Weekly Gems 2/14: V-Day Special
Roses are red, violets are blue,
I’ve got some awesome tracks to share with you…
This week’s weekly gems are Valentine's Day themed. Love is beautiful, so I’ve chosen some beautiful songs to share with you beautiful people:
“party 4 u” - Charli xcx
Valentine's Day is for grand gestures: gift giving, heartfelt confessions, candle lit dinners. But then there exists the kind of love just waiting to be noticed. “party 4 u” is about someone throwing a party just for the person they love, even though they might not show up. Unlike her usual hyper-pop eclectic music, this track slows things down and is taken over by synths and echoes that emphasize love and yearning. Ultimately, the song tells the story about the love you give, even when you aren’t sure anyone is watching.
“Swim Between Trees” - Flipturn
This indie-rock band has written about all sorts of things, but I’ve never quite heard a song like “Swim Between Trees” from them. Off of their recent sophomore album, Burnout Days, this song has some of the most beautiful lyrics I have ever come across from the band. Despite the countless hardships the narrator and their significant other face, both in their lives and in their relationship, the connection between them is so natural and strong that the problems almost fade into the background. If you have never heard this song, I genuinely recommend giving it a listen this Valentine's Day.
“Passport” - Bôa
Anti-love can be just as powerful, if not as powerful, as love itself. Bôa, known for their hit song “Duvet”, is one of my favorite bands of all time, and their debut album, Get There, often gets overlooked. The entirety of the album is an anthem of anti-love, and “Passport” specifically touches on young-love, regret and heartbreak. The song captures how as people grow, they can drift apart, and its raw angst perfectly conveys the anger and emotional turmoil that accompanies this painful experience. RIP Valentine’s Day, Bôa hates you.
“How To Stay With You” - Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan describes his album, Something to Give Each Other, as an anthem of gay joy and “How to Stay With You” is a love song encompassing that. Sivan captures the ache of wanting to make love last but not always knowing how. It’s incredibly dreamy, and a reminder that love isn’t always perfect, but it’s worth holding onto. The song meshes the dance vibe of the album with jazz swoon’s and saxophone solos (the instrument of Valentine’s Day), creating a sound that feels both fresh and deeply romantic.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Billie Eilish
It’s important not to overlook the simplest and purest forms of love this holiday. As an avid fan and celebrator of Gal-entine’s (or Pal-entine’s) I’m all about celebrating platonic love. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is a track we all know and love, and it was the most streamed song of 2024 for a reason. Billie Eilish and her brother/music partner FINNEAS express their love for eachother in the iconic song, capturing the highs and lows of being with someone who just gets you. This Valentine’s day don’t overlook the people who care about you the most: your friends and your family.
On that note, I hope everyone reading this has an enjoyable Valentine's Day. Whether you’re a platonic Galentine’s celebrator, Anti-Valentine’s day, or the classic love bird, there's a song out there for you.