Valentine's Day Playlist

And it's time of year again.

The time where those in relationships choose the perfect gift for their loved ones and those single choose the perfect flavour of Ben & Jerry's. For me, whether I'm single or with someone, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse (not that I need one) to whack on a romantic film and believe in love again. And central to that is a beautiful, romantic soundtrack.

So, in tribute to all those years of emotional films and music, I have devised my own personal Valentine's Day playlist for all of you, consisting of my favourite love songs of all time. That does mean there's no fresh new music in this list for you, but you might rediscover a classic or two, or find a song from a few years you haven't heard before.

In terms of what makes a great love song, I think it's more lyrics than anything. Some heartfelt poetry soulfully sang with a dashing of acoustic guitar usually does the trick for me. Either that or some really seductive R&B, but I definitely think this list includes a good mix of pop, alt rock, soul, R&B, and everything in between. Anything that warms that heart of mine, anyway.

If you are looking for a band to watch out for, check out Walking On Cars. Low, gravelly lead singer, Patrick Sheehy, cast his sinister tone over booming drums, shuddering synth, a pacy keyboard riff, making an unconventional track as far as this playlist goes. Touring the UK this spring, I had this EP on repeat when it was first released.

Two of my particular favourite are Howie Day's Collide and Bloc Party's So Here We Are. The song I would choose to play at my wedding for sure has to be Go Radio's The Truth Is. To be honest, all 60 of these songs are favourites of mine and I had initially aimed for the list to only be 40 tracks long, but it just proved impossible to trim it further.

You can find the playlist on Google Play Music here.

P.S. I feel because most of this music isn't new, an indicator of whether you'll like will be the year of release so the information is after the artist. Beware the 90s.

The Playlist

Poison & Wine The Civil Wars 2011
Hand in Hand Walking On Cars 2014
Skinny Love Bon Iver 2007
All Of Me John Legend 2013
Your Winter Sister Hazel 2000
So Here We Are Bloc Party 2005
Blue Eyes Cary Brothers 2007
Be Your Everything Boys Like Girls 2012
Wherever You Will Go The Calling 2001
The Blower's Daughter Damien Rice 2002
Red Daniel Merriweather 2009
Will You Daniel Wilson 2014
Stolen Dashboard Confessional 2006
Breakfast At Tiffany's Deep Blue Something 1993
Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran 2014
This Ed Sheeran 2011
How Long Will I Love You Ellie Goulding 2013
Hero Enrique Iglesias 2001
Let Your Heart Hold Fast Fort Atlantic 2012
The Truth Is Go Radio 2011
Iris Goo Goo Dolls 1998
Everything You Are Graham Colton 2011
Bleed Hot Chelle Rae 2009
Collide Howie Day 2003
Stay Hurts 2010
You Give Me Something James Morrison 2006
Higher Love James Vincent McMorrow 2011
I'm Yours Jason Mraz 2008
Wildest Moments Jessie Ware 2012
I'll Follow You John McLaughlin 2011
Hearbeats Jose Gonzalez 2003
Only You Joshua Radin 2006
Beautiful Like You Lee DeWyze 2010
You and Me Lifehouse 2005
The John Wayne Little Green Cars 2012
1000 Years Liza Anne 2014
Lilywhite Luke Sital-Singh 2014
She Will Be Loved Maroon 5 2002
Heaven Amber Run 2013
Run Matt Nathanson & Sugarland 2011
Finally In Love McLean 2010
Loving You Paolo Nutini 2006
Kiss Me Sixpence None The Richer 1997
Chasing Cars Snow Patrol 2006
Cindy Tammany Hall NYC 2000
Sweet Disposition The Temper Trap 2009
Cindarella Steve Moakler 2009
Drops of Jupiter Train 2001
Only One Yellowcard 2003
If You're Not the One Daniel Bedingfield 2002
Let Me Love You Mario 2004
If I Ain't Got You Alicia Keys 2003
Heaven The Walkmen 2012
Us Regina Spektor 2004
Us Against The World The Coasts 2014
Flaws & Ceilings Frank Hamilton & Lauren Aquilina 2012
True Ryan Cabrera 2004
A Thousand Miles Vanessa Carlton 2001
Somewhere With You Tyler Ward 2011
Officially Yours Craig David 2007

The February Playlist

The new year has brought bundles of great new music. Most of the songs I've selected for this month's playlists are fresh from the studios and from a selection of promising artists, emphasizing a surge of support for lesser publicized music thanks to the ease of access offered by services such as Google Play Music (for which I'm a pretty big advocate.)

I could have been caught up in the romanticism of this month (though, saying that, I might make a playlist especially of the best love songs of all time, which will give me an excuse to blast out a few more classics like Peter Gabriel), but instead I have found myself enjoying atmospheric vocals accompanied by more bass than usual. Perfect music for that little flurry of snow we had on Friday.

Lupe Fiasco's new album kicked off the style with some aggressive rapping, making me feel much cooler than I actually am. I've kept tabs on him since Superstar smashed the charts a decade or so ago, but this is the first full album of his I have thoroughly enjoyed. Blur My Hands is more toned down so works in this playlist, with Guy Sebastian providing the smooth R&Bs tones that holds the track together.

I've featured one of my favourite songs of all time this month, that being Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. It's one of those songs that has defined my taste, a song that got me attached emotionally to the music I listen to. Twenty-seven years old as a record, this song is older than me and still earns as much admiration as it used to.

New music wise, this playlist is brewing with potential. A exciting one for me personally is Nothing But Thieves, a band I am going to see live in July at the brilliant 2000Trees festival. Literally bought my Early Bird ticket before writing this and that was made an easier parting with my money when I saw the announcement that these guys were playing. At last year's 2000Trees, I was lucky enough to see Wolf Alice rock out a crowded tent with Blush and there were highlighted in my programme pre-weekend. This feature is aptly timed for NBT, as they have just released a new single, Ban All The Music, but I have selected an song from an earlier E.P. for that riff/vocals pitch contrast during the bridge pre-chorus. It's as sultry as Eva Green in anything ever,

And the artist of the month, the only to feature two songs, is Lapsley. Holly Fletcher, from the Liverpool area, released the Understudy E.P. on January 5 and has been heralded by critics and music lovers alike. You know what I was saying earlier about atmosphere and bass? Well, she brings it. The subtle, sporadic thump thump that consists of the bass in Station gives the tone of her voice even more of a piercing effect. Oh, and she's only 18. That's my age. Shit. Did I mention I'm pretty good at Football Manager? Her mastery and talent is immeasurable.

The Playlist

Falling Short Lapsley
Portrait 19 The Paper Kites
Old Faces Laura Doggett
Wrong Or Right Kwabs
Blush Wolf Alice
Feel Safe All We Are
See Me Tei Shi
Station Lapsley
I Know It's A Good Thing Shamir
Blur My Hands Lupe Fiasco (feat. Guy Sebastian)
Fast Car  Tracy Chapman
In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel
Ghosts Ideyi
Graveyard Whistling Nothing But Thieves
On The Road Sunset Sons
News Freddie Dickson
Lyla The Districts
Don't Go Rae Morris
Wait M83
Morning RHODES
Smalls Hands Keaton Henson
In Winter Michael and the Atlas
Was There Nothing? Asgeir
Paper Sails Stu Larsen
Bones Dustin Tebbutt
Leaner Days Husky
Headlights Tor Miller
Want My Love Cathedrals

If you have Google Play Music, you can find the playlist here.