An Anti-Valentine's Day Playlist
Angry about all the liars and the dirty dirty cheats out there? Get down to these sick beats this Valentine's Day, with an anti-Val selection from The Skinny
Kelis – Caught Out There
‘This song is for all women out there / That have been lied to by their men’ – a strong opening from Kelis, which sets you up from the get-go. Shortly followed by a chorus of ‘I hate you so much right now / I hate you so much right now / Aaaaaaaahhhh’, it makes for one of the angriest songs ever. If someone’s cheated on you, lied to you, or generally just pissed you off, get it on the stereo now! [Tallah Brash]
Martha Wainwright – Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
Get treated like shit by some insignificant arsehole you’ve regrettably let touch you even though you probably knew better. Drink all nearby available alcohol with your best pal ignoring the fact it’s a Tuesday and you’re supposed to be an adult now. Put on Bloody Motherfucking Asshole at full volume and bellow on repeat until the neighbours bang on the ceiling.
Some of my mid 20s were spent like this. Happy Valentine’s. [Rosamund West]
Robyn – Dancing On My Own
The lyrics document the scenario of dancing in a club – on your own, as the name suggests – while watching your ex with someone else. Sucky situation, but the pure pop quality makes it somehow feel empowering, and bittersweet.
Thanks to that it's arguably gained a bit of a cult following. Plus, it's worth it alone for that closing scene of a Girls episode, aptly titled All Adventurous Women Do. [Jess Hardiman]
Peaches – Talk To Me
A total rant. It doesn't even have to apply to an ex-lover; could be about a shit friend, or anyone who has just been a total knob and who just needs to be confronted to purge your anger onto somebody. I've never actually done that (for fear of sounding like a crazy person) so sticking Talk To Me on when I'm in that mood really helps.
The track sounds like it's being spat into the face of a recent Facebook blocker who Peaches has just clocked across a crowded room; so much excitement and intimidation in there, I just love it. LOVE IT. [Sarah Donley]
Honeyblood – Super Rat
This one’s about getting involved with someone when you know you shouldn’t, and that gut feeling you get when you know someone is bad news but for whatever reason you can’t help yourself: ‘And I knew you were bad all along / But still I swam into welcoming jaws.’ Super Rat has an irresistible sing-a-long chorus too of ‘I will hate you forever / I will hate you forever / Scumbag, sleaze / Slimeball, grease / You really do disgust me’. Not much else to add to that, really. [TB]
Patti Smith – Pissing in a River
A song so full of desperation that it's quite a difficult one to listen to. Having a sudden realisation that no matter how much you love somebody it just not going to work is pretty heartbreaking. A good one to listen to when you're hammered, walking home at 3am in that mood where everything is shit. Patti gets you. [SD]
The Vaselines – You Think You’re a Man
The Vaselines' You Think You're a Man is a hilarious listen if some emotionally stunted dude's mistreating you. The lyrical conclusion of "MAN! BOY! MAN-BOY-MAN-BOY-MAN-BOY!" is very cathartic. Just to refrain from passive-aggressively posting a link to it on social media, as tempting as it may be. Or just do it anyway. Whatever. [KP]
Bikini Kill – Demirep
It's at least partly brilliant because its clapping-game intro is a superbly multi-faceted celebration of Bikini Kill's 'girls to the front' philosophy, and a pretty catchy slice of punk rock effortlessness to boot. But Demirep gets its nomination for the sheer delight it takes in telling some rich boy suitor that his ethics are weak, his self-obsessed focus is tiresome, and the song's unimpressed narrator cares not a jot for his sexualised insults. "You collect your trust fund, baby / And I'll be a whore ... I got something, man, that your fucking money cannot buy." [Will Fitzpatrick]
Sleigh Bells – I Can't Stand You Anymore
The best song for when you've been ABSOLUTELY fucked about by someone. Love the exasperation of this and again, it's just a great shouter. [SD]
LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
The great thing about LCD Soundsystem is that James Murphy has the ability to make something so upsetting as grief and loss feel uplifting, so whether this song is about the death of a person or a relationship, it’s ultimately full of hope. Someone great may be gone, but why not let your hair down and have a dance. You’ll feel better for it. [TB]
Karen O – Native Korean Rock
It's quite widely applicable to every shitty thing that might happen to you, and when Karen O tells you 'you'll be fine', it's easy to believe her. In fact, the whole of Crush Songs is a perfect listen when you're feeling a bit of romance-angst. [KP]