I’m looking forward to a lot of things this Valentine’s Day. The pretty decorations, the candy, the free stuff… oh and sharing love with the people in my life, of course. One of my favorite things to do with friends and family is share music! Music is not only one of things I love most about humanity and its ability to create, but also a way of sharing love. Maybe you need a soundtrack to yearn to. Maybe there’s a song you and that special person in your life share. Maybe music holds heartfelt memories. Or maybe you just like the groove. We asked WT students and staff about their favorite love songs and what they mean to them, so let’s share some love! Below are some highlights of WT’s favorite love songs.
Mr. Miller – “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
“It’s a classic, and Al Green is as smooth as can be.”
Mr. Maione – “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
“A simple, wonderful romantic song I often played and sang in bands…did so with the band at me and Judy’s wedding almost 46 years ago…changed a few words and it became a lullaby to my grandkids…great song.”
Jae Reynolds ’26 – “Valentine” by Laufey
“I LOVE THE SOUND!!! it’s just so good :))”
Nora Faraci ’25 – “A Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James
“Very soulful- makes you feel in love – very good lyrics simple yet large message <3”
Hannah Hammons ’25 – “Promise Me” by Badflower
“It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of loving being with someone, and wanting to feel that forever. You never want the person you love to grow up and die. This song is a modern rock song, yet tells the story through the lyrics so eloquently. It is ethereal and nostalgic. It is one of those songs that makes me feel loved and melancholic at the same time. I recommend giving it a listen.”
Emi Neuer ’26 – “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” by Queen
“Because I love queen in general, also the queer pining.”
Ms. Oglesby – “In A Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
“It’s jazzy and doesn’t tell you how to relate to love, you just engage with love however you see fit at that moment as you listen.”
Emily Tea ’25 – “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” by The Script
“The lyrics just flow so well together and i could listen to it on repeat for hours and not get tired of it. also the lyrcis are sweet and meaningful and its a perfect sing-a-long song.”
Ms. Belfiore – “Your Song” by Elton John
“It was the first song that came to mind, to be honest. But I also listened to Elton John a lot growing up and this song was always one of my favorites. I think it’s kind of special that the idea of love in this song was as meaningful to me as a kid as it is now. To me this song represents the simplicity of love–that it’s not about the frills or complications or drama but rather just the innocence and humbleness that comes with feeling love for someone. And I’ve always loved the line “how wonderful life is, now you’re in the world.” I think it’s a very lovely notion to share with someone.”
Gaia Ferency ’25 – “CURSE (for Devi)” by Ada Rook
“It’s a genuine, sharp, and personal expression of love which puts all the glamorous and sappy pop songs to shame with its unrelenting honesty and raw compassion.”
Mrs. Sickler – “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” by Talking Heads, but specifically the cover by Iron & Wine
“While it’s a cliche, I think this is one of the greatest love songs because it feels like it’s a parent-child, familial-type of love, storge-type love. The lines, “I come home, she lifted up her wings” always makes me think of the protection of a mother’s body and how mom hugs always feel so safe. The lines, “out of all those kinds of people, you’ve got a face with a view” also makes me think about how much time I spend looking at my kid’s faces. I want to memorize their freckles and the different colors in their eyes. The shape of their noses and their chins. My daughter has one dimple, and I never noticed any dimples before in my life, and now I feel like I notice them all the time, just because I looked at her dimple so much. And then, “did I find you or you find me?” is so much about parenting, I think. I mean, how does children get placed in a family? In the balance of the universe, why do I do to get the children I have? It’s just the best, and it makes me cry all the time. Also, there is a playlist on Spotify called “This Must Be the Song” and it’s just covers of this song, so that’s a common play in my classroom and my general life.”
Mikayla Nowlin ’25 – “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder
“It beautifully captures what love is and it’s the song my mom loved. She shared her love of Stevie Wonder with me and my siblings. And I have fond memories of her singing with my dad.”
Natalie Azar ’24 – “Ma Chérie” by Palaye Royale
“I love this song because it’s an entirely different style from the rest of Palaye Royale’s music. It’s a little more alternative and folksy than their usual hard rock. Though this song is more about unrequited love, it’s still cute. In fact, I’ve shared this song with every boy I’ve ever seriously romantically entertained (two whole boys!). You’d think that I’d hate it by now considering that none of my romantic endeavors have been successful, but I don’t. Perhaps it’s because I’m an obnoxious fan girl. Perhaps it’s something in the air. The world may never know.”
Nazhet Al-Khafaji ’27 – “Invisible string” by Taylor Swift
“It’s a song that just has that airy and light feeling of being in love. I found it interesting how it described the destiny of that kind of love, it calls for the “invisible string theory” its the idea that everyone who has touched your life in some way is connected to you by an invisible string, and that everything is destined to be.”
Brynne “Danger” McSorley ’24 – “Zion” by Lauryn Hill
“It’s just the most incredible song about a mother’s love for her child- I listen to the Album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill constantly with my own mom, especially in the car on our long commutes. it’s a favorite album of hers that she introduced to me when I was young and is now my favorite too.”
Mr. Krause – “Radar Detector” by Darwin Deez
“Who doesn’t love clunky metaphors? Plenty of people, but I’m certainly not one of them. The sentiment of comparing your new loved one to a radar detector (a device used by drivers to tell if their speed is being monitored by law enforcement) is strange yet sincere; this person in your life is aware that you’re one to be wired, but is still always looking out for your well-being. They’re not the one monitoring or ticketing you, instead they’re the one knowing just how much to indulgence is appropriate before you should slow down for your own safety. At some point, I concluded each of my college radio shows with this song, dancing with my co-host(s) in the control room while we shut everything down–and hopefully not encouraging any tuned-in motorists to ‘drive a thousand miles an hour.’”
Charlotte Benninghoff ’24 – “Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina
“My grandma used to sing this song to me when I was little.”
Ella Joseph ’26 – “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer
“Because my mom used to play it on her guitar which she rarely plays plus the chord progression is such a slay.”
Dr. Andy – “You Make It Real” by James Morrison
“Singer songwriter vibe. The message and my wife, Brittany, and I danced our first dance together at our wedding to this song.”
Lilly Kwiecinski ’25 – “Fool” by Frankie Cosmos
“It’s so simple but it sounds like the smell of marshmallows.”
Now we’ve all got a good handful of songs to backtrack this upcoming Valentines day!
