What’s the most common subject talked about in music? You know it, I know it. It’s love, which is why it was actually quite difficult to put together a 10-song playlist for Valentine’s Day. It was a struggle narrowing down the best songs – and of course, it has some bias – but here’s a Valentine’s Day playlist to blast all of February, whether you’re dancing along to it with your special someone or crying alone in bed about the one that got away. Get ready for this emotional rollercoaster.

1. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley: Starting off with the classics! This song is three minutes of beautiful sorrow. The king’s velvety vocals were a match made in heaven for this melancholy tune.
2. “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross: The antithesis to the previous song, which is purposeful on my part. “Never Too Much” is a funky song that not only makes you want to dance, it makes you want to profess your love for someone, anyone, everyone! You can always find me belting out the lyrics to this song in my car.
3. “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins: Back to the classics. I actually pinpointed this song after hearing it in The Irishman, which had to be the 10th time I had heard it in a movie. After I finished watching that movie, I had the song on repeat for the rest of the night. This gem perfectly encapsulates what I imagine falling in love in the ’50s felt like.
4. “Pink Matter” by Frank Ocean featuring André 3000: Not a traditional love song, “Pink Matter” is like lyrical poetry. You’re able to hear it over and over and come up with different interpretations each time. André 3000’s verse is one of my all-time favorites as he raps about a sort of Bonnie-and-Clyde relationship.
5. “everytime” by Ariana Grande: A cute, poppy track off of Grande’s Sweetener, describing how impossible it can be to escape that one person who always seems to have a hold on you, and you can’t help but think that every path will always lead you right back to them.
6. “All I Do Is Think of You” by Troop: Cue the R&B, please. A Valentine’s playlist is not complete without some OG R&B. This is the perfect song to slow dance to – heavy emotion and passionate lyrics over a soothing beat. 
7. “Love on the Brain” by Rihanna: This has to be one of Rihanna’s best songs. “Love on the Brain” is a sultry ballad about an addicting, potentially problematic romance. All I have to hear is the first beats of the drums, and I will drop everything to stop and sing along. (Also, Rihanna, please come back. We miss you. We need you.)
8. “I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys: My dream first wedding dance would be to this looming, dark song. (I might have to do some convincing, I’ve realized.) They take a different approach when writing about love. For example, “Let me be your coffee pot.” Sorry, what? But honestly, everything sounds great when it’s sung by the lead singer, Alex Turner. 
9. “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles: Probably not the most obvious choice for a love song within Harry Styles’ discography, but it’s a pick-me-up song, very bright and feel-good. You always need a summer love song thrown somewhere in the mix.
10. “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra: I had to end this playlist with Sinatra and one of his most popular jazzy songs. It’s the purest confession of love. It also reminds me of falling in love during the middle of a New York winter. I guess we’ll have to settle for the beginning of a Florida spring, won’t we?

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!