The Loved, The Loveless, and The Misunderstood: A Valentines Day Music Blog

Oh Valentines Day. Some people hate it, some people love it, some people love to hate it, but no matter what camp you're in you're not alone. Fact is half the fun of Valentines Day is how much fun it is to talk about Valentines Day. Do you hate it? Write a hilarious blog! All of the fellow haters will flock and we'll all have a jolly good time! Do you love it? Write a romantic blog about it! We'll all flock and go ga ga for you!

In the love business (mmmm...sexy), before breaking everything down, you have three camps. The Loved, The Loveless, and The Misunderstood. No matter who you are there's a lovely batch of tunes for this day of love and heartbreak. And I, bringer of all things noisy, have a compiled said list for you. With love of course.


The Loved

So you have a lover. Maybe it's a hot dude. A hot chick? Beagle? Bagel? Jesus? I won't judge. Fact is on this the day of looove you are getting ready for (A) hot sex, (B) hot cuddling, (C) no you can't have both. Choose wisely.

Anyways for all those who will be getting some sweet, rosey, love here's some tunes for your day.

Oh yeah...

Ocean and a Rock by Lisa Hannigan



Ocean and a Rock is such a beautiful song. I love it. I think it's one of those songs that kind of makes you believe love can exist no matter how far apart you are.

Bonita Applebum by A Tribe Called Quest



Maybe this is less about love and more about lovin' this song is still mighty sexy. Yeeaahh.

Backdoor Man by The Doors



Sex. Don't gimme that look. You and I both know Valentines Day is just as much about romance as it is about getting laid. Neither gender is innocent of this.

Automatic by The Go-Go's



Amazing. Truly an underrated track from an underrated and oft forgotten album. The lyrics to this song are pure fucking poetry.

While We're Young by April March



This is the song for risktakers. For people who just want to be whisked away and have their minds blown. Truly feel like this a unique sort of a love song.

Michelle by The Beatles



It's impossible to list a list of love songs and not have a Beatles song and Michelle is probably one of the best. It's a simple young love between a dude from Liverpool and a French chick.

The Concept by The Cranberries



And it's also impossible not to have a Cranberries song and a track off the sensual and hypnotic Wake Up and Smell the Coffee hits the spot. Nothing says "Awww yeeaahh," like Dolores O'Riordan's voice.

Conquest by The White Stripes



Okay let's kick things up a notch. Conquest is one of my favorite love-y songs (maybe moreso seduction, I'm down with both) because it's the story of a strong woman who turns the tables on a strong man. What's hotter than that?

Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis



What can I say? It's a classic.

Circles by Strong Bad



I didn't know whether to put these here in the Loved section or not but because it's Strong Bad it's safe to assume he gets the girls in the end and rocks her god damn world.

Bull in the Heather by Sonic Youth



Personal favorite. I thave yet to meet anyone who really knows what Kim Gordon is trying to say in this song but the most popular theory is the song is about love making. With that mindset I think the song is definitely one of the more beautiful and lyrically intense of love (or at least seduction, be sure not to mix those up kids) songs. Personal favorite right here. Also, the video has Kathleen Hanna kissing Kim Gordon. That's just awesome.

Sandpaper Kisses by Martina-Topley Bird



I still haven't decided if this or I Want You (She's So Heavy) by The Beatles is the most hypnotic of love songs but Jesus is it up there. I mean seriously. Sit in ambience and listen to this song. It's like a natural high.


The Loveless

Of course not everybody has somebody to love on Valentine's Day. Some of us don't give a fuck and that's the way we like it. Maybe you've been heartbroken, maybe you just don't care, whoever you are these songs are for you. I know it sounds stereotypical of my generation but I find the "Fuck you," songs to be more entertaining than the love songs. Most love songs just don't have that punch ya know?

Ex Lover's Lover by Voltaire



Of course it's impossible to have a list for the Loveless and not include some goth. So here we have two for ya. Sorry Amanda Palmer, whether you wanna be goth or not, the goth culture has adopted you. Deal with it.

Good Day by The Dresden Dolls



Yes.

The Flowers by Regina Spektor



Not everyone without love is angry or bitter about it. Some are somber this Valentine's Day. Maybe you lost a lover, maybe a bad breakup, diappointment, whatever. I think no matter what the majority of us can, at least at one point or another, relate to The Flowers. That's why I love it so. It's heartbreak with a little hope and some restless nights.

Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...) by Queen



If we can all cry over The Flowers we can probably all get pissed off listening to Death On Two Legs. I know I do. It's probably one of Freddie's most powerful performances. Granted it's not actually about a breakup (it's about Freddie's relationship with his managers before signing onto a bigger label) but damn you coulda fooled me.

Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers



Up and down, up and down. Angry, sad, sangry, sad. The world of the loveless is an emotional rollercoaster for sure. Here's a little sadness for ya. And yes, I was reminded of this song thanks to Dante's Inferno.

American Woman by The Guess Who



And up again. Probably one of my favorite "Fuck you," songs. Some people think it's a political song. For example "I don't need your war machines / I don't need your ghetto scenes." Well the story goes at one of The Guess Who's first shows everyone had gotten there except lead vocalist Burton Cummings. So the band began improvising the rhythm and Cummings was having trouble because of some girls who he distinctly remember bragged that they had come up from America to see them play. So Cummings got on stage and improvised the lyrics telling the ladies to "Fuck off." Awesome, right!?!

I Remember When I Loved Her by The Zombies



And down again. Love me some Zombies.

Cover My Eyes by La Roux



Pretty much every song off of La Roux has that cold electronic somber feel. The duo has some of those good strong woman tracks that have toppled the strong male tracks in popularity recently on there too (Bulletproof obviously being the most popular) but I think their somber side doesn't get enough credit. What? You're tired of hearing me talk about La Roux and Elly Jackson? Deal with it. They're hyping their next album soon.

Psychotic Girl by The Black Keys



Time for a complete musical 180. Psychotic Girl (from the fantastic album Attack & Release which totally should've won a Grammy) is one most dudes and lesbians can probably agree with. Sure probably some straight women too but have you seen lesbian relationships? They deal with some crazy shit sometimes.

Galaxy 500 by The Reverend Horton Heat



Aw, yeah.

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles



YES! Childhood favorite. I knew how to break up with someone musically before I even knew how to seduce or serenade them. Ray Charles. That's the shit I grew up on!

I'm Not Your Stepping Stone by The Monkees



Love this lil' diddy. I don't care if that's really The Monkees performing it or not.


The Minsunderstood

And then there's the misunderstood. It's not that the misunderstood are completely unlovable. They're just...special. The enjoy special things in a special way. There's no telling how these odd lovers will be spending their day of romance and baby making but it's fair to say most of us probably don't want to know. Or maybe you do. I won't judge...to your face.

Dead Girls by Voltaire



Now my #1 rule when music list blogging is to never repeat an artist. In this case I make an exception because this totally belongs here.

Little Girls by Oingo Boingo



Yup. I creeped out many-a friends with this one.

Do You Like Boys? by Freezepop



Playing this loud in a Texas shopping center was totally worth it.

Non-Existent Patricia by L7



L7 is so amazing. They can make literally anything sound cool. If MCR did this song it would suck ass. When L7 does it you wanna punch a panda. Best. Grunge band. Ever.

October by Dolores O'Riordan



Changes suck (sometimes). October is usually a very interesting month for me artistically. It's like "molting" season. I never feel more confused and misunderstood than I do in October. In a way it's enjoyable. Being confused and lost means you rediscover old things in a new light. But you're still lost.

Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane



This one speaks for itself.

Bust A Move by Young M.C.



Fuck everyone Young M.C. was awesome. Never have I found a hip-hop song that truly captures the awkwardness of seducing the opposite sex than Bust A Move.

Silver Dagger by Joan Baez



This song gets me every time. EVERY TIME! It's such a sad tune and I know how that feels from both sides of this story. I think it's the most down-to-earth misunderstood tune I've ever heard. The narrator is so conflicted and confused. It's a bummer.

Behind Blue Eyes by The Who



This song always fascinates me. Had this song been written and performed within the last 10 years (especially during the Grunge era) we'd all be shooting it down as some pussy emo shit. But because it's The Who, and because it was written when it was written, it's an instant misunderstood classic. Double standards. We got 'em.

Hang You From the Heavens by The Dead Weather



The Dead Weather's album Horehound is another one that so deserved a Grammy. It was consistently brilliant and musically it was probably the most interesting album to hit the mainstream last year. I'd argue it may be better than anything The White Stripes released. Anyhow here's a song, the girl in it is conflicted, dig it. The bass is the shit.

I Want to Break Free by Queen



Breaking my own rules again. At some point in all our lives I think we can kind of agree with this. Kind of dropping that whole "dating fascade" and just going balls to the wall (literally or metaphorically, we're all friends here).

I Don't Want to Know (If You Don't Want Me) by The Donnas



HAHA! Suck it! Don't like The Donnas!? Well fuck you! I love The Donnas. Many people don't. I do. This is my list. We're gonna get some Donnas in this bitch. This might be my favorite Donnas song. It also gets kinda creepy.

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