The Reflective Inklings has dished out one short playlist (Gem‘s Valentine Playlist can be found HERE). This time around, it’s my turn to dish out my songs for my personal Valentine Playlist. Hopefully, you all enjoy reading!
#1 A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
From: Be Not Nobody
This track by Vanessa Carlton should definitely be included in people’s Valentine playlists. The piano arrangement is without a doubt, one of the best that I have ever heard. At first, A Thousand Miles sounds a little bit classical but once the intensity of the song rises, you know that it is really special.
#2 One – U2 and Mary J. Blige
From: The Breakthrough
The original version of the song which got released way back in 1992 is also actually great but this version with Mary J. Blige just lits up the place. Mary J. Blige on lead vocals and Bono doing the additional vocals just equates into a rock masterpiece. The lyrics are also great by the way.
#3 Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis
From: Spirit
Written by Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder, Bleeding Love became Leona Lewis’ shot into gaining lots of mainstream success and got it successfully. The emotionally-loaded track about people who get blinded by love in a relationship just sounds really exceptional. Leona’s vocals are absolutely top-notch, no matter how you look at her music.
#4 She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5
From: Songs About Jane
‘I don’t mind spending everyday! Out on your corner in the pouring rain.‘ Just the right piece of lyrics for someone who loves celebrating Valentine’s Day. The intro of the song just made me fall in love with the track and about the chorus, it’s really awesome.
#5 Starlight – Muse
From: Black Holes and Revelations
Starlight actually is the first song that I have heard from one of the greatest bands of the world. Hearing Matt Bellamy saying ‘My life, you electrify my life!‘definitely is one of the reasons why I decided to put this song into the Valentine playlist. The piano work done on the song is also sheer brilliance.
#6 Yellow – Coldplay
From: Parachutes
Chris Martin absolutely rocked it off in this one. The guitar work done in Yellow just sounds so relaxing. Yellow is one of Coldplay’s best tracks. Another plus is once played in repeating fashion, one can fall in love with the song totally.Yellow may be one of Coldplay’s early songs but it sure did give the band some hard-earned respect.
#7 Look What You’ve Done – Jet
From: Get Born
The Australian rockers’ third single makes it into the playlist. The piano arrangement on the song just adds a certain of mellowness into the track. Nic Cester’s vocals do sound good in Look What You’ve Done and is absolutely recommended for those who want to hear a rock ballad.
#8 Love Song – Sara Bareilles
From: Little Voice
The American songstress enters the playlist with Love Song, the first single released for her album Little Voice. The piano arrangement done by Sara Bareilles in this one just blew my mind away. The lines also are great like the line ‘I’m not gonna write you a love song ’cause you asked for it. ‘Cause you need one . . . ‘ The track definitely shows off Bareilles’ musical brilliance.
#9 Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
From: Eyes Open
Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars makes it into the Valentine playlist. Chasing Cars is not your typical explosive ballad but still sounds great as the melody of the song also is exceptional. Gary Lightbody’s vocal work is sheer brilliance and this made me like the song immediately after I heard it.
#10 Bad Romance – Lady GaGa
From: The Fame Monster
I initially did not even think of putting this song in the playlist. However, after thinking heavily, I just decided to put this one. Bad Romance just shows how Lady GaGa’s musicality has evolved. I do consider Bad Romance as one of GaGa’s best singles ever due to that irresistible hook.
#11 Electrical Storm – U2
From: The Best of 1990-2000
It may not have received lots of mainstream attention but Electrical Storm remains, at least in a personal level, one of U2′s best songs ever. As usual, The Edge’s chord work is stellar and he just makes it look like it’s really easy to do. For more on my thoughts regarding this track, please do check out my review by clicking the link: Electrical Storm Review
#12 Secret Valentine – We The Kings
From: We The Kings
Another rock record enters the playlist with Secret Valentine, released by the band out of Florida last year. This is one edgy record which can surely keep one energized with its heavy sound. Some may not like the track but I have got to say this- the track is surely a grower, no doubt.
#13 Best I Ever Had – Vertical Horizon
From: Everything You Want
What made me feel in awe for this track is the arrangement. Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning) does not sound that heavy unlike some of the band’s released material like You’re A God. The track is definitely a keeper for those who really love rock ballads.
#14 Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
From: Sixpence None The Richer
Leigh Nash’s vocals are really sweet. It just sounds so angelic, don’t you think? Anyway, Kiss Me, which got released in 1998, is one of the best songs that Sixpence None The Richer released. The chorus is pretty catchy and can effective induce the Last Song Syndrome (LSS).
#15 The Man Who Can’t Be Moved – The Script
From: The Script
The song about love being tried to be reclaimed makes it into the Valentine Playlist. Danny O’Donaghue’s vocals are really awesome. The song did give the Irish rock outfit some mainstream success which they definitely deserved.
#16 I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden
From: Affirmation
Darren Hayes turned this song into a charm. ‘I knew I loved you before I met you.‘ It’s pretty ironic yet very effective at the same time in terms of conveying its message. No wonder why the song has been reportedly used a lot in weddings before.
#17 If This Is Love – The Saturdays
From: Chasing Lights
The bubbling synth action and scintillating chorus made this song as the best track in The Saturdays’ debut effort. If This Is Love really is an ‘enthusiastic’ track that just bursts off lots of energy. If This Is Love is simply an irresistible track.
#18 The Game of Love – Santana feat. Michelle Branch
From: Shaman
I thought back then that a collaboration featuring Santana and Michelle Branch just won’t work. However, it turns out that I was wrong big time as The Game of Love gained both commercial and critical success. As expected, the killer solo by Santana just blew my mind away.
#19 Lonely No More – Rob Thomas
From: …Something To Be
First and foremost, I would like to greet Rob Thomas a ‘Happy Birthday!’ Second, I do think this song gave Rob Thomas enough momentum for him to jumpstart his solo career. Third, I would like to say that if you are one Matchbox Twenty fan and simply love Rob Thomas’ vocals, you must listen to this one.
#20 Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
From: Whenever You Need Somebody
The song may be uber cheesy due to the lyrics but the techno beats present in the song made sure that the song is very refined. As I have said in my review (Click HERE to read it) of the song, the chorus may have been abused but overall, the song is simply a treat to the senses.
#21 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
From: Ghost In The Machine
The piano part in the song played by Jean Roussel made this song very gorgeous. Sting’s vocals are almost always great and the artistry of The Police just shines in the track. Tracks like Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic do indicate the immense creativity that the band had then.
#22 Wonderwall – Oasis
From: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
The American breakthrough song for the English rock outfit enters the playlist with their smash hit Wonderwall. It’s just sad to see the band disbanding because of some issues existing between the Gallagher brothers. Anyway, songs likeWonderwall made me like the band big time. I just hope that they get together. Heck, Tears For Fears got reunited and this made me believe that there is still hope.
#23 Far Away – Nickelback
From: All The Right Reasons
Described by vocalist Chad Kroeger as Nickelback’s ‘only real love song’, Far Away sounds indeed like it. It did surprise me when the band achieved massive success with the track. For the first time ever, the band had two top ten singles in the Hot 100 Billboard Charts thanks to Far Away‘s surprising success.
#24 Here Without You – 3 Doors Down
From: Away From The Sun
I still consider Here Without You as 3 Doors Down’s best hit that ever achieved mainstream success. Brad Arnold, vocalist of the band, actually said that the inspiration for the song was his now ex-wife. Pretty inspiring and sweet from the man e?
#25 Love Song For No One – John Mayer
From: Room For Squares
One of the first John Mayer material that I really loved. John Mayer definitely knows his stuff, no doubt. The way he was utilizing his guitar in his early years as a musician was just a pure treat to the hearing capabilities of the listeners.
#26 No One – Alicia Keys
From: As I Am
No One, which remains to be Alicia Keys’ biggest hit, is just a stunning pop record. Alicia Keys gives her all in this one and it clearly shows. Her voice is simply rich and soulful enough to make more successful releases in the future.
#27 Love Will Keep Us Alive – Eagles
From: Hell Freezes Over
Sung by bassist Timothy Schmitt, this song by the Eagles may not have been formally released as a single but it sure did capture the hearts of those people who just clamor for romantic material. When heard on the band’s live performances, you’ll end being amazed. Seriously.
#28 Drive – Incubus
From: Make Yourself
One of the best Incubus songs that I have ever heard. This is what I will constantly say about Drive which was released by the band in December 2000. What made this song so ace is the very great chorus. And come to think of it, Brandon Boyd’s artistry just shined big time in this one as well as the band’s.
#29 If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
From: Chicago X
Peter Cetera, then with Chicago as the bassist, sung this track and eventually became the group’s first number one hit. The arrangement of the track complemented the song very well and Cetera’s vocals just did not bore me at all.
#30 True – Spandau Ballet
From: True
What made this song a killer is the intro (the ‘huh-huh-huhs’ to be exact). It’s a great slow love ballad that has been the band’s most remembered song in the U.S. The instruments used in the song created a very charming sound which gets some strong emphasis in the song’s middle parts. Simply amazing.
#31 Everything – Michael Buble
From: Call Me Irresponsible
The guitar-driven track remains as one of Buble’s tracks that I really love. His musicality is just marvelous. I have got to admit that the track did surprise me considering how he sings in most of his songs. He may have changed his style a little bit in this track but come on, it worked so no worries.
#32 For You – The Calling
From: Daredevil: The Album
One of two movie soundtrack-associated tracks that gets into the playlist is For You. The orchestra-like sound in the track makes the track really great, you have got to say. Add Alex Band’s unique vocals and you got yourselves one of rock’s great love ballads.
#33 Love Song – 311
From: 50 First Dates Soundtrack
A fantastic cover of the song that originally came from The Cure appears into the playlist. The chord work done on the track is amazing. 311 definitely gave justice to the original with their superb effort. And a side note: 50 First Dates is actually a great movie. Just saying.
#34 Mandy – Barry Manilow
From: Barry Manilow II
The ballad by Barry Manilow eventually became his first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. It’s something that romantic people will love. It’s slow and smooth enough for romantic evenings. No wonder it’s impact is still being felt today whenever the ‘Love Month’ arrives.
#35 All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Ranked 362nd by Rolling Stone in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
One of The Beatles’ hits that I truly loved. Tracks like this are a reason why The Beatles have become a major staple in the music industry. The track definitely remains as one of music’s most revolutionary singles, no doubt.
This ends the long Valentine Playlist of yours truly. Comments are appreciated.
The banner image was made by my friend, Kristine. Thank you so much Pards!
The Reflective Inklings 