{"id":4605,"date":"2026-02-11T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=4605"},"modified":"2026-02-19T17:23:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T22:23:02","slug":"to-love-or-to-hate-valentines-playlists-with-imaginary-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/to-love-or-to-hate-valentines-playlists-with-imaginary-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"To Love Or To Hate: Valentines Playlists with Imaginary Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"seriesmeta\">This entry is part 7 of 9 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/series\/playlists\/\" class=\"series-44\" title=\"Playlists\">Playlists<\/a><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-normal-font-size\">By Imaginary Gardens Staff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to Valentine&#8217;s Day, you either love it or you hate it. Is it a beautiful day made to celebrate your loved ones, or a capitalist horror show meant to make you feel bad for being single? <em>Imaginary Gardens<\/em> has two amazing playlists here to battle it out and see which one comes out on top to decide once and for all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cast Your Vote<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to weigh in on Valentine&#8217;s Day with our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptpad.fr\/form\/#\/2\/form\/view\/pP0OR-YMDO1o1-7N7qPFiA8obA4L7leC2MpB2pJ5KDo\/\">survey<\/a><\/strong>. Are you pro- or anti-Valentine&#8217;s Day? Let us know! Your answer is totally anonymous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Must Be Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Must Be Love\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/3MAFWGw0IhIOcPpEVut3NI?si=32bf2ce43029467a&amp;pt=927cb0b4a1ee1e0e4c623c2bf23f2426&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Evelyn Hawkey, Lead Editor Cartoonist<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cIn Regards to Love; Eros\u201d by Martha Psyko<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>While I view myself as an unconditional love type of person, I conceal a fiery passion for life and love itself. This song came from an anime called <em>Yuri On Ice<\/em>; while I may be an avid anime viewer, I am a competitive skater too. The instrumental is played by an orchestra with a solo by the violinist. Again, I relate to this song because I play the violin as well! Through these art forms, I can express my passion not just for someone else, but through the craft I enamor so. The rhythm and the Argentinian tango style of the track bleeds passion, and dancing the tango with my loved one is something I wish to accomplish. I do hope, one day, I can reveal my passion to a special someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cStanding Next to You\u201d by Jung Kook<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning his music career with the famous K-pop boy band, BTS, Jung Kook released his first solo album, \u201cGOLDEN\u201d, in 2023. Though a few of the songs on the album discuss breakups and broken hearts, \u201cStanding Next to You\u201d sings about loyalty and devotion to one\u2019s partner and is one of my personal favorites of his. With a combination of funk-pop and disco-funk groove, Jung Kook sings about a love \u201cdeep like DNA,\u201d inspiring listeners to devote themselves to partners whom they are deeply in love with. He says this is a type of love people must testify to because if it is powerful real love can withstand trials with the two still standing beside each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Em Powell, Graphic Designer<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cBeautiful\u201d by HIM<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>HIM has always had my heart in a chokehold. There&#8217;s many songs from their discography I could&#8217;ve added, but \u201cBeautiful\u201d in particular speaks to me. The melody with the lyrics gives me the warm lovey feeling inside, and I know I&#8217;m not the only one who feels that way listening to this song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Jackie Ayala, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cThe First Taste\u201d&nbsp; by Fiona Apple<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiona is not known for her love songs, but we should start appreciating them. Her love songs are calm, subtle, and give the perfect amount of butterflies in your stomach as she sings about relatable feelings and writes them in a poetic way to emphasize what she\u2019s saying. I feel a sense of tranquility hearing an artist like Fiona Apple, who usually sings about anything but love, sharing her feelings through her music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Emma G. Harrison, Editor-in-Chief<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cWondering Why\u201d by The Red Clay Strays<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd I don&#8217;t know what happened \/ But it sure don&#8217;t add up on paper \/ But when I close my eyes late at night \/ You can bet I thank my maker.\u201d It\u2019s hard to beat a love song with lyrics like this. The Red Clay Strays take themes of country music and, with the help of smooth vocals, turn this love ballad into tender poetry. Released in 2022, this passion-filled track shot up to number 71 on the <em>Billboard<\/em> Hot 100. The public doesn\u2019t lie about a love song like this, making it a must-add to any romantic playlist.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Bean Gast, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cSuzzane\u201d by Hope Sandoval &amp; the Warm Inventions&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSuzzane\u201d encompasses me as a lover, or more so who I want to be as a lover. The song itself has a melancholic tune but feels soft and comforting. The lyric, \u201cand she looks just like my sister, but feels just like my man,\u201d is what originally caught my attention. Throughout \u201cSuzzane\u201d, a nostalgic tune plays that reminds me of the lullaby of a wind-up music box where a beautiful woman spins gracefully until the music fades away. This song feels like the lesbian love that I wish to experience one day, to be loved gently and to love someone gently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stupid Cupid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Stupid Cupid\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/0obYDQY3rFP6kvljed7Wbk?si=fa8273eca27b4bc7&amp;pt=6ffbfaad5a1e34b39c7b3cbf8fada940&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Addison Chrivia, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cNever Wanna Fall in Love With U\u201d by Nelward<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Nelward has an upbeat pop electronica sound and combines it with kooky yet catchy lyrics. This song laments the idea of falling in love with someone when you know it won\u2019t end well, all to a funky bass line that you can\u2019t help but find groovy. One line that really hits is \u201cfragile lovers can\u2019t partake in games,\u201d as those in a precarious relationship can\u2019t make an already unstable relationship more unstable by playing with someone else&#8217;s feelings. With this track, Nelward warns not to get involved with someone you know won\u2019t treat you well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>James Cochran, Photo Editor<\/em>&nbsp;<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cRiviera Paradise\u201d by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it is not exactly a song about a breakup or not having someone to love, Vaughan often dedicated this song in concert to those who were hurting no matter what reason. This song comforts me during this time of the year where the reminders of being single are plastered all over the Walmart shelves and on social media. Blues music can be very comforting during emotional times, so drop the needle on this one and let the late Stevie Ray Vaughan pour his emotions out on this instrumental jazzy-blues tune.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Draven Copeland, Managing Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cI\u2019d Rather Pretend\u201d by Bryant Barnes<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>After seeing Bryant Barnes open for d4vd (I know, I was one of the unfortunate souls that was a huge fan of his before everything came out), I became an instant fan of Barnes\u2019 style and music. To be entirely honest, I actually enjoyed his set more than the featured artist\u2019s, and have been vibing with this song in particular ever since. To me, this track is exactly the mood for a Valentine\u2019s Day spent alone, as it explores the feelings of wanting a relationship but also being scared to initiate one. If you\u2019re feeling melancholic this Valentine\u2019s, try bumping this one while doing something you enjoy; treat yourself how you\u2019d treat your lover, if you had one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Jackie Ayala, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cPushing It Down and Praying\u201d by Lizzy McAlpine<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>I was a little late to the hype train with this song but, even without being able to relate to it on a personal level, it truly touched my heart when I first listened to it. With the raw vocals, the quiet instrumentals, the sudden beat drop later into the song, I think this song can be relatable on many different levels. Lizzy McAlpine brings a certain vulnerability to her sad songs which I have rarely seen in other artists \u2013 there\u2019s no sugarcoating her experiences and that\u2019s why this has become one of my favorite breakup songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Ruby Caver, Graphic Designer<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cThe Other Woman\u201d by Lana Del Rey<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>As always being the last one picked, I constantly dreamed of being truly wanted and appreciated by someone. Even though it isn\u2019t exactly an anti-love song, it\u2019s more about yearning for someone you can\u2019t have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Emma G. Harrison, Editor-in-Chief<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cLinger\u201d by The Cranberries<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard this iconic song before, but if not, I implore you to drop everything, put on some headphones, and get in your feels. In this 1993 Irish classic, The Cranberries took all the feelings of deep yearning and put them into universal words. Not only are The Cranberries one of my favorite bands, but this is one of my favorite songs, earning it a 10\/10 for any playlist that needs a little Irish yearning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Bean Gast, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cBored of Men\u201d by Mhaol<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>This song is the epitome of my love life. I\u2019m bored of men, talking about them, fearing them, healing from them. The lyric that I relate to the most is: \u201cWho\u2019s the guy who\u2019s right behind me? Is it a friend? Or an enemy?\u201d The consistent drumming in the background is a direct reflection of the constant awareness that women have to have when surrounded by men. This Valentine\u2019s day I plan to blare this song and avoid men at all costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"seriesmeta\">This entry is part 7 of 9 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/series\/playlists\/\" class=\"series-44\" title=\"Playlists\">Playlists<\/a><\/div><p>By Imaginary Gardens Staff When it comes to Valentine&#8217;s Day, you either love it or you hate it. Is it a beautiful day made to celebrate your loved ones, or&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"series":[44],"class_list":["post-4605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle-social","series-playlists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4605"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4870,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4605\/revisions\/4870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4605"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=4605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}