Valentine’s Day Songs Listicle
Valentine's Day is the time to celebrate love or appreciation for someone special.
In this listicle, the Arts and Entertainment Department looks into some of the best songs to do just that!
“True Love Waits” - Radiohead
Mournful but beautiful. Those two adjectives come to mind when thinking about this song by the British band. “True Love Waits” is what falling in love and losing someone sounds like.
Vocalist and lyricist Thom Yorke managed to pour his entire heart into this track, where the lyrics accompanied by the melancholic piano narrate the devastating story of losing a loved one with the hope of being reunited in another lifetime.
To many, this is Radiohead's saddest song, as it encapsulates the beauty of love while describing how raw loss and heartbreak are.
The title, “True Love Waits” is one of the many romantic aspects that this song has, as Yorke uses phrases like “true love lives on lollipops and crisps'' to beautifully explain how love never dies— it's alive in objects as small and mundane as crisps and lollipops.
To many, a good love song captures the joy of falling in love, but this song is the exception when it comes to popular love songs, as it manages to create a soundtrack for the unconditional love that transcends death. – Fernanda Lopez
“Lover” - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has many romantic songs, but it is the title track off of Swift's seventh album that is her best love song.
As expected from Swift's song, the lyrics of “Lover” are the real highlight.
Swift is honest and raw with these lyrics focusing on the small and simple things she’s looking forward to with her lover. As the sole writer on the track, Swift was able to be incredibly vulnerable and honest.
“Lover” is one of Swift's most beautifully crafted songs. The instrumental is calming, graceful and effortless. Listeners can feel the contentment Swift is expressing before her lyrics even start.
Lyrics like “I’ve loved you three summers now honey, but I want em all” are simple but sincere, working together with the instrumental in creating an elegant and haunting song.
Swift said she wanted the song to feel like “just the last two people on a dance floor at 3 a.m. swaying,” and she achieves that expertly.
The ballad feels comfortable and genuine, with Swift's songwriting at its strongest. The maturity and honesty on “Lover” have cemented itself as a modern classic that will be considered one of the best love songs for years to come. – Sophia D’Ovidio
“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole may be one of the most classic yet underrated love songs.
This song came out in 1975 and has the vibe that grandparents would dance to back in their prime.
Many recognize this song from its appearance at the end of the hit movie “The Parent Trap”. This iconic movie was many people’s first preteen rom-com leaving it extremely memorable.
This movie is timeless and features the song at a perfect time in the plot.
Lines like “You brought a lot of sunshine into my life, you filled me with happiness I never knew,” keep the song upbeat and happy.
Main character vibes are unavoidable when listening to this song.
This song will be stuck in any listener’s head all day, but at least it will create a good mood while listening to it. – Savannah Swartz
“(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” - Nat King Cole
Looking for songs to add to a romantic candle-lit dinner? For this tune, listeners can take it back to the early ’90s, King of Love Songs, Nat King Cole.
“For Sentimental Reasons” is an absolute essential, though it may depend on how far into the relationship a listener is with a significant other.
How can that figure that out? To put it in short, has the listener “given them your heart,” as Cole proclaims in this song?
That might be a bit extreme, but one thing is for sure: if this is the first, second, or third official date, Cole’s music in the background of a candlelit dinner may not be in the cards yet.
In a relationship or not, listeners can easily come to the conclusion that if falling in love was a song, “For Sentimental Reasons” certainly qualifies.
The combination of the piano, the bassline and Cole's classic vocals surely set the scene for a romantic evening. - Abby Chachoute
Fernanda Lopez is a first-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email lfl5339@psu.edu
Sophia D’Ovidio is a first-year majoring in communications. To contact her email sgd5184@psu.edu.
Savannah Swartz is a first-year majoring in communication. To contact her, email sms9072@psu.edu.
Abigail Chachoute is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email axc6070@psu.edu.
About the Contributors
Sophia D'Ovidio
First-Year /
Sophia D’Ovidio is a first-year from Allentown, New Jersey. She is now a communications (undecided) major at Penn State University. Sophia intends on pursuing a career in journalism. Sophia writes for the CommRadio Arts department.
Savannah Swartz
Second-year / Advertising and Public Relations
Savannah Swartz is a second-year communications major, focusing on advertising and public relations. She is a member of the arts department.
Luciana Fernanda Lopez
Freshman / Telecommunications and Media Industries
Luciana (Fernanda) Lopez is a Telecommunications major and Portuguese minor from Lima, Peru. She’s been writing music reviews in Spanish for years. Her interests are music, films, comedy and everything Leonard Cohen.
