As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of us think of what to get for our significant others: candy, flowers, cards, possibly a nice dinner. One thing that is highly undervalued, however, is music. Whether it be sung to you by your significant other, or played on record at an opportune time, the art of wooing is most certainly helped along by a good tune. If you’ll forgive the outdated reference, just ask John Cusack in “Say Anything.”
But playing just any song won’t work. If Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” inconspicuously comes on the car speakers on the way home after your first date, subtlety is not working in your favor. Start out slow—maybe with an early Beatles love song (“I Want to Hold Your Hand” is a good one), or something more modern, like “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers. A simple “I belong with you, you belong with me,” is a better start than “Oh baby let’s get down tonight.”
Still, songs that are straight up about love are not the only things that work. It’s all about context and circumstance. For instance, a year ago, when I was driving home from my first date with my girlfriend, I popped on “First Date” by Blink-182, just to be cheesy. I realized too late that I had accidentally left the music player on alphabetical play instead of shuffle when, a few songs later, “Flake” (Jack Johnson)—which, for those who haven’t heard it, is a song about a bad relationship—started playing. Despite being unfitting for a date, albeit with a great tune, it became our song. Sometimes a mutual love for something dumb or out of place can be a defining and endearing moment as you get to know your significant other. Every time you hear that song on the radio, you are likely to think of that person.
Of course, the more musically gifted of us can do something even more desperately romantic. A simple love song played acoustically will often seal the deal for at least a second date (again, “Sexual Healing” is probably not a good idea the first time around).
A mix-CD (Tape? Playlist? Whatever you want to call it) can be a fantastic idea. It also gives you the chance to include more than just love songs, and set a mood or sentiment for that prospective special someone to remember you by; this is also a great tool for long-distance relationships (I speak from experience). Oftentimes, when your own words fail, what music you choose to play can speak volumes for your feelings. Whether that’s a well-placed “Yellow” (Coldplay)—I think that’s old enough to be considered nostalgic now—or, well, “Sexual Healing,” know what you choose to play can make or break your date. As for me, Jack Johnson will be playing in the background as I make the trek to Arizona, this Valentine’s day weekend, to visit my girlfriend.