Anyway, since my V-day post last year was more of a poorly-disguised pity party than anything else, I thought this year I'd put together a little mix tape for my friends that are, in fact, in love.
Remember how I said I was an expert on sappy graduation songs? I'm equally good, if not better, at creating sappy love mixes. Great for my friends who are actually in relationships, but sorta kinda bad and wallow-y for me.
*Disclaimer* I realize that the phrase "mix tape" is a little outdated, but there's something so vintage and Perks of Being a Wallflower - esque about the term that I couldn't help but use it. Eat your hearts out, lovers.
1. The Obvious Choice That Your Typical Hipster Couple Can't Resist
Songs: First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes
I chose this song because it is just so wonderfully typical. Any mix tape that is lacking in Bright Eyes is not a true mix tape.
2. The Slow Dance Style Cover of a Classic Elvis Tune
Songs: Love Me Tender by Norah Jones
I had a little trouble deciding between this one and Can't Help (Falling in Love) by Ingrid Michaelson, but I figured that since I just dedicated an entire blog post to Ingrid, I'd give this coveted title to Norah. Love Me Tender just so happens to be one of my favorite Elvis songs, so props to you, Norah. This is gorgeous.
3. The Upbeat Cheesy Pop Song
Song: You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates
The video really says it all.
4. The One From The OC
Song: Wonderwall (Cover) by Ryan Adams
Don't hate on the cheese. Lyrically, Wonderwall is a great song, and the Ryan Adams cover is a great one. And you know that if it's on the OC, you'll find a clip of it here. Disregard Marisa's bad haircut and Bambi eyes, and just focus on Ryan's flitting eyes and bulging arms. This scene was post-Oliver, so things are going slightly awry in Orange County.
5. The Animated Film Love Ballad
Song: Far Longer than Forever from The Swan Princess
Now, the obvious choice here would be A Whole New World from Aladdin or Can You Feel the Love Tonight? from The Lion King, but my sister and I recently went on a Swan Princess bent and watched all three of them. If you haven't watched the "Swan Princess Trilogy" recently (which I doubt you have) or if you, heaven forbid, have never witnessed Odette and Derek's love affair, I beseech you do so now.
6. The Awkward High School Final Slow Dance Where Balloons Fall From A Fishnet In The Ceiling Song
Songs: Fix You by Coldplay and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls
Now don't be too impressed by the creativity of this category title, because, believe it or not, this actually happened at my school. Or it was supposed to happen. I don't know if the balloons were too flat or the fishnet was too small, but there was some sort of malfunction in the engineering of this project, and the result was a few measly gold balloons fluttering pitifully to the ground. But the song did play. They alternated Fix You and Iris as the closers of all of my homecoming and Sadie Hawkins dances at my high school. Idyllic, right?
7. The Now-Popular Guilty Pleasure Windows Down Song
Song: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
This was the obvious choice here. I don't care what your bone to pick with Katy Perry is, there is no denying that Teenage Dream is one of the catchiest songs ever written. And, it alludes to Valentine's day in the lyrics. I mean, come on, guys.
8. A Frank Sinatra Song - What's Valentine's day without a little bit o' good ol' Frank? Cue Ryan Gossling and Rachel McAdams dancing in the street... Now.
Songs: The Way You Look Tonight, You Make Me Feel So Young, I'll Be Seeing You... Take your pick. The possibilities are endless.
9. The Sunshine Song - For lack of a better category title, The Sunshine Song is, I believe, the type of song that would be played during a 500 Days of Summer - y montage of the girl riding her bike, the boy strumming the guitar dreamily, both smiling goofily. The obvious choice here would of course be a perky Zooey Deschanel tune (which I have included), but I also think that When I'm With You by Best Coast is appropriate here too. When I'm with you, I have fun.
Songs: I Was Made For You by She & Him and When I'm With You by Best Coast.
10. A Song With "I Love You" In The Title
This song is just so catchy and sweet and true. A catchy, sweet, and true song is a must for the ideal V-day mix tape.
11. A Sara Bareilles Song - Honestly, did you seriously think I would ever leave this one out? It is a little difficult to find a Sara love song granted that 90% of her songs are power ballads about singularity and heartache, but this is the one song of hers that speaks of true love. With Sara's its poetic description of her lover and sliding melody, My Love sounds like it came straight out of Song of Solomon. If there was an SSV version of the Bible... Singer/songwriter version, duh.
Song: My Love by Sara Bareilles
12. A Song That You and Your Significant Other Can Belt Out and Dance Along With
Song: I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
I think that I honestly would have included this one regardless of Whitney's death, but allow me to take this opportunity to say what an incredible influence Whitney's music has had on my life. There's just nothing like a good Whitney song, and I Wanna Dance With Somebody is no exception. RIP, Whit.
13. The Final Clincher
Song: At Last - Etta James
This one is the obvious choice, but there are all sorts of power ballads that are applicable in its place. Take your pick from the greats: Aretha, Celine, Barbra, etc.
Honorable Mentions - These are songs that don't exactly fit into any specific category, but are lovely love songs nonetheless. These are to fill the space on your mix tape after you have satisfied your categorical cravings. Fill that mix tape to it's maximum, exhaust it, because odds are, the lyrics on this impeccable mix tape express your feelings better than you ever possibly could.
Love Song - Brandi Carlile
Love Me Like the World is Ending - Ben Lee
Home - Edward Shape and the Magnetic Zeros
Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
No One's Gonna Love You Like I Do - Band of Horses
Let's Just Fall in Love Again - Jason Castro
C'est La Vie - The Civil Wars
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
And there you have it! The greatest Valentine's day mix ever created (in my opinion)! If you're in a relationship, then you're welcome, because I just provided you with the happiest, sappiest playlist ever. And if you're not... well, if you're not, remember these wise words of Carrie Bradshaw:
AMEN, sista.
We love because he first loved us.
XOXO,
CM.
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