While chocolate and flowers are staple Valentine’s Day gifts, nothing says “I love you” louder than a great love song.
More often than not, music does a better job articulating the joy, warmth, and thrill of finding that special someone and falling in love. Whether they’re tied to personal memories of romance or evoke a meaningful message, a good love song, much like the right person, is one you keep near and dear to your heart.
So, as we ring in Valentine’s Day, we talked to some of our favorite musical couples — Ben&Ben‘s Agnes Reoma and Pat Lasaten, Clara Benin and Gabba, Jolina Magdangal and Rivermaya‘s Mark Escueta, Ena Mori and One Click Straight‘s Tim Marquez, Cheats’ Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona-Bacarro, and Morissette and Dave Lamar — to find out their favorite love songs and what it means to them.
“Love You For A Long Time” – Maggie Rogers
This is the first song in our (future) wedding playlist. We play this in the car whenever we’re out to do errands, or when we’re just lounging at home. The song has a really nice and light energy to it. Listening to it actually takes us back to when we started dating in 2014. In our early 20s, like any young couple, we would talk and dream about the future. Instead of rushing to make things happen all at once, we decided to take it slow because we knew we were going to be together for a long time. — Agnes Reoma and Pat Lasaten of Ben&Ben
“Favorite” – Ang Bandang Shirley
We listened to their album a lot, specifically this song when we started dating so it holds a very special place in our hearts. — Clara Benin and Gabba
“Must’ve Done Something Right” – Relient K
This was one of my favorite songs when I was around 9 or 10; and now listening to it, the more I love it and the more I relate to it. — Tim Marquez of One Click Straight on Ena Mori
“Moon River” – Audrey Hepburn (from Breakfast At Tiffany’s)
Kasi kami ‘yung (Because we are) “two drifters off to see the world,” hoping to tour the world someday. — Mark Escueta of Rivermaya and Jolina Magdangal
“You And I” – Wilco
It captures the truth that any relationship has its ups and downs, but ultimately we choose to be together. Life is complex but our commitment to each other is always a simple yes. Plus, Wilco is one of our favorite bands. — Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona-Bacarro of Cheats
“A Case of You” – Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You” is so dear to my heart because I listened to it constantly when I was in London. It made me miss my time with Tim. — Ena Mori on Tim Marquez of One Click Straight
“I Won’t Let You Go” – Switchfoot feat. Lauren Daigle
This song was our bridal march, wedding anthem, and one of our favorite duets/songs! It gives such a powerful message about loving someone through their lowest times, and also learning to love through every season of life. — Morissette and Dave Lamar
“tiny things” – Tiny Habits
It’s a sweet song about enjoying the simple things in life. This is the type of song we like to listen to during long drives. — Clara Benin and Gabba
“Paninindigan Kita” – Ben&Ben
Do you know how some songs feel like they were written for you? This song felt like that for us. The first time our bandmate Pao sent a demo of him singing with a guitar, we instantly gravitated toward it. There was just this magical pull between us and the song. Even before the idea of our story to be the inspiration for the music video, we would already listen to the demo over and over again. We would sometimes look at each other while the song is playing and there’d just be this powerful feeling of knowing and connection between us and the song. — Agnes Reoma and Pat Lasaten of Ben&Ben