Love Song Recommendation for Every Situation
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
In theme of recent Valentine-related festivities, enjoy a broad range of underrated but amazing love songs. Whether you’re falling in love, want some songs to appreciate your amazing friends, or are moving through a breakup, you can explore the diverse field of music while exploring the depth of your feelings. As the Glee says, “Some songs can put to words what thoughts cannot.”
Explore each category to your heart’s content. I’ve included my favorite excerpts of my favorite lyrics from each song as well as some commentary. Each song title links to the full Spotify song.
Falling in Love
Ah yes. It’s the month of love and expressing those feelings.
Crazy Beautiful – Andy Grammer
A catchy underrated pop tune about how perfect your SO is in all his/her quirky, unique ways:
“Isn’t she cra-crazy beautiful?
Isn’t she strange, strange and wonderful?
I think I love her more than I even understand”
A mellow, soft pop song that defines what being at home with someone is:
“When you’re by my side
I always know
When it’s you and I
I’m always, always home”
I Hear a Symphony – Norwell & Ira Wolf
Such a sweet, uplifting song about the beautiful melody that love is:
“Whenever you’re near
I hear a symphony
A tender melody
Pulling me closer, closer to your arms”
We all have insecurities about not “being worth it.” This is the perfect song to show your commitment to someone you care about:
“Do you know? everything about you makes me smile,
You know? Everytime you look at me my heart falls out
You’re definitely worth my while”
I love the juxtaposition of the ephemeral reality of nature with the eternity of love:
“So how can you see a life without me?
Just look at you, you’re all I need
Come with me
And don’t you fall asleep
Because you’re all I see
Oh this is evergreen”
The perfect song for that Pacific Coast Highway road-trip with your SO:
“I wanna be your west coast,
I wanna be the place where you go
I wanna be what you want, what you need
I wanna be your everything
I wanna be the shore and the sea”
More Lucky than This – Brent Walsh
Perfectly captures the feeling of gratitude and appreciation you feel upon finding *the one*:
“Just who says best friends cannot be lovers?
They don’t see the way you look at me
The truth lies below me, under the covers
Swimming in a world next to the sea”
Falling in Love- Kurt Hugo Schneider
“Won’t you hold me, underneath
These old oak trees, it’s getting cold
And I need your body, I need your body to hold”
Simple Things - Alexander Cardinale
One of my favorite songs at the moment. We all tend to overanalyze and this song is just a good reminder to return to the small reasons:
“There’s so much weighing on my brain
And I tend to overcomplicate
Let’s try to imitate a different point of view
Wanna get back to the simple things with you
You love the ocean, why don’t we just go?
Kick off your shoes and feel the sand under your toes
We fold the stars so I can watch you glow
Just can’t stop looking, ‘cause you’re so damn beautiful”
Sometimes the best part of a relationship is the simple comfort of being able to do nothing with them but still have an enjoyable time. After all, we all have days we just want to stay at home and this song is the perfect song for hanging out doing nothing with that special someone:
“Let’s stay in our pajamas
Let’s not leave the house
It’s been real bad lately
But I feel pretty good right now
With you laying
With me on the couch”
You mean the whole wide world to me – Christina Perri
Well, the title kind of says it all doesn’t it?:
“Darling you mean the whole wide world to me
Darling you light up everyone you meet
With a smile you give away so easily
Darling you mean the whole wide world to me”
“And I know
That we’re young
And we’ve never done this before
But it’s real obvious we’d be good
I want a back splash and a house cat
I wanna make a home for you”
They Don’t Know About Us – One Direction
Can’t make this playlist without at least one tribute to what is arguably the original boyband. Relationships fall into a weird category of being intrinsically private but publicly judged and this pop tune reminds articulates that the opinions that matter regarding the relationship should be yours and your SO’s:
“They don’t know about the things we do
They don’t know about the “I love yous”
But I bet you if they only knew
They would just be jealous of us,
They don’t know about the up all nights
They don’t know I’ve waited all my life
Just to find a love that feels this right”
To Show you my Love – Mike Schmid
“If I could make all the mountains spell your name
And all the old streetcars dance in the rain
And promise to hold you for all my days
It wouldn’t be enough
To show you my love”
Break the Distance – Ashton Edminster
Whether your lover is just gone for the weekend or you’re a seasoned veteran to LDRs, long distance relationships are challenging. These songs validate the struggle while providing positive affirmation. Beautiful melody, heartfelt lyrics, another long time favorite from a very underrated by amazing indie singer:
“Buckets of water, millions of clouds
Miles of road just to get where you are
Oh I wish, it wasn’t so far…
Thousands of dollars just to be near
Countless thoughts of you being here
Oh I wish, it wasn’t so hard
But maybe one day we can–
Break the Distance”
Got a Crush?
Well, we’ve all been there. Here are some songs that can articulate the feelings that you’re still struggling to admit to that special friend or even yourself.
So you’ve heard of Billie Eilish but did you know that her older brother Finneas also writes music?:
“I might be headed in the opposite direction
But I’d love to drive you home
Oh, I’m in trouble now
Come kiss me black and blue
Might last another round
But I’m bound to fall for you”
“You wanna play with fire?
Stick and poke tattoo?
You wanna play, my new girl?
I wanna play with you”
“I’ll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips”
This soft pop song perfectly defines that phase of mutual liking, butterflies, and friendship:
“I know that you love me
Don’t need anyone to tell me
I can see it written on your face
And you know that I need ya
Like I’m never gonna leave ya
Have you ever seen me walk away?
It’s all the words you never say
The way I catch you watchin’ me”
“Could I trust you with my thoughts
Or would you use them all against me?
Can you replace my eyes for yours?
See what I really look like
I could help you criticize”
A reminder that sometimes the most important part of a relationship are the “little” things that give you butterflies like a look, giggle, and holding hands:
“Put your hand in mine
You know that I want to be with you all the time
You know that I won’t stop until I make you mine”
“I think we could do it if we tried
If only to say, you’re mine
Sofia, know that you and I
Shouldn’t feel like a crime
You know I’ll do anything you ask me to
But oh my God, I think I’m in love with you
Standing here alone now, think that we can drive around
I just wanna say how I love you with your hair down
Baby, you don’t got to fight, I’ll be here til the end of time
Wishing that you were mine, pull you in, it’s alright”
Electronically charged song with amazing soundscape about realizing that your best friend may be the *one*:
“Hazel eyes, I was so colorblind
We were just wasting time, oh oh
For my whole life, we never crossed the line
Only friends in my mind, but now I realize”
So apparently this song was written about a spider… and ironically captures the feelings experienced when interacting with crushes too:
“Man, you really freak me out
I’m so afraid of you
And when I lose my cool
I don’t know what to do
I know you don’t mean no harm
You’re just doing your thing
But man, you really freak me out”
“A lonely, lonely three nights
Spent thinking about nothing
Can you call me so I feel right?”
Great song about toxic masculinity. I think we’d all like to believe that we’re past the immature phase of being mean to your crushes but hey. Feelings are hard:
“Don’t mess with me, I’m a big boy now and I’m very scary
I punch my walls, stay out at night, and I do karate
Don’t message me 'cause I won’t reply, I wanna make you cry
Ain’t that how its s’posed to be? Though it isn’t me”
Friendship Appreciation
The best relationships. There aren’t enough songs appreciating the beauty of friendship but here a few great ones.
We’re Going to be Friends – The White Stripes
My all-time favorite song. Such a sweet melody that has no repeating chorus but every line is pure musical genius laced with childhood nostalgia:
“Tonight I’ll dream while in my bed
When silly thoughts go through my head
About the bugs and alphabet
And when I wake tomorrow I’ll bet
That you and I will walk together again
I can tell that we are going to be friends”
“When you’re with me, no judgment
You can get that from anyone else
You don’t have to prove nothing
You can just be yourself
When you’re with me, no judgment
We can get that from everyone else
And we don’t have to prove nothing
When you’re with me, no judgment
I get us breakfast in the morning
Or you can slip out in the night
You don’t have to give me a warning
'Cause we both got nothing to hide, nothing to hide
Even though we don’t talk for a couple of months, yeah
It’s like we didn’t lose anytime
I can be your lover or your shoulder to cry on
You can be whoever you like”
A karaoke classic:
“If you tossin’ and you’re turnin’ and you just can’t fall asleep
I’ll sing a song
Beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Everyday I will
Remind you”
We Should be Friends – Josh Ramsay
“The best part of my day is when you walk by me
You smile, I don’t know what to say
But I run to get there everyday anyway
Words escape me everyday we pass each other by
I don’t know you
But I would love to meet you
Let me show you
How good it is to see you
I think that we should
I think that we should be friends”
You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Cavetown
Originally popularized by Toy Story but try this soft, indie cover:
“Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too, maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it’s me and you, boy
And as the years go by
Our friendship will never die”
My go-to song when I learn that a friend is upset:
“We can talk here on the floor
On the phone, if you prefer
I’ll be here until you’re okay
Let your words release your pain
You and I will share the weight
Growing stronger day…”
A cute, whimsical song about friendship:
“Lemon Boy and me started to get along together
I helped him plant his seeds and we’d mow the lawn in bad weather
It’s actually pretty easy being nice to a bitter boy like him
So I got myself a citrus friend”
Run Through Walls – The Script
Some appreciation for those friends that are willing to put in 110% for you:
“I’ve got friends that will run through walls
I’ve got friends that will fly once called
When I’ve nowhere left to go
And I need my heroes
I’ve got friends that will run through walls”
Friendzoned?
Unfortunately, not all friendships are created equal and neither are all feelings mutual.
The last line of the song is a real kicker :p
“Jamie
I don’t know what to say to you
I feel
You’re always on my mind
And now that I know what I need
I’m taking the long way round in my mind
It’s not right
I can’t help the way I feel anymore
And I need to ask you, Jamie:
Oh, can it be that you feel this way, too?
The lights were off
The mood was right
She came and laid with me”
Annabelle’s Homework – Alec Benjamin
Ever do everything you can for that crush but still go underappreciated?:
“But I spent 22 days and 21 nights
Crossing every T, just making it right
Only to discover it’s not worth
Doing Annabelle’s homework
Doesn’t matter how many papers I write
End of the equation won’t be you and I
And now I’m just another who got hurt
Doing Annabelle’s homework”
“Is my love too much?
Is it just enough for you, for you?
'Cause it’s getting late, would you like to stay
'Cause I’m bad at reading signs
But I, I wanna do whatever you wanna do
If you wanted to, girl, we could cross that line
Know we’ve been friends
And love only knows broken ends, yeah
That’s what you said but girl let me change your mind”
“Tell me if we’re just friends
How come it never feels like it?
Acting like it don’t make sense
Cuz we’re scared to lose the friendship
Don’t say it hasn’t crossed your mind
What would happen if we crossed that line
Something’s waiting on the other side
Who cares about the friendship?
If I’ve got you.”
Break up Songs
Oof this song hurts. The song is a dialogue between a male narrator and his girlfriend. From the narrator’s side, the relationship has lost its spark but still trying to assess its viability:
“I don’t know where we’re going
But I’d like to be by your side
If you could tell me how you’re feeling
Maybe we’d get through this undefeated
Holding on for so long”
Another Wallows song to help you process the missing spot in your life:
“Wide awake, it feels like all the time
I need to know if you’ll ever be alright
I’m waiting on another day to fall
When you’re awake to hear my call
Wide awake, it feels like all the time
(Open, my door is open)
I need to know if you’ll ever be alright
(Please let me know when)
I’m waiting on another day to fall
(You’re coming home)
When you’re awake to hear my call”
“Oh, what a shame
You can move across the country
But you can’t move on
Oh, what a shame
You’ve got Twitter and your girls to think I’m wrong
But I’ve moved on”
I Don’t Miss You at All – FINNEAS
This song perfectly captures the inner dialogue we all have after a break up. I love the Great Gatsby reference:
“And I’m sleepin’ fine
I don’t mean to boast
But I only dream about you
Once or twice a night at most
And it feels so good
Eating alone
I don’t get distracted by your smile
And miss the green lights drivin’ home
No sign of stoppin’
The house isn’t far
But I think our song is comin’ on
And now I wanna crash the car”
Break my Heart Again – FINNEAS
“Hey you
I’m just now leaving
Can I come around later on this evening?
Or do you need time?
Yes, of course, that’s fine
Hey you
Good morning
I’m sure you’re busy now, why else would you ignore me?
Or do you need space?
You can’t help it if your mind has changed
So go ahead and break my heart again
Leave me wonderin’ why the hell I ever let you in
Are you the definition of insanity?
Or am I?
Oh, it must be nice
To love someone who lets you break them twice”
“But isn’t that what friends are for
Even if we used to be more?
Like lovers or partners in crime
When you were still mine”
“If you let him touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya, touch ya (yeah)
The way I used to, used to, used to, used to, used to, used to (yeah)
Did you take him to the pier in Santa Monica
Forget to bring a jacket, wrap up in him 'cause you wanted to?
I’m just curious, is it serious?”
A haunting cover of the song originally performed by Passenger:
“’Cause you only need the light when it’s burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you’ve been high when you’re feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go”
“My brothers got my back and
They tell me don’t text her
Tell me hide my feelings
I tell em I’m an expert
I’m so good at concealing
The way you make my chest hurt
I apologize If I just sound
A little too uncensored
And maybe I’m a fool for thinking
What we had was real
And maybe I'ma hurt you
Just to make you feel
You got under my skin
I inked you over my heart
And everyone says I just need time to heal
But I can’t help what I want”
“I’m too sad to cry, too high to get up
Don’t even try 'cause I’m scared to fuck up
Don’t like to talk, I just lay in my bed
Don’t even try to go out with my friends
Lied to my doctor, she knew I was fakin’
Gave me some pills, but I’m too scared to take 'em
I try and I try, but I’m too sad to cry”
Well, the title is pretty self explanatory:
'”Cause now I’m hungover
And I miss you
And my head hurts
And I wish you let me come over
And be with you one more time
'Cause I was an asshole
And I hate that
And I never got to say that
So let me come over
And be with you one more time”
We’re all human and make mistakes. This song perfectly voices the guilt, shame, and longing:
“Do you need a break, need some space, need to change your mind ways?
Should I get away, get a place for a couple of days?
I’m afraid if I change, you won’t look at me the same
I wanna be your only shoulder when you have a bad day
So hold me, hold me 'til the river runs dry
I’m holding, holding onto you for dear life
I never know the words to say, but you forgive me anyway
Even though we both know I’m the reason”
Ghost of You – 5 Seconds of Summer
“So I drown it out like I always do
Dancing through our house
With the ghost of you
And I chase it down
With a shot of truth
Dancing through our house
With the ghost of you”
“It’s stupid to think someone will care for you always
Be there for you all the time
'Cause one day, you’ll blink
And that’s when you learn it the hard way
I think it’s safe to say
There’s a thousand ways to lose your mind
A thousand ways to bend until you break
It only takes a few
Sometimes the easiest one is fallin’ on your face
Just tryna fight for you and I
A thousand ways to make your worst mistake, yeah
I could name a few right now
The easiest one is you”
Always, I’ll care – Jeremy Zucker
This song addresses the weird transition stage between breakup and friendship, after all, even if the spark goes out, the love can continue:
“Leave me, it’s never easy
I’ve had a lifetime to be alone
If you let me, when it gets heavy
Know I’ll never let you be all alone
I’ll be better than I was before (Hey)
Despite every text of yours ignored (Hey)
Will you call me still, just to hear my voice?
I swear, always
Always
Always, I’ll care”
The Butterfly Effect – Before You Exit
Breakups hurt but they also are an opportunity to grow and change:
“Don’t you dare say it was all a waste
'Cause we would never be the way we are today
Now we find beauty in all the pain
There’s a reason for the rainbow through the rain
Like the butterfly effect
It was only just a speck
That made into a brokenhearted mess
Like the butterfly effect
What you get is what you get
But I would never change the way we left, whoa
Though I wish you never broke my heart
I don’t want a brand new start
I’m not me without my scars, whoa
Though I wish we never fell apart
It made us who we are
And at least we left a mark”
Pacquerette (without me) – With Confidence
Finally, feel like you’ve moved on? This song captures the progression into the acceptance phase of a breakup:
“This world just keeps turning
That fire keeps burning
And we just can’t slow it down
And that train just keeps rolling
That river keeps flowing
But I’m happy you’ve made it out
I’ve been fine
And you’ve been growing
And I’ve been alright
And we both know it”
Want more from Trojans 360?
Visit Trojans 360 on Facebook & Twitter to stay up to date with more student content! You can also Ask A Trojan an anonymous question, and we’ll try to answer it in a future post. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
Trojans 360 is USC’s official student-run blog. Content created by students, for students.
