Welcome to a very special almost Valentine’s Day edition of Song for the Soundtrack of Your Date (No Date) Tonight. This heart-centric, anxiety-inducing holiday has long been dreaded by men, so naturally my first instinct was to make three dudes do the Valentine’s edition with me. Here they are. Hand-selected songs by three of the best sports in the field of music: Popdose editor-in-chief Jeff Giles, Mike Heyliger of Popblerd and Popdose fame, and Dave Lifton of No Date fame…er, the famous Popdose podcaster, writer and Twitter gadabout. Oh, and me. Happy Valentine’s everyone! Ugh.
Song for the Soundtrack of Your Date Tonight
Pressure’s on tonight, except there is no pressure. Your love don’t need no glitter coated schmaltzy sentiment to prove it’s real. You’ve got a legit thump, thump, thump in that thorax and the doctor’s calling it a bad case of lovin’. Skippin’ the spendy red roses means there’s a couple bucks burning a hole in your pocket just beggin’ to be inserted into the love machine. And that don’t work on nobody but you, and your Valentine.
[The Maccabees, “Toothpaste Kisses” Colour It In, Polydor, 2007] [youtube id=”8SJmWSWQgdM” width=”600″ height=”350″]Song for the Soundtrack of Your No Date Tonight
Your career as a professional juggler is over. You’ve dropped your last ball with the one you love. They say the hottest love ends the coldest and it appears you’re suffering from a bad case of hypothermia. Tinker with St. Valentine’s master plan and you’ll end up heartbroken in disrepair. As you grandmother wisely once said: ”Don’t fuck around with love.” Listen up, buttercup.
[The Blenders, “Don’t Fuck Around with Love” Jay-Dee, 1953] [youtube id=”EhqGB9GCPB0″ width=”600″ height=”350″]
Song for the Soundtrack of Your Date Tonight
By Jeff Giles
Since I’m supposed to be supplying the married guy’s perspective this week, here’s a lovely ode to domestic bliss from Nils Lofgren. Not as sunny as your average love song, but it approaches a longterm relationship with gratifying honesty. Nils isn’t asking for anything he can’t have here, just laying bare his own flaws and showing appreciation for the woman who’s still there at the end of the day in spite of it all — then laying down a soulful, absolutely smoking guitar solo at the end. Goddamn.
Song for the Soundtrack of Your No Date Tonight
Tonight isn’t a date night for me, and why? Because I live out in the woods with my wife and kids. Yes, I’m married with children.
[Frank Sinatra, “Love & Marriage” Capitol Records, 1955] [youtube id=”Z8o7Zqv9AD4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]Song for the Soundtrack of Your Date Tonight
By Mike Heyliger
Why? Because this way I can sit back and relax while Prince Rogers Nelson does all the work. It’s not that I can’t do the work, it’s more like anything I can do would pale when compared to the falsetto cooing, shouting and cajoling Prince does. It’s the perfect song for falling in love, for getting married, or for a hardcore session of unbridled nasty. Prince is nice like that. Rappin’ till the sun comes up. Do you know what I’m saying to you this evening? Mo’ draws, mo’ draws. Until the end of time. Perhaps this is more than just a “date.” But what the hell, it’s Valentine’s Day.
[Prince, “Adore” Sign O’ The Times, Paisley Park, 1987] [youtube id=”Wuvlw8eF1YI ” width=”600″ height=”350″]Song for the Soundtrack of Your No Date
Luther (or Loofa, if you’re familiar) is best known for…uh, bringing couples together. However, for my money, his best work has been with songs that project a feeling of sadness or loneliness, with this being his magnum opus. Yeah, Dionne Warwick recorded it originally, but the detached drama of her version is no match for pain and longing of Luther’s version.Those of us who sit on the couch at night wishing for a lover (either a past lover or a hoped-for future one) to show up next to us can recite this song practically verbatim. It’s easy to be an anti-Valentine scrooge with a song like…say, Ben Folds’ “Song For The Dumped,” but this digs much, much deeper.
[Luther Vandross, “A House Is Not A Home” Never Too Much, 1981] [youtube id=”S2-PW2l4b2A” width=”600″ height=”350″]Song for the Soundtrack of Your Date Tonight
By Dave Lifton
Last weekend was special, and this one could be even better. You’ve gotten through the work week because of her texts during the day and phone calls at night. It’s been a long time since you’ve been more consumed with someone else’s happiness than your own misery. You’re feeling it happen again.
[Split Enz, “Message to My Girl” Conflicting Emotions, A&M Records, 1983] [youtube id=”YUC_jE78FNE” width=”600″ height=”350″]Song for the Soundtrack of Your No Date Tonight
The half-full bottle of Pinot Grigio in the back of the fridge reminds you that it’s been two months since you last heard from her. You polish it off in 20 minutes. You think of The One Who Got Away right after college and wonder what she’s up to. Fortunately, there is Facebook. Damn, she still looks gorgeous. And happy. With her husband and three kids.
[Tom Waits, “Martha” Closing Time, Elektra, 1973] [youtube id=”y9Mse62NFl4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]
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