If you’re newly single — or have always been single — and feel lonely or bitter on a holiday celebrating love, you are in good (musical) company. The Daily’s staff collected a wide range of tracks that speak to both the frustration and acceptance of a lost love. We hope they will bring you some comfort and company this Valentine’s Day.
Take a listen to our Spotify playlist while you read through our staff’s thoughts: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4fPJQAh1dBv2O7srJ15PIM?si=9a7434dab2be41b1
“I Forgot that You Existed” by Taylor Swift — Ribka Desta
Love is one of the only emotions that can invade your entire spirit, and still disappear so definitively that you forget the hold it had on you. Swift sings about how a once-mighty love fell so greatly that she now pays no matter to a breakup that she once predicted would kill her.
“I Forgot that You Existed” reminds listeners that if you find yourself aching over the absence of affection this Valentine’s Day, know that it can’t kill you. Or, if it does, remember that most of the couples you see celebrating this holiday will be broken up by the next.
“Lovedrunk” by Epik High (feat. Crush) — Hana Dao
Epik High’s discography includes a number of melancholic songs combining Korean hip-hop, rap and indie ballads. This song in particular refers to how the bitterness of an ill-fated romance can ironically make alcohol seem sweet. Alone under a cold moon, with nothing but the sweetness of alcohol to get by, Epik High contemplates: “Maybe while I was erasing you / I erased myself.”
The band’s composer and vocalist Tablo, or Daniel Armand Lee ’02 M.A. ’02, shared in a Billboard interview that the album featuring “Lovedrunk,” titled “Sleepless in ______,” was influenced by his own experiences with insomnia and feeling like “reality had become a nightmare.”
“Lost the Breakup” by Maisie Peters — Charlotte Kearns
“Lost the Breakup” by Maisie Peters captures the essence of finding solace and strength in being single — especially on Valentine’s Day. Peters’s poignant lyrics remind us that the end of a relationship can be a gateway to self-discovery and personal growth. The upbeat and empowering melody adds an extra layer of positivity, making it an anthem for those embracing their independence: “I’ll smile and you’ll have to face it / I’m the greatest love that you wasted / But, by then, I’ll be far away / And, oh shit, you lost the breakup!”
“the way things go” by beabadoobee — Erin Ye
They say the last stage in grief is acceptance. If you’re in a reflective mood this Valentine’s Day, “the way things go” by beabadoobee is a song about moving forward after a relationship. I’m a fan of the candid lyrics and the soft delivery of the melody.
While not exactly a diss on Valentine’s Day, beabadoobee reminds listeners that sometimes it’s better to be alone. Most of the happy relationships you see end in fateful disappointment, so you can be glad you’ve reached that point already, rather than having to dread an inevitable end.
“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele — Dan Kubota
Sometimes you just need a song you can scream at the top of your lungs to while mascara runs down your face after a breakup. You need to let everything out to allow yourself to heal from the experience and move on — you need catharsis. Relationships ending can be quite difficult, especially if they lasted a long time.
Adele’s emotional ballads are always perfect to deal with the complex cocktail of feelings following a breakup, and “Set Fire to the Rain” is no different. Adele masterfully uses imagery of nature to depict the post-breakup tumult, weaving together the concrete and the abstract to help the listener visualize and move on from the hurt they’ve been feeling. There’s no better way to kick off your self-love era than with this 2010’s classic.
“龍捲風” by Jay Chou — Emma Kexin Wang
Hailed as the king of pop in China, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou brings us a simple backtrack with a lyrical form that exemplifies the song’s title, “tornado” in Mandarin. The punchy chorus of short verses repeats itself with only slight variations: “The love that comes too fast, just like a tornado / The love that goes too fast, just like a tornado.” Much like how Chou is trapped in reiterating the same lyrics and melody, he is unable to escape this cyclical love.
“feel good” by Tierra Whack — Blyss Cleveland
There are many reasons to feel sad on Valentine’s Day. The lack of a dedicated admirer can make the holiday feel like a personal affront for single people who are bonafide members of the delightful community (i.e. people who are witty, hilarious and generally fun to be around).
Among those who have a special sweetheart, insufficient displays of devotion can throw the whole relationship into conflict. Tierra Whack’s short ode to refusing to lie about feeling good is the perfect balm for everyone in a bad mood on Feb. 14.
Over a twinkly piano melody, the rapper admits her unfulfilled desire to be happy and defends her right to be bummed out because “holidays just keep getting old.” Instead of falling into despair at not being well-loved, Whack’s song gives everyone license to be grumpy as we all wait for Feb. 15 — the day when we can console ourselves with heart-shaped candy purchased at a steep discount.
“Se Preparó” by Ozuna — Sarayu Pai
“Se Preparó” (“She got ready” in Spanish) is an ode to female empowerment. Puerto Rican artist Ozuna shares the story of a woman who confidently ventures out with her girlfriends for a fun night after just learning her boyfriend cheated.
A dembow beat (the rhythm present in most reggaeton tracks) accompanies Ozuna’s bouncy vocals as cheerful synthesizer notes flutter in the background. The song’s lyrics emphasize the woman’s confidence and independence (“Hoy ella hace lo que quiera”) as Ozuna croons that she indeed is the prize — “Ese bobo se perdió a esa mamacita tan chula.”