The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

This Valentine’s Day, each of us will face unique situations that define the holiday. Some of us might be celebrating new or lasting love, while others are faced with heartbreak and lonesomeness. In any case, Valentine’s calls for a playlist that acutely matches the vibe.

Some songs just get what you’re going through, even when you can’t put it into words. Music is an outlet to release emotions that can feel otherwise overwhelming. This is for those of us who just want to hit play and let the music do its thing. So, when everything else feels like too much, just remember there’s always a tune out there that’s got your back!

woman in gray tank top lying on bed — Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

First and foremost, my first recommendations go to the “Her” in Her Campus. Galentine’s is one of the best ways to celebrate this holiday. It’s all about hanging out with your girlfriends and showing appreciation for each other. Female friendships offer such a strong sense of strength and support, proving that before anything else, it’s the love for the girlhood we share that truly matters. Here’s the vibe:

On the other hand, a pure love is equally unmatched. If you’re in a committed relationship and separated by a distance, these next recs are for you! These songs capture the melancholy vibes of missing the one you love on the day dedicated to love.

In my firsthand experience, there’s something incomparably comforting about sad songs. It’s not intuitive, but they’re relatable and ultimately calming. These are some songs (including sad ones) that I hope capture the passions and frustrations of loving someone from afar. Like they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder! You got this!

Next, it’s not love… yet — but what is it? A situationship is always a confusing and complex circumstance on Valentine’s Day. When there’s a lack of labels, these tunes can help make sense of it all!

Of course, unfortunately some of us will be seriously in our feels, missing or wishing you never met that one person. Sometimes, you want to just wallow in sadness, other times it’s anger. For both moods, I’ve got the recs.

First, the sad and dreary:

And of course, if you just want to scream:

Maybe there’s a little someone in the back of your mind, driving you crazy. Even though it’s nothing deep yet, a crush can still be a valentine imagined by the hopeless romantic nature of inner manifestations. For those in that situation, the songs below might help explain the blush on your face when someone mentions their name:

A unlikely category I’ve added is the long gone summer fling. It’s like that one scene in Inside Out when the mom thinks about the Brazilian Helicopter Pilot who almost was but wasn’t. On days like Valentine’s, it can be hard not to think of “the one who got away.” These songs take the vibe of Allie and Noah in The Notebook and express that undying craze.

And with that, I’ve concluded my list of playlist recommendations! I hope this Valentine’s edition had something in store for you and helped explain the complexity of your predicament through lyrics and melodies.

I’ll be hitting play on the long distance songs, so if you’re in the same boat, best of luck!

The Ultimate Valentine’s Mixtape

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