Every February when scrolling through my social media, I’ve noticed that I hear the same songs played over and over on posts expressing love for a significant other. And while there is nothing wrong with that, I think some originality is needed when it comes to Valentine’s Day. As someone who listens to quite a lot of music, here are some of my favorite underrated love songs perfect for the holiday of love.
“same Soul” by PVRIS
If you were to ask me to name my top favorite songs, “Same Soul” by PVRIS would undoubtedly make the list. Besides being one of my favorite songs of all time, it’s also a deeply beautiful and romantic song when you look at the lyrics. The main story throughout the song is the idea of finding your lover in every lifetime and the inexplicable bond between the two that allows them to recognize each other’s souls. What could be more romantic than the idea of connection throughout different lifetimes? Although it doesn’t have the typical sound of a slower, more traditional love song, the rock influences and alternative sound throughout the song perfectly compliment the intensity and unpredictability of romance.
“Our LOVE” by Curtis Harding and Jazmine Sullivan
There are a lot of undiscovered gems in movie and television soundtracks, and “Our Love” from the animated television series Arcane is one of them. In the context of the show, this song plays at a highly stressful and grim situation. However, if we ignore the actual scene, the song is quite happy in nature and quickly cemented itself as one of my favorite love songs. If the title is any clue, the song is simply about love itself set to an upbeat yet nostalgically classic soul sound and the main theme of unconditional and all-encompassing love is perfect for this Valentine’s Day. Â
“Sunlight” by Hozier
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Hozier, and while I was narrowing down the songs for this article there were so many beautiful love songs of his that I had to choose between. I finally narrowed it down to “Sunlight” from his 2019 album Wasteland, Baby. Similar to many of his songs, he uses references to Greek mythology, specifically the myth of Icarus, to portray an image of intense, blinding love despite consequences. The lyrics in the song are beautiful and the warmth and love emanating from them makes you feel as if you are literally bathed in sunlight. A beautiful testament to the myth of Icarus and the idea of flying towards the sun, willing to be burned in order to experience its glory and warmth, this song is nothing short of tragically romantic.
“Wasteland, Baby!” by Hozier
Another Hozier song that I find achingly beautiful is the title track from his album Wasteland, Baby. It’s yet another example of poetic lyricism and Hozier’s way with words. This song centers around the idea of finding love, even at the end of the world, which speaks to the distinctly human nature of finding joy and warmth in each other even during difficult times. The idea of finding comfort in love despite tragedy cements this song as incredibly profound and beautiful, and brings a tear to my eye when listening to it.Â
“To Love” by Suki Waterhouse
Most people know Suki Waterhouse’s song “Good Looking”, but I would argue that the less well-known gem “To Love” is an even better song. The song details the odds of two individuals finding each other despite previous romantic encounters and how lucky the two were to have found each other and fallen in love. A shift from her more moody and melancholic ballads, this song is wholly a declaration of love for her significant other, making it perfect for couples this Valentines’ Day.
Whether you’ll be spending Valentine’s day alone or with a special someone, I hope these songs get you into the Valentine’s Day spirit and remind you of the beauty of love.