Valentine’s is almost over and you either had the time of your life or bitterly regretting not doing anything special. Many of us are also nursing broken hearts as we remember our exes on this day of hearts. Worry not, because Valentine’s is only a day and everything will normalize tomorrow.
If you’re one of those people who are sad today because you’re single, we compiled a playlist for you to be #stronger today. It’s a list that spans decades, proving that #hugot is a timeless concept.
We hope you enjoyed the day, guys, and happy listening!
1. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson (Stronger, 2011)
The Nietzsche phrase may be overused, but the line “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” becomes ever more potent when delivered with Clarkson’s powerful vocals. When she belts out the lines, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger / Stand a little taller / Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone / What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter / Footsteps even lighter / Doesn’t mean I’m over cause you’re gone,” Clarkson does it with so much force that you believe her, and you believe that you can do it, too.
2. “Me, Myself, and I,” Beyonce (Dangerously In Love, 2003)
It’s hard to imagine that anyone would want to cheat on Beyonce, but once upon a time, she sang the beautiful R&B song “Me, Myself, and I.” Here, Beyonce sings, “I realized I got me, myself, and I / That’s all I got in the end / That’s what I found out / And it ain’t no need to cry / I took a vow that from now on / I’m gonna be my own best friend.” The song is so smooth and confident that we know we are going to be fine alone. What you should remember is: “After all the rain you’ll see the sun come out again.”
3. “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay (Thunderpuss Mix),” Whitney Houston (My Love Is Your Love, 1998)
Whitney Houston also examined what it feels like to have a cheating lover. Way before feminism became a recognized movement, she chose to be alone rather than be with a cheating lover. For a strong woman like Whitney, it’s okay because she’ll make it anyway. And when you listen to this powerful Thunderpuss Mix with the really high notes, all your excuses are invalid.
4. “You Think You’re a Man,” Divine (The Story So Far, 1984)
Yes, your masculinity is being questioned by the “Drag Queen of the Century.” This confrontational song is unsettling for its macho vocals and the lyrics “You think you’re a man but you’re only a boy / You think you’re a man, you’re only a toy,” but the aggressive tone is what makes it deliciously relatable and sassy. Perfect for the boys in our lives who got more than what they deserved.
5. “No Scrubs,” TLC (FanMail, 1999)
While some women choose to settle for less, the girls of TLC are saying no to scrubs. What’s a scrub? Let the girls sing it for you: “A scrub is a guy that thinks he’s fly / And is also known as a buster / Always talkin’ about what he wants / And just sits on his broke ass.” This song may be 17 years old, but it still applies to all those who think they’re all that and a bag of peanuts. If you’re faced with a scrub, simply sing: “I don’t want your number (no) / I don’t want to give you mine and (no) / I don’t want to meet you nowhere (no) / I don’t want none of your time (no).”
Check out the rest of the songs on the next page!
