The warmth from the sun runs across your skin as you rise from the sand and head towards the cool, refreshing water. The clear blue sky vanishes as it transforms into a watercolor of orange, yellow and pink hues.
You walk knee-deep into the water with someone; not just anybody, but someone with whom you are in love with. You hold hands as the waves crashe and the white water fizzes at your legs. You feel euphoric. You treasure this feeling. The future between you two seems full of possibility. While slowly walking back onto the sand, you realize you want to hold this feeling forever.
But how?
Below is a playlist that perfectly expresses the emotions and sensations felt when first falling in love during the summer. The playlist contains songs that encapsulate the beaming feelings of spending time with the person you are becoming attached to.
The playlist I created includes classics such as Frank Sinatra’s 1967 song “Somethin’ Stupid,” which featured his ex-wife Nancy Barbato and more recent pieces such as Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” which was featured in Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” movie.
But if you're still not sold, follow along as I take you through some of the songs that encompass this unique feeling.
“I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos
“I only have eyes for you dear.”
Although this song has pretty basic lyrics and is just over three minutes long, the band’s most popular tune is a certified lover classic. Tommy Hunt’s angelic and comforting voice evolves this song immensely as the slow melody and soulful delivery create a dreamy song that would transform soul and doo-wop music forever. The song consists of lyrics that surround the idea of a man who completely falls in love with a woman and can not stop thinking of her.
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star
“I wanna hold the hand inside you.”
The acoustic guitar and kick drums alongside Star’s angelic voice produces a rhapsodic theme, where she speaks about her experience of falling in love with someone. She so deeply desires to become close with this one person; her infatuation for them to have the same feelings she does takes control of her as she pours her heart out. Her intoxicating voice and subtle sadness completes a song about being in love with someone so much, you become almost blind to anything and everyone else.
“I Just Called To Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder
“I just called to say how much I care, I do.”
Wonder’s hit proves how in love he is. The opening lyrics indicate that he is not calling anyone because it’s New Year's or Valentine’s Day, or any major holiday, but instead because he loves them so much. Wonder is saying that he simply will not be able to enjoy life without the person he is in love with by his side. The song is a clear example of altruistic love.
“Unchained Melody” by Elvis Presley
“Oh, my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch.”
The singer can be perceived as figuratively being in jail, or somewhere that is not close to who he is in love with, hence his desire to be unchained and his urge to see the person he loves. The song describes an everlasting love that cannot die even with the singer’s current state of imprisonment. Throughout the song, many emotions are evoked. There are many layers and meanings that each person can interpret differently, but overall, it's relatable to anybody that loves someone.
“Lay All Your Love On Me” by ABBA
“Don’t go wasting your emotion … don’t go sharing your devotion.”
This is one of my favorite songs by ABBA, my second-most streamed artist of 2022. This song beautifully encapsulates what it is like to want the person you love most to give all their attention to you. The person singing, metaphorically, begs their person to stop dividing their concentration on multiple factors, and instead to only focus on them.
