It’s that one day in the midst of dreary February that’s supposed to remind you to reach out to the one you love or lust after. But chances are you are either swinging solo or just sick of all the saccharine propaganda pouring from every storefront and supermarket display.
To get in a more appropriate mood for the day, we present to you the Choose Your Own Valentine’s Day Music Adventure Guide. Pick your pathway and throw all romantic pretenses out the window:
A is for Anyone. You are excited to embrace love tonight. Really excited, meaning you are going to join a threesome. If so, Carrie Brownstein has the perfect playlist for you, with songs featuring the magic number 3. Enjoy this and other V-Day identity playlists on her Monitor Mix blog entry “That’s The Way Love Goes: A Valentine’s Day for Everyone.”
B is for Bitter. The only person you can think of on Valentine’s Day this year is the person who last ate your heart for dinner and then moved on to someone else for dessert. You don’t need love songs. You need something even more ubiquitous: break-up songs. Try Break-Up Songs, Wherein We Acknowledge Valentine’s Day, from All Songs Considered, featuring the best in bitterness from artists like Ray Orbison, Justin Timberlake, and Flight of the Conchords.
C is for class. You might be in the mood for romance, but not for the nausea-inducing cherubs or cuddly puppies that don many a Valentine’s Day card from Walgreens. Romance for you is an erudite literary conversation accompanied by a glass of Syrah. For adorable banter between two quirky writers, you want to read Living With Music: A Valentine’s Day Playlist with Sophie Gee and Lev Grossman from the New York Times blog Papercuts.
Choose D for down and dirty. You are one of the lucky few with a lover awaiting. Forget chocolates, flowers, or even dinner. Who needs Frank Sinatra when you can have TLC’s “Red Light Special”? Tune into Beat Crave’s Top Songs to Get Down To, and get straight to business.
