On the Record: A Valentine's Day Special

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Valentine's Day just begs for music to give its flavor — all about love, affection, romance, even raw seduction if you're feeling adventurous. Like the old Shakespeare quote that you see adorned on countless Tumblr blogs and Amazon vinyl packages, "If music be the food of love, play on." How about that My Chemical Romance song that reminds you of your first love? Or the D'Angelo song that provided just the right atmosphere for that make-out sesh? Songs can serve as time capsules — instant reminders of the most striking or embarrassing moments in our lives. We asked a few friends of ours about the musician they had an instant crush on, the first album they fell in love with and what's the most romantic song to them.

MY FIRST MUSICAL CRUSH

TIM DE COTTA, TAJ

My first musical crush when I was very small, like 3 or 4. It was Gloria Estefan because she made me DO THAT CONGA! I kid you not. I loved that song and she was (and still kinda is) a mighty fine latin beauty! With Miami Sound Machine it got my little veins rushing with excitement to just drop everything and dance. Like anywhere in the house or in my kindergarten school bus.

BANDWAGON TV

Benjamin Kheng, The Sam Willows

Either t.A.T.u or Michelle Branch. 2003 vibes. I had a dream about doing a duet with Michelle Branch when I was 13.

LIYANA FIZI, singer-songwriter

Yusry KRU because I was 12. I memorized songs from KRU's albums (especially Yusry's parts).

INTRIGUANT, musician

Joanna Newsom. A girl who plays the harp with a voice like that. Whoa, how can anyone resist?

HEIDER ISMAIL, SSYSTM, Annie, How?

Natalie Imbruglia. The short hair and the eyes lah. 'nuff said.

ADRIAN WEE, Poptart

Madonna, circa the Madonna, Like a Virgin & True Blue era. I was constantly watching and singing along to her videos especially to 'Lucky Star', 'Borderline', and 'Papa Don't Preach'. I was a bit too young to realise that 'Papa Don't Preach' about her getting an unwanted pregnancy, so I didn't sing that as loud after I realised that.

TRACY PHILIPS, Lush 99.5FM & Present Purpose AND Ili FM, Manager of KHOTTAL/Tour Manager of HUJAN

Tracy: New Kids on the Block, Jordan if you mean crush crush. If you mean the earliest music I fell in love with, it would be Motown music. I watched a video recording of their 25th anniversary which featured all their artists from girl bands in the 60's like The Supremes to Michael Jackson, over and over again. That and The Sound Of Music.

Ili: Jordan Knight of NKOTB. No idea why, really. I was about 9 years old I think. And my older cousin sisters kept on playing New Kids on The Block whenever there's a family gathering, so I took a liking on the group, but don't really know who's who. And then one day, I saw the videoclip on TV and a cousin asked, "OK which one you like?" and I pointed out to Jordan. OK what! Can sing, can dance, quite cute. "That one nama dia (name is) Jordan Knight," said cousin. Pretty much stuck with that one since.

DON SHIAU, Babushka

Louise Nurding. It was 1995. I was 14 or 15, and saw her face on a magazine cover. I had no idea who she was, but she had the most beautiful smile. I bought that magazine just because of her. I never heard a note of her music because, you know...adolescent male priorities.

ZAKHRAN KHAN, SPHAERAS

Hayley Williams because of her red hair...and nipples. Hayley Williams just damn shiok to listen to and watch.

JEREMY LEE, The Diarists, Hell Low

Dame Julie Andrews (circa Sound of Music/ Mary Poppins). I was raised on a diet of musical theatre and Julie Andrews was my governess and nanny aged 6-10. I can still sing almost all the songs.

FIRST ALBUM YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH

TIM DE COTTA

D’angelo’s Brown Sugar. My sisters who are 7 and 9 years older than me were diving into neo-soul when I was like 9. So I had the pleasure of listening to Brown Sugar on repeat and it really changed my life! It pulled me into soul, on top of all the other people I was listening to at the time, like Jill Scott, Maxwell, Erykah Badu and Musiq Soulchild. So that album sparked something in me. But at the same time for my 16th birthday I got Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun and that made me really rooted in the kind of music I write and express and feel comfortable in today, as a musician, bassist and songwriter. She is goddess. Heart Eyes.

INTRIGUANT

Blockhead's Music by Cavelight. I am a huge fan of hip-hop, funk, soul and everything in between and this album had me started.

HEIDER ISMAIL

I'd give this title to a compilation by The Beach Boys. The album wasn't mine actually — my brother bought it when I was 8, I think. He used to get mad at me cause I would sneak it out of his room and hide it in my Discman.