HVD! But, while Valentine’s Day is, yes, the fourteenth of February, these classic songs will get you in a happy and loving mood any day. You don’t need to have a significant other to love LOVE!
1. Flightless Bird, American Mouth – Iron & Wine
Recognizable to most 90s kids from the long-awaited wedding scene from the Twilight saga, this quiet ode to finding the one for you, even if not everything in your life has been perfect, paints a realistic portrait of love anyone can enjoy. (Even if you never quite caught onto the vampire trend.)
2. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Haley Reinhart
This rendition of a classic done by the third-place finalist of season 10 of American Idol (#stillbitter) has more recently brought a tear to our eyes in the Extra Gum commercials. I mean, come on, those wrapper drawings?!
3. You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
Opening up with brass and a breathy “Baby” from Ray LaMontagne, this song has all the sounds of old love, yet was released in 2008.
4. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
I’m biased toward this song because it was the soundtrack to my parents’ first dance at their wedding 29 (!!!) years ago. However, Louis Armstrong’s classic has also appeared in numerous films, from Good Morning, Vietnam to Freaky Friday.
5. I Only See You – Benton Paul
Quieting down to an acoustic track, Benton Paul’s lyrics such as “People talking loud /
I can’t hear the crowd / You are so much more appealing / I’ll be honest, girl / You’ve become my world / And I’ll spend my life exploring” are just as swoon-worthy as the title.
6. Ordinary People – John Legend
There is no denying that we ALL wish we had a love like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s. However, while “All of Me” is hailed as Legend’s best love song, I prefer “Ordinary People”, with its raw lyrics such as “I know I misbehaved and you made your mistakes / And we both still got room left to grow / And though love sometimes hurts / I still put you first / And we’ll make this thing work but I think maybe we should take it slow”.
7. Better Together – Jack Johnson
Another acoustic favourite, Jack Johnson’s love song is simple, his message: “It’s always better when we’re together”.
8. Stubborn Love – The Lumineers
This bluegrass-vibe song from one of my favourite artists speaks to how even the bad aspects of the one you love can’t stop you from loving them. The songs are surprisingly upbeat for a message that could lead to a ballad!
Love line: “She’ll tear a hole in you, the one you can’t repair / But I still love her, I don’t really care”.
9. Georgia – Vance Joy
Vance Joy may win for Best Opening Line on this list. I mean, “She’s something to behold, elegant and bold”. That’s Gatsby-level adoration there.
10. You Are in Love – Taylor Swift
Moving into more mainstream pop… I know Taylor Swift gets mixed reviews, and while I certainly have my opinions on “the new Taylor”, the girl does know how to write a love song.
Love line: “Pauses, then says you’re my best friend / And you knew what it was, he is in love”.
11. L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Perhaps THE classic love song — famous to our parents for its release, famous to us for Lindsay Lohan’s The Parent Trap — L-O-V-E is one of those songs that gives serious kissing-the-love-of-your-life-in-Rockefeller-Center-on-Christmas-Eve vibes.
12. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Another classic that makes us yearn for not only the affection discussed but also to know its artist, Frank Sinatra. Nothing’s better than a serenade from America’s favourite singer.
Love line: “Yes you’re lovely, never ever change”.
13. She’s Always a Woman – Billy Joel
Billy Joel is quite arguably my favourite artist of all time, and his emotional ballads feed into my love for “music with feeling”. An incredible lyricist, Joel delivers with, “But she’ll bring out the best / And the worst you can be / Blame it all on yourself / Cause she’s always a woman to me”.
14. Love on the Brain – Rihanna
No better way to end this playlist than with the musical masterpiece performed by bad**s herself, Rihanna. Encompassing an incredible vocal range, and exploring a new sound, “Love on the Brain” moves past the sexual and into a sensual portrait of love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sources:
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