11 Comments

Enjoyed listening to this. Songs about the underside of love are always better imo!

So many songs I would love to choose on this theme:

More well known choices would be Coffee by Chappell Roan and Cornerstone by Arctic Monkeys but I’d also go for Baby by Black Honey which is about recognising you are at the end of a relationship, Eclipse by Prima Queen which is about being too messed up from a previous relationship to fully embrace a new one, and Love Is A Serious Mental Illness by Chilli Jesson - the title says it all!

I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention We Are Scientists. A myriad to choose from but I’d go with Textbook, containing the line “I’m smitten but not stupid” which seems pretty apt for the theme in hand.

Expand full comment

The first song that came to my mind is Wolf Alice’s cover of Desire (originally by years & years)- not on Spotify, but on YouTube https://youtu.be/RFov9U27EjI?si=r-MCNnPRY-ab_oM9 also one of my favorite covers.

Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups is another that came to mind.

Love Depeche Mode and the National, and Silly Girl is one of my favorite Descendents songs!

Expand full comment

I love recommendations, as you already know. Thanks for these, Kristin.

Silly Girl is in my top 5. Eventually I’ll do a Descendents starter list and it will definitely be on it!

Expand full comment

I like this; I'm not a huge fan of love songs, which means the ones I like tend to be offbeat (though more likely to be humorous than dark).

For me the theme song for the whole question would be John Hartford's "Trying To Do Something To Get Your Attention" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eHUVcOyPlE ("You know, as much of a lift

As love songs are / They sure are hard to write")

Teddy Thompson has a knack for writing catchy, self-lacerating songs, and this makes me think of "Looking For a Girl" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRk2ai8T9tg Consider the level of sarcasm in a lyric like, "I've been looking for a girl won't scream and shout / When I disappear for weeks like a roustabout / This kind of good lovin' is hard to find"

For a genuine love song, how about "Wichita Lineman" ("And I need you more than I want you. /

And I want you for all time.") I love this live version so much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GWF0RwVVjo

I'm sure I'll think of more.

Expand full comment

I think going for the less-listened rather than the overdone, sometimes syrupy, love song is definitely a draw! I can’t want to check out your suggestions.

Expand full comment

My suggestions are a bit all over the place; I was brainstorming a bit, but hopefully you'll like at least one of them.

Expand full comment

My playlist was already all over the place, so no worries!

Expand full comment

A few more than I thought of this morning.

"We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In the Morning" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8c2SI1bq1E

"You and Me" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNnBcCk7eDA ("They say everything it happens for a reason / You can be flawed enough but perfect for a person" )

Which makes me think of the John Prine song

"In Spite Of Ourselves" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-YzlbgEOOA (just a lovely video)

Finally, would you count this as an uncommon love song?

"Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ7sL9rdl58

Expand full comment

This is an interesting and inspired list! I don't know most of these songs but if "Blame Brett" is any indication, the songs are definitely "uncommon love songs!"

Expand full comment

LOL. That one fits a VERY niche love song sub-genre! And what can I say? I think you’ve already figured out I have a few quirks, Dan! LOL.

Expand full comment

Hola , Aquí Te Dejo Una Canción De Amor Muy Desconocida. Un Saludo. 1- https://open.spotify.com/track/1pBBjuIjTZEEynHAvdJiOy?si=YaBA4O1JQ2mDsRPgiz2-IA

Expand full comment