Valentine’s Day playlists: For singles and couples

Valentine’s Day is here and the key to making it as amazing as possible is a killer soundtrack. Whether you’re in a relationship or flying solo, music can make or break any situation. Here are five songs that will help any singles on Valentine’s Day feel better, as well as five to set the mood for those with significant others.

Songs for Singles

Olivia Rodrigo — “Drivers License”

Yes, this song is a total bummer, but being sad about loneliness on Valentine’s Day is OK. You should allow yourself to feel that. Feel sorry for yourself, eat chocolate, cry for the duration of this song and no more. Feel all you need to, without letting yourself wallow in it. Then let the emotion in Olivia Rodrigo’s voice help you find catharsis.

Little Mix — “Salute”

Now resume "bad bitch" mode. This song can make you feel so powerful and strong; it is bound to improve your mood. It is also going to make you want to dance, which will encourage you to get out of bed and shake off the doldrums. Let this song serve as a reminder that you are valuable.

Dr. Dre ft. Eminem — “Forgot About Dre”

The beat of this song will make you walk around a little taller. It will make you feel a lot cooler than anybody really is. Hip-hop bravado seeps out of this song and into your soul in a really interesting way. Use that to your advantage. Use it as a confidence boost.

Lizzo — “Truth Hurts”

This song embraces being single in a really fun way. It's not “boo hoo, woe is me,” rather it's “I’m going to have so much fun anyway.” It accomplishes this to such an extent that it makes people happily in a relationship feel single for the length of the song. Cheesy as it is to say, singlehood isn’t all bad. It’s a chance to have all kinds of fun and do some self-discovery.

Hunter Hayes — “The One That Got Away”

Don’t let the title fool you; in this scenario, you are the one that got away. It’s an anthem for getting out of a bad relationship. The lyrics remind you of your meaning as a person, and that if the relationship didn’t make you feel good, it wasn’t worth it. You had the strength to leave.

Songs for Couples

The Beatles — “How Do You Do It?”

This song makes me want to go on a carnival date in the 1960s. It's romantic, it's melodic and it’s good to use as a backdrop to a romantic date, either in person or on Zoom. It’s very sweet and is sure to capture the Valentine's Day mood.

Editor’s Note: “How Do You Do It?” was originally written by Mitch Murray and brought to The Beatles by George Martin. After recording the song, the "Fab Four" eventually passed on it. The track later became the debut single for Gerry and the Peacemakers and a No. 1 hit. The Beatles’ version appears on their 1995 “Anthology” record.

Niall Horan and Maren Morris — “Seeing Blind”

"Seeing Blind" talks about learning what love is supposed to feel like after a bad relationship. It's supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to make you happy and feel special. The song also talks of the realization that cinematic style love does exist and it comes out of nowhere. This track is warm and inviting like the relationship it describes.

Jack Johnson — “Banana Pancakes”

This song encapsulates the perfect relationship to me. It’s how I want my future marriage to feel — simple and sweet and full of love. I remember being about 10 years old and watching my parents dance around the kitchen to this song. The lyrics of that song and my parents interaction showed that they were the only people in the world. They were in a world all their own that I got to observe. "Banana Pancakes" will always symbolize romance to me.

Landon Pigg — “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop”

Landon Pigg managed to capture intimacy with this one. It’s soft and super personal. It’s one of those songs that makes you curious about who it was written for. Without knowing, you attach your own meaning to it. It’s easy to do just based on how sentimental Pigg’s vocals and lyrics seem. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day with a significant other.

Ed Sheeran — “Kiss Me”

Here is another simple and sweet one to end the couples playlist. It's sensual and melts any moment into something romantic. “Kiss Me” quiets the world around you and makes you only focus on that one special person. It’s a great track for this holiday.

I hope these playlists help you out no matter how you celebrate this day of romance. I wish you all happiness and love. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Samantha Mannion is a staff writer for The Spectator. She can be reached at edinboro.spectator@gmail.com.

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