In 1999, Nick Cave gave a lecture to the Vienna Poetry Festival called “The Secret Life of the Love Song.” Not one to shy from the darkness, he explores the underlying saudade, a Portuguese word meaning a deep sense of longing or yearning, and that the only true love songs contain “the potential for pain.” Deep, man.
With that in mind, we asked some of Vancouver’s most emotionally diverse musicians to create a Valentine’s Day playlist, because the love song does not always mean happy, or sad, or crazy or mad. It’s just a feeling that you can’t quite put in to words, and for that reason music exists.
Happy loving (or unloving), xo.
Hannah Georgas
“Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh
I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy when I hear this song. It’s also my mom’s favourite song of all time. [It] makes her sway from side to side with a big grin on her face. It’s an endearing and hilarious sight to see.
Andrea Lo (The Belle Game)
“Nancy From Now On” by Father John Misty
It may not be a song filled with crooning, starry-eyed vocals, but there is something to be said about the first 16 words... “Oh, pour me another drink, and punch me in the face, you can call me Nancy”. That must be love, to be able to willingly subject yourself to someone in that manner. And if that’s not love, then it must be some close derivative. It’s kinda romantic. If you’re into that. Safe word is: applesauce.
Krista Loewen (You Say Party!)
“Punk Rock Girl” by The Dead Milkmen
I first heard this song on a mixtape from a cute skater-punk boy I liked when I was 15, and I thought we would be happily-punk-ever-after. It’s impossible to listen to this song without feeling a little bit giddy. This song is a tribute that exhilarating feeling, where love is pure fun and everything is possible!
Young Braised
“Something (On My Mind)” by Jack J
Vancouver producer Jack J’s “Something (On My Mind)” will always hold a special place in my heart. [It is] one of the very first songs that my fiancée and I had the pleasure of dancing to together. Our inaugural encounter with “Something” was made extra special by the presence of and, if I recall correctly, heckling from our friend Jack himself. The track was nearly inescapable for us that summer, and eventually became synonymous with our relationship; its horns beckoning us closer together and deeper into the dancefloor no matter where we found it. Though the song itself isn’t explicitly about love, YouTube member Yeknom0913 may have said it best with their comment that it “sounds like love.”
Shad
“Heart of the Matter” by Don Henley
Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms! Forgiveness! That’s love right there. Healing! Reconciliation... This song makes me want to confront all my ill will towards The Eagles for torturing me with Hotel California on the radio so many damn times in my life. I forgive you, Don Henley... I love you.
Jody Glenham
“Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys
From it’s sunshine inducing lilt to it’s auto racing references, “Don’t Worry Baby” has all the elements of a great love song. The refrain is reassuring not just towards love, but life as well, all while being capped off with delightful call-and-response vocals. And the guitar solo that sounds like a heartbeat is just brilliant!!
Amber Webber (Black Mountain, Lightning Dust)
“Because The Night” by Patti Smith
Maybe it’s because I finally got around to reading Just Kids and I’m having my own little love affair with everything Patti Smith at the moment, but this song tears my heart apart. It was originally a Bruce Springsteen song which he gave to Patti to rework; she rewrote the verse lyrics, but kept the chorus line “Because the Night”. The story I’ve heard her tell is she wrote the lyrics after she first laid eyes on what would be her future husband... awww... But what gets me the most about this song is the urgent passion with which she sings every word! It’s a beautiful thing when a song can place you in a moment in time, and what better time is there then when you’re falling in love, right?
Kenneth William (White Lung)
“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
Struggling to find the most romantic way to win back your partner’s affection this Valentine’s Day? Skip the fancy dinner reservation; take Kate Bush’s suggestion and trade bodies. Who knows? You might even gain some insight into the way your selfish behaviour affects the people around you. Insisting that “you and me won’t be unhappy” might not seem like the most ambitious goal for a relationship, but when half of marriages end in a brutal divorce its understandable for her to not have her sights set too high. But hey, nothing good in life comes easy. “Running Up That Hill” makes the case that love might sometimes probably be worth it.
The Courtneys
Sydney: “Pure Unevil” by Liars
It’s written by band member Aaron Hemphill, who is a musician that I admire so much; his songs are really graceful and inventive. “Pure Unevil” creates a really specific atmosphere that I can completely relate to, it feels really overwhelming and romantic.
Jen: “Space Age Love Song” by Flock of Seagulls
One of the love songs that still affects me the same way it did the day I heard it. Pretty much all my favorite love songs are from the ‘80s. I think there must be something about synthpop that pulls at my heartstrings – they really know what they are doing. Songs like this are on repeat when I’m crushing!
Courtney: “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince
This song starts out pretty calm, about wanting someone and needing to know if your feelings are mutual, but then around 3.5 minutes he just starts shrieking and everything goes to this place of desperation, where, if the answer is no then things are probably not going to be OK. Prince’s performance in this song blows me away.
Johnny DeCourcy
“Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty
My friend Mikey played it for me two months ago while we were driving to Montréal. We must have listened to it 50 times that week. It was “our song”, and then I fell madly in love with his psycho cousin. The groove is undeniable…it’s pretty good.
Andrew Lee (Holy Hum)
“Song To The Siren” by This Mortal Coil
“Song To The Siren” is an ambient-love-song-ballad that I want played at my funeral. It has an otherworldly gaelic vocal delivery by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, over the top dramatic Shakespearean lyrics by Larry Beckett and it was recorded by the concept band This Mortal Coil which is led by 4AD mastermind Ivo Watts-Russell. The song casts a long dark shadow over the original Tim Buckley version and will leave you feeling all the weight of unrequited love, cast into the ocean by the long gaze of the brokenhearted.
Tony Dubroy (NEEDLES//PINS)
“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak
Is Chris Isaak cool? I’m not sure it really matters, but if I recall his TV show correctly the answer is no, not really. Regardless, this song is excellent and falls into the best category of love songs, unrequited. I would have picked “Skulls” by The Misfits but I didn’t want to look like a complete psycho.
