Ah, Valentine’s Day: quite possibly the most awkward yet the most adorable day of the year. How can so many people either spend the day being forced to express their love through the “perfect” gift while the rest of the world sobs, their tears accompanied by ice cream and a sappy rom-com? Stereotypical ways of wasting away the day aside, a vital aspect of Valentine’s Day is its soundtrack. Valentine’s Day is undoubtedly one heck of an emotional ride, hence why turning on a couple of songs for the trip is inevitable. Luckily, these love-related songs have been in front of us for decades — heartbreak, happiness and all of the in-between.

‘60s

“Walking In The Rain” – The Ronettes

Album: Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964)

Genre: Girl group, pop

• In the shadows of this girl group’s record, “Walking In The Rain” shares the album with what turned out to be some of the group’s most popular songs, such as “Be My Baby” and “Baby, I Love You.” The thunder sound effect that “Walking in the Rain” begins with separates this love song from the rest since the stormy sound is generally associated with depressing matter, not a hopeful and dreamy one. However, the song’s optimistic tone is created through the woman in the story listing the kind of guy she wants, then following with “someday, some way, I’ll meet him” and expressing that she’s “wishing on the on the stars up above.” Sweet touch, Ronettes. This set-up of a woman describing her soulmate connects to Valentine’s Day as it’s the day that partners, lovers and soulmates are all celebrated for, or possibly wished with “the stars up above” for.

“I’d Rather Go Blind” – Etta James

Album: Tell Mama (1968) 

Genre: R&B/soul, blues

• Like many outstanding female singers within the cosmos of R&B/soul, Etta James’ powerful vocals will leave listeners with goosebumps. “I’d Rather Go Blind” — unlike the incapability to find love in “Walking In The Rain”— refers to not wanting to lose attained love, one of the greatest fears, especially around Valentine’s Day. James openly stresses this fear through the iconic line “I’d rather go blind” and with further examples of how much the idea kills her. The soft drums, along with the relaxing bass line, comfortably support this message, providing room for her vocals to have double the effectiveness. Beyonce also does an outstanding job on her cover featured in the 2008 film “Cadillac Records.”

‘70s

“My Love Is Forever” – Prince

Album: For You (1978)

Genre: Disco, pop and r&b/soul

• Prince — later revolutionizing pop culture with his 1982 hit “1999” — released his debut album, “For You,” in 1978, which included the song “My Love Is Forever.” Blending elements of rock, soul, disco and electronic pop, he creates a song that perfectly captures the transition between songs in the ‘70s to songs in the ‘80s, when music met electric. The funky rhythm guitar, sweet synth and distorted guitar solo all contribute to how much of an experimental and futuristic piece “My Love Is Forever” is. And in the lyrics, through a grain of personification and dependency, Prince shows admiration for his “sugar” by telling them that he has been struck by infatuation — making this work of Cupid’s arrow a perfect tie-in to Valentine’s Day. 

“You’re So Vain” -Carly Simon ft. Mick Jagger

Album: No Secrets (1972)

Genre: Soft rock, pop

• Yep, Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” is the song from the rom-com “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” starring the beloved actors Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. More importantly, Simon’s famous opening line, “you walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht,” introduces us to the kind of person she is singing about: someone who is too self-absorbed to deserve romance, someone who makes Valentine’s Day frustrating and stressful. Rumors of who Simon wrote the song about spread like wildfire and remain unanswered to this day 50 years later. And while not a complete mystery, the lead singer and frontman of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger’s supporting vocals are also included in the song, though it takes most people a second to listen to identify the male voice after the song’s recently resurfaced. Not only does this mystery-filled song reside in the soft rock through aspects such as the acoustic guitar and piano being supported by calm bass and drum lines, but it also falls under the pop umbrella due to its catchy and repeated lyrics. 

‘80s

“Angel” – Aerosmith

Album: Permanent Vacation (1987)

Genre: Hard rock, glam metal

• Besides electronic music, hard rock and glam metal were heavily boosted by the ‘80s. Aerosmith’s “Angel” falls under the hard rock genre due to its skilled and thunderous drumming, distinct lead and overdriven/slam-ish rhythm guitar parts, and of course, lead singer and frontman Steven Tyler’s iconic vocals. Seriously, his voice is wickedly chilling — just listen to the band’s 2016 live performance of “Dream On” and how Tyler’s voice is still epically intact. What sets “Angel” into glam metal, though, is the glamorous outfits worn on stage that defy the conformity of what men were expected to wear at that time — no makeup, “male” hairdos and “male” clothes. Joined by these characteristics is the level of preparedness for Tyler’s relationship with the “angel” within the song. He explains that the two should “break the walls between [them]”; he is willing to “put away [his] pride,” and the lover should “come and save [him] tonight” to “come and make it alright.” These examples of the strength of his love support the meaning of Valentine’s Day through their romantic courage and thoughtfulness. 

“Well I Wonder” – The Smiths

Album: Meat Is Murder (1985)

Genre: Alternative/indie rock

• Despite turning out to be the widely loved post-punk band The Cure’s infamous enemy through vulgar disputes, The Smiths are a band that perfectly executes that “here’s a mellow and beautiful sound, but with the most depressing lyrics listeners will ever hear” quality. Unlike other depressing Smiths’ hits such as “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” which proves loyalty, and “Asleep,” which displays forfeit — also featured in the 2012 movie “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” —  “Well I Wonder”  is an excellent track for loss and knowing when it is time to stop trying because the crush isn’t mutual. Lyrics expressing that idea are: “Do you see me when we pass? / I half-die” and ”Gasping, dying but somehow still alive / Please keep me in mind.” The soft sound and poignant lyrics combine to create the perfect hit for Valentine’s Day when the person someone wishes to spend the day with is nowhere near wishing the same. 

‘90s

“Show Me the Way” – Destiny’s Child

Album: Destiny’s Child (1998)

Genre: R&b/soul, pop

• The R&B group Destiny’s Child, having formed from the leader Beyonce taking inspiration from The Spice Girls — the embodiment of girl power — went on to dominate the ‘90s to early 2000s music scene. Now, the lyrics to “Show Me the Way” ask whomever the song was written about how their attention can be caught — a perfect match for Valentine’s Day when a person just does not have the words to express their love. This “what will it take?” attitude is told through the ladies beginning with: “I wanna know if I can get to know you” and later reasoning with “Every night and every day I’m thinkin’ of you / All I need is just a chance to love you, baby.” 

“Up in Arms” – Foo Fighters

Album: The Colour And The Shape (1997)

Genre: Alternative rock, post-grunge and pop 

• Founding member and frontman Dave Grohl was only three years out of drumming for Nirvana when his new band’s album, “The Colour And The Shape,” was released.  This fresh project of The Foo Fighters allowed him to continue a career in music and avoid being known as the “guy from Nirvana” after the group ended. Nevertheless, The Foo Fighters were able to release “dad music” that carried over some grunge. But “Up in Arms” is a song that is difficult to fit under one genre for many reasons, such as its combination of grunge, pop and various types of rock. This is credited to the first part of the song consists of an easygoing, clean and rather heavenly sound. The rest of it quickly shifts to a fast-paced tune with angsty guitars and drummer Taylor Hawkins’ jaw-dropping performance (others in the album from the late Hawkins’ being “My Hero” and “Everlong”). Angst, a feeling derived from Valentine’s Day heartbreak,  is also expressed through the piece’s lyrics, with some examples being: “I cannot forget you, girl, / Now I am up in arms again” and “My lonely heart / It falls apart.”

‘2000s

“She Will Be Loved” -Maroon 5

Album: Songs About Jane (2002)

Genre: Alternative/Soft Rock, Pop 

• “She Will Be Loved” became the wedding song, making the tune even more romantic. Frontman Adam Levine — also known for his role as a judge on “The Voice” for 16 strong seasons — and lead guitarist James Valentine’s song portrays the challenges of being in a troublesome and difficult relationship. Though the lyrics were written from an outsider’s perspective of that situation, this song is romantic because it carries an “I don’t care if things get rough, I want you and only you” feel. Come on, that’s an adorable theme for this holiday. And supporting that precious mood are the first lines from the chorus, “I don’t mind spending every day / Out on your corner in the pouring rain.” Another cherry on top of “She Will Be Loved” is the intro; the soothing guitar and swaying bass line paired with the light rim clicks on the drums. Weddings, worries and rim clicks aside, “She Will Be Loved” is an excellent song for Valentine’s Day as it’s about one partner reassuring that they’ll forever love their partner no matter what.

“Whatsername” – Green Day

Album: American Idiot (2004)

Genre: Pop-punk, Alternative

• Green Day’s album “American Idiot” drastically shifted their career thanks to the popularized tracks “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “American Idiot.” Similar to the sad meaning behind “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Whatsername” touches base on another traumatic experience from lead singer and frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s youth: his then-girlfriend left his side while he was in the midst of drug abuse. Armstrong highlights this past relationship by singing regretful and nostalgic lyrics, which makes for a perfect soundtrack if the listener misses someone this Valentine’s Day. Despite Armstrong disliking being called pop-punk, this song’s sound leans toward the genre due to the band’s blend of punk-like rhythm and guitars and the similar structure and catchiness of most pop songs. The immediate jump to distortion in the post-chorus, added with bassist Mike Dirnt’s background vocals, is a highly satisfying combo. 

2010s

“Pretty Girl” – Clairo

Single: Pretty Girl (2017)

Genre: Bedroom pop, alternative

• Created in GarageBand, Claire Cottrill — better known by Clairo — became an internet sensation from her song “Pretty Girl” going viral on Youtube. The cute homemade music video reached nearly 90 million views and became influential to the newfound bedroom pop genre. Cottrill’s velvet-like vocals in the song — best represented in her early SoundCloud days — are accompanied by her playful electric keyboard and beat. “Pretty Girl”’s lyrics reveal that the girl in the song deeply misses her crush and wants to make amends, to have their undivided love — a wish widely wanted over Valentine’s Day. Well-deserved, Cottrill’s need to experience romance has not only become one of the perfect songs to post significant others to on social media, but “Pretty Girl” also gave her the platform to rise to alternative royalty. 

“I Fall Apart” – Post Malone

Album: Stoney (2016)

Genre: Hip-hop, contemporary R&B

• Released in 2016, Post Malone’s album, “Stoney,” followed the wave of flourishment other musicians experienced that year. One specific song in this album, “I Fall Apart,” — similar to the rawness brought in “Feeling Whitney,” a song in the same album — brings loss to the album through its exceedingly lonesome yet healing execution. Not only do the lyrics “She fooled me twice, and it’s all my fault / She cut too deep, now she left me scarred” stress the emotional toll that heartbreak can have, but the raspiness that we hear from Malone throughout the song compliment the difficulty that loss can bring. Above all, “I Fall Apart”’s display of vulnerability through outstanding vocals and modern music validates the contemporary track’s success. This feature gives reasons to come to this tune for emotional support this Valentine’s Day.

2020s

“golden hour” – JVKE

Single: golden hour (2022)

Genre: indie/alternative pop

• “Golden hour” — one of the many songs to gain popularity through TikTok —  stands as a prime example of how beautiful love can be. This piece of JVKE’s consists of sharply spoken verses followed by a pre-chorus and chorus sung with a more open and airy strike. In addition to his well-controlled vocals, the angelic piano and strings that build themselves up portray how impactful and hard-hitting love can be. Emphasizing love’s power to do so are the lines “She’s got glitter for skin / My radiant beam in the night,” “She got solar power / Minutes feel like hours,” and “It’s your golden hour.” JVKE sharing this heavenly love of his sets the song to be “golden” for Valentine’s Day as it gives the listener a hard and deep look into the mind of their significant other.

“Die Hard” – Kendrick Lamar – ft. Blxst & Amanda Reifer

Album: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022)

Genre: Hip-hop, rap

• Kendrick Lamar — undoubtedly one of the most gifted artists of our generation — wowed the public with his hip-hop album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” This rather personal album of Lamar is set to be interpreted several ways while following a general theme or issue  — a structure followed by most of his work, “To Pimp A Butterfly,” honoring the late Tupac Shakur, is an exemplary case. “Mr. Morale”’s “Die Hard” consists of low-key yet moving electronic instruments supported by silky ad-libs and background vocals. The lyrics, however, “I pop the pain away / I slide the pain away” and “I hope I’m not too late to set my demons straight / I know I made you wait, but how much can you take” touch on Lamar’s insecurity of his tendency to fear he is not enough and ready for a relationship. Kendrick Lamar coming clean can be the perfect song to support listeners this Valentine’s Day when they are overwhelmed with the responsibility that ultimately comes with being in love.