People tend to associate cheesy, overdramatic power ballads with Valentine’s Day. But we’re here to challenge those expectations and bring you some left-of-center tunes to make you feel all the feels on this ooey gooey day.
Whether you’re looking for something to serenade your significant other with, or to use as the soundtrack to daydreaming about your crush, or to lament about your heartbreak or loneliness — we’ve got an atypical song for you here. Grab some chocolate and indulge yourself in this compilation of underrated romantic bops selected by our KSJSers.
This song is about a “nice guy” who is looking for a nice girl to fall for him for a lifetime, but that’s not Bülow’s vibe; she’s just trying to have fun. Just like a lot of people in today’s society, they just want to use each other and not actually care about one another; pretty sad but true. The title itself states “this is not a love song”. She says “it is about the excitement of meeting someone for the first time. Initially it felt so new and overwhelmingly good, but I think I just wasn’t ready for that commitment yet. Or at least that’s what I told myself.” This song is pretty much perfect for those who are incapable of being committed to someone. -Emily D.
This song may be called Valentine’s Day but instead of celebrating love, the song is about missing an ex lover. LANY is an indie/synth/dream pop band from Los Angeles. Their second album Malibu Nights was written between Jan. 4 and Feb. 14 of last year by singer Paul Jason Klein, who was going through the aftermaths of a painful breakup with his previous significant other, Dua Lipa. When I first heard this track, I immediately bawled my eyes out because it made me think of my past relationships and the heartbreak that I too had to go through. Feel all the emotions, including pain, love, loss and sadness in this song and the overall record. Well done, LANY. -Monique M.
Many people might look at the title of the song and assume it has a different meaning just because it says “Don’t Wait”. It’s actually a catchy love song full of heavy percussion and rich, soulful delivery that adds impact to simplistic lyrics like, “Let’s laugh and cry, until we die” and “You won my heart, without a question / Don’t wait for life.” There’s also an acoustic version for those who want to slow things down and utilize it for their wedding day. -Emily D.
Don’t let their goth looks fool you into thinking what genre their music is. No, they aren’t a heavy metal band if you were wondering… Pale Waves is an up and coming indie pop band from England that consists of four members, Heather Baron-Gracie, Ciara Doran, Hugo Silvani and Charlie Wood. The group has played many shows and festivals worldwide including Outside Lands, Reading and Leeds and plenty more. If The 1975 and Paramore had a musical baby, it would probably be this band. “Heavenly” is a catchy tune about admiring someone and reminding them that they’re “SO HEAVENLY.” This track will have you wanting to jump and dance around your room while thinking about the person you have a huge crush on. -Monique M.
Share your own favorite unconventional love songs in the comments below! And tune in to 90.5 FM or stream us online for a variety of bangers year-round!