PLAY: An Intriguing 12-Song Mix for your Valentine's Love/Heartbreak Playlist

Playlist

Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash

Want an eclectic Valentine’s Day playlist to blast on the way
to Lover’s Lane or one to play at home?

Here is my premier Valentine’s gift to you.

No “Unchained Melody” or “I Will Love You” on the list but a few recognizable hits many know.

Quite the diversity of love songs we’ve got here:

a tender classic by a guitar legend/singer, a bittersweet 80s hit and a few R&B and country heartbreakers. Also thrown into the mix is a bouncy Tex-Mex cancion, a heart-wrenching ballad in French, a grunge-tinged screecher and hey, why not add a lesser known but a tune by MJ, King of Pop.

But first, listen to the first two understated ballads that may make a perfect Valentine’s Day dedication to someone dear.

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Playlist available on Spotify

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1. “Cliché” by Fish

   A heart warming, early ‘90s ballad by Scottish rocker, Fish (ex-Marillion). Lyrics read like a love letter from a man to his lady. Enchantment is felt deeply here with a glorious, dreamy guitar part after the first chorus and in the ending as a solo. Vocal treatment is brilliant with Fish’s phrasing throughout. Bravo to the whole musicianship which includes a haunting bass and drum kick near the final, a la “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. Hear it here

   *Best lyrics: “It's not that I'm embarrassed or shy, well, you know me too well/
   But I want to make this song special in a way that you can tell.”

2. “For My Lover” by Tracy Chapman

   If you love singing to “Fast Car”, try this one. Track # 9 is just as divine
   from Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut. The song tells of great sacrifice one makes in loving someone, going to great heights or depths— even risking being jailed.
   Best lyrics: Everyday I'm psychoanalyzed/For my lover, for my lover
   They dope me up and I tell them lies/For my lover Hear and see lyrics

3. Butterflies” by Michael Jackson

   This is for the guy confidently in love to dedicate to his girl. Michael is at his smoothest perhaps here (Even more than when “Smooth Criminal” came out years before). The jazzy instrumentation is also excellent here.
   Best parts: At 1:47 and 3:50, get chills with his falsetto.

4. “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton

   Tells the love story of Eric’s and former love, Pattie Boyd. Very tasteful guitar licks like in “Cliché” but of course this is a Clapton all-time classic with its own shine. Do yourself a favor and listen to some of the most ethereal live versions including this one, in which Eric shares the musical spotlight with a stunning backup singer.
   

5. “Amor Prohibido” by Selena

   Just a joyous, quick paced love burst of a Selena song. It grabs the heart. “Forbidden Love”, in English translation. Song stresses the importance of authentic love that defies naysayers and overcomes obstacles from society. A short song clocking in at 2:32 but easily is put on repeat. See Spanish/ English lyrics
   See video

6. “Coming Around Again” by Carly Simon

   Carly Simon’s signature hit of 1987. Plays kinda sad yet also hopeful about love being renewed. Inspired by the book and film, Heartburn about a broekn couple. Decades later, it’s a throwback spin that gets you in the deep feels. Some of the lyrics seem awkward but the song just works as a whole.
   *Best live version: Watch ‘90s performance from Grand Central Station, NYC.
   Oh, the nostalgia from the scenes here! A literal “stop in your tracks” moment

   

   Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

7. “Last Call” by Lee Ann Womack
   Adore the sweet subtlety of Lee Ann’s vocal and love the “twist” to the meaning of “last call” in the song. Such a country song with the mournful twang guitar and mention of “whiskey”. Co-written and also performed by Shane McNally. Be captured from the opening lines: I recognized your number/It's burned into my brain/Felt my heart beating faster/Every time it rang. See video

8. “Half Crazy” by Musiq Soulchild

   Right from the beginning, the guitar strumming and “la-la-la” vocal will have you swaying. Tells the story of good friends who “cross the line” into romance, then presumably break up as a couple and after, the guy (in Musiq’s voice) wanting to hold on to the relationship. What a predicament! See video.
   Best line in this jam: “…damn I just want my friend back”

9. “Best I Ever Had” by Gary Allan
   If you’ve ever been stuck on someone or have grieved over a love, this may be the song for you. Devastating to hear but a lovely melodic listen nevertheless. Gary’s vulnerable vocals get ya good on this. Watch the beautiful video interpretation. *Best line that’ll hit ya hard: (first bridge line) “And it might take some time to patch me up inside/but I cant take it so I, I run away and hide”

10. “Love, Hate, Love” by Alice in Chains

    Hellishly dark in nature. Love is pain, isn’t it? This one is heavy journey, musically and emotionally. Supposedly based on the tribulation of a relationship that ex singer, the late Layne Staley had with a woman.

    Hear the live version with best lines: Lost inside my sick head/I live for you, but I'm not alive/Take my hands before I kill/I still love you, but I still burn

11. “After the Love is Gone” by Earth, Wind and Fire

    It’s a question that often arises, “Can lovers lost be found?” Who’s been there before? Officially not a No# 1 by EWF (held off by “My Sharona”. Shame!) but tops in my many hearts.

    *Best musical part: horn section shows off in the end. Hear original version

12. “Je Suis Malade” by Lara Fabian

    This is pure heartbreak of a song. If your French is terribly broken or non-existent, see the translation of this French language ballad (“I’m ill” in English) sung by powerhouse chanteuse, Lara Fabian.
    Warning: You will get the chills from this emotional ride of a chanson.
    Standout lyrics: Comme à un rocher, comme à un péché/Je suis accrochée à toi

    Je suis fatiguée/je suis épuisée

    (Like to a rock , like to a sin/I'm clung to you/I'm tired/ I'm worn out)

    
    Hear JSM original version. Also hear “Love by Grace” and any lovely tune in
    Lara’s discography

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    Any of these songs speak to you this Valentine’s Day?

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    Also read, hear like and share my love poetry:
    
    Along Came a DJ
    Quickly, Frantically
    Disappearing Act (Curtains on a Relationship)