The day of love is right around the corner. In a couple days, flowers and chocolate will be hard to find in stores as everyone gets a special gift for their special someone.

But let’s go back in time, to the most romantic gift of all time…mixtapes.

I’ve always been disappointed that I was born in the 2000s, I missed out on mixtapes. The gift you know came from the heart because of how time consuming it was to make a mixtape.

Imagine for a moment, we were back in the ’80s and ’90s, and mixtapes are all the hype. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, here are my top 10 songs that are a must for a romantic mixtape for the apple of your eye.

10. All of Me, John Legend (2013)

“All of me” may have been released decades after mixtapes were “not cool,” but for the sake of this hypothetical, we’ll have to look past that.

This song embodies love; John Legend wrote the song for his then-fiancee, now wife, Chrissy Teigen. Telling and showing her how much he loves her, with a chorus that says, “‘Cause all of me loves all of you; Love your curves and all your edges; All your perfect imperfections; Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you; You’re my end and my beginning; Even when I lose I’m winning.”

What’s more romantic than someone loving every part of you, the good, the bad, the ugly…that’s true love.

9. Just the Way You Are, Bruno Mars (2010)

Another newer song that has to sneak its way into our hypothetical mixtape. Bruno Mars get’s straight to the point of telling a woman she is beautiful just how she is, he quickly became a man every woman would want in their life.

You couldn’t go wrong playing this song for your beautiful partner, just a way to tell them “when you see their face, there’s not a thing you would change.”

Follow Bruno Mars’ lead!

8. Be My Baby, The Ronettes (1963)

This opener for the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” is a perfect song for the day of love. In verse two, The Ronettes sing, “Oh, since the day I saw you; I have been waiting for you; You know I will adore you ’til eternity.”

How romantic is that!? “Be My Baby” on a mixtape would be a sweet hidden message of how much your partner means to you all the time, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

7. L-O-V-E, Nat King Cole (1965)

Ever wonder what love means? Nat King Cole explains it in a very straightforward way:

L is for the way you LOOK at me; O is for the ONLY ONE I see; V is VERY, VERY, extraordinary; E is EVEN more than anyone that you adore.

If you play this song for your significant other, there will be no questions about what your love for them means, they will know that ” love was made for (you) and (them).”

6. (What a) Wonderful World, Sam Cooke (1960)

The entire theme of this song is based on the sole fact that neither knowledge nor education can dictate or control feelings, but if two people love each other, oh, “what a wonderful world this would be.”

“Wonderful World” lists many school subjects, leading with the phrase “don’t know much about..” Followed by “But I do know that I love you.”

You may not be an ‘A’ student, but love is a definite feeling.

5. My Funny Valentine, Chet Baker (1954) or Frank Sinatra (1955)

This song might take the award for most enduring love song, as it has been performed by more than 600 artists and has appeared on over 1300 albums, according to Songfacts.

The first verse says, “My funny valentine; Sweet, comic valentine; You make me smile with my heart.”

A similar concept was aired on the TV series “Friends,” “The One With Unagi” from season 6, Janice (Maggie Wheeler) sings “My Funny Valentine” on a mixtape she made for Chandler (Matthew Perry).

Valentine is right there in the name, making it a must for a Valentine’s Day mixtape.

4. At Last, Etta James (1961)

“At Last” is a single spawned from the Etta James album “At Last!” and includes James singing that life is better, because she finally, at last, has her love.

“You smiled, you smiled; Oh, and then the spell was cast; And here we are in Heaven; For you are mine at last.”

Who wouldn’t want to be told their presence is the equivalent of Heaven?

3.(Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan Adams (1991)

Let’s be honest, you can tell from the title that this song is hopelessly romantic. If you put this song on a mixtape, just the sight of the title would melt your partner’s heart.

When you love someone, nothing else matters, as the chorus sings, “Don’t tell me it’s not worth fightin’ for; I can’t help it there’s nothin’ I want more; You know it’s true; Everything I do; I do it for you.”

This Valentine’s Day, remind your significant other how much you love them, and that everything you do is for them.

2. Can’t Take My Eyes off You, Frankie Valli (1967)

This is just too good to be true! Every person wants to hear how amazing they are, how fixated someone is simply on their existence. Now is your time to remind your Valentine how much you adore them with Frank Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.”

If you wanted to be extra romantic you could take a play out of Heath Ledger’s book in the 1999 romantic comedy “10 Things I Hate About You” and publically serenade your partner by telling them, “You’re just too good to be true; Can’t take my eyes off o’ you; You’d be like Heaven to touch; I wanna hold you so much.”

1. Can’t Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley (1961)

Number one, is Elvis Presley’s masterpiece of love, in my opinion. There are various proposed themes to this hit, but my favorite is “irresistible love.” The very first verse of the song is, “Wise men say; Only fools rush in; But I can’t help; Falling in love with you.”

The first introduction of the lyrics confirms that love can’t be planned and more importantly, it can’t be denied, when you’re in love – truly in love – you know it, and there’s no going back.

The slower tempo with the use of the ukulele, bell-piano, and steel guitar just makes this song all the more romantic. With this combination, it’s hard not to fall in love just listening to the music.

Although mixtapes are outdated and it would prove more difficult than before to create one, consider playing these songs in the background of a romantic dinner, to make this Valentine’s Day a special, romantic one to remember.

•••

Liv Suydam is a reporter at the Lewistown Sentinel.