Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Here's a V-Day Love Playlist Just for You
- Emma Zoe Polyak
- Feb 14
- 5 min read
Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate love, even though the cynic in me would point out that we should all celebrate love more often. But I digress. Whether you're spending this Valentine's with a lover, a friend, or indulging in self-love, we've picked out some songs to help get you in the groove. From sultry love ballads to pop and rock chronicles of love, there's a little something for everyone. Listen to the full playlist here, and read what we have to say about the songs below!
“To Love” by Suki Waterhouse
“To Love“ by Suki Waterhouse is a dreamy, soft, and atmospheric love song, first played on her Coolest Place in The World tour as an unreleased track. The song explores the vulnerable and uncertain hope that comes with falling in love, particularly the struggles of feeling deeply connected to someone yet being unsure of how to fully navigate those emotions. Waterhouse's hauntingly angelic vocals carry a sense of raw emotion, while the instrumental features soft guitar strumming and subtle percussion that highlight the message and emotion of the song, while not taking away from the impact of the vocals. If you’re a fan of Phoebe Bridgers, Laufey, or Lucy Dacus, this is for you! – Ash B
“Kitchen Song” by Tessa Violet
“Kitchen Song“ (originally supposed to be “All My Love”) is, in Violet's own words, “the ultimate domestic love song” which I’d have to agree with. This song emits warmth, coziness and the feeling of being entirely comfortable with another person. At the same time, it exudes the calm you feel when you’re so at peace with somebody you love. – Nina Duine
“How We Met” by Grace Womack
KayJ
“How We Met“ is a vibrant, funky pop anthem about love at first swipe. Blending indie-pop rhythms with Womack’s soulful vocals and vivid storytelling, it captures the nostalgia and complexity of modern love. With its catchy melody and relatable lyrics, this feel-good track makes giggling and kicking your feet irresistible. – KayJ
“Irish Goodbye” Niina Soleil
“Irish Goodbye” by Niina Soleil is a sultry smokey ballad of unspoken farewells, blending dreamy alt-pop with Niina’s signature jazzy French allure. Drifting between nostalgia and liberation, the track lingers like a whispered secret, leaving echoes of mystery and the sweet aftertaste of fleeting love. – KayJ
“The Feminine Urge” by The Last Dinner Party
“The Feminine Urge“ by The Last Dinner Party is a theatrical, intoxicating ode of desire and defiance. With lush instrumentals, dramatic vocals, and a touch of baroque-pop grandeur, it explores the tension between passion and restraint. The track feels like a wild waltz through obsession, power, and unapologetic femininity – a sapphic enemies to lovers anthem if I ever heard one. – KayJ
“I Could Be A Florist” by Olivia Dean
“I Could Be A Florist” blooms with vulnerability, capturing that new-crush butterflies feeling you never want to fade. It's the feeling of smiling ‘til your cheeks hurt, wrapped in a melody of quiet devotion. Dean’s soulful poetic vocals are the reason that special someone is always on your mind. – KayJ
“BMO” by Ari Lennox
"BMO" by Ari Lennox is a sultry, retro-infused groove that oozes confidence and charm. With buttery smooth vocals over a bouncy, funk-driven beat, Lennox delivers playful, flirtatious energy. The track feels like driving with the windows down and coco-butter-glistening skin – effortlessly cool, irresistibly catchy, and dripping with neo-soul nostalgia. – KayJ
“By Your Side” by Sade
The lyrics remind you that even when you feel lost, broken, or alone, there’s someone who will always stand by you, ready to lift you up. It’s gentle, reassuring, and deeply intimate, like a quiet promise whispered between two people. Every time I hear it, it feels like a reminder that true love – whether from a partner, a friend, or even yourself – is about showing up, no matter what. – Gustavo
“Spinning” by Pool Girl
“Spinning” is the kind of song that makes you want to close your eyes and get lost in it. It perfectly captures that rush of nerves and excitement when you meet someone new – when everything’s moving too fast, but in the best way. It’s nostalgic and full of life, the kind of track that makes you want to relive that first spark again and again. – Leo Janto
“Crystal Clear” by Hayley Williams
The final track of Hayley William’s first solo record is a brave, open moment of accepting that you’ve found the love you’re meant to have. It’s a breath of fresh air, the realization that you’re safe and that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be, even when it feels like a gamble. Interspersed with the final chorus is a recording of one of her grandfather’s songs that he had written decades prior, asking whether friends or lovers will win, while Hayley herself decides that it’s time to accept that she’s finally in the right place. – Jordan Ames
“Universe” by thủy
In a Facebook post made to promote “Universe,“ the singer said, “this song was initially written about Ollie but it’s also about love and how universal love is.” If you were to ask me, all the vibes are there. The lyrics of the song can be applied to a pet you love, someone you love, or love as a whole. Many of us have been there. Many of us have been in a place where we meet someone and get into a relationship with the person and feel as if there’s nobody else for us but them. It’s an amazing feeling. There’s nothing wrong with feeling as if someone’s your universe. My favorite line of the song? “'Cause you are my universe, my everything, my sunset, you still give me butterflies.” It can truly feel and be like that after being with someone for so long. – Cherrelle Johnson
“Valentine” by Orion Sun
First off, the song’s title is “Valentine,” so of course I had to include it in our love playlist. But beyond that, Orion Sun's soft vocals glide over an acoustic guitar, telling the story of a love, from the first time they said ”I love you” to the realization that it was a case. of right person, wrong time. It's a short song, but every time I hear it I'm reminded of that one crush you can't shake, forever frozen in a state of what could have been. – Emma Zoe Polyak
“Nothing Sweeter” by Naomi Sharon
There's nothing sweeter than this song by Naomi Sharon. It chronicles the feeling of being deeply and madly in love with someone. Sharon's vocals are like silk, wrapping you in an embrace throughout the entire song. It's a soft song, but rich with emotion, highlighting all the little things you notice when you're under someone's spell. ”Nothing hits,” croons Sharon, ”like the first kiss, body and soul aligned.” May we all find the love Sharon sings about.
