The Romantic Megamix

Happy Valentine's day to you! To mark the occasion I'd like to share a playlist that I created a few years ago. It's full of romantic love songs to set the perfect mood for a date. Originally a simple idea, it quickly turned into and unwieldy project to find the perfect mix. So it is embarrassingly well researched. Although, having got caught up with the music side of it, the romantic function was somewhat forgotten and I never used it for its intended purpose. But hopefully I can pass it on and somebody might find something useful in it. 

It consists of a balance between ultra cheesy classics, some great lesser-known songs and a few personal favourites, plus some smooth jazz and instrumentals thrown in for good measure. It's probably not to hard to guess which is which, if you know anything about my music taste. The mix is divided into three 'discs', each providing more than enough background music for an evening. Each disc has a slightly different theme. They represent different levels of a relationship, increasing from first date to committed. Withing each mix there is a mix of low and high energy and also a progression from chilled out and chilled out to more... 'frisky'.

So feel free to use them in making your own romantic playlist. I would have been grateful for a list like this when I started the project. I think I've weeded out the worst of the cheesy love songs and there are a few less conventional songs that can still get people in the mood for love. And even if you don't really get the whole point of valentine's day, like me, at least you can appreciate some good music. And like love itself, sometimes we all just need a little cheese!

Disc 1

1. Death Cab For Cutie - Crooked Teeth

2. The Pepper Pots - Lucky Girl

3. Frank Sinatra - Fly Me to the Moon.mp3

4. Rihanna - Crazy Little Thing Called Love (feat. J-Status)

5. Sean Fournier - Falling for You (Piano version)

6. Amy Winehouse - Valerie

7. Santana - Black Magic Woman

8. Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

9. Mario Miranda - El Día que Me Quieras

10. Sting - Fields Of Gold

11. Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind

12. Brandy - Almost Doesn't Count

13. Ella Fitzgerald - Misty

14. Phil Collins - Everyday

15. Save Ferris - I Know

16. Louis Armstrong - Hello, Dolly!

17. Catch 22 - Kristina She Don't Know I Exist

18. Genki Rockets - Star Surfer

19. Fall Out Boy - Dead on Arrival

20. Eric Clapton-Change The World

21. Dance Hall Crashers - All Mine

22. Shakin' Stevens - Teardrops

23. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me

24. Major Lazer - Can't Stop Now (feat. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell)

25. Craig David - Rendezvous

26. Cannonball Adderley - Autumn Leaves

27. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds-Where The Wild Roses Grow

28. Sarah Vaughan - Embraceable You

29. Spandau Ballet - True

30. No Doubt - Underneath It All (feat. Lady Saw)

31. Frank Sinatra-Strangers In The Night

32. Michel Legrand - Parapluies De Cherbourg

33. The Cat Empire - Sly

34. Chris Connor - One Love Affair

35. Rihanna - Rude Boy

36. Janet Jackson - I Get Lonely

37. Khaled - Aicha

38. Blink-182 – First Date

Disc 2

39. Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer - Argh...I'm a Pirate

40. Big D and The Kids Table - A Kiss a Week

41. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me

42. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

43. Joe Dassin – Salut

44. Maroon 5 - Sweetest Goobye

45. Anita O'Day - Tenderly

46. Tony Bennet - The Good Life

47. 2Pac - Can U Get Away

48. Eric Satie - Gymnopedie

49. Poncho Sanchez - Siempre Te Amare

50. Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman

51. Genki Rockets - Heavenly Star

52. Starters - Geocache Girl

53. Luther Vandross - Any Love

54. New Found Glory - Kiss Me

55. Rafaella Carra - Tango

56. Streetlight Manifesto - Punk Rock Girl

57. The Cat Empire - Hello

58. The Pepper Pots - I'll Fly With You

59. Eric Clapton-Tears In Heaven

60. Abba - The Winner Takes It All

61. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - Can't Take My Eyes Off You

62. Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick

63. Bob Marley - Waiting in Vain (12" remix)

64. Billie Holiday - Body And Soul

65. Radiohead - Bullet Proof..I Wish I Was

66. Lionel Richie - Lady

67. Tony Bennett - Fly Me To The Moon

68. James Brown - Its A Man's World

69. Janes Last - Lonesome Shepherd

70. Frank Sinatra - Someone To Watch Over Me

71. Fall Out Boy - Of All the Gin Joints in All the World

72. Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets

73. The Forces of Evil - Dance The Night Away

74. Freeze Pop - Boom Boom

75. Barry White - Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe

76. Blink-182 – Feeling This

Disc 3

77. The Pepper Pots - Be My Baby

78. M.I.A. - It Takes a Muscle

79. Genki Rockets - Breeze

80. Roxette - Listen To Your Heart

81. Freezepop - Plastic Stars

82. Jimmy Eat World - For Me This Is Heaven

83. Rihanna - Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)

84. Ella Fitzgerald - September Song

85. The Pogues - Rainy Night in Soho

86. Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings

87. Diana Krall - Why Should I Care

88. Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbe - Secret Love

89. Christina Aguilera - Por Siempre Tu

90. Michel Prtrucciani - Besame Mucho

91. Peggy Lee - Fever

92. The Cat Empire - The Rhythm

93. Rihanna - If It's Lovin' That You Want

94. Daft Punk - Digital Love

95. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

96. Bob Marley - Stir It Up

97. Swv - All Night Long

98. The Pepper Pots - Stay on Your Way

99. Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We're Goin' Down (Patrick Stump remix)

100. 2Pac - Ratha Be Ya Nigga (feat. Richie Rich)

101. John Mayer - Your Body Is a Wonderland

102. Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine

103. Genki Rockets - Never Ever

104. Destiny's Child - Brown Eyes

105. Calvin Harris - Love Souvenir

106. TLC - Red Light Special

107. James Ingram - One Hundred Ways

108. The Darkness - Love Is Only A Feeling

109. Rihanna - Push Up on Me

110. Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (feat. Aaron Barrett) - Dress You Up

111. Massive Attack - Teardrop

112. Ne-Yo - Sexy Love

113. Blink-182 - Roller Coaster