A significant day of the year is approaching where you either love it or you hate it: Valentine’s Day. With most holidays in the year, music correlates with them. Christmas has holiday music, Halloween has fun soundtracks like The Nightmare Before Christmas, but what about Valentine’s day? With this in mind, I have put together a Valentine’s playlist ranging from happy to sad. 

Starting off at the bottom of the emotion pedestal: sad songs. Whether it be heartbreak because of a love story gone wrong or simply the dreadful loneliness that comes from this holiday, these songs are perfect to curl up to as you stuff your face with cheap Target chocolate in heart boxes.

“Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo

This song has been all over the charts, being number one in hit music for a total of four weeks, and when listening to the song its newfound position is not shocking. This song brings a new feeling of heartbreak and broken promises. If there is any song to blast as you sit in your car, it is this one. Especially when Rodrigo hits high notes that sound absolutely heart-wrenching. 

“All I Want” by Kodaline

This song is covered in grief and longing. Do you have a long lost romance where all you want is to see them again? Well, this song will express those exact feelings. Valentine’s Day can bring back feelings for an ex you have not thought of in ages, so there is no shame in reflecting on the good times that play out in your mind like a coming-of-age film. 

“Heather” by Conan Gray

Feeling like you are in second place with someone you have a massive crush is the worst, and if you are stuck in this predicament or have experienced it in the past, Conan Gray captures that feeling, putting it into “Heather”. He brilliantly incorporates how no matter how much you want to dislike “Heather”, it really is not her fault and describes the daunting feelings of insecurity that come with a seemingly perfect person as competition. 

“Be My Mistake” by The 1975

The 1975 are no strangers to writing heart-wrenching songs. This song in particular has a calm feeling that intertwines with the sad nature. The soft guitar strumming accompanied by lead singer Matthew Healey’s soothing voice is enough to make you stop and think. This song in particular tells the story of two very different types of love, and what it is like to be stuck in the middle, constantly making the same ‘mistake’. 

“The Night We Met” by Lord Huron

This is another perfect song for reflecting. Lord Huron uses a softer beat that makes you feel like you are wandering through a forest on an unknown journey, or in another term, whimsical. Do you ever wish things were the way they used to be? Well, this song certainly does, where the main idea is how much things have changed to the point where lovers became ghosts to one another. 

After those sad songs, you want something to brighten the mood, so what better than some love songs that make you feel alive? Use these songs however you want: on a date, hanging out with friends, or simply just with yourself. 

“Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer

This song is full of love and promises of various adventures. The lyrics go through numerous domestic and romantic situations, from swinging on a hanging tire to watching the fireflies. Leigh Nash, the lead singer, has a rustic voice that makes you feel completely comfortable. So, if you would like a simple song to bop your head to, this is the one for you. 

“Someone To You” by BANNERS

This song has an exciting beat that you can definitely play at a socially distant Valentine’s event. It talks about a completely dedicated love, making you feel like you are the only important person in the world at that moment with whomever else you choose. It creates a sensation of growing better, where the initial loneliness grows into excitement for a new future. This song is perfect to dance to with a smile on your face.

“18” by One Direction

Do you want to feel like you are in a coming-of-age film that has a childhood best friend to lovers trope? This song is the perfect option. One Direction songs, no matter how much time has passed, still hits your heartstrings after playing the Four album too many times. This song covers dedicated romance, starting from the innocent romance of when they were eighteen to how much it grew over the years. The beat has a perfect balance of excitement and melancholy.

“She Sets the City on Fire” by Gavin DeGraw

The tone of this song has loud beats playing in the background and consistent clapping that would dominate the dance floor. This song captures more of a current romance with someone exciting and one of a kind, with the idea that while this may only be temporary, the journey itself is worth it. If there were a scene to go with this song, it would be a midnight adventure in New York City, so live vicariously through this song!

“Long Story Short” by Taylor Swift

This would not be a good Valentine’s playlist without the artist who dominates the charts: Taylor Swift. Swift never fails to intertwine storytelling and music together in a fashion that makes the listener feel like they are genuinely the main character of the song. This song covers moving on from bad romances to one that finally gives her joy, finally finding the right guy. If you are in the position of coming upon your happy ending or simply like the rustic tunes that come with Taylor Swift songs, this is the perfect fit. 

Of course, there are more songs that go beyond these two categories surrounding romance. Some to note are “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals, “I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys, “A Sunday Kind Of Love” by Etta James, “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra, and more. Music goes beyond designated genres and that is what makes music necessary for whichever holiday is being celebrated.
Whether your Valentine’s Day is happy, sad, or neutral, these songs can be the soundtrack in this segment of your own personal coming-of-age movie.