Sonic Vitality: Your Very Balanced Valentine’s Day Mix

Ask anyone from Adorno to the dowdy scientist, and they’ll give it to you technically straight: pop songs are all about love. That’s why a Valentine’s Day playlist is never off-limits as the fourteenth of February moves forward; music is an easy fix for the kind of feeling this day is supposed to celebrate. That feeling is sometimes called love. And sometimes called loneliness. But the sort of good part is, both heartbreak and elation make for pretty easy song ammo.

Single, seeing someone, or not quite sure what the two of you are, you’re always going to be able to relate to pop (-rock, -indie, -tronica.)

On that multi-faceted note, The B-Side has fervently compiled a list of love-themed songs that relate to anyone’s situation–well, most situations, we hope. If we’ve accidentally left one of your favorites out, be sure to song-check us in the comments.

Otherwise, we hope your day is filled with the sweet sweet buzz of something wonderful; song or otherwise.

Audrey Gertz, editor-in-chief

Sonic Youth – “Incinerate.” Choice lyrics: “I ripped your heart out from your chest / Replaced it with a grenade blast / Incinerate / Incinerate / …You doused my soul with gasoline / You flicked a match into my brain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP3ovD8ZSS4

Saint Etienne – “Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Richard X Remix)”

Connor Smith, writer

King Krule – “Neptune Estate”

Michael Kiwanuka – “Bones”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6EiH1pzY1U

Linda Choi, writer

Koop feat. Yukimi Nagano – “Whenever There Is You”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1FJk_g__xQ

Ning De-Eknamkul, writer

Al Green  “I’m So Tired of Being Alone”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdw7kxD8eUc

Samantha Putt, editor

Otis Redding – “These Arms of Mine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sBoUZ6gMkc

Shimmy Li, social media director

Snow Patrol – “Just Say Yes”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW1hv37imjw

Jay Kwok, writer

Disclosure – “I Love… That You Know”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcQ6t6cSf-0

Mala – “Alicia”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpzzGXBW4GA

Atreyue Ryken, writer

The Bouncing Souls – “Hopeless Romantic”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUCCjmvdgSQ

Penelope Leggett, photographer

Bomb the Music Industry! – “Punk Rock Girl (Dead Milkmen cover)”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPCqdF27yV8

Mac DeMarco – “My Kind Of Woman”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R3B2Xr8kwQ

Joanna Jiang, communications director

Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana – “Stay The Same”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsxQQuIrfhQ

U2 – “Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix)”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_BNzTnjQaw