Every time February rolls around, I’m prepared to be inundated with love songs thanks to that commercial holiday that falls on the 14th. Fortunately, I actually don’t mind love songs at all—in fact, would it be weird to say I love love songs?

I once had a conversation with an artist who pointed out that love is such a common theme across all musicians and musical genres because it’s the one thing that everyone can relate to in some way, shape or form. Even if you don’t have a significant other, you hold love for other people in your life—friends, family, your pets and, hopefully, yourself. Of course, love songs aren’t always about the happy parts of partnerships. But if you can’t relate to heartbreak, you can at least recall moments of deep pain or heartache and translate the meaning of those songs to fit your past experiences.

I definitely find that the most gut-wrenching, beautiful, honest and real songs are about love, so I wanted to compile a few of my faves. In this month’s playlist, enjoy three hours of tunes about love and being so over love (because sometimes it can all just be a little ugh).

I purposely ordered this playlist to reflect the entire cycle of love, from beginning, to end and back again.

I personally love the rush that comes along with developing a crush, and former Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke captures that blossoming self love perfectly on her new debut single “Low Key.” It’s basically saying, hey, I know I’m pretty awesome, and if you don’t appreciate that get lost. To be fair, if someone doesn’t appreciate you for you, they don’t deserve to be with you—period.

Then comes the point where you and your bae are madly in love and you don’t want to spend any time apart. “Anywhere with you feels right,” sings Lauv on “Paris in the Rain.” “Anywhere with you feels like / Paris in the rain.” Goals, right?

Unfortunately, not every love story comes with a happy ending. 5 Seconds of Summer’s recent collab with The Chainsmokers, “Who Do You Love,” begs for the truth after some shady business reveals potential infidelity. On “in my head,” Ariana Grande grapples with the reality that she was never in love with her partner, but rather a version of them that she had created in her head. Unfortunately, despite any efforts to the contrary, they cannot be moulded into that perfect image.

A Tori Kelly classic, “Should’ve Been Us” is the epitome of the heartbreak stage—thinking of what could have been and wishing things hadn’t ended. Not even “Mary Jane” can help relieve Dua Lipa’s heartbreak on “Thinking ‘Bout You.”

Of course, it’s kind of hard to move past heartbreak when you’re surrounded by love songs—a real ouch when it’s songs that bring back positive memories of your last relationship. Lauv and Troye Sivan have been there before—check out their new collab “i’m so tired…”. “Party / Trying my best to meet somebody,” Lauv sings. “But everybody around me’s fallin’ in love to our song.”

Fortunately, if you’re able to catch a breather from the love songs and thoughts of your ex, you can take time to replenish your self love and remind yourself you’re awesome with or without a partner. You know, “thank u, next.”

Share your favourite love songs with me in the comments below or via Twitter @angelamcleanx! I could do an entire playlist on summer love songs…and I just might do it. 🙂 

Happy listening xx