Valentine's? Valentine's With the A**? Sh*t, Well.

There’s something so satisfying about belting “'Cause I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive” in Carrie Underwood’s iconic hit 'Before He Cheats'—and this satisfaction may have happened when you were nine years old in the back of your parent’s car, it happens when you’ve never experienced relationship heartbreak, and it happens even when you’re in a committed one. The song embodies a universal anger and revenge that we all just want to release at any given moment, so I suppose it is fitting to throw it at the top of my Anti-Valentine’s playlist, because what is more anti-romantic love than a song that captures anything but?

As you listen, the playlist moves in sections from beginnings with themes of revenge, breakup, anger, and that i-don’t-give-a-fu**, energy as in Aly & AJ’s 'Potential Breakup Song' and Taylor Swift’s 'Bad Blood.' Then the playlist welcomes a transition, its middle point, the I’m over it, moving on, I’m a growing and learning bada**, let it go period. The middle point features Halsey’s ‘I’m Not Mad’, Hailee Steinfeld’s ‘I Love You’s’, and Juice WRLD’s 'Bad Energy' to shift your sweet, sweet anti-valentine’s mind to a place of pure self-love and goosebump inducing motivation and lust for life—ah hem, all. by. your. self. (a few baddie best friends and one-time lovers never hurt either in your listening *insert exaggerated wink*).

So, begin your listen in complete and utter anger, sadness, frustration, or even complete joy--tell me you've never cracked a satisfied smile while listening to Taylor Swift's 'Picture To Burn'--with such absolute bangers like Jojo's 'Too Little Too Late' or go for a recent release with Miley Cyrus's 'WTF Do I Know.'

Then slide right into the most excellent form of love, self, with a blending of power-strut, happy tears, and boss a** energy songs. The self-titled in-playlist category of "Love Yourself, Boo. Be a Boss, Dance, Work-It" includes such hits as 'Dancing With Myself' by Billy Idol and 'The Man' by Taylor Swift. As well as artists and songs that I believe deserve more attention, like 'Meet The Parents' by Kim Petras, 'Gravel to Tempo' by Hayley Kiyoko, and Machine Gun Kelly's 'Drunk Face.' In the end, this section reminds you to be your own Soulmate (Heyyy, Lizzo) and live your life how you want to, not how society or one person sees fit.

As the playlist (Psss. Thanks, Spotify. A+ song selections) guides you from sweet, delicious self-empowerment and overall chill pop vibes, it asks you to hit play on 'Halycon and On and On' by Orbital (Mean Girls, anyone?) and sink into yourself, your life, your dreams, your curiosities. Take your mind to a slow-motion dance party scene with Daftpunk's 'Doin' it Right.' Let Starship guide you to that 'Nothing's Gonna Us Now' energy, because you know who’s gonna “See you through the bad times?” YOU, yourself are. And in the end, the final countdown, five minutes on the clock, Kid Cudi will lead you to new possibilities, adventure, kindness, and good vibes in something that we all push for, are looking for, or are already there with his song 'Pursuit of Happiness.'

So, sit down. No, stand up. No, sit down is good. Right?

I say a sit/stand combo. Chill out. Maybe get up and move that body. Feel yourself (not in that way—okay. not right now at least, geez). And think about your future, let that past drift away—into a distant place in the back of your mind, where one day it has the possibility of spilling out in uncontrollable frustration and sadness. But hey, that might just be a conversation for me and my therapist later. Anyways, vibe out in any way you can with this playlist. Be angry. That’s cool. Drain that bad energy. That might feel nice. And dance the goddamn, beautiful night away because you, dear reader, are living and learning and grooving this life.

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Thanks for reading. Try not to get lost in 'You Oughta Know.' Who am I kidding? Let that song take you.

EC