Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate love and passion. If you’re struggling with gifts for your sweetheart, the bright side is that you can’t go wrong with music. In honor of Saint Valentine, here are 10 songs you can play to your special someone.
1. The Makings of You – Curtis Mayfield
The late soul great’s 1970 solo debut Curtis is a missive to black America. This is one of its lush love letters.
2. Heaven To Me – Theo Lawrence & The Hearts
Based in Gentilly, France, the band fronted by 21-year old French Canadian Lawrence creates music aimed at soul lovers.
3. Dear To Me – Electric Guest
The upbeat single by the Los Angeles-based indie pop band feature friends such as Haim.
4. Feel Like I Do – Disclosure feat. Al Green
The British electronic duo’s 2016 track samples Green’s 1972 song “I’m Still in Love with You.”
5. Baby – Donnie and Joe Emerson
This sublime song was a lost 1970s relic until a record collector discovered it in an antique shop in Spokane, Washington in 2008. California-based singer-songwriter Ariel Pink then covered it in 2012.
6. Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The single, written for lead singer Karen O’s boyfriend at the time, is ranked #6 on Pitchfork Media’s top 500 songs of the 2000s.
7. Music When The Lights Go Out – The Libertines
The garage rock ballad paints a scruffy but beautiful picture of the crumbling relationship between songwriters Pete Doherty and Carl Barât.
8. & It Was You – How To Dress Well
American singer-songwriter Tom Krell has said that his second studio album, which contains this minimal track, was inspired by Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope.
9. Can You Tell – Ra Ra Riot
This song is about love leaving you all awkward and goofy, done in a sweet, melodically deft manner.
10. Baby I’m Yours - Breakbot feat. Irfane
The French DJ and producer also known as Thibaut Jean-Marie Michel Berland brings both the boogie and the romance.