TORONTO — It’s Valentine’s Day and you’ve planned a romantic night with your special someone — dinner, candles, a bottle of wine. Nothing sets the mood, though, like a custom collection of love songs.
So before you get down to business, download — but choose wisely.
As romantic as its soaring chorus seems, “I Will Always Love You” is, in fact, a break-up song and “Every Breath You Take” is, let’s be honest, a little stalker-ish.
This Valentine’s, if you’d rather get a betrothed than get throttled, create a playlist with songs that are guaranteed to turn your lover into a quivering mass of emotion.
Here are 20 tracks to help you get your heart on:
Joe Cocker – “You Are So Beautiful”
While the temptation may be to crank up Cocker’s stripper hit “You Can Leave Your Hat On,” this song is likely to do a better job of setting the mood.
Billy Joel – “Just The Way You Are”
This self-esteem booster can be an effective love song or a passive aggressive way of telling your special someone you don’t care that they’ve let themselves go. Best not to play it if your partner has just asked, “Do these yoga pants make me look fat?”
Peter Frampton – “Baby, I Love Your Way”
The message in this song is pretty clear. Skip it, though, if your lover has a whey allergy.
Bryan Adams – “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”
She can’t help but be impressed by your commitment to, well, do everything for her. (Be sure to whisper that washing dishes is excluded.) Plus, anything that puts the image of a young Kevin Costner in her head can’t hurt.
Barry White – “You’re the First, My Last, My Everything”
Every romantic playlist needs some Barry White. This classic is a natural choice, even if you have to take it with a grain of salt. Let’s face it, you’re not the first and probably won’t be the last. Love you, though!
Roberta Flack – “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Questionable grammar aside, this song is a heart-warming ode to love at first sight. “The first time ever I lay with you,” Flack sings, “I felt your heart so close to mine.” You had me at lay.
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – “Endless Love”
“My love, there’s only you in my life.” Well, there’s also my career, my friends and the weekly poker night. Still, this song is a Valentine’s staple because no one can resist two hearts that beat as one.
John Mayer – “Your Body is a Wonderland”
Nothing says “I have great love and respect for you” like a song that compares your partner’s body to an amusement park. Mayer’s licks — the guitar ones — can melt butter, though.
Elvis Presley – “Love Me Tender”
In his later years, Elvis sang “love me chicken tenders” but when he recorded this he was a veritable hunka hunka burnin’ love. You will be, too, by including this classic love song in the mix.
Carpenters – “They Long to be Close to You”
Nothing tells your lover to stop leaving the house with bags of breadcrumbs like a song that asks: “Why do birds suddenly appear every time you appear?”
Jackson 5 – “I’ll Be There”
You could go with the over-sung Mariah Carey cover version if you prefer but the original is a classic way of telling someone you ain’t going nowhere.
Righteous Brothers – “Unchained Melody”
Romantic songs don’t get much more romantic than this one. A potter’s wheel and five pounds of clay optional.
Barbra Streisand – “Evergreen”
“You and I will make each night a first,” sings Babs in the theme from A Star Is Born. If you’re not slow-dancing by the first chorus, you need to check for a pulse.
Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get it On”
This track is perhaps best played towards the end of the night, so make sure it’s at the end of your playlist.
Luther Vandross – “Here and Now”
If you can’t cuddle to this song, there’s probably a personal hygiene issue you need to address. No one can resist swooning — or spooning — as Luther sings: “I promise to love faithfully. You’re all I need.”
Stevie Wonder – “You Are The Sunshine of My Life”
This upbeat love song sounds even better when played on a cold, grey Valentine’s Day. Add your own touch by telling your loved one you need SPF 75 every time you see him/her.
Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack – “Tonight I Celebrate My Love”
Valentine’s is the night for celebrating love. This song is all about celebrating love. Coincidence?
Elton John – “Your Song”
Forget to buy a gift for your Valentine? “My gift is my song, and this one’s for you.” Good luck with that.
Anne Murray – “You Needed Me”
Have you found someone who wiped your tear dry? Who bought back the soul you sold on eBay? Who held your hand when it was cold? Sounds like you needed them a lot more than they needed you. Still, this classic love song from one of Canada’s finest belongs on any Valentine’s playlist.
Vanessa Williams – “Save The Best For Last”
Not surprisingly, we’ve saved “Save The Best For Last” for last. A few notes into this song and your Valentine will surely say: “Just when I thought a chance had passed, you go and save the best for last.” That’s your cue. “No, baby, the best is still to come.”
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