For many, the most daunting part of Valentine’s Day, whether you’re in a relationship or not, is curating a playlist of love songs that match how you’re feeling. Sometimes, it’s best to turn to the classics, to songs that stand the test of time.
1. “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” – Tony Bennett
“Fly Me to the Moon” is one of the most celebrated and iconic love songs of all time, but no one sings it quite like Tony Bennett. Upon hearing Bennett’s rendition of the song, the phrase “it never gets old” suddenly makes sense. “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” is classic and timeless.
2. “Let’s Get Lost” – Chet Baker
“Let’s Get Lost,” which opens Chet Baker’s 1955 album “Chet Baker Sings And Plays,” advocates for completely surrendering yourself to love; Baker is saying, essentially, “Throw yourself into this relationship, ignore the rest of the world, who cares what anyone else thinks?”
3. “I’ll Be Seeing You” – Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday’s haunting vocals give this song a particularly emotional and nostalgic feel. In “I’ll Be Seeing You,” Holiday describes seeing the person she loves in everything: the moon, cafés and “all the old familiar places.”
4. “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are among jazz music’s most iconic duos. Fitzgerald’s silky, rich vocals are perfectly juxtaposed with Armstrong’s signature gravelly voice. “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” emphasizes that memories of a person or relationship can last forever.
5. “God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys
“God Only Knows” was released in 1966 as the B-side of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” but has since become one of The Beach Boys’ most beloved songs. Paul McCartney once said “God Only Knows” was “the greatest song ever written.”
6. “Girl from the North Country” – Bob Dylan
“Girl from the North Country” is a rare example of a Dylan song that isn’t sardonic, biting, or infused with political themes; it’s a simple, honest, nostalgic song about a former lover. In this song, all Dylan asks is that his former flame is happy and being treated well even though they’re no longer together.
7. “I Got You Babe” – Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher became an overnight sensation after the 1965 release of their hit single “I Got You Babe.” The song is sweet, but not cloying, wholesome, but not cheesy. It sits right in that sweet spot and beautifully portrays young love without being too hackneyed.
8. “Kathy’s Song” – Simon & Garfunkel
“Kathy’s Song” acts as a love letter to Paul Simon’s former girlfriend, Kathy Chitty. At the time the song was written, the pair lived an ocean apart. Simon’s wistful lyrics accompanied by a simple guitar picking pattern are the perfect solution for anyone in a long-distance relationship this Valentine’s Day.
9. “I Want You” – Marvin Gaye
“I Want You” showcases a painful, but all too familiar kind of love; a relationship in which one person loves much harder than the other. Gaye pleads with the object of the song, saying “I want you to want me too.” The perfect song for yearning, begging for your love to be reciprocated, or being single and bitter about it.
10. “Con te partirò” – Andrea Bocelli
This song is often translated to English as “Time to say goodbye,” but a more accurate translation is “I’ll leave with you.” The overarching message of the song is, simply, wherever you go, I’m going too.
