We here at B.G.M. thought we should throw together a nice little playlist for Valentine’s Day to accompany your activities of romance or loathe for the Hallmark Holiday. The songs on this playlist are grouped together by each author’s picks and are geared toward love, lust, obsession, hatred, and bliss. Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed compiling it. Enjoy!
Also, here’s Brandon’s Prince themed Purple Valentine’s Day Playlist.
Javier’s Picks:
Ralph Tresvant, “Sensitivity”: a 90s throwback, the days before R&B went the way of gangsta rap.
Wale feat. Rick Ross and Jeremih, “That Way”: Hip-hop that’s sexy without being soft-porn.
Boney James feat. Raheem Devaughn, “Maker of Love”. Amazing combination of smooth jazz saxophone and a talented, underrated vocalist.
BONUS TRACKS:
Luther Vandross, “Any Love” You CANT have a love song playlist without Luther on it. If you do, it’s not a real playlist.
Spandau Ballet, “True”: No explanation needed.
Sam’s Picks:
Bloc Party, “Blue Light”
Death From Above 1979, “Pull Out”
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, “Young Adult Friction”
St. Vincent, “Marry Me”
Voxtrot, “The Start of Something”
Melissa’s Picks:
Jessie Ware & Sampha, “Valentine”: I first heard Jessie Ware and Sampha together on SBTRKT’s 2011 self-titled album. Earlier that year Ware released this special Valentine’s Day single on limited edition 12″ heart-shaped vinyl. Jessie Ware’s vocals are sugary sweet and perfectly balance out Sampha’s sexy, British crunes.
How to Dress Well, “Ready for the World”: What is sexier than late 80’s R&B? HTDW knows what’s up. In this steamy track Tom Krell nods to the sexiest of all R&B ballads Ready for the World’s “Let Me Love You Down” by sampling INOJ’s 1997 cover. This hot and dreamy track demands silk sheets.
Radiohead, “Talk Show Host”: You might not have considered a B-side from Radiohead’s 1996 album Bends to be this provocative. Let me assure you, in the right context Thom Yorke will seduce you into a pile of mush. “You want me? Fucking come on and break the door down. I’m ready.”
Phil’s Picks:
Deftones, “Cherry Waves”: The ultimate love song. Ambiguous and full of passionate imagery. Chino’s never been more sensual and that’s saying something. When his voice cracks at the end of the chorus, it’s a perfect encapsulation of the heartache foundation true love is built upon.
Jon’s Picks:
I wanna back up Phil here with some #ChinoFever and go with some more Deftones / Team Sleep (obsession) and a couple of Jeff Buckley tracks (sex); as well as one Sam Cook song (romance), one song by Sparta (break-up), and the loveliest song in the world by Elbow (love). That’s it.
Deftones, “Mascara”
Team Sleep, “Live From The Stage” a.k.a. “Natalie Portman”
Jeff Buckley, “Everybody Here Wants You” and “Once Opened”
Sam Cook, “Cupid”
Sparta, “While Oceana Sleeps”
Elbow, “Great Expectations”
Aaron’s Picks:
Superdrag, “Truest Love”: Bendy guitars, feedback, distortion, and a wall of noise: Sounds exactly like how it feels to fall in love.
Big Star, “I’m In Love With A Girl”: One of the most simple, to the point love songs ever created. One day I will play this on an acoustic guitar and win the girl of my dreams. *sigh*
Ryan Adams,”La Cienega Just Smiled”: Sometimes we fall in love with the wrong people but despite the pain, there is the beauty of affection.
Chris Cornell, “Sunshower”: He may be remembered for being moody, brooding and all around cool, but Cornell has a softer side that’s shown on this underrated gem. Beautiful track.
Shark?, “Wither”: Who says garage rock can’t be sensitive?
Amanda’s Picks:
It was fitting but unintentional that I created a Valentine’s Day playlist wrought with artists I spend a vast amount of time swooning over (and not just on February 14th)- from Alex Turner and his dark lyrical romanticism to Jim James and his dreamy Southern drawl. I also had to add a couple of tracks that are subtly cynical to honor this over hyped and commercialized excuse for people to show affection to one another once a year rather than regularly. I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day (it’s WHISKEYTINES for me, hence the closing track) but I do believe in love, and these are a few songs known to raise goosebumps on my arms.
The Beatles, “In My Life”
Alabama Shakes, “I Found You”
Arctic Monkeys, “Mad Sounds”
The Decemberists, “The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)”
Colin Meloy, “Wonder”
Glen Hansard, “Falling Slowly”
My Morning Jacket, “Just One Thing”
Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
Alkaline Trio, “Enjoy Your Day”
Broken Social Scene, “Lover’s Spit”
Murder By Death, “As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World”
Danielle’s Picks:
The Eels, “Beginners Luck”: This song makes me excited about the potential to be in love again. It recognizes that love is hard but starting out new makes you feel like you can take on anything – especially together. I love the idea of packing your bags and seeing what happens. It’s idealistic – why not go for it?
Father John Misty, “Chateau #4”: It’s just honest, and please propose to me singing this song. I have not hated the same things as someone else in a long time…
Jaymay, “Gray or Blue”: This song is adorably innocent. Plus when the shaker just adds to the giddy feeling the song gives me.
Ricky Nelson, “Believe What You Say”: Besides being one of the best songs to sing to yourself… Another song that captures the innocence of love. Yes, let’s believe they are only all about you – that’s the whole point of this holiday.
Be sure to also check out Danielle’s V-Day Playlist from last year.
Jaci’s Picks:
Minus the Bear, “White Mystery”
Avicii, “Addicted to You”
Goo Goo Dolls, “Come To Me”
Sara Bareilles, “I Choose You”
Passenger, “Coins In A Fountain”
The Fray, “Hold My Hand”
Kelsey’s Picks:
Paul Cook & The Chronicles, “A Real Thunderbolt”
Maroon 5, “Feelings”
The Bird and The Bee, “Undone”
Oh Wonder, “Lose It”
Saint Motel, “My Type”
Father John Misty, “True Affection”
Kevin Garrett, “Coloring”
Anders, “I Wish You Were Mine”
Snowmine, “Tidal Wave”
My Brightest Diamond, “Make You Feel My Love” (cover)
HAERTS, “Be The One”
Big Data, “Dangerous”
Hayden James, “Something About You”
Cedar, “Original
New Navy, “Rosaline”
The Forest & The Trees, “Putting Down the Gun”
Isaac’s Picks:
Category Key: *-Make Out Track, #- I hate you, please die, @- Lovey dovey bullshit, $- Let’s Bang, + -The sound of falling in love,
Action Bronson, ”Love Letter”^: Action Bronson is pretty raw, the last few lines sum it up. “I miss you so much, fucking Bitch. I’ll fucking kill you, but I love you”
Bad Rabbits, “Take It Off”$: Great party track
Bayside, “Guardrail”#: This song is to all those who were burned this year.
Caribou, “Back Home”+: Beautiful, cannot stop listening.
Ciara, “Speechless”*@: Fell in love with Ciara over this track.
David Byrne and Brian Eno, “Strange Overtones”+: I wanna drunkenly dance with my soulmate to this song.
Deftones, “Digital Bath”*+: Chino wrote this song about a girl he saw at a party, who he thought was so beautiful, his first instinct was to take her to the bathroom and drown her in a tub. This song is sultry as fuck.
Frightened Rabbit, “Fast Blood”$+: This song is about doing it.
Maps & Atlases, “The Ongoing Horrible”@+: Motion picture, falling in love stuff here.
Miguel, “The Thrill”$+: Another drunken, good-time song.
The Notorious B.I.G., “Big Poppa”$: Gangsta
A Perfect Circle, “The Hollow”*$: Most underrated make out song of all time.
Prince, “I Would Die 4 U”*: It’s Prince, man.
R. Kelly, “Bump N’ Grind”$: Speaks for itself.
Say Anything, “Alive in the Glory of Love”+: This song is killer, and a genuine love song.
The Smashing Pumpkins, “Stand Inside Your Love”*@: My favorite SP song… So amazing.
2Pac, “All About U”$: Gangsta
Snoop Dogg feat Nate Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt, “Aint No Fun”$: Gangsta-ish
Alkaline Trio, “Every Thug Needs a Lady”*+@: Every V-Day playlist should have more than a few Alkaline Trio songs. This is a great one.
Alkaline Trio, “Radio”#: “I wish you would take my radio to bathe with you. Plugged in and ready to fall.”
Alkaline Trio, “Nose Over Tail”*@+: One more song, out of an endless list of greats from this band.
Quinten’s Picks:
Coheed & Cambria, “2’s My Favorite 1”
Steve’s Picks:
I’m fairly anti-Valentines, so here are my favourite anti-love tunes
Airhead, “Funny Now”: The yearning heartbreak of teenage lust. If you never felt like this you were way too popular at school. Loser.
Jeroan Drive, “The Greatest Betrayal”: “You said you were my friend”, absolutely gut-wrenching. Pure pain and aggression.
Mark Lanegan, “In The Pines”: So full of murderous intent. The darkest, most exciting interpretation of this traditional folk tune
Judee Sill, “Jesus Was A Crossmaker”: Is there any more damning indictment than “He’s a bandit and a heartbreaker / oh and Jesus was a crossmaker”?
and here’s my favourite, more positive tune (just so you don’t all think I’m a manic depressive)
Elton John, “Tiny Dancer”: The distillation of simple beauty and pleasure. Breathtaking
Josh’s Picks:
These would be for those with a fucked up sort of love.
Alkaline Trio, “Enjoy Your Day”, “This Could Be Love”
Misfits, “Die Die My Darling”
Tigers Jaw, “Spirit Desire”
Menzingers, “Casey”, “The Obituaries”
Keaton Henson, “Sweetheart, What Have yOu Done To Us?”
Gaslight Anthem, “Get Hurt”, “Break Your Heart”
AFI, “Endlessly, She Said”
Brandon’s Picks
Janet Jackson, “Would You Mind”
Prince, “Pink Cashmere”
Janet Jackson, “That’s the Way Love Goes”
Pure X, “Starlight”
Enya, “Sail Away”
Madonna, “Justify My Love”
Sade, “Ordinary Love”
Maxi Priest, “Close To You”
Taylor Dayne, “Love Will Lead You Back”
P.M. Dawn, “Looking Through Patient Eyes”
Miguel, “Adorn”
Prince, “Diamonds and Pearls”
Toni Braxton, “Another Sad Love Song”
The Cars, “Drive”
Spandau Ballet, “True”
Chris Issak- “Wicked Game”
Berlin, “Take My Breath Away”
Duran Duran, “Come Undone”
Enigma, “Sadness Part 1”