Have any good Valentine's Day mix songs?

February 2, 2006 8:13 AM

[ValentineFilter] Please help me make a great Valentine's Day mix CD.

My boyfriend and I have been living in different countries for nearly a year. I want to make him a Valentine's Day mix to remind him of us (and add photos of us for iTunes album art!). Please give me some song titles of songs that have touched you. The music that we like together: 1) indie rock, generally acoustic guitar or piano (ex. The Shins) 2) arena rock - specifically Styx, Journey and REO Speedwagon 3) New Order 4) Stevie Wonder. Thanks for your help! (I had to make this anon so that one day when he's bored and clicks on my MeFi username he doesn't see all this and ruin the magic of the CD.

posted by anonymous to human relations (26 comments total)

I have always been incredibly touched by Tony Bennett's The Way You Look Tonight, but that's not along your lines. Didn't Stevie Wonder do Isn't She Lovely? That's a good one. There's also a arena rock song that I can't remember off the top of my head, but it's got a chorus, "I'm the one who wants to be with you / deep inside you know you feel it, too / ... [lyrics forgotten] ... / just to be the one to be with you." I like that one, although its cheese factor is a bit high. :-)
posted by WCityMike at 8:34 AM on February 2, 2006

Mr. Big's "To Be With You" AKA my and Jeremy's song when I was in 7th grade. I even got the tape for my birthday (and a pair of turquoise Girbaud jeans... sweet.)
posted by k8t at 8:37 AM on February 2, 2006

Mr. Big's "To Be With You" is Mike's song that he doesn't know the title.
posted by k8t at 8:37 AM on February 2, 2006

1 - Come in Alone - My Bloody Valentine
2 - Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
3 - I Think About You - Schaeben and Voss (Geiger Mix)
4 - Misstra Know It All - Stevie Wonder
posted by dydecker at 9:02 AM on February 2, 2006

actually 2 - ELO - Turn to Stone is more romantic, albeit its still Jeff Lynne
posted by dydecker at 9:05 AM on February 2, 2006

Arena rock --
Extreme-- More than Words
Journey-- Don't Stop Believing, Faithfully, Open Arms, Anyway you Want It



Indie rock/other--
Bright Eyes -- First Day of My Life
Ben Folds-- The Luckiest (not indie, but lovely and acoustic)
Interpol-- Obstacle 2, C'mere
Aqualung-- You Turn Me Around
Zombies-- Way I Feel Inside
Neutral Milk Hotel-- Love You More Than Life
Okkervil River-- Okkervil River Song
Slowreader-- Like You Most
Sondre Lerche-- Is it okay if I call you mine?, Love You, Virtue and Wine
Sufjan Stevens-- Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts (some great lines, but maybe not perfect)
posted by Flamingo at 9:07 AM on February 2, 2006

And, to break up the tension, there's always "Weird Al" Yankovic's One More Minute.
posted by WCityMike at 9:23 AM on February 2, 2006

R.E.M. - Be Mine
posted by slimepuppy at 9:34 AM on February 2, 2006

happy valentine's day by andre 3000 which isn't remotely like anything you like listed - but it's a great song.
posted by heartquake at 9:42 AM on February 2, 2006

If you're feeling cheeky:
The Tah-Dahs - Mix Tape = Love

Otherwise...
Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater
Pavement - Spit on a Stranger
Dntel - This is the Dream of Evan and Chan (the song The Postal Service came out of)
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Clem Snide - I'll Be Your Mirror
Voxtrot - Long Haul
The Postal Service - Brand New Colony
Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer
Jamie Cullum - But For Now
Actionslacks - MoneyPenny's Theme
Josepth Arthur - A Smile That Explodes
Rufus Wainwright - The Origin of Love

And you could close it off with Viva Voce - Mixtape = Love, if you're a fan of ring structure.
posted by awesomebrad at 9:49 AM on February 2, 2006

Also by Rufus Wainwright - Vibrate:

So call me
Call me in the morning
Call me in the night
So call me
Call me anytime you like

My phone's on vibrate for you
For you
posted by weirdoactor at 10:24 AM on February 2, 2006

"Valentine's Day" by Steve Earle.

It's a song he wrote for one of his wives when he'd forgotten to buy her a gift or card, so composed the song instead.

I come to you with empty hands
I guess I just forgot again
I only got my love to send
On Valentine's Day

I ain't got a card to sign
Roses have been hard to find
I only hope that you'll be mine
On Valentine's Day

I know that I swore that I wouldn't forget
I wrote it all down: I lost it, I guess
There's so much I want to say
But all the words just slip away
The way you love me, every day
Is Valentine's Day

If I could I would deliver to you
Diamonds and gold; it's the least I can do
So if you'll take my IOU
I could make it up to you
Until then I hope my heart will do
For Valentine's Day
posted by essexjan at 10:56 AM on February 2, 2006

"Dear Lover" - Foo Fighters

The live version of "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" by Tom Waits

"Buttercup" by Brad
posted by Atom12 at 11:10 AM on February 2, 2006

"Book Of Love" - Peter Gabriel
"This Must Be Love" - Phil Collins
"I Drove All Nigh" - Cyndi Lauper
"No Ordinary Love" - Sade
"Lovers Rock" - Sade
"All The Lover's In The World" - Gowan
"True Colors" - Cyndi Lauper

*phewf* I'll quit for now...
Please print the tracklist you decide on :)
posted by Radio7 at 11:27 AM on February 2, 2006

Nina Gordon's acoustic version of Phil Collins' "One More Night" would fit in nicely.
posted by LouMac at 11:39 AM on February 2, 2006

Definitely ELO! I'd even recommend "Do Ya" over "Mr. Blue Sky" -- great, great, great song.

In a similar vein, I've always found George Harrison's "What Is Life" to be perfect for this sort of thing -- sunny, exuberant, wildly romantic.
posted by scody at 12:22 PM on February 2, 2006

Magnetic Fields- "The Book of Love," "Sweet Lovin' Man," "World Love," "Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin," an "Queen of the Savages" are all very sweet love songs with the benefit of being funny, to boot.
Mirah-"Million Miles" good for the long distance thing
OkGo- "This Will Be Our Year"
Old 97s- "Indefinitely"
Stone Roses- "This is the One"
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- "Walking to Do"
Blur- "Tender"
posted by Sara Anne at 12:34 PM on February 2, 2006

Reposted from here :

Such Great Height - The Postal Service
I Just Wanna Be Loved - AM Radio (its ok to say *I* need love, but not that I LOVE her)
As Lovers Go - Dashboard Confessional
Strange & Beautiful - Aqualung
Only You - Caesar's Palace (we always poke fun at each other)
Dice (Feat. Beth Orton) - Finley Quaye
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Nothing Compares 2 U - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Heal Me, I'm Heartsick - No Vacancy
Save Me - Remy Zero
Let Me Love You - Mario
Ever Fallen In Love - The Buzzcocks
The Aquabats - Lovers of Loving Love (too much love?)
Andrew W.K. - She is Beautiful
"Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet
"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by the Ramones
Lover's Spit (Redux) by Broken Social Scene,
All I Bring You Is Love by Diane Cluck,
Publish My Love by Rogue Wave,
Girl Like You by Pete Yorn,
Sonnet 29 by Rufus Wainwright,
Say Hello To The Angels by Interpol,
He Lays In The Reins by Calexico/Iron & Wine,
Fratres by Arvo Pärt,
It's In Our Hands by Björk,
One Dance by Dan Bern,
Quedate Luna by Devendra Banhart,
The Source in B Minor by Marzuki,
Love Me Or Leave Me by Nina Simone,
Chinese New Year by Per se/Anne Adams,
For The Widows In Paradise Vitto's Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens.
Eva - Dan Bern
Estelle - Dan Bern
Jerusalem - Dan Bern
New American Lanaguage - Dan Bern
Albuquerque Lullaby - Dan Bern
fell in love with a girl by the white stripes
don't leave me girl by blackstreet
officially missing you by tamia
wish i didn't miss you by angie stone
green eyes by erykah badu
waiting for a girl like you by foreigner
India Arie's "Can You Be a Part of My Life."
Magnetic Fields - The Luckiest Guy On the Lower East Side
"Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths.
"Head Full of Steam" by the Go-Betweens.
delta - could you
magnetic fields - i'm tongue-tied
red house painters - revelation big sur
pavement - AT&T
luna - malibu love nest
versus - glitter of love
aarktika - ocean
true love always - party time
red elvises - my love is killing me
my bloody valentine - soon
+/- - megalomaniac
yo la tengo - the whole of the law
Brazilian Girls: Don't Stop
Magnetic Fields: Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long
Outkast (Andre 3000): Happy Valentine's Day
Prince: She's Always In My Hair
Soul Coughing: Soft Serve
Evelyn Is Not Real - My Morning Jacket (The Tennessee Fire)
Ballerina - Van Morrison (Astral Weeks)
Place To Be - Nick Drake (Pink Moon)
A Sight to Behold - Devendra Banhardt (Rejoicing In The Hands)
David Gray's Be Mine.
posted by k8t at 12:52 PM on February 2, 2006

Or this Acoustic Love torrent: http://btjunkie.org/torrent?do=download&id=10244097&label=AccoustiveLove
posted by k8t at 12:55 PM on February 2, 2006

I posted my Valentine's Day mix CD to my love far far away just last night.

May I put in a vote for Elbow's "Fugitive Motel" as the ultimate long-distance love song -- "I blow you a kiss ... it should reach you tomorrow ... as it flies from the other side of the world."

Track listing:

1 first day of my life BRIGHT EYES
2 fugitive motel ELBOW
3 the employment pages DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
4 there is a light that never goes out THE SMITHS
5 fell in love with a girl THE WHITE STRIPES
6 another first kiss THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
7 maps YEAH YEAH YEAHS
8 the fourteenth of february BILLY BRAGG
9 i’ve got a plan MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE
10 from my own true love (lost at sea) THE DECEMBRISTS
11 float on MODEST MOUSE
12 at my most beautiful R.E.M.
13 you do something to me PAUL WELLER
14 maybe i’m amazed PAUL MCCARTNEY
15 love and some verses IRON AND WINE
posted by bright cold day at 1:37 PM on February 2, 2006

My all-time favorite love song, the one I use to start or end every love/relationship mix I make, is "I Will."

The Beatles original is great, and the Simon & Garfunkel cover is great. But for you, I'll recommend Jonathan Coulton's cover, which may fit in your #1 category (and which I also think is great).
posted by booksandlibretti at 2:24 PM on February 2, 2006

This torrent isn't bad either:

http://torrentreactor.net/sections.php?id=69&skip1100
posted by k8t at 10:07 AM on February 3, 2006

A suggestion for a compilation:

First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song - Jeffrey Lewis
When You Smile - The Flaming Lips
Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits - The Magnetic Fields
Rise - Josh Rouse
Two Kinds of People - The Magnetic Fields
Fell Down the Stairs - Tilly and the Wall
Ontario, Quebec, and Me - Mary Lou Lord
Asleep and Dreaming - The Magnetic Fields
I Don't Want Control of You - Teenage Fanclub
The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
Hopefully - My Morning Jacket
Reservations - Wilco
You You You You You - The 6ths
Leisure Suite - Feist
A.M. 180 - Grandaddy

Fine-tuned for maximum impact :)
posted by questionmark at 9:25 PM on February 4, 2006

air - playground love.
posted by subtle-t at 11:20 AM on February 5, 2006

okay, the boyfriend most likely won't look where I was commenting, just questions posted... it was me that was anon.

here goes the final list:
Valentine's Day Steve Earle
Happy Valentines Day Outkast
Blue Valentines Tom Waits
The Ballad Of Michael Valentine The Killers
Mix Tape = Love The Tah Dahs
How Fucking Romantic The Magnetic Fields
Moonlight in Vermont Oscar Peterson Trio
What Katy Did Next Babyshambles
She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride Taj Mahal
Kate Ben Folds Five
Love and Some Verses Iron & Wine
Strange & Beautiful Aqualung
Wish I Didn't Miss You Angie Stone
Close To Me The Cure
Oh Girlfriend Weezer
Kissing The Lipless The Shins
Sweetness Follows R.E.M.
Autumn Sweater Yo La Tengo
Come Sail Away Styx
Nothing Matters When We're Dancing The Magnetic Fields
Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler
The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts Sufjan Stevens
When I'm 64 The Beatles
Always On My Mind (Remix) Pet Shop Boys
As Lovers Go Dashboard Confessional
Careless Whisper Wham!
Wrapped Around Your Finger (live Police cover) Tori Amos & Bjork
Country Feedback R.E.M.
Against All Odds The Postal Service
He's Misstra Know It All Stivie Wonder
Can't Fight This Feeling Reo Speedwagon
Is it Okay If I Call You Mine? Sondre Lerche
The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side The Magnetic Fields
My Cherie Amour Stevie Wonder
Save Me Remy Zero
Kiss Me Like You Mean It The Magnetic Fields
Maps Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Strange Currencies R.E.M.
The One You Love Rufus Wainwright
The Sound Of Silence Simon & Garfunkel
Vibrate Rufus Wainwright
One More Night (Phil Collins cover) Nina Gordon
Take It On the Run Reo Speedwagon
Virtue And Wine Sondre Lerche
In Your Room (Portishead Remix) Depeche Mode
Sometimes My Bloody Valentine
Any Way You Want It Journey
Caring Is Creepy The Shins
Fade Into You Mazzy Star
Texarkana R.E.M.
But For Now Jamie Cullum
God Only Knows The Beach Boys
When My Boy Walks Down The Street The Magnetic Fields
The Origin of Love Rufus Wainwright
Love You More Than Life Neutral Milk Hotel
My Aphrodisiac is You Katie Melua
If You Leave (OMD Cover) Nada Surf
Tongue R.E.M.
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Journey
So Long Sweet Summer Dashboard Confessional
Stars Hum
Crash Dave Matthews Band
Do Ya ELO
Time Enough For Rocking When We're Old The Magnetic Fields
First Day Of My Life Bright Eyes
I Need You Dan Bern
Lost In Love Air Supply
The Employment Pages Death Cab for Cutie
California 2005 Phantom Planet
Blinded By The Light ELO
World Looking In Morcheeba
Into Dust Mazzy Star
At My Most Beautiful R.E.M.
True Faith New Order
Buttercup Brad
Summer Of 69 Bryan Adams
Obstacle 2 Interpol
Stay (I Missed You) [Living Room Mix] Lisa Loeb
One Dance Dan Bern
All My Little Words The Magnetic Fields
Mr. Blue Sky ELO
So Damn Beautiful Poloroid
Be Mine David Gray
Hallelujah Jeff Buckley
New Slang The Shins
The Luckiest Ben Folds
Fugitive Motel Elbow
Hey Sweet Man Madeleine Peyroux
The Glass Bead Game Thievery Corporation
Come In Alone My Bloody Valentine
Ordinary People John Legend
Faithfully Journey
Hide and Seek Imogen Heap
Love Will Tear Us Apart Joy Division
Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits The Magnetic Fields
So Come Back, I Am Waiting Okkervil River
Waiting For A Girl Like You Foreigner
A Sight to Behold Devendra Banhart
Nightswimming R.E.M.
Such Great Heights The Postal Service
In The Garage Weezer
A Smile That Explodes Joseph Arthur
Always A Use Madeleine Peyroux
Lovesong The Cure
C'Mere Interpol
Girlfriend Matthew Sweet
I Will Follow You Into The Dark Death Cab for Cutie
What A Difference A Day Made Jamie Cullum
Soon My Bloody Valentine
Lover I Don't Have to Love Bright Eyes
Someone Else's Song Wilco
Walking To Do Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Electrolite R.E.M.
Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder
Just Like Heaven The Cure
From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea) The Decemberists

I also threw photos of us throughout our relationship in the iTunes cover art thing. I hope that he puts this on his Nano and sees the pictures. Otherwise, it won't be as fun. He usually puts his Nano in the car glove compartment. :( If a few months pass and he doesn't notice, I may have to tell him. OR I should tell him to listen to the playlist on the plane when we meet at our international half-way meeting point. Hopefully on the plane, he'd bother to look at the photos.

Thanks a TON everyone. The set list is now being torrent-ed to him in another country.
posted by k8t at 4:51 PM on February 5, 2006

As a DMB fanatic I would advise you not to use Crash since it is not a love song, but a song about voyeurs. Instead replace that song with "Crush" a song Dave Matthews wrote for his wife, or "Butterfly" one that he wrote for his daughters. Another one that you might want to use is "I'll Back You Up" , "Love of My Life", "JTR", "Lover Lay Down" "Loving Wings", "So Right", "When the World Ends" and even though I hate the song "Where Are You Going".
posted by Number27 at 5:02 PM on February 7, 2006