8 (or more) songs handpicked by selected dance coaches and a couple 8CA staffers!

by Norm Ramil & a lot of dance people

I asked a few coach friends for 8 of their fave Valentines Songs…and the results were pretty interesting! So whether you’ve got dinner plans or you’re spending this day solo, check out which songs made the lists of coaches and 8CA staffers!

Coach Lisa Losito, Crystal Lake South JV Dance Team:

1. Nat King Cole “L-O-V-E”
2. Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
3. Whitney Houston “How Will I Know?”
4. Robert Palmer “Bad Case Of Loving You”
5. Bon Jovi “You Give Love A Bad Name”
6. Elvis Presley “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
7. Beyoncé “Crazy In Love”
8. Taylor Swift “Bad Blood”

Coach Megan Doughtery, Waubonsie Valley Dance Team:

1. Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (personally a great pom song)
2. Chris Brown “Forever” (we used this in our guy girl dance)
3. Nicki French / Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” (another fab dance artist)
4. Bruno Mars “Just The Way You Are” (flash mob dance?)
5. John Legend “All Of Me” (he’s a favorite of WVDT)
6. Elton John “Your Song” (the version from Moulin Rouge!, a great dance movie)
7. Ed Sheeran “Shape Of You” (he’s AMAZING)
8. Lonestar “Amazed” (WVDT coaches are country fans!)

Coach Chloe Penny, Downers Grove North Athenas Varsity Dance Team:

1. Adele “Make You Feel My Love”: My first dance song at my wedding ; )
2. Norah Jones “Come Away With Me”: It’s just pretty.
3. Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”: Best dance song EVER.
4. Savage Garden “Truly Madly Deeply”: Because what list is complete without a solid ’90s bar mitvah slow song?
5. Beyoncé / John Mayer “XO”: It’s just a jam.
6. Jason Mraz “After An Afternoon”: Weird, obscure acoustic song, but it’s so pretty.
7. Usher “My Boo”: High-school-me loved this song.
8. Kelly Clarkson “My Life Would Suck Without You”: College-me loved this song.

Coach Sammie Allen, Crystal Lake South JV Dance Team:

1. Mario “Let Me Love You”
2. Justin Bieber “Thought Of You”
3. Bruno Mars “Marry You”
4. Edwin McCain “I’ll Be”
5. Taylor Swift “Love Story”
6. All-4-One “I Can Love You Like That”
7. Justin Timberlake “Not A Bad Thing”
8. Shania Twain “You’re Still The One”

Mallory Peters, 8CA Staff Writer:

(I had Mal focus on songs with an emo punk flavor…mainly to compare it with my list at the end!–NR)

1. We The Kings “Check Yes Juliet” (when you know nothing will beat this song)
2. Paramore “Still Into You” (when those feelings will never go away)
3. New Found Glory “My Friends Over You” (when you know your friends will always be #1) (I came close to putting this on my list! –NR)
4. Death Cab For Cutie “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” (when you just need some real words and acoustic guitar) (I was driving from a meeting with Grayslake Central Poms to a meeting with the Crystal Lake Central Poms when I heard this song for the first time…and had to pull over! –NR)
5. Weezer “I Want You To” (when you’re not sure if those Valentine’s Day feelings are so mutual)
6. Our Last Night “The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants” (cover) (when you love pop love songs but need to keep it emo)
7. Say Anything “Alive With The Glory Of Love” (when you love in the worst circumstances) (love this song! –NR)
8. Green Day “Still Breathing” (when you need to love yourself first)

Coach Courtney Gillette, Hinsdale South Hornet Danceline:

In no particular order…

1. Whitney Houston “How Will I Know” (Because no list of music is complete without a Whitney song!)
2. Cardigans “Lovefool” (Because there’s a reason why Justin Bieber covered/sampled this song. It’s just a fun song)
3. Heavy D & The Boys “Now That We’ve Found Love” (Because it’s our job to expose the next generation to old school hip hop)
4. Sixpence None The Richer “Kiss Me” (Because there’s something so sweet and innocent about this song)
5. Beyoncé “Crazy In Love” (Because you can’t help but dance to this song. Beyoncé is BAE!)
6. Gloria Estefan “Everlasting Love” (Because this song embodies the idea of “dancing full out”)
7. B-52s “Love Shack” (Because everyone LOVES to hate this song)
8. Calvin Harris “How Deep Is Your Love” (Because what football team halftime mashup in complete without a Calvin Harris song?)

Coach Lexi Stray, Crystal Lake Central JV Dance Team:

Whether you are in a committed relationship or a single lady, these are my favorite past and present V-Day jams:

1. Niall Horan “This Town”
2. The 1975 “Somebody Else”
3. Iron & Wine “American Mouth, Flightless Bird” (love this band! –NR)
4. Beyoncé “Crazy In Love (50 Shades remix)”
5. Flume feat. Tove Lo “Say It”
6. Zayn / Taylor Swift “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”
7. Justin Bieber “Purpose”
8. Calum Scott “Dancing On My Own”
9. Beyoncé “Single Ladies”
10. Mariah Carey “We Belong Together”
11. Rihanna “Needed Me”

Brittany Hayes, 8CA Staff Writer:

1. LANY “ILYSB”: This is a super unique and unpopular song that I stumbled upon browsing through Spotify one day.  The lyrics are not only super sweet, telling of how much a man loves his significant other, but the song is so dynamic.  There’s so many different back beats incorporated into the song, making it a lyrical choreographers dream.  It’s also one of my favorite songs to study to with its tranquil melody, so it’s not very distracting.
2. James Arthur “Say You Won’t Let Go”: This sweet ballad gets me in the feels every time! Not going to lie, after hearing this one I played it on repeat for a good three days straight. James Arthur tells the tale of meeting the love of his life and falling deeper and deeper in love with her as time passes, creating new expectations for every girl that listens to it.  The melody is beautifully composed and leaves you craving more.  It’s a perfect “driving with the windows down on a sunny day” song that will leave you in the best mood.
3. Phil Collins “You’ll Be In My Heart”: How could you not love this song?! Tarzan?!  Disney?!  Phil Collins?!  Combine them all and you have a masterpiece.  Although it’s meant to illustrate the bond between a mother and child, it’s the perfect love ballad to show anyone you love how much you do.  It’s a reminder of childhood memories, watching the millions of ballet dances choreographed to it and the fact that even a man turned beast can find love (so there’s hope for us all lol).
4. Elvis Presley “Can’t Help Falling In Love”: One of my absolute favorite songs of all time.  You can feel the romance and emotion emanate from the speakers every time this one plays.  In the simplest words, Mr. Presley melts the hearts of millions of women all over the world.  When I think of Valentine’s Day, this song immediately comes to mind, I don’t think you could say how much you love someone better than this song.  What I would’ve given to dance to this at a high school dance in the 60s.
5. Adele “One And Only”: A-D-E-L-E.  I think it’s safe to say any of her songs, whether you’re celebrating a love or mending a broken heart, become very relevant on this Valentine’s Day (I mean you really can’t go wrong with her any day).  This one in particular is so raw to me, she’s pouring her heart out, without holding back, and daring, not asking, to be the one and only.  She’s vulnerable yet so strong, and I think this sends a beautiful message to anyone in her position. It also would make a super emotional yet strong and slightly sassy jazz dance (but I mean come on it’s Adele what else did you expect?).
6. Olly Murs “Dance With Me Tonight”: If you want to listen to a song that will immediately make you dance, please go type this into Youtube.  When I first heard this I was OBSSESSED and secretly wished my high school boyfriend would ask me to prom using it (I know slightly embarrassing).  It’s so upbeat, theatrical and tells the sweetest story!  I mean what dancer wouldn’t melt if a guy sang her a song about all him want her to do was dance with him?!  Always will be a go to choice if I need something energetic to lighten my day a bit.
7. Ed Sheeran “Tenerife Sea”: Ed Sheeran is the master of love songs and I will stand by that statement until the day I die.  He has such a poetic way with his songs, they almost put you in a trance.  This one in particular has been one of my favorites not because of his sweet, loving lyrics, but as you listen to it, you almost feel as though you’re riding the waves of the Tenerife Sea.  It’s one of the most artistic songs I have listened to and would immediately recommend it to any person.  What better way to paint a picture of how you love someone by listening to a song that does it for you?
8. Queen “Somebody To Love”: We couldn’t make all of the list about being in love, and what better way to search for love than listening to this classic?  You may be down in the dumps about not having a special someone on this Valentine’s Day, but I don’t think you can sit still and be upset listening to this song.  Let out all those emotions performing this dynamic song by yourself or with your galentine’s and you’re sure to feel much better.  What’s even better is it’s a great song to make up 8 counts too, so not only do you pick up yours spirits, but you’ve got a whole new dance to teach your friends!

Coach Hanna Byington, Minooka JV Dance Team:

1. Haley Reinhart “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (A great cover of a classic song. Very pretty and simple)
2. Goo Goo Dolls “Come To Me” (A song special to my fiancé and I, so naturally it made the cut)
3. Train “Marry Me” (Need I say more? Who doesn’t love this song when it comes to Valentine’s Day and falling in love?)
4. The Pointer Sisters “Jump (For My Love)” (The dancer and coach in me obviously needs something more fast-paced…to make up a combo : )
5. Sara Bareilles “Love Song” (This song actually brings back fond memories of college for me, but it works!)
6. Celine Dion “The Power Of Love”
7. Celine Dion “Let’s Talk About Love” (It’s Celine Dion. Enough said)
8. Ben Rector “White Dress” (I can’t listen to this song without smiling. Love the piano in this!)

Coach Emily Wellen, Highland Dance Team:

1. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” (so catchy!)
2. “Love Will Keep Us Together” (you can’t not smile when this song comes on!)
3. “Crazy In Love” (can never go wrong with Beyoncé. Loveeee this song)
4. “I Will Always Love You” (so powerful)
5. “Our Song” (I am a huge Taylor Swift fan so I had to mention this for her)
6. “You’re Still The One” (I’m also obsessed with Shania Twain so this one’s for her)
7. “L-O-V-E” (classic!)
8. “Come Away With Me” (thumbs up!)

Norm’s list

So I wanted to stick with a single genre just to see what I’d come up with…

1. Jimmy Eat World “For Me This Is Heaven”

Before they hit it big with “The Sweetness” and “The Middle,” it was actually the album before 2001’s Bleed American that I treasure. 1999’s Clarity is pretty much pure emotional punk perfection, and this song screams out what’s so awesome about the whole album. And dancers, you can count it in SIXES, so it makes you adjust your choreo habits!

Sample lyrics: “Can you still feel the butterflies? Can you still hear the last goodnight?”

2. Dashboard Confessional “Hands Down”

It’s a song about the perfect date from the dude who pretty much embodies this genre. But also check out the interesting song structure. Verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus. Then the long outro that’s packed with unique elements: half-tempo, different chords, and the first mention of the song’s title.

Sample lyrics: “My heart is yours to fill or bust, to break or bury, or wear as jewelry–whichever you prefer.”

3. The Early November “I Want To Hear You Sad”

One of my fave bands (and they’re still going strong) singing about the flip side of romance. Note the cool heavy drum hit in the chorus at “Do you [HIT!] regret all your loneliness?” The bridge (the middle part after the 2nd chorus) is pretty much an emo punk anthem for anyone who’s anti-Valentine’s Day.

Sample lyrics: “For all of this, I’m better off without you…”

4. We The Kings “Secret Valentine” (acoustic version)

This acoustic version adds a whole ‘nother dimension of sweetness to the loud, full-band version. I like how the title comes at the end of the verse instead of in the chorus!

Sample lyrics: “We’ll write a song that turns out the lights…”

5. Daphne Loves Derby “Closing Down The Pattern Department”

Super catchy for sure. And what’s going on in verse 2? It’s a fun switch to 6/4 time (after the hand claps). In other words, for half of a verse, you dancers would get to count in sixes and not eights. Then the chorus again, a sweet half-tempo bridge, and a chaotic breakdown section before the chorus comes back one more time.

Sample lyrics: “Like the way I felt when you were close and how the stars explode every time you are near…”

6. Motion City Soundtrack “Hold Me Down”

It’s the final track on one of my all-time favorite albums, Commit This To Memory. Basically a breakup letter, and I love those beats that sound a little like a ticking clock, like how time’s slipping away the longer the narrator ponders the question.

Sample lyrics: “How will I break the news to you?”

7. The Get Up Kids “Holidays”

The lead track from another legendary album in this genre, with every track oozing the essence of emotional pop punk. One of the themes you’ll see over and over again in this style of music is the awkward, slow breakups when couples are separated by college. Truth.

Sample lyrics: “Now that I am faced with opportunity, you’re not remembering”

8. Small Towns Burn A Little Slower “Alias: The Beekeeper”

Nevermind the oddball title. Soak in the imagery and metaphor instead. A third-person viewer looks at a couple’s slow demise, going from summer bliss to just a memory by winter. Proof that an uptempo song can bring you to tears.

Sample lyrics: “This is where they walked together, and this is where she said she loved him, and swore the distance would not break their bond”

9. The Starting Line “Lasting Impressions”

OK, I put in an extra song just because…what’s romance without a little rule-breaking? This couple’s been cut apart by distance, but they’re planning on a huge reunion!

Sample lyrics: “I’ve been sleeping with the lights on so if I wake in the night your picture is clearly in sight”