The Welcome to Dating Yourself Playlist

We all know that Valentine's day was a holiday invented by a card company (Hallmark). OK maybe not invented per se, but certainly pushed by them for profit. Nonetheless so many of us are drawn in by the red heart promise of romance or at least chocolate that it affords us. I am not innocent, I pandered to it just like everyone else, in what I reassured myself was a more relaxed and nonchalant way. But it's happened, my first single Valentine's day in over 2 years, no longer a day I'll be acknowledging.

When people have asked me if I'm single, my response now is that:

I'm in a relationship with myself, I'm dating myself.

So in sharing my Anti-Valentine's Day playlist with you, the focus is different. Forget romantic, but also forget sad and mushy, think "feel good". It's all about you for once, not your partner. It's about taking care of yourself and loving yourself. One of the best ways to love yourself is to listen to music that makes you feel uplifted, that travels through your body and makes you want to dance as you take in a cocktail of feel good hormones.

My tastes over the years have become eclectic and international. These songs don't necessarily share the same genre or language, what they share is how they make you feel and that their focus is not on romance. In the past I would have wallowed over my break up with sad songs or love songs, not now, now I'm dating me, you should try it.

So let's get to it, my top ten songs to forget about Valentine's Day and remember the relationship that actually lasts your lifetime:

1. Protoje feat. Chronixx - Who Knows

This is a song that I recently rediscovered. Protoje is a Jamaican artist who usually brings great meaning to his words, and provides a modern twist on Reggae. The song encourages you to embrace the uncertainty of life and take it as it comes, because "who knows" what'll happen? A potent message, all whilst transporting you to some far off tropical beach as your worries fall away.

2. Official Mafikizolo feat. May D - Happiness

Why this song is on my playlist is in the name. This is an Afropop song that gets your foot tapping and your head bopping. When you hear it all you can contemplate is happiness.

3. Nathan Evans - Wellerman

Argules Remix:

Through social media outlets such as TikTok, the humble sea shanty has recently come to the limelight and for good reason. It makes you want to move, it makes you feel part of something greater, which is exactly what the sea shanty was invented for. To inspire a group of men on a ship to work together and tirelessly in isolation upon the seas. It makes you feel as if you yourself are an explorer on an adventure. I've included both Nathan Evan's original recording of this particular sea shanty and the Bump House remix by Argules that gives it a clubbing spin.

4. Sergio Mendes - Magalenha

My ex is Brazilian, so there are now a number of Brazilian songs that might inspire sadness in me or remind me of him. But not this song, this song I fell in love with long before I ever did him. So though some of the portuguese lyrics have romantic connotations, it is my own little reminder that I had a life and interests before I had a boyfriend. A great memory I have is listening to it on my iPod as I was running to catch the train in the summer rain. It was the kind of rain that was warm, with the sun still shining. I felt very free and vibrant, slipping on my soaked sandals. It is a song that makes me think of freedom.

5. Aaron Smith - Dancin (KRONO Remix)

This one is more simple, I hear it and I want to be lost in dance. I feel in that moment I could be 'dancing in the moonlight' . You don't need a partner to do that.

6. Chico Alvarez - Val' Carretero

Speaking of dance, I do enjoy dancing, listening to and eating Salsa. It's spicy and satisfying in every form. This song is a little taste of Cuban sunshine to brighten your day and make you feel a bit spicy yourself.

7. Mr. Probz - Waves (Robin Schulz Remix Radio Edit)

On the sunshine theme, this music just transports me to a tropical paradise in my mind. The imagery is all about the ocean and the waves coming one after the other. Get lost in it, create your own little paradise just for you.

8. Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On

I urge you to follow the lyrics of this. Particularly for my female readers, it's all about empowerment and following your dreams, letting your hair down and to start by doing exactly what this playlist tells you to do for yourself, 'put your records on'.

9. AWOLNATION - Sail

Now this one makes it onto the playlist for an odd reason. The first time I ever heard it, I watched the specific video I've embedded and now I can't listen to it without these hilarious images coming to mind. Besides that, the song has a powerful beat that's fun to listen to. Everything combined put's a smile on my face as I hope it does yours.

10. Nina Simone - Feeling Good

Got to end it with a classic. Now wait for that classic drop with me and let's all sit there full of gratitude, living life and feeling good.

I hope you enjoyed this playlist! Please feel free to drop it a like if you did and share it if you think others might do as well. Hope your day is full of wonder and music.