Emily’s picks
- “Falling Like The Stars” – James Arthur
- “Sparks Fly” – Taylor Swift
- “Fallin’ For You” – Colbie Caillat
“Falling Like The Stars” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of falling in love with someone, using stars falling as a metaphor. The chorus of the song talks about how James Arthur and his lover are falling in love with each other, especially with the lyrics “And I need you to know that we’re falling so fast / We’re falling like the stars / Falling in love.” This is the perfect romantic song for couples.
“Sparks Fly” from Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” album is about the sparks felt from romance, whether that be from a kiss or even just being around the one you love. The sparks in this song could even be interpreted as fireworks. Swift sings in the chorus how she wants her lover to drop everything to spend time with her and kiss her in the pouring rain. The song also talks about how the simple things of a person, such as their smile, make you fall in love with them.
“Fallin’ For You” also encapsulates the feeling of falling in love with someone. Colbie Caillat sings about how she thinks she’s falling for her lover, but her lover doesn’t appear to know that she is. This is emphasized in the chorus with the lyrics “I don’t know what to do / I think I’m falling for you.” The strum of a guitar also makes this song have a good beat.
Ethan’s picks
- “You’re as Pretty as a Picture” – Al Bowlly (1938)
- “Lay All Your Blood On Me” – Brian David Gilbert
- “Just the Two of Us” – Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr
Sometimes you find yourself so deeply infatuated with a person that you see them in everything. “You’re as Pretty as a Picture” hammers home the idea that there truly is nothing prettier than the person you love. Throughout the song, Al Bowlly finds himself seeing his lover in everything in the world, and that is a love everyone needs to experience.
When you’re an immortal being, love is something desperately sought after as you know you’ll go through many mortal lovers. In this vampiric cover of “Lay All Your Love on Me” performed by Brian David Gilbert, his character sings about lowering himself to that of a mortal, lowering his pride derived from taking life to sustain his immortal life and now asking, almost begging that the lover dedicates their blood, the thing that keeps the love alive, to the vampire.
At some point, you will find that person that you feel anything is possible when you’re with them. In “Just the Two of Us” Bill Withers sings about how finding the perfect lover takes patience to wait but to wait for too long would mean to miss your chance with your perfect match.
Kahlil’s picks
- “You Don’t Know My Name” – Alicia Keys
- “So Anxious” – Ginuwine
- “drive ME crazy!” – Lil Yachty
If you’ve ever had a crush on anyone but haven’t ever mustered up the courage to ask them out or even tell them your name, this song is for you. “You Don’t Know My Name” stars Alicia Keys as a barista at a cafe who develops a deep infatuation with a boy who becomes a regular in the cafe. This soulful tape evokes the feelings of the 1970’s with its infectious sampling and melody. The fact that the boy doesn’t even know Keys’ name yet pains her but she eventually overcomes that pain and asks him out.
This song is peak Ginuwine, and if you know Ginuwine, you know he has multiple songs to get you in that mood for the bedroom, and this is one of them. But overall, it’s a song about Ginuwine being too giddy to consummate his love with another that it just has him so anxious he just can’t wait. It’s a feeling that most can relate to. This track is reminiscent of the early 2000’s despite it releasing in 1999. With its soulful and sensual lyrics sung by Ginuwine and “boom bap,” beat boxy drums and production by Timbaland, this song is a valentine’s day classic.
“drive ME crazy!” describes the kind of love that feels “Like butterflies suffocating your insides.” The kind of love that makes you always want to be near your lover because if they walked away it’d drive you crazy. This song is infatuation in lyrical form with every line being a confession of their inner feelings bursting at the seams with love. This song is psychedelic bliss with its synth and drums simulating the sounds of Pink Floyd and Tame Impala. It’s a song with a catchy chorus and infectious beat that will leave you absolutely smitten to the point of insanity.
Nia’s picks
- “Dive” – Olivia Dean
- “Valentine” – Laufey
- “I Know You Know” – Esperanza Spalding
“Dive” describes being unsure about new love at the beginning of a relationship. It’s about when your partner knows you are meant to be together and how you discover you are ready to fall in love and have been in love with this person for a while. This song makes me feel hopeful that someday I will have a love like this. I play this song when I want to slow down my day and enjoy the little things of life.
“Valentine” is considered a pop-soul song, and it’s very vulnerable and open, like most of her music. She likes to express her feelings in the music and connect with her audience, and I feel connected to her through her music.
If you have never really been in a relationship before, it can feel weird to have someone show you affection. “Valentine” is about being in your first relationship and falling in love for the first time. In this Jazz Pop tune, Laufey imagines what a love like this one is like, panicking because it is all so new to her.
“I Know You Know” is about declaring your love for someone who loves you just as much as you love them. Esperanza Spalding explains the signs that show her partner loves her and lets him know that she will do anything for them.
Sofia’s picks
- “Father Figure” – George Michael
- “Do I Wanna Know” – Hozier
- “You Are In Love” – Taylor Swift
George Michael believes he has something special with his crush. He wants to take their burdens and teach them anything they want to know, like a father. In a way, he is just begging for the person to see what they could have. The instrumentals feel dreamy and sensual throughout the whole song. He switches in and out of a husky whisper and moves into a flowing chorus. All of the elements are able to blend R&B, soul and pop very well.
Hozier’s warm, soft voice sends a sense of yearning to listeners in this cover of a popular Arctic Monkeys song. After anything, the couple will always find their way back to each other. The singer hopes that they feel a sliver of the same. I love the ending duet showing an agreement from both that they would always be there for one another. The original version by Arctic Monkeys is more rock based however this version is more melodic with the cello and guitar. The tone is different with Arctic Monkeys’ version being more sultry and slightly emotionally detached whereas Hozier yearns for the true love attachment.
Taylor Swift expresses that love doesn’t always have to be loud or flashy. True love can be found in the little things that bring both you and your partner comfort. Love can also be healing and being with your person can calm you. In “You Are In Love,” Swift understands now why people can lose their minds or fight wars because of powerful, consuming love. From the short lines in the beginning, she is nervous of this realization, but finally after realizing, the lyrics flow and are relaxed.
