A Small, Neat Journal

Merchants Of Air's Massive Valentines Day Feature

12/2/2017

Aah, Valentine's Day, the one day of the year that some people actually realize that love is important. Some people melt on this day, others freeze to solid rocks of emotionless ice. Some buy their loved ones a bunch of flowers, others hide in the bedroom with some strange toys. Speaking about toys, you might enjoy THIS article. Anyway, here's a bunch of words, songs and videos about love. For this article, we threw a bunch of questions in our Super Secret Merchants Of Air Writers Community. Yes, it's a group thing. Wanna join? Well, become a writer. Hah!

Fifteen Songs To Add To Your Valentine's Day Playlist

We kick off with some nice love songs for a romantic date. We asked our writers to pick their favorite love songs. However, be aware that our team consists of alternativos and weirdos, so don't expect too much honey-dripping nonsense about eternal flames that would do anything for you because they will always love you. For some reason, we selected these fifteen songs...

Noordkaap - Ik Hou Van U

This can't be any simpler. The song title translates to 'I Love You'. This song by Belgian rockers Noordkaap is an uplifting waltz, irresistible for pretty much every man and woman in Flanders.

The Cure - Pictures Of You

For some here at Merchants Of Air, this song is the ultimate tearjerker (even in a sold-out Sportpaleis with a cringe worthy awful sound - read). The Cure has always been a melancholic band but this one is so beautiful.

Simply Red - Stars

It might surprise you that we picked an act that comes in the much feared reign of commercial music but we have a damn good reason for that. Simply Red is one of those artists who combine excellent musicianship with inelaborate but touching lyrics. So yes, this song belongs here.

Queen - You're My Best Friend

Queen is another one of those bands that easily managed to please fans of pop music and alternativos alike. Besides, a good lover is always a best friend. So this was another excellent choice.

Bob Marley - Is this Love

We'll share the shelter, of my single bed,
We'll share the same room, yeah!
Yes, Bob, that is love...

LL Cool J - I Want Love

Oh man, puberty, what a waste of time and hormones. Still, this is one of the most beautiful things ever to emerge from the hip-hop scene. That being said, today that scene is all about "smacking bitches and grinding hoes", so yeah, the hip hop scene needs a bit of love...

Paranoiacs - I Think I Love You

Once dubbed "The Belgian Ramones", punk act The Paranoiacs wrote tonnes of songs about love and about breaking up. Why? Well, according to an interview, they just wrote about the things that kept them busy and that thing was love. Simple but effective.

Nick Cave - Into My Arms

I've always liked Cave's piano ballads and you have to admit, this one is a "tile sticker" (*)

(*) being Flemish, we couldn't find a better word than "tile-sticker". The word basically reflects the way people dance to these ballads, close together, not occupying more than one tile on the dance floor.

Massive Attack - Live With Me

Trip hop legends Massive Attack delivered a stunning piece of music with this one, deeply emotional and perfectly capable of causing rivers of tears.

Scorpions - Still Loving You

The world of hard rock and metal is not really famous for their love songs. Yet, probably one of the most famous love songs in the history of music comes from a hard rock band. No need to go into details on this one. Just lay back and enjoy this beauty.

Devin Townsend Project - Ih-Ah!

This is a beautiful cooperation between Devin Townsend and Anneke Van Giersbergen. Furthermore, it's an another prime example of how the heaviest and loudest musicians in the world know how to make emotional ballads.

Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

With this one, I'd like to focus on the women in the music industry and their beautiful love songs. In short, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Beyonce and pretty much all their present-day colleagues can learn a thing or two about icons like Aretha Franklin. Even better, can't we just toss the barbie dolls aside and listen to some real women?

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song

To expand the tribute to women, this breathtaking soul-jazz piece by Roberta Flack certainly deserves a place on this list. The song was covered quite successfully by The Fugees, a band with probably one of the last real talented singers in the pop scene.

Ramones - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

Punk rock usually isn't know for their loving lyrics but punk rockers do have a heart (and it's usually in the right place too). The Ramones delivered an extremely clear message in 1980 when the unleashed this fine tune.

The Beatles - All You Need Is Love

And we finish this list with the Beatles and their hit 'All You Need Is Love'. Why? Well, basically because it's true...

Bonus: Misantronics - For The Love Of The Unknown

As if this whole article is one big advertisement for Serge's own project Misantronics, here is an experimental ambient love song. My wife reminded me of this tune, and it's a love song indeed, one for her. (download for free if you like)

Fifteen anti-love songs

Then, we asked our writers to give us some anti-love songs. Apparently, that was quite a confusing question but we still managed to list fifteen songs that place love in a different light.

Skunk Anansie - Weak

This strong statement about heartbreak has surely passed the test of time. It will always be known as Skunk Anansie's biggest hit but there's a good reason for that. This one helped a lot of adolescents deal with their heartbreaks, that's for sure.

Royal Republic - Tommy-Gun

Apparently, this song is about someone who has been really naughty and therefore has to be turned into an emo, or something like that. I, the writer of this article, didn't know the song so there is not much I can say about it. However, it rocks which is all I need...

Reel Big Fish - I Know You Too Well To Like You Anymore

Well, this one speaks for itself, doesn't it? Happens all the time...

Novembers Doom - Last God

Back to the 'getting through breakups and heartaches", this downright depressing Novembers Doom track had been accompanying one of our writers throughout the darker days. Of course, doom metal often helps shedding the tears and cleansing the soul...

Puissance - Love Incinerate

"Oh, but this one has beautiful classical arrangements and instrumentation". Well, Swedish martial neoclassical music group Puissance doesn't care about love. They don't care about beauty and they certainly don't care about you. told you this was an anti-love list, didn't I?

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

I heard this song on a wedding once. I wasn't very surprised to hear that they broke up a few years later. Nuff said.

Archive - Get Out

Ok, message understood, moving on...

Ugly Kid Joe - Everything About You

Play this to your Valentine's Day date and you'll get all the time you need to play video games...

Adam Sandler - Somebody Kill me Please

I don't know if he realized it, but Adam Sandler wrote the ultimate heartbreak anthem for the grunge era with this song from 'The Wedding Singer'.

Ben Folds Five - Song for the Dumped

Hurray, financial complications after a breakup. That's all we need, right?
(oh, and to my ex: if you read this, give me back my guitar!!!)...

Misfits - Die, Die My Darling

...or else

Katastroof - Afscheid

Belgian bards Katastroof are usually known for their songs about booze and women but, like no other, these guys know how to write hurtful emotional ballads. This one is about a breakup after several years of marriage and the pain it causes.

The Gathering - Shrink

I know, Anneke Van Giersbergen is listed twice in this article but fact is, Anneke can come sit behind a piano in my living room anytime. The most beautiful female voice in the history of metal delivered this creeping tearjerker on the album 'Nighttime Birds', an absolute favorite for thousands of broken hearted people.

Nancy Sinatra - Boots

Another woman from the talent-era, Nancy Sinatra blasted this "get-off-me" anthem into people's faces in 1966. Even KMDFM's version wasn't as powerful as Nancy's.

Nazareth - Love Hurts

Ok, we'll get to sexy time soon, but for now, allow yourself a good sob...

Sexy time songs

Well, if your date goes well, you might be in for some lustful adventures. We asked our writers to pick their favorite sex songs. These are the answers

During what?

Fuck Off, You Bastard!

So we kindly asked them to list some turn offs. That was a bit easier.

-Justin Bieber
-Bruno Mars
-Anything Dutch

Still, here are a few sexy songs, delivered by the weird minds at Merchants Of Air. We're not going into descriptions and details on this one... Some kids read this website too you know...