Happy Valentine’s Day! A day to celebrate love. This can be love for yourselves, your family, your significant other, and your friends. Or just love for the world. The connections we have with others is very important to the continuity of the human race. But without love for yourself, this can be hard. Today, I want us to explore our self-love through the art of music. There are many songs with positive messages that relates to the attitude that’s needed with self-love. At a time, where online images can affect our self-esteem, reading words may be able to reverse that. Here are some beautiful songs with beautiful messages to inspire you on this day.
“Video” by India Arie
“I’m not the average girl from your video. And I ain’t built like a supermodel. But I learned to love myself unconditionally. Because I am a queen…”
“Brand New Me” by Alicia Keys
“It’s been a while, I’m not who I was before. You look surprised, your words don’t burn me anymore. Been meaning to tell you, but I guess it’s clear to see. Don’t be mad, it’s just the brand new kind of me. Can’t be bad, I found a brand new kind of free…”
“Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
“There’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark. You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are. And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart.
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful…
“You Gotta Be” by Des’ree
“Herald what your mother said. Read the books your father read. Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time. Some may have more cash than you. Others take a different view. My oh my, eh, eh, eh….You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser…”
“i” by Kendrick Lamar
“Dreams of reality’s peace (ah yeah). Blow steam in the face of the beast. Sky could fall down, wind could cry now. Look at me motherfucker I smile… And (I love myself)…”
“Good As Hell” by Lizzo
“Woo child, tired of the bullshit. Go on dust your shoulders off, keep it moving. Yes Lord, tryna get some new shit. In there, swimwear, going to the pool shit. Come now, come dry your eyes.
You know you a star, you can touch the sky…”
“Golden” by Jill Scott
“I’m taking my own freedom. Putting it in my song. Singing loud and strong. Grooving all day long. I’m taking my freedom. Putting it in my stroll. I’ll be high-steppin’ y’all. Letting the joy unfold…I’m livin’ my life like it’s golden…”
“Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige
“I wake up every morning and tell myself, Good morning gorgeous. Sometimes you gotta look in the mirror and say, Good morning gorgeous. No one else could make me feel this way (yeah), Good morning gorgeous…”
“Flawless” by Beyonce
“You wake up, flawless. Post up, flawless. Ridin’ round in it, flawless. Flossin’ on that, flawless. This diamond, flawless. My diamond, flawless. This rock, flawless. My Roc, flawless. I woke up like this, I woke up like this. We flawless, ladies tell ’em. I woke up like this, I woke up like this.
We flawless, ladies tell ’em, Say, I look so good tonight. God damn, God damn. Say, I look so good tonight. God damn, God damn, God damn.”
“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
“I am beautiful no matter what they say. Words can’t bring me down. I am beautiful in every single way. Yes, words can’t bring me down, oh no. So don’t you bring me down today…”
“Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston
“I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadows. If I fail, if I succeed, At least I’ll live as I believe. No matter what they take from me, They can’t take away my dignity… Because the greatest love of all, Is happening to me. I found the greatest love of all, Inside of me…”
“Masterpiece” by Jazmine Sullivan
“My eyes ain’t used to these rays. I’m feeling exposed, but I hide no more. I can’t hide. As the sun shines on all of my glory. My flaws don’t look so bad at all, What was I so afraid of? Every part of me is a vision of a portrait of Mona, of Mona Lisa. Every part of me is beautiful, And I finally see I’m a work of art, A masterpiece…”
“Me” by Tamia
“And her name is me, And she loves me more than you’ll ever know. And I finally see that loving you and loving me, Just don’t seem to work at all. So patiently, she’s waiting on me to tell you, That she needs love. And to choose between you two, boy you know, If I have to choose, I choose me…”
So, before you end your 2025 Valentine’s Day, make sure you continue this self-love train. Because if you don’t love yourself first, no other human can make you feel anything more.