When our words fail, the melodies and lyrics of our favourite artists make up for it. Whether it's to declare our never-dying love or to bid farewell to something that was once special, music has a way of speaking the many thoughts and feelings that we can't quite articulate.
We've had a lot of songs come into our lives, some tied to sweet, blissful moments of love while others come bearing heartache and grief. We all know those songs, the ones we immediately recognise from the first beat and that conjure memories we either smile or cringe at.
So, this Valentine's day, the Bandwagon team are bringing light to those songs of our lives. On this season of hearts and all things sweet (and maybe not so sweet), we're sharing the music that have come from the love we have, the love that once was, the love that could have been, the love we yearn for, and the love that never changes.
‘Warm’ - Dre’es ft. Mia
My boyfriend and I are in a long-distance relationship, which requires a lot of effort and communication. One of the many things we both truly love is music, and I’m so glad to have found someone with similar tastes. We like to create Spotify playlists for and with each other - it’s a small but meaningful way to stay connected!
Whenever I think of him, three of these amazing songs come to mind: Warm by Dre’es and Mia, Safe by ZUHAIR & Dora Tran, and universe by thuy. Just like their titles, that’s how he makes me feel; warm, safe, and like he’s my universe. You’re amazing, Daniel. I’m mad thankful for you and the efforts you’ve put into our relationship, even when we’re miles apart. You will always be my sweet, silly, beautiful boy, forever. Happy Valentine’s Day! — Nur Ellyana, Administrative Executive
‘For Life’ - EXO
Coming from someone who’s not had to deal with the ups and downs of being in love yet, I would say this song speaks to me of what seems to be an ideal lifetime partnership. Apart from it being the sweetest, most tender song with heartwarming lyrics to match, EXO’s vocals are truly unmatched when it comes to regaling tales of impassioned love in the form of moving ballads.
These are the exact words that I would love to express to a special person someday. While I’m at it, here’s to manifesting that future somebody who will hopefully sing “Never gonna let you go, giving you my heart and soul. I’ll be right here with you for life.” to me on our special day. Because in the end, what ultimately matters is that we both are on this adventure together for life. — Glenda Lim, Writer
‘Come Back to Me’ - David Cook
Remember that episode of The Office where Michael Scott listens to James Blunt’s ‘Goodbye My Lover’ on loop after a heartbreak? I found myself in a similar situation after my heart was broken for the very first time, except the song that I had on repeat was David Cook’s ‘Come Back to Me’.
The girl that I had been dating chose not to take things further as she wanted to focus on her career, and that turned me into a complete mess. But amidst the tears, I found comfort in the American Idol Season 7 winner’s 2008 track, whose lyrics I had not been able to relate to up till then. Dedicating it to the other party was something I could not do in person after she and I went our separate ways, so I decided to do so in my head whenever I played the song during my morning commute — a form of catharsis that I desperately needed. To the one that got away, this is for you. — Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
‘Only You' - Theophilus London ft. Tame Impala
Before my boyfriend and I got together, we were hanging out and talking about music and he showed me this track. As a fan of Tame Impala, I honestly never heard this song before and I instantly fell in-love with it—and eventually fell in-love with him too, hehe. He did the dorkiest dance while this song was playing and I broke out in laughter that my tummy started hurting and every time this song comes on we both do the "dorky dance" together. To my valentine, happy anniversary and Valentine's day (we got together on Valentine's day, haha)! — Rebecca Fullett, Social Media Executive
‘Hey There Delilah’ - Plain White T’s
A guy I was talking to at the time sent me a recording of him singing a personalised version of ‘Hey There Delilah’ by the Plain White T’s, changing Delilah to my name and changing New York City to the town I lived in. The syllables didn't quite fit (he really tried, haha) but it was an apt choice since we lived quite far away from one another and he used to always ask how it was where I lived.
I’m not going to lie, I thought it was really funny and cringey at the time (and to this day) but I look back at the memory very fondly. It was the first of many songs he sang for me, but this one obviously stuck the most. I can never listen to this song without remembering his version of it and it’s still the sweetest (although admittedly cheesiest) thing anyone has done for me. It didn’t end up working out between us but I hope he’s well. — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
‘The Best Of Me’ - David Foster, Olivia Newton-John
David Foster’s songs are classics, my family always used to blast them in the car when I was growing up so hearing this song now just reminds me of the long car rides with my parents. I had a lot of childhood memories tied to this song, specifically since my mom loved it a bit too much back then and it feels so nostalgic every time I listen to it back. To this day, I think this was one the main reasons I’m into "oldies" music to the point where my friends told me I have a “taxi uncle” taste in music, haha. So, I’ll dedicate this song to my forever Valentines: my parents who are miles away. — Michelle Koswara, Video Producer
'The New' - Interpol
It started drizzling the first time I heard 'The New'. That’s how sad this song is. The song starts off with a slow, melodic bassline and abruptly morphed into a chaotic outro—kind of like what you experience in a failed relationship. I long for the day I get to watch Interpol play this song live. Valentine’s Day’s not all about love. It’s also a day for longing. This song is for those who are gone but never forgotten. — Reza Rifaldi, Video Creative
'Futile Devices' - Sufjan Stevens
There was a time when I was stuck in this weird liminal space between happy-crushing on someone and knowing I actually had a chance. I was spiraling – in Filipino, tinotopak. I couldn’t disembark from this topak train, and you bet I had a soundtrack.
Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Futile Devices’ had the exact words for that era in my life, which in hindsight was just bizarre and cringey. To think, Sufjan has this very gentle timbre, but it felt like the words were coming for me. I felt very attacked. “I would say ‘I love you’ but saying it out loud is hard / So I won’t say it at all,” he sings in the closing verse.
I’m not particularly expressive or verbose towards other people – much more a lover, and the song somehow became a vehicle for what I had wanted to convey: “You are the life I needed all along / I think of you as my brother / Although that sounds dumb / And words are futile devices.” — Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
‘She’s always a woman’ - Billy Joel
Echoing through the hallways of the house, I listened to this tune over and over again as a little girl. At that age, I just thought it was any other old-school song that my dad enjoyed. Now that I’m older, I often find myself coming back to it.
A song about fearlessness and the many facets of what being a woman is: brave, beautiful, unapologetic and sensitive. This Valentine’s day, I’m dedicating this song to myself as it serves as a reminder of the loveliness of being a woman. It reminds me of loving fearlessly and receiving what we deserve.
The early 20s is a confusing age to meet and grasp the concept of love, but I think that the best way to do it is to be a student of yourself through this journey—to cultivate love and honour yourself knowing that the world is wide as it is long and not settle for anything that costs us our peace. — Chelsea Goh, Writer
'Impossible' - Shout Out Louds
I’ve been making all sorts of mixtapes since I can remember. From recording songs from the radio on my cassette deck to burning CDs, painstakingly curating playlists on my numerous iPods, and now, picking out tracks for my Apple Music playlists. I was never confident enough to say things out loud or write them down (I’m a Scorpio, we never leave evidence), so I would use mixtapes and playlists to convey whatever it was I was feeling (plausible deniability!).
I was in an on-again, off-again relationship for the longest time with this person, and I remember making him a playlist of everything I wanted to say without me having to say it. One of the tracks was ‘Impossible’ by Shout Out Louds and it went “Let's not fall back to sleep like we used to, do you remember? / I don't want to wake up knowing I don't have a future.” It essentially summed up how I felt about the uncertainties that came with pursuing whatever was left of us, and I just didn’t want any of that anymore. I’m not entirely sure if he got what I meant with all the songs on the playlist cause I left the country for a couple of years, and cut ties completely but in any case, sending those songs was cathartic for me. Thanks for the mumuries, I don’t hate you anymore hahaha. — Camille Castillo, Editorial Director
‘Heartache’ - One Ok Rock
This song hit so hard on me because when I was falling for this guy (who's now my current boyfriend hehe) during my internship days way back in 2014. He was so unavailable at that time and wasn't open to dating then because he just broke up with his ex-girlfriend of 8 years. I felt hurt, I fell so deeply in love but I thought of giving up. My internship was about to end anyway, we'd have no reason to interact with each other anymore (or so I thought, haha).
One day, we watched the movie, Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends together with our friends and this song was the ending OST. It hit so hard. This song reflected my journey in pursuing the guy I had no expectations of reciprocating my feelings. But regardless of meaning and reason, I love this song so much and this song made me such a diehard fan of One Ok Rock. — Michee Javier, Animator
'Bubblegum K.K.' - K.K. Slider
Animal Crossing: New Horizons couldn't have come at a better time. With the world trapped indoors due to the coronavirus lockdown, a game where you get to escape to a desert island (with cute animal friends, no less) and start a new life made real life a little more bearable. Since my then-boyfriend and I couldn't be with each other during this time, we took to Animal Crossing to stay connected in a more interactive way. There was this one song in the game called 'Bubblegum K.K.' by island doggo superstar K.K. Slider we absolutely loved. We loved it so much that we had it playing all over our respective islands. My then-fiancé even made a cover of it, which we ended up using as the music for our wedding video. — Kara Bodegón-Hikino, Contributing Writer
'Linger' - The Cranberries
My go-to karaoke song took on a new meaning when I sang it that one time to a certain boy. He was tall and cute, which is always a plus, but what I really liked about him was that he spoke with eloquence and acted with kindness. Plus, the first time I met him, he smelled really, really good.
So there I was in my early 20s, still trying to figure out how liking someone "as an adult" works. And really, I don't know what came over me: the next thing I knew, I was on my knees in this mock-proposal pose, singing-declaring: You know I'm such a fool for you right in front of him!
He was a good sport. I thought I saw a tiny, tiny smile; I can never be sure. What I am certain of is how this experience (with a few more others) made quite an impact on my life: a little over a decade later, he still has me wrapped around his finger. — Maddie Castillo, Staff Writer
'Sweet Disposition' - The Temper Trap
When I think of the song 'Sweet Disposition' by The Temper Trap, I’m instantly transported back to the first-ever Wanderland Music Festival in 2013. I was a go-to then for folks who had to have their hands on a pass, and it was all in a day’s work to meet all these strangers who shared the same love for music.
I met one of them at the festival gates on the day of. It was a quick exchange, like all the others. Well it was, until we found ourselves surprisingly seated in the same spot on the festival grounds. And the rest, as they say, is history.
A decade later, we’re still together and this song never fails to bring back fond memories of that fleeting encounter at the festival that turned into a long-lasting love story. — Stan Castillo, Contributor
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