Songs 4 Cynics

Happy Valentine's Day! This playlist is meant for those who believe love just isn't in the cards for them. It's for those who are afraid to let someone in, are caught in a relationship that's going down a blind alley, or are simply not ready for romance. If Cupid hasn't struck you with one of his arrows just yet, this one's for you.

1. "Brother" - The Aubreys

Why can’t I call you my baby?

'Cause I can’t and I won’t

"Brother" perfectly captures what it’s like to refuse to give yourself to someone. There could be a number of different reasons as to why — feelings could be repressed, personal priorities could conflict with a romantic relationship, or it could just be that this person really is nothing more than a friend. Finn Wolfhard, singing with a Dylan-esque quality, alludes to internal conflict in the second verse, which might reveal why the narrator isn’t quite ready to take the next step. That might be a bummer, but his intentions are far from cruel. He truly wants to love and care for this person — just not how they want him to. Besides, sometimes relationships are better off when things remain platonic.

2. "Just May Be The One" - Radiator Hospital

The dissonance that’s ringing in all our heads

Makes us wish that we were dead

It makes us wish that we had stayed in bed

A memorable thing about this song is that there is a complete shift in the narrator’s attitude from start to finish. It opens with our singer, Sam Cook-Parrott, giving an aloof, slightly apologetic explanation to the person he has deceived, perhaps accidentally, maybe intentionally. It concludes with him feeling that exact same pain, giving way to a vicious cycle. When you’re young, you mess around and have some fun. Then you get serious, open up, and get left. It's hard to let someone in after that, so you build up walls to protect yourself. This is a song for trusting hearts who are left feeling dizzy when their partners leave in the name of boredom. They’re all alone now, wishing it was impossible to be in love.

3. "Where is Everyone?" - Lunar Vacation

Always finding something wrong

Scared of falling into love

You’re overthinking, turned around

Somehow standing by yourself

Grace Repasky’s angelic voice tells the story of "the loneliest one in the world." She paints a picture of a girl stuck in her head, afraid to place her feelings in the care of another, and once she finally decides to take a chance on love, the opportunity has passed her by. Being vulnerable is hard, especially for those who have been down this trail of disappointment before. The wah of the guitar plops the listener right into the story, almost as if this were a scene in a coming-of-age film where the main character desperately chases a bus, only to get left behind — head spinning, heart empty.

4. "If I Fell" - The Beatles

If I give my heart to you

I must be sure

From the very start

That you would love me more than her

Lennon and McCartney produced pure magic when they wrote together, and "If I Fell" is proof of that. This is another song that explores vulnerability and what it is like to be cautious before making a decision that could potentially bring an agony that you’ve experienced before. There is tension when the lyrics pertain to an unloving past, and there is a delicate fragility when relating to a hopeful beginning. Doubt is sprinkled throughout the verses, "if" being the word that conveys those insecurities best. If this relationship is going to blossom into something beautiful, there has to be an absolute feeling of assurance from their love, leaving no room for uncertainty.

5. "champagne problems" - Taylor Swift

I never was ready so I watch you go

Sometimes you just don’t know the answer

’Til someone’s on their knees and asks you

Taylor Swift’s legendary songwriting skills effervescently sparkle in this song that portrays what it’s like to be in a relationship while trying to cope with mental illness. The narrator’s personal struggles make it difficult to reach a place where they are comfortable being in a committed relationship. Your partner could be the most loving, vibrant, and generous person you have ever met, but there are instances, such as this one, where it really has nothing to with them. It’s okay to step back and take some time for yourself. Giving everything you have to someone else can be draining, especially if you are still figuring out who you are and what you want.

6. "Pool" - Paramore

And I wonder, is it better to get it over with?

The illusion could shatter before we begin

If you’re really sorry, happy second chance

I think I could forgive but this time you won’t leave me sinking

Another song soaked in skepticism, "Pool" submerges you into a romance that is clearly full of anxiety. An almost defeated Hayley Williams tries to keep her head up as the tsunami that is her relationship keeps wiping her out. She recognizes that her partner is someone who takes more than they give, but regardless, hopes for a happy ending. However, the verses reveal that she understands she could let this bond drown if she wanted to. The only reason she sticks around is because she has become accustomed to this particular heartache and would rather avoid the stress that would develop with someone new. Williams is simultaneously accepting the demise of her relationship, while attempting to persuade herself into believing she can swim a little longer. There is a constant push and pull between surrender and diving right back in.

7. "Cafeteria" - Frankie Cosmos

I will never be touched

Never get f—

And I wonder what makes me so wrong

What makes me so wrong?

I never felt like the one

Self-doubt is the most crippling form of unbelief there is. Progression in your love life is hindered when you have a hard time believing anyone could ever want you. Greta Kline, front-woman, expresses this insecurity in a manner so palpable and precise. Her ability to be honest and blunt in her writing is endearing. It makes her all the more relatable. Her timid voice pierces through your soul as she delivers the most transparent lines. Though she may perceive herself as an underdog, her lyrics are timeless and she stands for all the awkward teenagers who feel unseen, who believe they will never be loved.

8. "Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground, Nico

Here she comes

You better watch your step

She’s going to break your heart in two

It’s true

"Femme fatale" literally translates to "disastrous woman." It is a phrase that refers to a beautiful and alluring female that has the ability to destroy any man who becomes romantically involved with her. This song is the epitome of romantic cynicism. Nico plays the part of an enormous yellow warning sign as she tries to prevent her male companions from falling into the trap of this seductive woman. As though entranced, Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison chant the titular expression in the background. Why would anyone want to fall in love if it is going to end with your heart obliterated? Nico makes it clear that if you're careful, this misery is avoidable. Don't bring it upon yourself.

9. "Tom Verlaine" - Alvvays

I put my money on a horse

Who won’t be steered on any course or lane

And if I ever see a dime

You’d take that money to divide and separate

Molly Rankin uses Tom Verlaine as an allegory for a partner who contributes absolutely nothing to a relationship — a relationship that is positively coming to end, and it is entirely "Tom’s" fault. This song encompasses the inability to depend on someone who is guaranteed to leave. Being in a relationship should not be a ticking time bomb. No one should have to face an impending doom. This song is reflective and full of conviction. The first couple of verses float by like a hazy dream, as mystical, haunting vocals recall the red flags that were there all along. Full of wisdom, Rankin foresees her lover’s return long after he is gone, where he'll claim to have changed. But she emphasizes that when he walks away, it better be for good.

10. "Goodbye To Love" - Phoebe Bridgers (Originally by Carpenters)

All the years of useless search have finally reached an end

Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend

From this day love is forgotten

I’ll go on as best I can

Love’s ultimate eulogy. There’s no better song to convey the hopelessness that years of heartbreak and longing bring upon a person than this one. A cover, Bridgers’ gentle voice encapsulates a downcast spirit that wants nothing more than to love and be loved. A wandering soul, searching for a home, that has regretfully resigned and accepted a lonely fate. True, there is a glimmer of hope sprinkled across a few lines, and interestingly enough, she seems at peace, but for now, love is a stranger and it might be some time before their paths cross again. What better way to profess your rejection of romance than with a kiss goodbye?