The best Valentine’s day songs ever

The greatest songs of heartbreaking loss

High atop the Sonic Temple, I receive the highest number of prayers to ease suffering hearts right after Valentine’s Day. The Western myth of romantic love is about as alien to popular reality as the Eastern idea of an arranged marriage.

Nevertheless, some children never learn, but to ease their suffering I’ve selected a number of musical mantras to be recited during meditation. Continue and remember, in the words of Jay-Z, “If you’re having girl problems, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one.”

The Beatles – “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”

“I can hear them laugh at me, and I hear them say, hey! You’ve got to hide your love away.” How can I even try to describe the Beatles? It’s all been written before. What’s left to be said? For anyone who can’t show someone how they really feel for whatever reason, this song from 1965’s appropriately titled album, Help! is for you.

People treat you like you just told them you got diagnosed with a terminal illness when you tell them you have a broken heart. They treat you with kid gloves and talk a little lower. It’s during times like that when I wish John Lennon was still here.

Joy Division – “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

Joy Division was the bridge between punk and dance music. They were what connected the Sex Pistols to the Prodigy or even The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. Lead singer Ian Curtis suffered from epilepsy and after he hung himself, they found knives in both pockets.

I’m not sure if they were to cut the noose in case of last minute change of heart, or if the knives were there in case the noose didn’t work well enough. That’s dedication. He knew what he was writing about.

Nirvana – “Heart Shaped Box”

In Utero should never be listened to when you are feeling miserable. “Heart Shaped Box” was when Kurt Cobain’s song writing became comparable to John Lennon, maybe he is here: “I’ve been drawn into your magnet tar-pit trap.

I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.” Black is the traditional allusion to death. However, in the very next time, he cracks a Buddy Holly-style “Hey! Wait!” before ironically saying, “I’ve got a new complaint, forever in debt to your priceless advice.” Misery rarely had better company.

Sinead O Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U”

Written by musical genius and funky soul man Prince, it was recorded by Ireland’s controversial Catholic, Sinead O’Connor. During a performance on Saturday Night Live in the ‘90s, she famously tore up a picture of the Pope to protest the church’s alleged sheltering of pedophile rapists.

My brother’s favourite part of the song is, “All the flowers that you planted, mama, in the backyard, all died when you went away.” In the video she reportedly cried thinking about her late mother. Incomparable.

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