Valentines Day Anti Love Songs
It’s almost Feb. 14, Saint Valentines Day, when couples everywhere are celebrating love, except for those who aren’t, of which many would just as well skip from Feb. 13 right to Feb. 15. Unlike many holidays celebrated in the United States, this one was not harvested from an ancient pagan ritual, but from a Christian legend honoring the martyrdom of Saint Valentine. Many stories are attributed to the legend, but one of the most popular is that the Saint was imprisoned in Rome for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to the legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and before his execution, wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.
But the day is not all happy for many, so we’ve put together a list of the “Top eight Anti -Valentines Day songs” for you. Clearly the list could be much longer, and as we perused the possibilities, that became clear.
8) Love Hurts – Felice and Boudleaux Bryant – 1975
This song was a huge hit for the Scottish rock act Nazareth in ‘75, but it was actually written in 1960 by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and originally released by the Everly Brothers. Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison and even Jim Capaldi from Traffic have released versions of the song. “I know it isn’t true, I know it isn’t true, love is just a lie, made to make you blue…”
7) You Ought to Know – Alanis Morissette – 1995
The lyrics were by Morrissette and Glen Ballard, with the music done by Dave Navarro, Flea and even has Benmont Tench, Tom Petty’s keyboard player on the track, the song will give chills to any man thinking of doing Morisette any wrong. The subject of the song has never been revealed by Morissette, although many have speculated, Morissette claims that when she write songs “…for herself and not for other people.” So it goes like “Does she know how you told me you’d hold me until you died, ’til you died, but you’re still alive… “ Yikes.
6) I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – Bacharach/David – 1969
During the late ‘60s it wasn’t uncommon to find several compositions from this illustrious songwriting duo on the charts, having penned hits for the Carpenters, Tom Jones, B.J Thomas and dozens more. Several artists released versions of the tune at about the same time, but it was Dionne Warwicks that made it to number one on the Billboard charts. “What do you get when you fall in love? You only get lies and pain and sorrow, so far at least until tomorrow, I’ll never fall in love again.”
5) Love Bites – Def Leppard – 1987
Originally a country ballad, producer John “Mutt” Lange, who had produced hits for AC/DC, Foreigner, Huey Lewis and more, brought the song to the bands attention and after several re-writes, it was released on the “Hysteria” album as the follow-up to the wildly successful “Pyromania” yet this tune is still Def Leppard’s only Billboard number one hit. “I don’t want to touch you too much baby ‘Cause making love to you might drive me crazy.”
4) I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett/Desmond Child – 1988
Jett’s third single to reach the Billboard top-10 but the first one since 1982, and had former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor playing the solo. The song got Jett nominated for a Grammy in 1989. “I hate myself for loving you, can’t break free from the things that you do, I want to walk but I run back to you, that’s why I hate myself for loving you.”
3) The Salt in My Tears – Martin Briley – 1988
Forgot about this one didn’t you, or maybe you never heard it at all. An English session musician, Briley was best known for his work with other artists which included Julian Lennon, Meat Loaf, Olivia Newton-John, Tom Jones and many more. In the early ‘80s he decided to release some of his own material and had a cup of coffee with this song, reaching number 36 on the Billboard Top 100. “But I won’t cry for the wasted years, ‘Cause you ain’t worth the salt in my tears.”
2) 50 Ways to Leave your Lover – Paul Simon – 1975
Even with all the songs Simon has written, this tune was the only one to reach number one on the Billboard charts, where it stayed for three weeks. The tune, which has Phoebe Snow on backing vocals, is a tongue-in-cheek look at a way to get out of a relationship, and was written soon after Simon’s divorce from Peggy Harper. “Hop on the bus, Gus, you don’t need to discuss much, just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free”
1) Love Stinks – Peter Wolf/Seth Justman – 1980You had to know this one would be near the top, and for us, wraps up this list appropriately. Allegedly written by Wolf after his marriage to actress Faye Dunaway, the song laments all the things that one goes through after a breakup. “I’ve been through diamonds, I’ve been through minks, I’ve been through it all. Love stinks.”
##############
Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, Feb. 10: Lynne O and Friends. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11: Tilted Halos. 7:30 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, 400 First St. E. Sonoma, 938-7110
Tonight, Feb. 10: DJ Willie. 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11: DJ Cal. 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Feb. 10: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, Feb. 10: David Thom and Vintage Grass. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11: Jaydub and Dino. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12: Peter Case in the Listening Room. 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, Feb. 10: Misner and Smith. 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Tonight, Feb. 10: Reggae Night with Byron Borges. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb.11: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
The Presentation School, 20872 Broadway, Sonoma, 935-0122
Tonight, Feb. 10: Cold Hard Cash – Johnny Cash Tribute. 7 p.m
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, Feb. 10: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. 3 on a Match. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11: Lynne O and the Riots. 5 p.m. doRiaN Mode. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12: Fred and Jackie – Acoustic, 5 p.m. Acoustic Blues Jam. 8:30 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 996-5217
Saturday, March 5: Old Dominion. 2 p.m.
The Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 996-3055
Tonight, Feb. 10: the Bumblin’ Bones. 9 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com