Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

The alternative V-Day playlist

SINGAPORE — It was William Shakespeare who wrote in his comedy Twelfth Night, “If music be the food of love, play on”.

SINGAPORE — It was William Shakespeare who wrote in his comedy Twelfth Night, “If music be the food of love, play on”.

Clearly, the bard never had to spend a lonely Valentine’s Day stuffing his face with Ben & Jerry’s and stalking his exes on Facebook, while listening to sappy lovers dedicate songs to each other over the radio.

Fortunately, music isn’t just the food of love, but also of the soul. No matter how complicated your relationship status, there’s likely a playlist out there for you in the next couple of days. And who better to come up with a list than people who live and breathe music.

We asked Rani Singam, renowned singer and one of the directors of the Musicians Guild of Singapore, as well as 987FM radio deejays Sonia Chew (who presents the morning show The Bright Side) and Kimberly Wang (who presents the night show The Happy Ending) for their choice picks.

You see, you really don’t have to tune out during V-day.

YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED 
FOR 30 YEARS AND ARE 
STILL (MOSTLY) LOVIN’ IT

Kimberly Wang (KW): Forever And Always by Parachute. (It’s a) classic love song.

Sonia Chew (SC): I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men. I know the song title is super in-your-face but I’m also a bit of an old soul. It’s also a great song if you wanna have some ... alone time with your partner, you know what 
I’m saying?

Rani Singam (RS) : How Do You Keep The Music Playing by Michel Legrand. It talks about how to keep a long relationship passionate and exciting without settling into a monotony. The song ends on a hopeful note that it is possible: “If we could be the best of lovers, yet be the best of friends. If we could try with everyday to make it better as it grows. With any luck then I suppose, the music 
never ends.”

YOU HAVE JUST STARTED DATING AND ARE HEAD 
OVER HEELS IN LOVE

KW: Marry Me by Jason Derulo or Mirror by Justin Timberlake.

SC: Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd. There is not one song The Weeknd sings that isn’t slightly cheeky and sexy. If a guy I’m crazy about sang that to me, I might melt. Hint hint! Also, Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez. It’s her best track to date. It’s a sultry song that gets you in the mood for a steamy date. Besides, once you’re crazy over someone, it’s true that you can’t keep your hands to yourself, right?

RS: Close To You by The Carpenters. It’s a song about being attracted to someone, and a longing to be close to one’s object 
of desire.

YOU ARE DATING BUT ALSO PLANNING TO BREAK UP AFTER VALENTINE’S DAY (OR AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE)

KW: Broken Strings by James Morrison. Yep, no more love — bye bye!

SC: Best Friend by 50 Cent, featuring Olivia. Don’t let the title of the song deceive you. It’s a cheeky track about how a girl is dating someone, but wants to break up with him and is secretly flirting with someone else, who’s just waiting for her to take the bait. Naughty!

RS: Diamonds Are Forever by Shirley Bassey. It’s a James Bond song but it’s also a song about deception and the treachery of love in contrast with the permanence and brilliance of diamonds. “Diamonds never lie to me, for when love’s gone, they 
luster on.”

YOU ARE SINGLE 
AND LOVING IT

KW: Sexy And I Know It by LMFAO.

SC: Worth It by Fifth Harmony. Clearly a flirtatious track, Worth It makes me feel like walking into a party feeling confident, knowing that I’m open to getting to know 
new people.

YOU ARE SINGLE AND PRETENDING TO LOVE IT

KW: Demons by Imagine Dragons. It’s for people who are secretly lonely but trying to act like they’ve got their own battles to fight and, hence, push people away ... #okaycan

SC: Never Be Like You by Flume, featuring Kai. An undeniably heartbreaker of a song, disguised as an incredibly catchy tune, this track might just make you tear up if you listen to the lyrics closely. I know I did!

RS: I’m Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life by Nat King Cole. The key line is: “But if I find that you and I really meant that last goodbye, then I’m gonna laugh so hard I’ll cry”. That’s definitely a song about keeping a brave front when a relationship ends.

YOU’RE NOT SURE if it’s 
A THING OR NOT

KW: Secret Love Song by Little Mix, featuring Jason Derulo. Love really shouldn’t be this complicated. But it’s an amazing track!

SC: Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club. Regardless of whether you know it’s going to become a thing or not, just have fun with it. If it doesn’t work out, at least you had a good time! This track is optimistic, bright and puts me in a good mood every time.

RS: Undecided by Ella Fitzgerald. With lyrics like, “I’ve been sitting on a fence and it doesn’t make much sense ‘cause you keep me in suspense and you know it”, it’s a song about keeping someone in suspense about one’s commitment in the relationship.

VALENTINE’S DAY? WHAT ABOUT FRIENDSHIP DAY?

KW: Erm ... the entire High School Musical soundtrack?

SC: Clique by Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean. It’s a rather explicit song. It’s pretty much about a group of friends that are so tight, nothing else matters. If anyone messes with my friends, you’re messing with me, too!

RS: Count On Me by Bruno Mars. It’s a feel-good song about friendship. “You can count on me like 1,2,3, I’ll be there.”

YOU THINK VALENTINE’S DAY

IS ONLY FOR FOOLS

KW: Irreplaceable by Beyonce. ‘Cause nobody’s that!

SC: F For You by Disclosure. Yet another track with an infectious tune. But if you listen closely to the lyrics, there’s a bit of an angsty message. If it’s any consolation, I would totally dance to this tune at the club and maybe even find someone new to dance with.

RS: Why Do Fools Fall In Love by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers. What makes this song amazing is that it was written by 13-year-old Frankie Lymon. “Love is a losing game, love can be a shame” — how does a child have such insights 
into love?

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.