Erie Reader Valentine's Day Mixtape 2025

Caroline

Hey. We made you a mixtape.

Each year since 2022, our editors, writers, and artists have put together a playlist of love(ish) songs for the holiday to let you know how much we care. 

Sing them into a hairbrush, drum them out on your steering wheel, cry to them in the shower. 

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us here at the Reader ♥️

"Space Age Love Song" // A Flock of Seagulls –Jonathan Burdick, contributing writer

"Naked in Manhattan" // Chappell Roan –Nathaniel Clark, contributing writer

"Till Forever Falls Apart" // Ashe and FINNEAS

It's about loving someone until the literal end of days. In a time where the world feels upside down and on fire, it's a comforting thought. –Edwina Capozziello, contributing writer

"Becky's So Hot" // FLETCHER

Why? It's time to be loud, proud, and gay as hell. –Susannah Faulkner, contributing writer

"That Thing You Do" // The Wonders

An Erie, PA classic from the 'one-hit Wonders' who stole our hearts. –Chloe Forbes, contributing writer

"Trouble" // TV On the Radio 

TV on the Radio has been in regular rotation at my house ever since my wife and I saw them this past Thanksgiving on their 20th anniversary tour. While this song isn't particularly romantic, it resonates with me quite a bit these days. – Brian Graham, publisher

"As the World Caves In" // Matt Maltese –Cassandra Gripp, contributing writer

"Baby" // Donnie and Joe Emerson

Dreamy, soft, intimate, vintage banger! –Jessica Hunter, media editor

"hate to be lame" // Lizzie McAlpine ft. Finneas –Ally Kutz, contributing writer

"Free Treasure" // Adrienne Lenker 

You show me understanding, patience and pleasure, time and attention, love without measure. How lucky I am to have found this free treasure. –Erin Phillips, managing editor

"Eyes of Love" // The Edge of Daybreak

I had the pleasure of writing about this band, who recorded this track in a Virginia prison in the late 1970s, in our February issue. Their music is as exciting as the story of its making. –Dan Schank, contributing writer

"Leave the Light On" // Chris Smither –Melissa Sullivan Shimek, contributing writer

"I Wish I Was" // Avett Brothers

A song that's a letter – if you believe the singer or the writer — that embarks on a playful approach to exploring wanting to be something of significance to someone. Rather than grandiose gestures, it's the small things: helping to light the way even if it's no big journey; lightening the load of doing mundane chores, like putting away groceries, with a tune; and, providing some simple warmth when the cold sets in. Cheesy? Maybe. But I'm a sucker for cheese (over chocolate) on Valentine's Day, and the singer-writer might know that, too, ending with: "I love you. I'm sorry." –Ben Speggen, contributing editor

"Harvest Moon" // Neil Young

Can you still be completely smitten when they broke your heart, and you haven't seen them in forever? Of course you can. –Bryan Toy, cartoonist

"Antonia" // Motion City Soundtrack

You know when your partner is a total weirdo but you totally love them for every little idiosyncratic quirk? This song paints both a hilarious and exquisitely heartfelt picture from her love's point of view in a way only a manic emo legend could. –Nick Warren, contributing editor

"Careless Whisper" // George Michael (Wham!) 

This is a reflective song about a love that you always wanted and when you eventually get it, it's wrong. Plus, it has a killer saxophone part that will get stuck in your head. –Larry Wheaton, contributing writer

"One of Us" // ABBA 

A song to listen to when you break someone's (and your) heart. –Morgan Yezzi, contributing writer