5 Songs That Make Me Feel
In honor of Valentine’s Day and all the feelings that come with it.
Valentine’s Day is all about love—the joy, the romance, the happily-ever-afters. But if you’re not feeling that, whether single or in a relationship that’s more complicated than blissful, it can seem like you’re doing something wrong. The truth is, love isn’t just about the highs. The heartbreak, longing, and uncertainty shape us too. Even the hard feelings have meaning, teaching us what we want, what we deserve, and making the good moments even sweeter. Feeling deeply is a gift, no matter the emotion—and these songs remind me of that.
Just The Same by Bruno Major
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube
A heartfelt song about loving someone just the same, even when they hurt you or push you away.
I was a bit late to the game in discovering this song, but when I did a deep dive into Bruno Major’s discography last year, it immediately hit home. I ended up really connecting with a lot of music on his ‘A Song For Every Moon’ and ‘To Let a Good Thing Die’ albums. The dreamy quality of his music only amplifies the weight of his words, making it feel like he’s giving voice to feelings you didn’t even know how to articulate.
Lyric Spotlight: “I would love you just the same, so do your worst to me”
There’s something quietly devastating about this kind of love—the kind that stays, even when it hurts. This line sits in that space where love isn’t about pride or self-protection; it just is. It’s not about what’s fair or even what’s best for you—it’s about accepting someone fully, flaws and all, even when they push you away. It’s the kind of love that lingers, whether or not it’s returned in the way you need.
Do I Wanna Know? by Hozier (Arctic Monkeys Cover)
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube (Live from the BBC)
A moody track about wanting someone who might not feel the same, wrapped in late-night thoughts and uncertainty.
Originally recorded in 2014 as a live performance for BBC, this song has recently found new life on TikTok. The Arctic Monkeys’ original version carries a haunting, edgy rock energy, while Hozier’s take is softer, more vulnerable. It strips the song down to its aching core, making it feel even more intimate. Hozier has a way of pulling you deep into the emotional undercurrent of a song—his version feels like a confession whispered into the dark. If this resonates, I would also recommend ‘Work Song’, ‘Hymn to Virgil’, and ‘Unknown/Nth’.
Lyric Spotlight: “Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new”
This line hits because it’s not just about missing someone—it captures that emotional paralysis—being physically present in the world but emotionally stuck in the past, unable to open yourself up to something new. The lyrics explore the internal struggle of unrequited love, longing, and emotional limbo—being stuck in a place where you can’t move on but also can’t fully have the person you want. Hozier’s version strips it down and leans into the sadness, making it feel more like someone sitting alone with their thoughts, quietly admitting that they’re not over it yet.
Edge of Desire by John Mayer
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube
A raw, aching plea for love and connection, balancing on the edge of desire and self-destruction.
John Mayer is a legend for a reason, and Edge of Desire is one of those songs that has followed me through so many seasons of life. It’s not necessarily the first track you’d put on a “Greatest Hits” playlist, but for those who know, they know. I’ve listened to this song for over a decade, and every time, it still hits just as hard. There’s something about the desperate, reckless yearning in it—like a last-ditch attempt to hold onto something slipping away.
Lyric Spotlight: “I want you so bad I'll go back on the things I believe”
There’s a quiet kind of destruction in this line. The idea that love—or at least the need for someone—can make you abandon the parts of yourself you thought were non-negotiable. It’s the kind of feeling that makes you willing to rewrite your own rules just to have one more moment with someone. It’s messy, but it’s honest.
Glimpse of Us by Joji
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube
A bittersweet ballad about longing for a past love while trying to move forward with someone new.
In all honesty, this was my most listened-to song of 2024. There’s something about the way Joji delivers this track—his voice, the haunting simplicity of the melody—that makes it linger long after it ends. It takes me to a place within myself I didn’t even know existed until I really listened. Even though it’s a relatively simple song, it creates space for complicated, conflicting emotions.
Lyric Spotlight: “Why then, if she's so perfect, do I still wish that it was you?”
This line is brutal because it’s so honest. That feeling of being with someone who, on paper, is everything you should want—but your heart is still somewhere else. It’s not about whether the new person is good enough; it’s about the quiet, involuntary pull of nostalgia and unresolved feelings. Unfortunately, moving on isn’t as simple as finding someone new.
Hymne à l’amour by Céline Dion (Édith Piaf Cover)
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube (Live from the Olympic Games)
A deep, passionate love song about being willing to go through anything for the person you love.
Céline Dion has this unmatched ability to pour her entire soul into a performance, and her rendition of this song—especially at the Olympic opening ceremony—was breathtaking. The first time I heard it, I was boarding a flight and ended up crying the whole way. Not out of sadness, but because the idea of loving someone that purely and that deeply just moved me. It also made me think of the people in my life who have loved so fiercely and lost. Whether through death or heartbreak, love leaves its mark, and this song made me sit with that. And, as someone open to love, it also reminded me that love like this does exist.
Lyric Spotlight: “Si un jour, la vie t'arrache à moi
If one day, life takes you away from meSi tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi
If you die and are far from mePeu m'importe si tu m'aimes
It doesn’t matter, as long as you love meCar moi je mourrais aussi
For I will die tooNous aurons pour nous l'éternité
We will have eternity togetherDans le bleu de toute l'immensité
In the endless blue expanseDans le ciel plus de problèmes
In the heavens, troubles fade awayDieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment
God reunites those who love each other”
These lyrics are pure devotion. They capture the kind of love that transcends time, distance, even death. The idea that love isn’t just about being together in the present—it’s something that endures, that stays with you even when the person is gone. There’s an almost spiritual quality to it, and it’s impossible to listen without feeling it.
For more music like this, listen to my intentionally curated playlist: W’s Feels