In the spirit of being a weirdo who has always been rather fond of The Dread Horror Valentine’s Day despite the bad rap, I have taken to the Internet to foist my good cheer upon you. It may seem contradictory—it can appear to be rather challenging to go out Feministing while also proclaiming, “HAPPY CORPORATE LURVE DAY,” but I am here to tell you that things are not always as they appear. 

Treat yourself. Sip champagne with your friends and eat all of the tiny little chocolates. Craft some sassy cards to give to all of the people that make your life better. Ignore it entirely because that is how you do. Just as long as you do you, I am pretty sure we are all going to have a pretty all right time. 

Ultimately, I feel about Valentine’s Day how I feel about birthdays (for the record, I am mad about birthdays). Essentially I treat it like one big giant birthday for all of my relationships. That’s right. I am here to celebrate you. And also me. And all of the heart-shaped goodness we make together. 

I made you this playlist to accompany your V-Day adventures. It covers a gamut of potential feels and obviously includes Bey. Enjoy! ❤

FOR FRIENDS

• St. Vincent – “Teenage Talk” 

Well, that’s just teenage talk

Pinky swear that you won’t go changing

Drank so much that night

Carved the state of Texas in our forearms

You know I never loved you more

Than when we were hiding from those sirens, sirens

Oh, we laughed so hard

Threw up in your mom’s azaleas

• Courtney Barnett – “Anonymous Club”

Let’s start an anonymous club

We can sit close in the dark

Come round to mine

We can swap clothes and drink wine all night

Turn your phone off, friend

You’re amongst friends

And we don’t need no interruptions

Leave your shoes at the door

Along with your troubles

Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles

• Elliphant – “One More”

I like it here, fuck work

Plus you said your boss is a jerk

I need you tight, don’t bang on me

Imma break your shit, let’s do what we

Always used to do

Stupid around like two fools

Nights alone, I feel alone

You look after me, it hurts

• Rhianna – “Umbrella (ft. Jay-Z)

Because when the sun shines, we’ll shine together

Told you I’ll be here forever

Said I’ll always be your friend

Took an oath, I ‘ma stick it out to the end

FOR AGGRESSIVE FEELS

• Pink – “U + Ur Hand”

I’m not here for your entertainment

You don’t really want to mess with me tonight

Just stop and take a second

I was fine before you walked into my life

Cause you know it’s over

Before it began

Keep your drink just give me the money

It’s just you and your hand tonight

• Against Me! – “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”

You want them to notice,

The ragged ends of your summer dress.

You want them to see you

Like they see every other girl.

They just see a faggot.

They’ll hold their breath not to catch the sick.

Rough surf on the coast,

I wish I could’ve spent the whole day alone

Rough surf on the coast,

I wish I could’ve spent the whole day alone

Rough surf on the coast,

I wish I could’ve spent the whole day alone

With you.

With you.

• Noun – “Loveblood”

SHOULDA RECOGNIZED

• Kali Uchis – “Know What I Want”

They say one door open when another door close

 I’m prayin’ that’s that way that it goes

Because right when I’m ’bout to turn the doorknob

 It seems it’s all locked up and the key decomposed

Remind me this the life that I chose

Go full speed, I can’t read, the signs that say stop

I brush it off and try to act all nonchalant

 I notice everything, I just act like I don’t

Boy I know what I want

• BANKS – “Goddess”

She gave it all, you gave her shit

She coulda done, just anything

Or anyone, cause she’s a goddess

You never got this

You put her down, you liked her hopeless

To walk around, feeling unnoticed

You shoulda crowned her, cause she’s a goddess

You never got this

A LITTLE SELF LOVE

• Nicki Minaj – “Get On Your Knees”

I don’t need a dozen roses

You ain’t gotta wine and dine, no

I don’t need a pretty poet

Oooh, gettin’ all emotional

You gotta beg for it, beg for it

I wanna see you lookin’ up

Baby I’ ma need you to beg for it

• Dannii Minogue – “Vibe On”

You be like givin’ me vibrations

The ultimate stimulation

Straight out of the box, ah, unhesitation

Your speakers like a pony that I love to ride

Makin’ me crazy when the volume’s high

• Billy Idol – “Dancin’ With Myself”

If I looked all over the world

And there’s every type of girl

But your empty eyes

Seem to pass me by

Leave me dancing with myself

So let’s sink another drink

‘Cause it’ll give me time to think

If I had the chance

I’d ask the world to dance

And I’ll be dancing with myself

BECAUSE LOVE IS REAL

•  Tom Tom Club – “Genius of Love”

I’m in heaven

With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend

There’s no beginning, and there is no end

Time isn’t present in that dimension

He’ll take my arm

When we’re walkin’, rolling and rocking

It’s one time I’m glad I’m not a man (note: eeeeeehhhhh)

Feels like I’m dreaming, but I’m not sleeping

• Cathedrals – “Want My Love” 

Baby, I know you feel alone

Spend these days just wondering what you call home

Baby, I want you for my own

Whispers calls to you after you hang up the phone

• Beyonce – “1+1”

If I ain’t got nothing, I got you

If I ain’t got something, I don’t give a damn, cause I got it with you

I don’t know much about algebra, but I know one plus one equals two

And it’s me and you, that’s all we’ll have when the world is through

BONUS:

Erykah Badu – “Hotline Bling (Remix)”