Enjoying Valentine’s Day requires a very specific mindset and intentional curation: signature pinks and reds from your home decor to your outfit planned a week or two in advance. Mood lighting, dinner date planning, and maybe even that pretty baking recipe we had saved in our Instagram folder. For a day that is dependent on vibes alone, music becomes an integral part to creating any desired atmosphere, whether you’re spending the day with platonic lovers or romantic partners, which is why we’re sharing the first songs we’re queuing up today.
Bri’s Pick: Feel Complete by PinkPantheress
The whole Heaven knows album has me in a rose tinted chokehold. It’s also been playing on repeat for the past 84 hours. Cutieful today, cutieful tomorrow. I’m running through a park lined with cherry blossoms and over-blushing my cheeks, and sending envelope heart and teddy bear emojis to my loved ones like a threat.
Danna’s Pick: Valentine by Inhaler
This song is an invitation to chase the setting sun, with the warm breeze tousling our hair through the open windows. We exchange smiles, finding comfort in each other’s company. An adventure with a hint of risk where we stop taking ourselves too seriously. That’s the vibe.
Caroline’s Pick: Forever by Noah Kahan
Despite its release less than a week ago, this song sets the standard for love in a relationship. It encompasses the juxtaposition of anxiety and security that comes with commitment. In true American Folk fashion, I want to drop everything and run away with my nonexistent love.
Ari’s Pick: Bewitched by Laufey
It’s absolutely magical. Listening to the song makes you feel like you’re in an old Disney movie, in a forest with talking animals and your true love waking you with a true love’s kiss. If you’re a hopeless romantic/innocent love type of gal like me, you’ll love this song.
Mishi’s Pick: Two of Hearts by Stacey Q
This 80s throwback is my go-to song in the car on the way to a date or even just hanging out with friends. It’s a playful, upbeat love song to set the mood for a fun night out.
Anna’s Pick: Japanese Denim by Daniel Caesar
Hate to say it, but I’m a girl in love — in love with the divine voice of Daniel Caesar. This Valentine’s Day you can catch me humming this song, skipping across town with a giant smile on my face (hopefully). While I’ve spent years listening to this song it will continue to always make me feel grateful for all the love in my life while making me feel hopeful that my love will last as long as selvedge denim.
Eve’s Pick: I Only Have Eyes for You by The Flamingos
Queue La La Land, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dancing in the stars scene. That’s it. That’s the vibe.
Flora’s Pick: Love Galore (Alt Version) by SZA and Travis Scott
Like SZA in 2017, I too have been looking good, feeling nice, working on my aura, and working overtime! Unlike SZA, I have not been cleaning up. This Valentine’s Day I’m manifesting cleaning my room. And if others are getting boring… so be it.
Reem’s Pick: A Love of Some Kind by Adrienne Lennker
Wake up acts of service girls, Adrienne Lenker is playing! This song calls to the hearts of all the yearners, and I, being a yearner through and through, will answer the call every time. For optimal experience, listen while sitting in an overgrown garden whilst basking in the morning sun and reading a book (preferably one about unrequited love).
Annie’s Pick: Valentine by Laufey
Okay, imagine this song while cooking dinner before your friends come over, getting the house ready, preparing your outfit, going through the entire album of Everything I Know About Love By the way, if y’all say laou-fee you don’t deserve to listen to her anymore.
Abigail’s Pick: A Sunday Kind of Love by Etta James
The most perfect song for enjoying the mundane with your partner. Simple chores and errands instantly become romantic.
Evan’s Pick: Pink in the Night by Mitski
Valentine’s Day is the worst holiday for a reminiscer. What goes better with guttural nostalgia than Mitski? Pink in the Night is the song that plays (both literally and figuratively) when you’re awake at 2:00 am thinking about what you could’ve done differently. It’s also just a bop.
Curated by Bri Shufford.
Words by Bri Shufford, Danna Macias, Caroline Tetlow, Ari Young Sang, Mishi Ali, Anna Jara, Eve Friday, Flora Medina, Annie Cater, Abigail Warnock, and Evan Skovronsky.
Graphic by Reem Hinedi.