Last week our Style Editor Becky emailed me about her Valentine’s Day dilemma: Mix Tape Block. See Becky’s just started courting a lovely girl and doesn’t want to use the same seven or eight tired love songs that she’s gifted to other girls. Which is fair, I think every girl deserves her own special mix and so here we are to help!
‘Cause Mix Tape Block is a problem at any time of the year. But it’s particularly serious in the lead up to Valentine’s Day if you’re a sensitive soul who wants to tell a girl how you feel through the language of love, which is music, and the words to the music, despite what Ursula might try to tell you when trying to steal your voice away.
Also let’s not forget that mix tapes are affordable, personal, and something you can throw together quickly if you’ve only just now realised that Valentine’s Day is two days away.
So I thought it’d be fun if we took a group approach to solving Becky’s problem by asking a few members of Team Autostraddle to suggest a few songs for a Valentine’s Mix. And we want to hear your suggestions too, because there’s only so many times you can play the girls in your street “Every Breath You Take” before your reputation as a repeat mix tape offender spreads. Also if you’re gonna buy iTunes and you click out via Autostraddle, we will get about half a cent for every song you buy. Eventually, that means WE’RE GOING TO DISNEYWORLD AND YOU’RE INVITED. So please do, if you wanna.
And once you’ve created the perfect Valentine’s Mix Tape, you’re gonna need the perfect CD cover. Check out our Executive Editor and DIY guru Laneia’s how To guide for making a super fly mix tape sleeve.
Valentine’s Day Mix Tape: The Love Tracks
–
FILM & TV EDITOR LOLA:
The Magnetic Fields – “The Book of Love”
Of all their 69 Love Songs, this is the most straightforwardly romantic. It acknowledges every silly aspect of love, and celebrates it anyway.
Elbow – “Mirrorball”
Falling in love can make your whole miserable life feel soft and new again. Nothing says ‘epic love’ better than lush instrumentation & harmonies.
Macy Gray – “Sweet Baby”
I dare you not to smile when you listen to this song. Love is all you need.
Lauryn Hill – “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”
Hands down, best version of this song! Simple & sweet.
Mélange Lavonne – “Marry Me”
There is absolutely no doubt that this is a LOVE song — a lesbian one, at that.
+
MUSIC EDITOR CRYSTAL:
Placebo – “I’ll Be Yours”
I interpret this to be about loving someone selflessly and unconditionally, being whoever they need you to be – a friend, a lover, etc. It’s beautiful.
Phoenix – “Rally”
This is a really fun and upbeat song, perfect if your mix tape will be given to someone who you’re still in the process of winning over.
Guns ‘N Roses – “Patience” and “Sweet Child of Mine”
Axl Rose has written some of the best love songs ever. This is obvs debatable.
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER ISABELLE:
The Cure – “Love Song”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”
Daniel Johnston – “True Love Will Find You In The End”
Dire Straits – “Romeo and Juliet”
Bjork – “All is Full of Love”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RIESE:
The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”
Of all songs; Just Like Heaven.
Dave Matthews Band – “Crush 16”
The song is tumbly, just like falling in love! – “It’s crazy I’m thinking / Just knowing that the world is round / And here I’m dancing on the ground,” and the way he sings “I will treat you sweetly/ Adore you / I mean – you crush me.”
EMO DEATH MATCH: Magnetic Fields – “Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side” & Bright Eyes – “First Day of my Life”
These is especially relevant for ppl w/soft souls who fall in love in Williamsburg (Brooklyn), Portland, San Francisco, or wherever in Nebraska Bright Eyes is from. Bicycle not included.
Bonus – the video is gender-bending to the max, and full of familiar faces. Actually I think this video marks the high point of the emo queer hipster movement. From here on out it’s all sort of been a rehash, but angrier.
Unwritten Law – Callin
When these guys perform live they’re usually drunk and tearing their eyeballs apart sweaty and angry, and then suddenly this song is super gentle and super simple and super earnest. “Hey little girl look what you do…”
Adam Lambert – Whatya Want From Me
“It’s me/ I’m a freak / but thanks for loving me / ’cause you’re doing it perfectly.”
Erykah Badu – “On and On”
‘Cause it’s sexy.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR LANEIA:
The Blow – “Parentheses”
“There’s plenty space to encase whatever weird way my mind goes / I know I’ll be safe in these arms.” Um hello, this is what we all want.
Her Space Holiday – “Sleepy Tigers”
“It’s not that I have news to bring / I just wanna make your telephone ring / so it shows / and you know.” Shut up that is so cute.
The Knife – “Heartbeats (Live)”
The lyrics may not be especially lovey, but to me, this song feels like I’m being promised something I really wanted.
+
INTERN [HOT] LAURA:
Counting Crows – “Up All Night”
“Cause I’ve been think I’d like to see your eyes open up real wide the minute that you see me.”
Explosions In The Sky – “Your Hand In Mine”
This song is just so pretty. It makes me have lots of nice feelings about things lasting forever [especially because in songland, 8 minutes is a long time].
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER COREY:
Bruce Springsteen – “I’m On Fire”
AUDIOSTRADDLE BLOGGER EMILY:
The Beatles – “Something”
In my opinion, this is one of the Beatles’ most beautiful songs. “Something in the way she moves…”
+
The Turtles – “Happy Together”
Who hasn’t randomly burst out singing this song? I CAN’T SEE ME LOVING NOBODY BUT YOU, FOR ALL MY LIIIIIIIIIFE. So good.
+
The Cure – “Friday I’m in Love”
I love this song because sometimes you have the crappiest week, but then it’s Friday, and you’re in love.
Queen – ““You’re My Best Friend”
I think it’s important that your lover is also your friend. I think Queen understood that.
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER JESS G:
Devendra Banhart – “At The Hop”
“At The Hop” could be read as an end-of-relationship song, but I hear it differently. With eloquent words, Devendra Banhart artfully conveys the desperation of wanting to be near the one you love — in any incarnation.
Blink 182 – “Josie”
Blink 182 might not write the most profound lyrics, but they tell it like it is and that counts for something. With aggressive punk percussion and catchy melodies, they break down love to its molecular level — because love can be as simple as buying your true love a burrito from her favorite dive.
TECHNOSTRADDLE EDITOR TAYLOR:
Lucinda Williams – “Righteously”
For Flirtation / Southern Sexytimes
PJ Harvey – “You Said Something”
Earnest, atmospheric & best enjoyed on a rooftop having a moment
Ryan Adams – “Gonna Make You Love Me”
Says: “I’m upbeat & confident. I know you want me.”
ASSOCIATE EDITOR SARAH:
Iron & Wine – “Naked As We Came”
I think this is one of the best love songs ever. It’s so adorable and sincere! The rest of the album is fantastic, too.
+
BellX1 – “Rocky Took A Lover”
It talks about stars, and I think stars are a lovely thing to think about on a holiday for love. But it’s also about drinking, which is relevant to a lot of people on Valentine’s Day.
Pete Yorn – “Strange Condition”
Just for the line “you know you’re the best thing to come out of this place.”
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER KARMEN:
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season) – “Falling Slowly”
This is from the Once movie soundtrack and is one of the sweetest and most honest love songs I’ve ever heard. It’s the kind of song that your girlfriend might play after a big fight, and you’d forgive her instantly.
Sufjan Stevens – “The Dress Looks Nice On You”
Everything Sufjan does is brilliant, but this song is so simple lyrically, but so, so perfect. Because sometimes when we’re in love, it’s only the simple things that we can manage to verbalize.
Emiliana Torrini – “Me and Armini”
Iceland and raspy-voiced, this song is all about being willing to wait for someone you know is worth it and not giving a damn what anyone else says. Emiliana doesn’t recall writing the song, and claims she was possessed by a woman who was in love with a man named Armini.
In the process of creating the Valentine’s mix tape, a few Autostraddlers confessed that this year their Valentine’s Day will probs be less about love song dedications and more about sitting out the front of their ex-lovers house, seranading them with the Kaiser Chief’s “Every Day I Love You Less And Less” via their sub woofer. Which is why we’ve also created a special B Side of anti-love songs for those of you who have a different sort of mix tape in mind.
Valentine’s Day Mix Tape B Sides: The Anti-Love Tracks
–
TECHNOSTRADDLE EDITOR TAYLOR:
Lucinda Williams – “Ventura”
Best with a broken heart & too many empty bottles of whiskey.
PJ Harvey – “Long Snake Moan”
Everything is fucked, let’s have angry sex.
Ryan Adams – “Come Pick Me Up”
Fuck, this breakup just got messy.
Neko Case – “Twist the Knife”
I’m spurned but hell, I’m honest.
Neko Case – “This Tornado Loves You”
It’s Understandable You Filed That Restraining Order.
MUSIC EDITOR CRYSTAL:
A Perfect Circle – “3 Libras”
A girl gave me this song on a mix tape once and it did not feel good. It’s a kick in the gut.
Jeff Buckley – “The Last Goodbye”
Just flat out heart-wrenching.
+
Jay-Z – “99 Problems”
“If you’re having girl problems I feel bad for you son, but I got 99 problems and a bitch ain’t one.” Just shake it off.
Hunter Valentine – “Jimmy Dean”
“I don’t want to make love, I want to fuck with abandon. I don’t want no sweet valentine, I want a shot of jack to forget this time.” The way this girl sings is so hot that you’ll forget about whoever you’re moping over.
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER EMILY:
Bright Eyes – “It’s Cool, We Can Still Be Friends”
This song should come with a warning: May make you want to fucking kill yourself.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RIESE:
Chris Pureka – “Momentary Thief “
“I’ll tell you what/I’ll save you the trouble of running away/yeah I’m already at the door/and I stole this moment for me.”
Fiona Apple – “Paper Bag” & “Get Gone” but really all of “When the Pawn.”
“‘You got your game, made your shot, and you got away / With a lot, but I’m not turned-on/ So put away that meat you’re selling /Cuz I do know what’s good for me-
/ And I’ve done what I could for you/ But you’re not benefiting… it’s time the truth is out that he don’t give a shit about me.”
+
Liz Phair – “Fuck and Run”
This was good to sing in the 90’s when you didn’t want to have feelings. Then in the ’00s maybe you realized that there were feelings in this song, like that she actually wanted a boyfriend to win her over. So then it has many layers, like a cake.
Dar Williams – “As Cool as I Am”
It’s happy but it’s about moving on: “So you’re leaving/you can find out how much better things can get/and if it helps/I’d say I feel a little worse than I did when we met/so when you find someone else/you can try again/it might work next time.”
Hilary Duff – “So Yesterday”
If you sing it over and over and over again it starts to feel true!
Shiny Toy Guns – “Don’t Cry Out
It’s such a simple phrase, I should’ve thought of it myself — “I don’t get you, I can’t forget what you’ve forgotten” — but I didn’t, they did, and they sang it; and it was wholly, completely, entirely literally true.
Ani DiFranco – Dilate
“I just want you to live up to / the image of you I create / I see you and I’m so unsatisfied / I see you and I dilate.”
ASSOCIATE EDITOR SARAH:
Rilo Kiley – “A Man / Me / Then Jim”
It’s partially about suicide, which is a lot. But it’s also beautiful. And one time Jenny Lewis looked right at me while she sang the best part, and I almost passed out in the front row.
The Mountain Goats – Woke Up New
It’s about waking up the first day after a breakup. Surprisingly hopeful, given the subject.
The Postal Service – “Nothing Better”
Obvs.
AUDIOSTRADDLE WRITER COREY:
Jimmy Eat World – “Hear You Me”
To help you get over someone you lost.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR LANEIA:
Thao + The Get Down Stay Down – “Easy”
Sad people dance, too!
Jessica Lea Mayfield – “We’ve Never Lied”
Stinging and honest. I’m sad just thinking about it. Damn.
Third Eye Blind – “How’s It Gonna Be”
“How’s it gonna be / when you don’t know me anymore.” #wallow
No Doubt – “Ex Girlfriend” or “Don’t Speak”
Pick one. Are you indignant and sassy? “Ex Girlfriend” is for you. Are you a little sad for real? Feel it in your bones? “Don’t Speak” is your jam.
+
Rolling Stones – “Angie”
Baby let’s just cry. Get it all out. They can’t say we never tried.
The Muffs – “Red Eyed Troll”
This was my favorite high school breakup / angsty song! Lots of screaming.
FILM & TV EDITOR LOLA:
Beyoncé – “Irreplaceable”
You don’t wanna treat me right? YOUR LOSS, SUCKA!
+
Atmosphere – “Fuck You Lucy”
I like songs that say ‘fuck’ a lot when I’m bitter. Sometimes you just wanna shout “FUCK YOU” to love.
Mariah Carey – “Shake It Off”
Bad break-up? You’re better off anyway. Mariah Carey always makes things better for me.
The Ataris – “The Last Song I Will Ever Write About A Girl”
While my adolescent skater punk days are (mostly) behind me, shouting “GIRLS ARE FUCKING EVIL” is still necessary sometimes.
The Mountain Goats – “No Children”
Vehemently hating your spouse has never sounded so upbeat and catchy! Seriously, the lyrics to this are genius.
AUDIOSTRADDLE BLOGGER JESS G:
The Clash – “Train In Vain (Stand By Me”)
Shake it out and dance up a frenzy to this classic by The Clash. A catchy and upbeat chorus is juxtaposed with lyrics of loneliness and abandonment.
The Decemberists- “The Engine Driver”
For the poet in all of us, Colin Meloy offers this tune featuring some of his most beautifully crafted lyrics. If you’re trying to get over her and can’t, discover emotional solidarity here: “And I’ve written pages upon pages / Trying to rid you from my bones.”
INTERN [HOT] LAURA:
Blessid Union of Souls – “Light In Your Eyes“
I heard this song for the first time since, like, 1999 a few weeks ago and was reminded about everything that was great about the last ’90s. Oh yeah, and it’s about breaking up and stuff.
Rihanna – “Hard”
Speaking from experience, the best time to listen to this song is when you’re angry and dressed up in heels [or kicks or however you roll] because then you can stomp around and think thoughts like “fuck the man! and also you!” when you see the person you’re mad at. It is very empowering.
+
Ingrid Michaelson – “Sort Of”
Guys, “my love’s too big for you” is such a not fun feeling but Ingrid’s so cute about it. No sane person would ever break her heart, you know?
AUDIOSTRADDLE BLOGGER ISABELLE::
Belle and Sebastian – “I Don’t Love Anyone”
Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris – “Love Hurts”
Bob Dylan – “It Ain’t Me, Babe”
Band of Horses – “No One’s Gonna Love You”
Elliott Smith – “Somebody That I Used To Know”
AUDIOSTRADDLE BLOGGER KARMEN:
The Cinematic Orchestra – “To Build A Home”
Hands down one of the most beautifully orchestrated, heart-wrenching, excruciatingly loving, beautifully sang song that I’ve ever heard. Listen to it. It’s close to perfect.
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – “When Your Mind’s Made Up”
Everyone has felt abandoned by the one they love. This is the perfect song to drive and cry about it to.
Rachael Yamagata – “Even So”
Written by a woman who broke her own heart by cheating on the only man she loved and who loved her in return. Get ready to feel.
Tegan and Sara – “Call It Off”
“Call, break my own heart”…
Comments
Yeah, I’m going to be listening to side B this valentines.
Heres my two cense:
Alanis Morissette- You ‘Oughta Know
Ani DiFranco- Untouchable Face (Fuck You)
Florence + The Machine- Kiss With A Fist
Bright Eyes- A Perfect Sonnet
Cat Power- Aretha, Sing One For Me
Ingrid Michelson- Breakable
I love this! I am going to listen to every song.
In love:
Ashanti- Don;t Let Them
Mariah Carey- Joyride
Maxwell- Fortunate
An Horse- Listen- The prettiest lyrics ever!
Lenny Williams- Because I love you- The realest song ever sung to a woman
The Delphonics-Hey Love
Ojays- We Cry Togther- Which is the most beautiful, saddest, realest song that will take any situation from vertical to horizontal by the first chorus.
Breaking up:
Anthony Hamilton- I’m a Mess
John Mayer- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Laryn Hill- Ex Factor
Fiest-Let It Die
I’m so happy about all the Mountain Goats love here! Also, I am seriously considering having my Valentine’s Day just be listening to the Black Album (or maybe just 99 problems) on repeat. LADIES IS PIMPS TOO
Awesome list… I think the Dar Williams lyrics are “and so I’m leaving,” not “and so you’re leaving.” The song’s about a guy who makes lots of backhanded comments to push at her insecurities, but she won’t take it!
I actually wrote that in from memory, I didn’t even look up the lyrics. I imagine i’ve been yelling the words over the actual recording so loudly for so long that I don’t even hear what she’s singing anymore!
I thought of another break-up song that yells ‘FUCK’ – Rootless Tree by Damien Rice. “FUCK YOU AND ALL WE’VE BEEN THROUGH!”
I adore the anti-love songs Crystal picked, but 3 Libras and Last Goodbye make me all sad, whereas I prefer fervid resentment.
i was listening to this today only i was thinking “eff you snow, i don’t like walking home through you.” only i do cause i’m still in love with snow kinda like how you’re still in love with people even when you hate them. HI i’m drunk.
You are such a sage drunk.
i put rootless tree on a mixtape for laura but only because i think it’s a good song.
ALSO, if you’ve never heard Beyoncé sing Irreplaceble en Español then YOU ARE MISSING OUT!
I’m going to make a ‘Love’ song mix using Isa and Emily’s songs and an ‘Anti-Love’ mix using Riese and Laneia’s. On Sunday you’ll find me listening to my own ‘Yay, girls rock & don’t even NEED valentines so suck on that, society! mix.
No one mentioned Taylor Swift – “Love Story”?
ah yes, that masterpiece of allegorical artistic triumph. really encapsulated all my feelings about heart, love, endurance, and how things go on despite inclement weather or illiteracy or shattered bloody hymens. how could i forget. bless you, paper. bless you.
See? And everyone thought you were one of the haters. Now we see that, deep down, T-Swizzle’s words just cut you too deeply. Your own experiences were too similar to hers. And as you imagined yourself back in high school, saw yourself throwing pebbles at Romeo–oh wait. I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?
For love – Freezepop – Duct Tape My Heart – http://www.last.fm/music/Freezepop/_/Duct+Tape+My+Heart
Oh, and just about everything by Lamb, but especially Gabriel, Gorecki, Heaven, One, God Bless, Cotton Wool and Sweet.
There’s a lovely Valentine’s day mashup on Youtube by Norwegian Recycling at the moment, called Recycled Romance. It’s dead pretty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG36OtqOIvA
i like this! but if we made a “i’m trying to get you to break up with me” mix, i’d put “your body is a wonderland” on it.
no Nick Cave? IMO he wrote some of the best love songs ever.
some of mine:
Nick Cave – Straight to you, Are you the one that I’ve been waiting for, Lie down here and be my girl, There she goes,my beautiful world
The Walkabouts – Till I reach you, All for this
Uh Huh Her – Wait another day
The Cure – Lovesong, Just like heaven
Juliette & the Licks – By the heat of your light
Neko Case – This tornado loves you
Neil Young – Pardon my heart
PJ Harvey – You said something
The Posies – Anything and everything
R.E.M. – At my most beautiful
Placebo – I’ll be yours
Mazzy Star – Fade into you
as for anti-love/break up songs, anything from Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Marianne Faithfull’s Why’d ya do it, about half of the stuff Morrissey wrote, whether solo or with The Smiths and R.E.M.’s The one I love
Yes.
Mazzy Star!
MAZZY STAR!! i loved them so. and then my friend lauren stole my cd and said she didn’t, in like 1995. so sad.
God that is my favorite REM Song!!! I love how it out-dates itself: “I read bad poetry into your machine” hahaha who has an answering machine anymore? :)
I’d like to second so many songs from above for the A side like Queen and Lauryn Hill. I think I’m going to take it old school and add Ella and Louis Armstrong’s duet “Cheek to Cheek” so good. There are so many more I could add, BUT it’d end up being several pages so I’m going to not do that haha.
For B Side I think Tracy Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You Tonight”– you think it’s a romantic song but it’s just really not.
oh god yeah ella and billie holiday actually could handle the whole A-side themselves.
I totally agree with:
A
Guns N Rose – Patience
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
Bright Eyes – First Day of my Life
Iron & Wine – Naked as We Came
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly
B
Ryan Adams – Come Pick Me Up
Third Eye Blind – How’s It Gonna Be
Beyonce – Irreplaceable
The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build A Home
And I’ll add:
A
Paramore – The Only Exception
Adele – Make You Feel My Love
Death Cab – Marching Bands of Manhattan
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
B
Laura Marling – Old Stone
La Roux – Cover My Eyes
Bon Iver – Woods
Paper Route – Second Chances
Frightened Rabbit – ‘Poke’, ‘Good Arms Vs Bad Arms’ and ‘Floating in the Forth’ – seriously recommend these guys
Great adds! I really like ‘The Only Exception’.
i love that there are more anti-valentine’s day songs than there are actual love songs.
anyways i totally agree with “first day of my life” and if i had to add another love song i would pick “lion’s mane” by iron & wine. also, “yellow” by coldplay. i’m surprised no one mentioned that, that one’s like a token love song.
for anti-love songs i would also pick “deanne the arsonist” by atreyu if you want to get really mad and smash things. “fuck off, like you’re the only one who has ever cried or been broken by love.”
In love:
Trouble Sleeping – Corinne Bailey Rae
Crazy for you – Adele
Breathless – Corinne Bailey Rae
Lucky – Jason Mraz
Today-Joshua Radin (he played it for Ellen and Portia at their wedding. you can’t go wrong with that.)
Breaking up:
Love is a Losing Game – Amy Winehouse
That’s It, I Quit, I’m Moving On – Sam Cooke/AMAZING cover by Adele
Best for Last – Adele (FAVORITE. FAVORITE. FAVORITE)
yeah…i really like adele and corinne bailey rae, obvs.
in photos corinne bailey rae always looks like she’s in love
in photos amy winehouse always looks like she’s like, “fuck love”
so that makes sense
music+lists+feelings=win, i might get that made into a t-shirt
otherwise,for side A, i just came across one of the loveliest songs i’ve heard in a while, “Billie Holiday” by Warpaint.
for side B, a couple of tracks by etta james and the soundtrack to an almodovar film would do…
ach, i can haz my avatar back, fixed
So many amazing songs on both lists.
Ones I’ll add:
A
—Lemuria-Pants
This might become your favorite song and your favorite band. Check them out, because you can still see them in creepy basements and hit your head on the ceiling because you’re jumping around so hard.
—Algernon Cadwallader-The Stars
This band is an acquired taste, but this song to me is about the beginning of a relationship that’s amazing and awesome and you’re holding all your excitement in your ribs to keep from exploding with happiness.
—Coeur de Pirate-Comme des Enfants
You can pretend this isn’t about a boy, because it’s in French. It basically about having someone still love you when you’re in a relationship with someone else, but you’re in love with the person you’re with and you’re telling them that.
—Gregory & the Hawk-Boats and Birds
—Jenny Owen Youngs-Hot in Herre
Not exactly a love song, but this song should be in EVERY mix you ever make.
—Postal Service-From Such Great Heights
B
—Allison Weiss-The End
I kind of think of Allison Weiss as a female Conor Oberst, but maybe a little more upbeat.
—Kickball-Sauvie Island
—Chris Garneau-Black & Blue
I love this man. His music is kind of all REALLY, REALLY sad. He’s also openly gay.
—Regina Spektor-The Flowers
—She & Him-Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
This is an amazing cover of this song, and I LOVE the Smiths.
i didn’t realize how long this was.
i feel obnoxious, haha.
No way. Jenny Owen Youngs is rad. I love Here Is A Heart and What The Fuck Was I Thinking. A / B side respectively.
Jenny Owen Youngs is rad. Because of her music, and because she reposted the Taylor Swift Infographic on her tumblr (http://jennyowenyoungs.tumblr.com/post/378882427/allisonweiss-infographic-of-the-day-the). I love it when my internet comes together.
That is ace, thanks for letting us know! I’m a big Jenny Owen Youngs fan as well.
When I saw it I actually emailed her. She said- “Oh, hey, that is wild. The internet is a total, um, web! I guess that’s why it is sometimes called… the web. I had no idea what the origins were of that sweet sweet infographic, I was just a 10th generation reblogger. But great work and big ups to your site! Fuck yeah!!”
Coeur de Pirate! i secretely love that song, it’s been all over the radio/tv here in France and although it’s commercial and kinda…naive, it still makes me smile :)
i think that’s a great description.
you might like le prince miiaou,
she’s how i found coeur de pirate!
I love She & Him! Wish they would release Volume Two.
Right? How long do we have to wait?
ooo i love the smiths version. that line gets stuck in my head sometimes during desperate moments of fights.
The A sides were all so sweet. I want to be everyone’s valentine and never ever go to the B side.
i like this comment a lot. sums up my feelings abt the world.
Adorable. Yes please.
(it also reminds me of the girl from Mean Girls..”I just want things to go back to the way they used to be in middle school.. And I could bake us cupcakes made from smiles and butterflies…”)
Do you even go to this school?
Just decided I’m going to bake cupcakes, make fun playlists and watch Mean Girls on Valentine’s Day. God bless you, Autostraddle.
stellar plan. will copy.
I always go the super cheesy / funny route in my mixtape endeavors.
Backstreet Boys – “The One”
The Beatles – “Don’t Pass Me By”
Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You”
Britney Spears – “(You Drive Me) Crazy”
Darren Hayes – “I Miss You”
Death Cab – “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”
Elvis Presley – “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
Foo Fighters – “Everlong (Acoustic)”
Heart – “Alone”
Ingrid Michaelson – “Die Alone”
KEF – “Hottie Boombalottie” (Watch the music video of this song. Trust me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQFPsfPe_rA )
OneRepublic – “Come Home”
The Righteous Brothers – “Unchained Melody”
Sixpence None The Richer – “Melody Of You”
Sonny & Cher – “I Got You Babe”
Spice Girls – “2 Become 1”
Also, that music video for Melange Lavonne’s Marry Me reminds me of JenRO’s Try It. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyUYkVuf5eA
Aqualung’s Brighter than Sunshine is the classic song that begs to be included in a mix tape.
soooo many good songs already listed and to list; a few more:
A-SIDES
*Take My Hand – Dido … epic, sweet and lush; will get you laid
*Touch Me – Rui da Silva … super sexy house tune; will get you laid
*Cloudbusting – Kate Bush … current gf used this one (successfully) on me; and, I suppose, will get you laid
*Trouble – Harry Connick, Jr. … simple, sweet and playful
*Bernadette – Four Tops … golden oldie, shout-it-from-the-rooftops
B-SIDES
*Anything by Alison Krauss, Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” (yay ‘Rain’!) or Imogen Heap’s “Hide & Seek” = good for various stages of anti-love wallowing
Anti-lovesong by German band Cinema Bizarre: ‘Lovesongs they kill me’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpYfZVJJ32w
And a lovesong, ‘My Obsession’ also from Cinema Bizarre: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qprq2X4R54w&feature=channel
Bright Eyes is from Omaha, Nebraska, thank you.
And we are very glad to be known for well.. something.
Bit of advice: don’t listen to Death Cab for Cutie if you are lonely. They will only make you feel worse inside with their beautiful devil words.
Also, “make cupcakes” a lot. A lot.
you pretty much just said exactly what I was going to say about Bright Eyes. They are pretty much our biggest claim to fame here in Omaha…
I would like to make these lists into giant playlists in my iTunes and then listen to them whenever I am happy/sad. Alex should make album art for them, no?
Some of my favourite love songs:
Lover You Should’ve Come Over – Jeff Buckley (although I suppose this could be either a love song or a b side, depending on your mood..)
June on the West Coast – Bright Eyes
Can I Stay – Ray Lamontagne
B Sides:
Black – Pearl Jam (omg saddest song i will cry every time i hear it)
Burn – Ray Lamontagne
Over and Over – Rachael Yamagata
Now the One You Once Loved is Leaving – Lydia
I’ll stop cause I could go on for days. But I’d also like to mention to anyone considering trying Laneia’s wonderful cd sleeve template… that I’ve done it many times and it’s fantastic and lovely and so much better than using one of those hot pink slim jewel cases.
aw THANK YOU <3
flattery will get you everywhere, obvs.
No, thank you! Your brilliant craftiness has inspired me to be a more awesome mix cd maker. <333
that is actually wonderful! i tried to make one but had to stop halfway through because the glue wasn’t sticking and also because i picked an ugly cover.
I dunno what side you’d want to put it on, but the title reminded me of Anti-Love Song by Betty Davis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxKBnR_8LIM
So usually when someone asks for suggestions on your top songs/films/cultural manifestation of a certain genre, I will typically gush some freestyle mental effluvia, but this time I thought I’d sit on it a while, until the thoughts had settled and formed a more solid mass. Eugh, I think I just grossed myself out with my own metaphor then.
Anyway, here are my non-soppy love songs:
Always on My Mind – Elvis. Just so wonderful in its simplicity.
Mad About the Boy – Dinah Washington. Yeah, so it’s talking about boys, so what, it’s probably the most elegant and succinct tale of pure, wanton, foolish lust on record.
Hyperballad – Bjork. Kind of about safety and fragility. Plus the string quartet version is sumptuous.
Devuelveme la vida – Antonio Orozco and Malu. From what my schoolgirl Spanish is capable of understanding, it’s basically about two people saying sorry that they’ve been twats, but can’t live without each other, so let’s sort this shit out. That’s proper love.
I don’t have time to really comment, but I just wanna say I love that Karmen chose Tegan and Sara’s “Call It Off” for the B side. It’s been on my recent playlist and I’ve been playing it over and over! It’s soooo good!
And yeah, that’s all I got. Carry on with the love/heartache.
This is off topic but I just want to leave a note. Something on Autostraddle.com makes my computer screen freeze for about 15 seconds when I initially enter the site. Perhaps the javascript? I’m using firefox, windows vista 64.
Thanks for letting us know! We’ll look into it.
Ida Maria – I like you so much better when you’re naked. Put on repeat. I’m very subtle.
IN LOVE/LUST
Lauren Hill ft D’angelo – Nothing Even Matters
Amerie – Nothing Like Loving You
Drake – Bria’s Interlude/ A Night off
H-Town – Knockin Boots (Of course)
Justin Timberlake – Take It From Here
Mariah Carey – The Roof
Natasha Ramos – Midnight Hour
Sade – By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)
Taio Cruz – She’s Like A Star
The Dream – Rockin That Shit
Jagged Edge – In The Morning
Broken Up/ Single & Jaded
112 – Love You Like I Did
Bat For Lashes – What’s A Girl To Do
D’Angelo – Shit, Damn, Muthfucka
Duffy – Warwick Avenue
Maroon 5 – Makes Me Wonder
Maroon 5 ft Rihanna – If I never See Your Face Again
Natasha Bedingfield – Single
Mariah Carey ft Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Breakdown
No Doubt – Don’t Speak
P!nk – Just Like A Pill
Rihanna – Rehab
Incubus – 11am
Just a lil something… ;}
In the despair behind the holiday and a partially induced sugar coma from the cookie recipes, I have used songs from the list and made a mix CD but had to add a few more songs to make it perfect melancholy:
Joshua Radin-“Just One Of Those Days”
Frank Sinatra-“Time After Time”
Eric Clapton-“Tears In Heaven”
Kings Of Leon-“Mahattan”
Missy Higgins-“Where I Stood”
Good picks. I think Missy’s catalogue could make up a perfect Love / Anti-Love mix tape on its own.
Ah, I am so in love with Missy Higgins albums-The Sound of White and On a Clear Night. I’ve never been able to identify with a singer/songwriters lyrics as much as I have with hers,to see her perform live would be an absolute dream come true.
What does it say about me that I know more of the B-side songs? hrmmm..
More A Sides:
Serena Ryder – Hiding Place
Jason Mraz – Butterfly
Maria Mena – You’re the Only One
Ingrid Michaelson – You & I
More B Sides:
Jill Barber – Measures & Scales
Pink’s entire Funhouse album
Ooooh You and I is the cutest :)
marya i’m going to listen to to maria mena right now. thank you for reminding me!
LATE ADDITION TO B-SIDE
Patsy Cline : She’s Got You
carry on.
A great anti love and love song all rolled into one is
Dixie Chicks – Earl
Maryanne and Wanda <3
TAYLOR you’re a little bit country! Be my valentine for the next 6 minutes?
Gotta go with:
“In These Arms” from The Swell Season (Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová) “Love You Till The End” from The Pogues
“Hands Down” from Dashboard Confessional
and “Traumreise” from Massive Töne (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KiFB3Zl4w)
:)
I’m still in the midst of Chinese New Year, practically stuck at home with endless family reunions and a cat and my older brother that needs looking after while my mom’s in Germany with my dad. What Valentine’s Day??!!
Awww… but these songs are so sweet!! I especially like Bright Eyes’ The First Day of My Life. The lyrics are easy to relate to and the tune is geeeennntle just the way I like it. And it brings out all sorts of aspects of love, which made me fall in love with the music vid.
There is a light that never goes out-the smiths
Heroes-David Bowie
Wals x 2-Elliot smith
Tiny girl-Iggy pop
Here I am like 4 months late, but FULL OF SIDE B.
My initial offerings are:
There’s a Fine, Fine Line – Avenue Q. “There’s a fine, fine line between love / And a waste of time.” Sad, but good for spitting along to resentfully and/or feeling like an idiot to.
Still Hurting – Songs From a New World. “Jamie arrived at the end of the line / Jamie’s convinced that the problems are mine /Jamie is probably feeling just fine / And I’m still hurting.” Fuck this is good. Also CELLO PART.
Why yes, I do feel almost all my feelings with musical theatre. The other ones go through country music. That is because these are the feelingest genres. Thanks for asking.
Now you gotta make a movie list to watch on V-day!!! AND IT MUST INCLUDE IMAGINE ME AND YOU!!! GOD I LUV THAT MOVIE!!!!!
All of you get on Lo Ball- ‘Can’t get me down’
Yes, its a grungy fem 90s garage band song and it is amazing.
It was also in legally blonde!
“It’s over, you told me that you don’t wanna know me. I’m alone now, I know that, you’re never gonna get me down”