Music

Valentine’s Day playlist

In honour of the one day that is both loved and loathed, ELLECanada.com gives you our top 10 make-out and break-up songs.

by : Larissa Primeau- Feb 3rd, 2011

Top five make-out songs:

Making out is a dying art form; consider it the amuse bouche in the world of sex, so treat it with the respect it deserves. Here, your make-out roadmap to help him wind, caress and curve his way to your final destination:

#5 Mazzy Star – “Fade Into You”
There’s no doubt that this ‘90’s band inspired a few people to toss their plaid shirts on the floor in a moment of passion. Lyrically, it reads like a poem about that moment you know someone is into you. The soft and sweet melody is a great way to get that quality session started.

#4 Bright Eyes – “The first day of my life”
Conor Oberst isn’t exactly the epitome of sexy but can this man ever pen a love song. Check this out: Yours is the first face that I saw/I think I was blind before I met you/Now I don’t know where I am/I don’t know where I’ve been/But I know where I want to go. If these lyrics don’t make you swell with affection, you might have a problem. P.S: The sweetest video comes with this track, take a look: youtube.com

#3 Curtis Mayfield – “Give Me Your Love”
You have had 10 solid minutes of make-out time and this song’s mellow groove helps you sink deeper into your love.

#2. Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”
Ok, this may not be the *most* obvious choice for upping the romance factor, but we all know and recognize this tune…. The good, the bad, and maybe a bit of the ugly of it. All in all, a classic.

#1 Peter Gabriel – “In Your Eyes”
It’s an odd juxtaposition to follow Nine Inch Nails with Peter Gabriel, but remember: This is all about the make-out journey. Once you’ve reached the top, you need to come back down. This track has the perfect mix of romance, rock and sentiment to let you down gently.

Click here for our top five break-up songs.

Top five break-up songs:

Much like its make-out counterpart, the break up song is an odyssey: We begin with the gut-wrenching heartache; morph that into anger, which then evolves into empowerment. Here are some ideas to get you through:

#5 R.E.M – “Everybody Hurts”
If this song was good enough for Brenda to cry over Dylan about, it’s good enough for you. This song may be one of the most depressing songs ever, but fits perfectly into the slot of: “I just need a good cry” category.

#4. Jeff Buckley – “Last Goodbye”
Buckley’s biggest hit, “Last Goodbye” is lyrically a weeper, but melodically upbeat. This is why it’s a great one to follow up your R.E.M weep-fest.

#3. Cee-Lo – “F**k You”
Time to put down the magnum of Pinot and turn the volume up… way up. As part of this musical break-up odyssey, you need to let it all out, and what better way than by singing Cee-Lo’s 2010 hit, F**k You (and please, not the radio edit version).

#2. Janelle Monae – “Cold War”
So now you’ve wept, you’ve cussed and it’s time to pick up the pieces, grab your girls and dance it out. This Monae masterpiece begins with: So you think I’m alone?/But being alone’s the only way to be/Sing it sista’. This one pairs nicely with friends reminiscing to you about what a loser he really was.

#1. Kelly Clarkson – “Since You’ve Been Gone”
Is there really a better song to dance around to as you celebrate your new life sans Mr.X? Whether you’re a hipster, a jazz fan or a rocker, you must agree that Clarkson’s 2004 mega-hit is one of the best to shed that layer of broken heart and move on. There’s no need to pen the lyrics, we all know them…admit it.