By Maiya Tomlin
In the run-up to Valentine’s Day, your Spotify might have been suggesting a mix of hopeless romantic love songs or heartbroken anthems for you to listen to, potentially throwing off your 2025 Spotify Wrapped in the process.
Instead of letting the algorithm take the lead, perhaps you can listen to the curated picks of Lovett students. Based on the responses to this year’s Valentine’s Day survey, it seems Lovett students have taken a more thoughtful approach to their music, carefully selecting tracks that reflect their tastes, regardless of their current relationship status.
We first asked students for their favorite love songs. Besides “idk,” none of the responses were repeated, giving us a very broad mix to discuss. Love by Keyshia Cole, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, Here, There and Everywhere by the Beatles, and Sailor Song by Gigi Perez all caught my attention due to their release dates ranging from 1966 to 2024.
Older love songs tend to be more heartfelt than newer songs. (If you agree with the statement, perhaps read Eliza’s article questioning “Would you survive or thrive as a 19th-century dater?”)
Cortland French (10) is always discovering older songs to add to his playlist, and his pick last year was Let’s Stay Together by Al Green, released in 1972. However, I interviewed him again this year to see if his opinion has changed. He told me, “Melissa by the Allman Brothers.” Coincidentally, this song was also released in 1972. I asked him if it was a love song (rather than a heartbreak song) to which he responded, “No, it’s about a girl.” Not a very helpful answer, but I suppose that means it’s up to interpretation.
After interviewing Cortland, I turned around and asked Hopkins David (10), who jokingly answered, “Anything by Fetty Wap.” Eventually, he gave me a legitimate answer, “Pretend Lovers by Montell Fish,” which was released in 2022, a whopping 50 years later than Cortland’s pick. I asked him why he liked it, and he said, “Because it’s awesome.” Hopkins and Cortland both made the interview process quite difficult but they undoubtedly gave us two great additions to the playlist.
The survey took a pivot when we asked, “What is your favorite heartbreak song?” In this question, there were some repeats. In first place, with numerous repeats, I Miss You, I’m Sorry by Gracie Abrams, followed by What Was I Made for? by Billie Eilish made for the Barbie movie. (However, I’m not sure it’s a heartbreak song, but given its popularity, I had to include it.)
Of course, we can’t have a Valentine’s Day playlist without Taylor Swift. The final question on the survey was asking for favorite song lyrics. “This night is sparkling, don’t you let it go I’m wonderstruck, blushing all the way home,” from Taylor Swift’s Enchanted was a popular response.
I interviewed Grace Schmidt, arguably one of the biggest ‘swifties,’ at Lovett, about which song has been on rotation for her this Valentine’s Day season. She mentioned Taylor’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, which was released in April 2024.
“She released the track list before the album and ‘loml’ was one of the titles,” Grace told me. (‘Loml’ is a common abbreviation for love of my life.) “Everyone thought it was going to be a love song, but when she released it, she twisted the meaning to ‘loss of my life,’ turning it into a heartbreak song,” Grace explained. “Despite it being super sad, I think the plot twist added to the effect of it.” I agree with Grace. I think Taylor’s creativity with the play on words shows how expressive music and lyrics can be.
Last year, I wondered if the concept of ‘our songs’ was a real thing, or if it was just a cheesy thing in romantic comedies. I interviewed a couple and a set of best friends last year, ultimately proving they are real. However, recently, I was in the car with Nadia (11) and Naomi (9) Infante, and I wondered if they had an ‘our song’ as sisters. They told me, especially with their older sister, Bella, who graduated last year from Lovett, that they love listening to music from old Disney movies together. “Especially Teen Beach Movie and Hannah Montana,” Nadia told me. “Our songs,” whether for a couple or siblings or friends are often based on nostalgia for a past time.
I wanted to interview someone who plays music. Frank Shaifer (11) performed in the variety show during Homecoming week last fall as well as shares the songs he plays on TikTok (@franksguitar). I asked him what his favorite love songs are to play at the moment. “Forget Her by Jeff Buckley is probably my favorite right now,” he told me. “Or What Kind of Love by Childish Gambino,” he added.
Last year, I mentioned my top five love/heartbreak songs, which were: Forever – Single Version by the Little Dippers, Satisfied from Hamilton, Heart it Races by Dr. Dog, Ivy by Frank Ocean, and of course, a Taylor Swift feature, False God.
This year, my favorites are, in no particular order:
Tell Him by Ms. Lauryn Hill. My sister plays at least one song from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album every time we’re in the car together, and this one is my favorite from the album.
Hopelessly Devoted to You by Olivia Newton-John, Grease was one of my favorite movies growing up, and this song always makes me feel nostalgic when I listen to it. (And want to date someone in a leather jacket.)
I’m Not in Love by 10cc, 10cc is a vital band on my dad’s “70s Yacht Rock” playlist. Besides, The Things We Do For Love being his all-time favorite, this song is my all-time favorite.
I Won’t Say I’m in Love from Hercules, is an ‘our song’ I have with Cate Turner (10). Primarily because Hercules is an “our movie” for us (if that’s a thing.) The entire Hercules soundtrack is “banger after banger” as Cate would say, but this song is my favorite.
And finally Guilty as Sin, another Taylor Swift feature, this time from her new album. As much as some anti-swifties might hate reading this, Taylor Swift is going to nail it every time in my opinion. This song is my favorite from this album.
