The Soundtrack to your Valentine’s Day
As a total lover of love and relationships – friendships, family bonds, smiles shared with strangers, silly crushes, and profound romance stories – Valentine’s Day is my favorite day of the year.
I know how foolish that claim may seem, as Valentine’s Day often appears to be a holiday designed for the greeting card companies to benefit, restaurants to serve overpriced three-course meals accompanied by fancy wine and for elementary-school students, candy galore!
Nevertheless, I find beauty in reminding the people who make my life worthwhile and fill it with many smiles, how much they truly mean to me. This year I’m sending valentines to friends and familyin San Luis Obispo, Seattle, New York City, and beyond. So take some time this Valentine’s Day to eat your favorite candy, call a faraway friend and remind those in your life just how special they are.
While the Coronavirus pandemic continues to uproot life as we know it, you may find yourself celebrating this whimsical holiday a bit differently. For a casual, ferociously fun night spent at home, I have a list of recommendations:
- Your favorite take-out
Pizza: Blaze, Woodstocks, even Cotsco!
Pad Thai: Thai Boat
Tacos: Taqueria Santa Cruz, San Luis or San Miguel
- Dessert
I’m a bit biased, as dessert is my favorite meal of the day, but make a pit-stop at SloDoCo, Insomnia Cookies or just stock-up on a big bag of Valentine’s Candy from Target and read all of those fun candy hearts to yourself!
- Hang Out with Friends
Let’s keep it COVID-19 safe, of course! Rile up your roomies, significant other or even a friend via Facetime.
- Music
Love songs are surely not few and far between, but just in case DJ-ing your roomie take-out feast feels a bit intimidating on this fine holiday, I’ve got you covered!
Below you will find a Valentine’s Day playlist filled with songs to dance around to in your pajamas dreaming of a special someone, having a low-key, but ever romantic evening with that special someone or just having a peaceful, relaxing night of pizza and wine with your best friend.
- Our Love – Sharon Van Etten
- Like Real People Do – Hozier
- I Love You So – The Walters
- You and I – Wilco
- Give You My Lovin – Mazzy Star
- You Don’t Know – Leon Bridges
- I Adore You – Molly Burch
- Moon River – Frank Ocean
- Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
- Sea of Love – Cat Power
- Lovestained – Hope Tala
- Little of Your Love – HAIM
- Left Handed Kisses – Andrew Bird (ft. Fiona Apple)
- Berlin, Without Return… – Voxtrot
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
BONUS TRACKS:
- You Don’t Even Know – The Internet (ft. Tay Walker)
“Both you and your date will be duetting this soulful track by the second or third run through this playlist!” – M. Alex De La Cruz
- Lovers Rock – TV Girl
“The whole album, “French Exit,” is made for Valentine’s Day it seems like.” – Evan Gattuso
- Next To You – St. Lucia
“It’s super dreamy and feels like it’s this late-at-night dream between two lovers. It’s also just super tender and sets this scene. [I don’t know], it’s dope. Like even when everything goes wrong and the world is kinda shit, that feeling of having someone to turn to and be comforted by late at night, that’s the vibe this song kinda has.” – Jaxon Silva
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Franki Valli
“The song is a classic and one of the most romantic songs ever. Also, Heath Ledger singing it in “10 Things I Hate About You” still sends chills up my spine.” – Tessa Hughes
- Invisible String – Taylor Swift
“Swift is known for her talented love song writing and this song really supports that. In just four minutes the listener is able to piece together different parts and eras of this relationship to really picture it perfectly.” – Sophia Pattison
