Picture this: February 14 arrives, the air is filled with a certain sweetness, and you reach for your headphones. What kind of music sets the mood for your perfect Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re planning a night out with your loved one, a Pal-/Galentine’s get-together with friends, or a romcom marathon in solitude, the right playlist can amplify the joy and connection of the day.

In this special Valentine’s Day edition of “Inside Edison’s AirPods,” we’re diving into the diverse musical preferences of our student body in a playlist that reflects the many ways we celebrate love and friendship. So grab your headphones, hit play, and let’s take a listen inside Edison’s AirPods!

With 89 tracks by 73 artists, the playlist’s top genres were pop, hip-hop, and R&B. The most repeated artists were Drake and Lana Del Rey, featuring songs such as “Teenage Fever” and “Video Games,” respectively.

Lana in particular made her mark on the playlist, appearing on six songs. Notably, three of these tracks were from her latest Grammy-nominated album Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. This includes “Let the Light In” and “Margaret” featuring Bleachers. In the past few months, “Margaret” has made waves on TikTok, with millions making videos about their experiences in love posted to the iconic lyrics “when you know, you know.” “Margaret” has also gone viral in various wedding and engagement videos, cementing its place as a timeless love song.

My top picks from the playlist include “Heart to Heart” by Mac DeMarco, “All the Stars” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, and “She” by Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean. While some might consider “Heart to Heart” overplayed, I consider it worth the hype. An alternative/indie song, “Heart to Heart” is the work of a hopeless romantic through and through: DeMarco sings about loving someone so intensely that any second not spent with them is wasted. 

“All the Stars,” a stunning contemporary R&B collaboration that blends SZA’s soulful vocals with Lamar’s powerful rap verses, is about embracing uncertainty and contradiction in the pursuit of love. In the end, the message is to pack up all of life’s baggage and to look ahead towards a brighter future, realizing the “stars are closer.”

Finally, “She” is a hip-hop neo-soul track, combining Tyler’s rap verses and Ocean’s R&B vocals. Like many of Tyler’s songs, “She” follows a narrative style with a deeper hidden meaning. While the literal lyrics involve a tongue-in-cheek, dark humor take on stalking and obsession, the song’s story is a metaphor for unrequited love and the longing to make sense of a complicated situation.

Raised in a world saturated with marketing messages, for Gen Z, Valentine’s Day can sometimes feel less about genuine connection and more about pressure to conform to a specific image of love. But these three songs offer a variety of takes on true love and connection, reminding us that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about one kind of romance. From the innocent romance in “Heart to Heart” to the hopeful journey in “All the Stars” and the complex emotions of “She,” they capture the richness of human experiences. Whether you’re celebrating with a special someone, friends, or simply enjoying your own company, these songs offer a soundtrack for appreciating the different forms of love that make life meaningful.

Looking at the playlist through this lens, it’s intriguing to see the mix of classic love songs with more contemporary tracks that challenge traditional expectations. In an almost paradoxical way, songs like “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer are seen next to tracks like “boyfriend” by Ariana Grande and Social House. “Kiss Me” (1999) is a gentle, acoustic ballad with a timeless melody. Its lyrics evoke a pure and innocent yearning for connection, using imagery like “starry night” and “whispering secrets.” This song embodies a classic, romantic style that emphasizes youthful emotional vulnerability and tenderness.

On the other hand, “boyfriend” (2019) presents a more contemporary pop sound with a catchy beat and playful lyrics. It explores the complexities of modern relationships, including navigating expectations and desires within a partnership. This song reflects a more nuanced and self-assured perspective on love, characteristic of contemporary pop music.

The inclusion of both songs on the playlist demonstrates the various ways love is experienced and expressed by different people, even across generations. Though different, both songs showcase the diverse interpretations of how love manifests and resonates with listeners.

Check out the EHS Valentine’s Day playlist here.