The Erie Reader's 2023 Valentine's Day Mixtape

SJM Photos

We made you a mix -- that must mean we like you. 

Carrying on the tradition started last year, 25 of our contributing writers and staff here at the Erie Reader have collaborated to bring you a playlist of love-ish songs. Many have chosen to include a short explanation of why they chose their particular songs – with reasons varying from heartbreak to wedding songs, an aha! moment, or wistful nostalgia. On Valentine's Day, or anytime you need a reminder of love, feel free to enjoy this mix from all of us, to all of you. 

"A Stone" by Okkervil River

A heart wrenching fairy tale ballad about a cycle of projected and unrequited love — the final three verses are quite simply some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written. -Nick Warren

"She Chose Me" by Randy Newman

Apart from being a living legend (Randy Newman is known for scoring a number of Pixar films) this song is an original, but the strings make it feel like a fairy tale, and that's why it's the first song I danced to with my wife at our wedding. -Aaron Mook

"Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles

This was one of our wedding songs along with "Our Love is Here to Stay." For our recent 20th anniversary, I had a spectrogram made of Here Comes the Sun and Mike found a spectrogram of Our Love and made me a clock with the pattern. -Mary Birdsong

"First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes

Call me a sap, but this song felt deeply important to me at a pivotal moment in my relationship with my husband (before he was my husband), when I felt as if I just woke up. It took on greater meaning when my first child was born; it's a real "can't listen without tearing up" situation. -Erin Phillips

"Never Say Never" by Romeo Void

With its themes of sexual depravity it's an anti-love song… plus it has a great sax part. -Justus Cotterill

"Messages" by Orchestral Manoeuvers In the Dark -Melissa Sullivan Shimek

"In Our Time (I'll Always Love You)" by Hamilton Leithauser -Jonathan Burdick

"Wooden Ships" by Crosby Stills Nash and Young

David Crosby was a huge influence for me even though I was 4 when this song came out. In college I was turned onto it via the Jefferson Airplane version. The song is still haunting for me. RIP David Crosby, you will be sorely missed. -John Bavaro

"I'm In Love With You" by The 1975 

This song is the perfect blend of a ballad/declaration of love and an upbeat, catchy tune, making it the perfect addition to any V-Day playlist. -Ally Kutz

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" by Paul Simon

Graceland was an album my girlfriend and I bonded over early on, and that song was always a favorite. It has sort of that new relationship energy to it: fun, up tempo, like you might get carried away with even more than you expected. -Tommy Link

"The Way" by Bruce Springsteen

At 3:23 of the song "City of Night," a secret song called "The Way" starts up, and it's the most romantic song I've ever heard. -Jordan Coon

"Surrender" by Suicide

For me, the best love songs are those that you could put on a mixtape for someone when you just start dating and you can also put on repeat after a horrible breakup. This haunting love song hits all the right spots. -Larry Wheaton

"IllLeaveItUpToYou" by surrenderdorothy

I love this one! It's a short song but I think it's cute! -Cypher Eihwaz

"Dreams" by The Cranberries

Great song about what it feels like to truly fall in love, also featured in Wong Kar-wai's incredible film Chungking Express. -Forest Taylor

"Lost Me" by Giveon

I love this song because it's beautiful sonically, but the message about not wanting to get into anything serious because of past hurt really resonates with me. Sometimes chemistry feels safer than a commitment, unfortunately. -Charles Brown

"Bound to You" by Christina Aguilera

It is mine and my wife's song. -Michael Hull

"I Hope You're Happy" by Blue October

This song may not fit into a Valentine's Day love song playlist since it's kind of a breakup song. But I'm kind of in a blue mood this February and it's a long story… -Bryan Toy

"LOVE." by Kendrick Lamar

Great song, pretty self-explanatory. -Adam Welsh

"Cupid" by Sam Cooke

Probably the most literal Valentine's Day song imaginable, since it is genuinely about the little guys with the arrows that you put up in your doorway for the holiday. -Dan Schank

"Flowers" by Miley Cyrus

It's a mood. -Amy VanScoter

"Sea of Love" by Cat Power

It's so simple yet so beautiful. Reminds me how important it is to say "I love you." -Jessica Hunter

"Take it Easy (Ever After Lasting Love)" by White Denim -Matt Swanseger

"Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante

I reached way back to the "Sleepless in Seattle" soundtrack to hear Jimmy Durante sing "Make Someone Happy." Eric makes me laugh every day. And that makes me happy all year long, but especially on Valentine's Day. -Liz Allen

"The Ballad of Love and Hate" by The Avett Brothers

Cheesy? Sure. But cheesy can be good -- especially on V-Day and with ballads. The storytelling in this song shines, as a dialogue through letters, thoughts, and interactions playing out with Love and Hate coming together in the same room as the song ends. Spoiler alert: Love wins the day!  -Ben Speggen

"Hands on the Wheel" by Willie Nelson

At the end of an album filled with heartache and despair, the Red Headed Stranger finds redemption in love. -Brian Graham