by Jamie Paradis ’20, Staff Writer

Valentine’s Day is one of the most polarized holidays: people either love it or despise it. Many people sadly view it as a reminder of their own loneliness and lack of a significant other. Even some people who are in relationships hate the clichés that Valentine’s Day brings with it and the obligation to be overly romantic. Those who do enjoy this controversial holiday like the romantic traditions and the generosity it brings out in others to show their appreciation of the people they love. Last but not least, some people just like the cheap chocolate you can buy this time of year.

Whether or not you like this day of love, one thing that nobody can escape is the endless love songs playing on the radio. From “How Deep is Your Love” to “I Will Always Love You”, this time of year, in particular, gives people an audible reminder of the human passion for love. However, in reality, Valentine’s Day does not really change the message behind the music we listen to at all – as many as 60% of the songs played on the radio are related to love, no matter what month it is.

To show how prevalent love is in music, I asked several members of the NA community what their favorite songs are. Alizah Rizvi ‘20 said “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha, a song that’s about living in the moment and enjoying destined love. Dr. Hobson said “Love is Blue” by Paul Mauriat.

Molly Lindstrom’s (‘21) favorite is “Honest” by Shawn Mendes, a song about the singer having a real, raw, and honest conversation with his significant other and telling them that he doesn’t think that he can give them everything that they need and deserve in the relationship. Luca Moretti ‘20 said “I Don’t Trust Myself (with loving you)”, which is about somebody who is insecure about their affection not being enough for their partner.

Notably, each student’s answer was a song that was, in some way, about love. Many of the songs dealt with tragedies and devastation of heartbreak; others celebrated the happiness that comes with successful romance.

So, why are humans so in love with love? Is it because it’s such a strong emotion that it’s easy for artists to express it in their art? Is it because it’s a universal feeling that any audience can relate to? Is it because it’s something that is desired in our human nature so people listen subconsciously listen to songs about it?

Whatever the reason, it’s a fact: we are obsessed with creating and listening to music that is centered around romance. Valentine’s Day is associated with endless love songs, but really, it just makes us aware of how much of music is already romantic. The next few times you listen to the radio, pay attention to just how many songs are about love, and notice whether or not you’re sick of this music or if, like most people, you have a natural predilection for love songs.