With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, love and romance are everywhere. What better way to set the mood than with a little love song? Well, if you’re compiling a Valentine’s playlist for your sweetheart this year, make sure you listen out for the lyrics. We’ve had some fun with this one and found five so-called ‘love songs’ with somewhat unromantic meanings.
1. Lola – The Kinks
Any song with a girl’s name in the title is more often than not, synonymous with heart-felt love-lost lyrics, with the singer proclaiming undying love for his girl. Not in this case. The song Lola is actually about how he discovered that the woman he was flirting with was actually a man.
“But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola”
2. With or Without You – U2
As an undeniably and famously sentimental track, it’s not hard to mistake it for a love song. However if you take a closer look at the lyrics –there is more sadness than romance. This song is about a break up, and the words are pretty dark.
“My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing left to win
And nothing else to lose.”
3. Let’s Get Married – Jagged Edge
You’d think it would be safe to assume by its title, ‘Let’s Get Married’ would be a lovely little love song. However, the words unravel to be slightly more morbid and apathetic than you’d expect. The singer’s proposal sounds more like a gloomy observation about human mortality than a romantic and heartfelt gesture of undying love.
“Meet me in the altar in your white dress
We ain't getting no younger, we might as well do it”
4. Careless Whisper – George Michael
This sensuous 80s hit isn’t quite as charming as you’d think. It’s about a man apologising to his lover for cheating – hardly a romantic overture.
“I should have known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I’ve been given
So i'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you”
5. Every Step You Take – The Police
Did you know that this classic wedding song was never intended to be romantic? In a BBC Radio 2 interview, Sting claimed that people had misinterpreted the song and it was actually supposed to be quite dark and sinister. In fact when you listen closely to the lyrics, it definitely sounds more like a stalker’s plea for help than true love.
“Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take (I'll be watching you)”
If you’re looking for some love songs which are more romantic, take a look at our top ten, old and new, on Pure Connect.