It’s finally February, and you know what that means: Valentine’s Day! A holiday that celebrates love, relationships, and milk chocolate.
Well, for some.
For those of us in monogamous relationships, Valentine’s Day can be a romantic way to express love for our partner. But for those of us having a “void-less Valentine’s Day,” here are 10 singles for singles to help you feel a little less alone this Valentine’s Day.
- “Crush Culture” by Conan Gray
Conan Gray originally released “Crush Culture” as a single from his 2018 EP Sunset Season.
In early interviews, Gray discussed his disconnect from the dating world.
“I’ve never dated anyone before,” he said. “I’m like nineteen, and I still haven’t even had my first kiss yet. But like, throughout high school, all my friends were always dating people and going through a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends and things like that, so I was always super bitter about it, you know. I’d see them, and I was like, ‘Ugh, disgusting, ya’ll are so in love,’ and I didn’t have it at all.”
This is a theme that is reflected in the song’s loveless perspective.
“Crush Culture” captures the isolating experience of observing romantic relationships from a single person’s point of view.
- “Nobody” by Mitski
Similar in theme to Gray’s “Crush Culture” is Mitski’s “Nobody.”
This is another vibrant pop single from 2018 that questions the futility of modern-day relationships.
- “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette
Morissette released “You Oughta Know” in 1995, serving as the lead single from her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill.
Known for her fearless emotional honesty, Morissette delivers one of her most raw and unflinching self-portraits in this track, confronting the intensity of love, heartbreak, and betrayal with raw, unforgettable power.
- “Nothing Matters” by The Last Dinner Party
The Last Dinner Party’s 2024 hit single, “Nothing Matters,” is a dramatic old-world-inspired anthem that flips the traditional Valentine’s Day narrative.
Rather than centering on long-term stability or fairytale romance, the song embraces emotional intensity and impulsive desires.
- “Why Do I Cry” by Margo Guryan
While Margo Guryan does not write with the same level of aggression as the previous artists, her work conveys a similar sense of yearning.
“Why do I cry? / On a Sunday morning / After Saturday night, was such a wonderful night / I should be glad / Be glad that I could spend one night a week with you,” Guryan sings.
These lyrics capture the emotional vulnerability and disillusionment that can accompany romance.
- “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star
Like Guryan, Mazzy Star writes in a similar way that provokes sad white women alike.
“I wanna hold the hand inside you / I wanna take the breath that’s true / I look to you and I see nothing / I look to you to see the truth / You live your life, you go in shadows / You’ll come apart and you’ll go blind / Some kind of night into your darkness / Colors your eyes with what’s not there,” singer of Mazzy Star, Hope Sandoval sings.
That melancholic feel of Mazzy Star’s music comes from the space between people, wanting to merge emotionally but being met with distance, ambiguity, or silence.
- “Love Me Anyway” by Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan released “Love Me Anyway” in 2020 before The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess came out in 2023.
Roan claims that the track was not included on her debut album because it did not fit the narrative.
However, I will continue to argue that “Love Me Anyway” was wrongfully cut from the album and is one of her best deep cuts.
Roan writes about navigating a dysfunctional relationship. She is telling us to “love anyway,” without shrinking ourselves
- “Everyone Adores You (at least I do)” by Matt Maltese
Maltese shines in his 2021 single, “Everyone Adores You (at least I do).” In an almost obsessive manner, Maltese writes, “So terrified of the road that takes you, / Me too / Don’t modify, everyone adores you / At least I do.”
“Everyone Adores You (at least I do)” is a love letter to the hopeless romantics fearing the fear of being feared.
- “This Modern Love” by Bloc Party
Bloc Party’s “This Modern Love” effortlessly combines themes of love with loss. The loss of love, emotional detachment.
Modern love is complicated and unpredictable, as you may recall Conan Gray and Mitski humming about.
Before I conclude the list of recommended singles for singles, I do have a few honorable mentions that unfortunately did not make the cut, as they were not released as singles.
These songs include “Valentine” by Fiona Apple and “Step on Me” by The Cardigans. While these songs are bright in tone, both have a dark truth hidden that captures the emotional imbalance of relationship dynamics.
- “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn
In terms of singles, I recommend “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn.
Robyn reminds us through her lyrics that spending Valentine’s Day alone can still be empowering.
So, queue up my “Void-less Valentine’s Day” playlist and, like Robyn suggests, dance on your own.
If you want to listen to the songs on this list, click here!
