MIXTAPE: Valentine’s Day

Like it or not, Valentine's Day is just one day away. Heck, some of you may be celebrating one day early, just cause you couldn't get those dinner reservations in on time for Saturday night....

Like it or not, Valentine’s Day is just one day away. Heck, some of you may be celebrating one day early, just cause you couldn’t get those dinner reservations in on time for Saturday night.

(left: For the lovebirds and brokenhearted alike, this mix is dedicated to you.)

Some love this holiday, some dread it (for both good and bad reasons), and some are indifferent. As we like to do on the Indie Ear blog, here’s a Valentine’s Day themed holiday mixtape for you. Celebrate how you see fit:

1. “You Made Me Realise,” My Bloody Valentine
C’mon, did you really think I’d pass up the chance to include My Bloody Valentine? Any song from this band is so versatile on a Valentine’s Day mixtape. Indie music fans will love it, those who want to bask in their misery will love it, and, hell, there are even some young goth kids who’ll love it just for the band name alone.

2. “Seeing Red,” Minor Threat
Was punk rock legend, Ian MacKaye, attempting to create a great Valentine’s Day mixtape song when he wrote “Seeing Red?” Probably not, but I included anyway, cause that’s all I see when I walk into a drug store these days–well–and some pink too.

3. “Crazy In Love,” Beyonce
Love is in the air. Why else do you think Beyonce’s beau, Jay Z, lent her some of his best rhymes on this track? It’s your girl…B!

4. “Friday I’m In Love,” The Cure
This is just in case you want to bust out the V-Day mix one day early.

5. “Blue Flowers,” Dr. Octagon
The creepiest song about flowers you’ll ever hear. My favorite line is: Listen to your heartbeat, delete, beep, beep, beep.

6. “Dreams On Fire,” AR Rahman & Suzanne
(Spoiler alert) The song in Slumdog Millionaire where Jamal and Latika finally get to share their first kiss. This tune is ideal for a couple’s slow skate at the local roller rink.

7. “Untouchable Face,” Ani DiFranco
The greatest song ever about not being able to be with the person you love. If you’re feeling lonely this Valentine’s Day, listen to this track a few times. You’ll still feel lonely, albeit a little bit better cause at least Ani feels your pain.

8. “Love Can Be So Mean,” Sebastien Grainger
True dat. If you’re not feeling this tune, you could also go with the song “Love Is Not A Contest” off the same album.

9. “Heart Shaped Box,” Nirvana
Dang, this is three negative V-Day songs in a row. Can’t help it. This song is really good, and, it fits the theme.

10. “No One’s Gonna Love You,” Band Of Horses
My favorite love song of the last few years. Don’t let the title fool you, the complete lyrics go: No one’s gonna love you…more than I do.