Mixtapes are a great way to express your feelings for someone, but think about avoiding these songs below:
Every Breath You Take - The Police
These lyrics are actually about Sting's relationship in which he was cheating on his wife. He felt like he was being watched at all times..."every breath you take; every move you make..."
I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn't realize at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.
— Sting
Try this The Police track instead: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
"Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on"
Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
This song is about regret and loss, about missing a chance and having it rip you apart.
"Something has to make you run
I don't know why I didn't come
I feel as empty as a drum"
Try this Norah Jones track instead: Come Away With Me
"Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you"
White Houses - Vanessa Carlton
This song was actually written about Vanessa's experience losing her virginity, dealing with the regret, and moving on as a wiser person.
"My first time, hard to explain
Rush of blood, oh, and a little bit of pain
On a cloudy day, it's more common than you think
He's my first mistake"
Try this Vanessa Carlton track instead:
"'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
Tonight"
Skinny Love - Birdy (originally by Bon Iver)
Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon explained the meaning in an interview in 2011: “Skinny love doesn’t have a chance because it’s not nourished.”
"Tell my love to wreck it all,
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall"
Try this Birdy track instead: Keeping Your Head Up
"Hold tight; you're slowly coming back to life
I'll be keeping your head up
I'll be keeping your head up, darling
Let go of all your haunted dreams tonight
I'll be keeping your head up
I'll be keeping your head up, darling"
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
"I Will Always Love You” is an EPIC love song for sure, but think about this first before putting it on your mixtape: It’s 100% a song about the END of a relationship. She’s literally saying “good-bye” in the song. GOOD. BYE.
“So good-bye
Please don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you need.”
Try this Whitney Houston track instead: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
"Oh! I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me"
