Music has always been a special way to express emotions and feelings that go beyond words alone. With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s easy for people to be sent into a spiral of emotions that they might struggle to convey or understand. Here are 12 love songs that you can use to connect with your feelings or simply enjoy to your heart’s content. To listen to the entire Valentine’s Day playlist, click here.

“505” by Arctic Monkeys 

“505” by Arctic Monkeys is an alternative rock song released in 2007 from the band’s album “Favorite Worst Nightmare.” Alex Turner, the lead singer, sings about the longing to go back to an era when the relationship was still young and romantic. Even though the relationship isn’t the same as before, he will always find himself coming back to her. 

“Aphrodite” by RINI 

“Aphrodite” by RINI is an R&B-soul song released in 2018 from his album “After the Sun.” In the song, he compares a girl to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, explaining that it was love at first sight. He is in love and expresses how she is “the only one” for him and would like to prove that he is worthy of receiving her love and attention. 

“Gusto With Ya” by DENY 

The Filipino pop-song “Gusto With Ya” by DENY, which was released in 2021, talks about how she’s learned to be dependent on another person without letting go of her own independence. It also speaks about how the process of her opening up to someone you love is confusing, yet comforting. Hence why the desire to be with them rather than being by herself grew stronger. 

“Love Me Like That” by Sam Kim

“Love Me Like That” by Sam Kim is part of the Netflix original romantic television series “Nevertheless” soundtrack that was released in 2021. The guitar in the song provides a soft melody to portray how polar opposites attract, showing that one may end up falling in love with someone who is the complete opposite of them. 

“Just One Day” by BTS 

K-Pop sensation, BTS, produced the song “Just One Day” in 2014 to show their interest in a girl and present themselves as the perfect guy who will make one opportunity last forever. The boys go on to talk about the different types of dates they could go on together and how “just one day” is enough for them despite their busy schedules.

“(They Long To Be) Close To You” by Carpenters

The 70’s hit “(They Long To Be) Close To You” by the Carpenters uses its soft musical style to talk about how perfect their significant other is and how they long to be by their side constantly. The sibling duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter, use comparisons such as “on the day that you were born the angels got together” to help express how perfect their significant other is in their eyes. 

“Pretty Boy” by The Neighbourhood

“Pretty Boy” is a soft rock song from The Neighbourhood’s album “Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones” which was released in 2020. The band’s lead singer, Jesse Rutherford, sings “as long as I got you, I’m gonna be alright.” These lyrics show how meaningful it is to have the support of loved ones during difficult times.

“you!” by LANY

“you!” by LANY is the first track on the pop band’s album “mama’s boy” that was released in 2020. The lead singer, Paul Klein, sings about a person who has become an significant part of his life after being there for him during a difficult time. The use of similes and metaphors creates a deeper, sentimental meaning almost like a poem. What’s amazing about this song is that it can be for a lover, friend or family member but would all the more hold the same meaning.

“Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is well known for writing pop and R&B hits with intimate lyrics and “Just The Way You Are” has exactly that. This song is one of many on his debut album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” that portray a theme of love. In a soft piano melody combined with an upbeat drum rhythm, Mars is simply telling a girl how beautiful she is and how she’s amazing just the way she is.

“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar (ft. H.E.R.)

“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar has become one of the most popular R&B songs in our generation with almost 1 billion streams on Spotify. Being the most played on his 2017 album “Freudian,” it summarizes the entire aspect of love in one song. The mellow voices of Caesar and H.E.R. go together like rhythm and blues. The continuous use of metaphors, such as “you’re my sunshine in the rain when it’s pouring,” makes it even more beautiful of a song.

“You’re here that’s the thing” by beabadoobee 

UK-based Filipina indie singer beabadoobee explores genres in her most recent album “Beatopia,” which released last year. “You’re here that’s the thing” is the last track on the album and the lyrics talk about a person’s unwillingness to commit to an official relationship even though the singer thinks they like her back. The gentle melody of this song, from the acoustic guitar to the singer’s soft vocals, makes it a sweet ending to the album.

“OMG” by NewJeans

The rising K-Pop girl group NewJeans has been taking over the internet ever since their debut in the summer of 2022. Their songs are inspired by the romantic ideologies every teenage girl goes through, as all five of the members are under the age of 19. “OMG” charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 shortly after their other single “Ditto” debuted on the Hot 100, making them the fastest K-Pop group to have multiple entries on the chart.