle:
“Welcome To My Island” by Caroline Polachek, George Daniel, and Charli XCX
“Do It Right” by Don Toliver
*“Hot In It – Tiesto’s Hotter Mix” by Tiësto and Charli XCX
‘Rules” by Doja Cat
“Ready or Not” by Bridgit Mendler
“Something New” by Nikki Yanofsky
“Gimme What I Want” by Miley Cyrus
*“La Suzi” by Ozuna
“Bellacon” by El Alfa and J Balvin
“I Like You (A Happier Song)” by Post Malone and Doja Cat
“Spicy” by Ty Dolla $ign and Post Malone
*“Moulaga” by Heuss L’enfoiré and Jul
“INTOXICATED” by Indica
The vibe I was trying to achieve with this batch was “I’m done with thinking about my ex, let’s party” mixed with “I’m having a good time and if I meet someone new, so be it.” Charli XCX’s songs are generally high energy, and her remixes are sometimes even better. I’ve played them everywhere – on the subway, walking to class, driving for errands, etc.
Currently in L.O.V.E:
“Lucky Girl” by Fazerdaze
*“My Kind of Woman” by Mac DeMarco
“Romanticist” by Yves Tumor
“CUFF IT” by Beyoncé
“Softly” by Clairo
*“I Call It Love” by Nancy Sinatra
“I Would Die for You” by Miley Cyrus
“Lover” by Taylor Swift
“Copine” by PLK
“Paris in the Rain” by Lauv
“Quarto de Hotel” by Hareton Salvanini
*“Starry Eyes” by The Weeknd
“Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles
*“Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)” by The Detroit Emeralds
“L O V E” by Michael Bublé
For obvious reasons, I couldn’t leave out Michael Bublé’s classic song (and my mom is a huge fan). If you’re an old school person, I’d suggest any of Nancy Sinatra’s love songs. “I Call It Love” is the most obvious you can get. “Lucky Girl” is a cute way to let your S/O know how lucky you feel to be with them!
And in case you need a push this Valentine’s…
I have a crush but don’t know how to tell them:
“Ringtone” by 100 gecs
*“Something About You” by Eyedress and Dent May
“Willing to Trust” by Kid Cudi ft. Ty Dolla $ign
“Rockin’” by The Weeknd
*“GAMBA” by BROCKHAMPTON
“Inside Out” by Camila Cabello
“Message In A Bottle (Fat Max Remix) (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift and Fat Max Gsus
“IPHONE” by Rico Nasty
“Meet Me Halfway” by Black Eyed Peas
“Summertime In Paris” by Jaden and WILLOW
“Lately” by iann dior
“Yo Love” by Vince Staples, 6lack, and Mereba
*“MAN ON THE MOON” by BROCKHAMPTON
“Cinnamon Girl” by Lana Del Rey
“Close To You” by Dayglow
“I’d Like To Walk Around In Your Mind” by Vashti Bunyan
“C U Girl” by Steve Lacy
Even if you don’t plan to ask out your crush, perhaps you’ll be able to find a couple of new songs for your own playlist. I’m a BROCKHAMPTON stan and defend their discography all the time, hence the asterisk on “GAMBA” and “MAN ON THE MOON,” but I promise their songs are worth listening to if you haven’t heard any yet! Some of their romantic songs are subtle, others more obvious, but I’m sure you can find something you’ll like if you browse. Generally, the songs on this list vary in intensity, so choose wisely if you plan to send any!
I hope that if you don’t really need a premade playlist you’ll at least find one new song to play on repeat because it resonates with you (or it has a great beat).
If you want more or like my music taste, add me on Spotify @tannaaz to see my playlists or to make a blend playlist with me. If we add each other you can stalk what I play and I might stalk you back, and then we’ll both find new music we’ll love (and if not, that’s cool too, no pressure). However you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoy it and blast all the music you want! As Rihanna once sang, “please don’t stop the music.”
