A Doomed Romance Playlist
by Alexandra Molotkow
Yesterday was Doomed Romance Day, by which I mean Lana Del Rey released a new song, and obviously it’s great:
My only issue: “We both know that it’s not fashionable to love me so.” Untrue! Everyone loves Lana Del Rey. Both because she was once the underdog, so she stands against things people don’t like (uptightness and snobbery), and because she stands for things we do like but need a safe way to enjoy, such as lying down by the side of the road and giving up, or driving your car off a cliff, or walking slowly into the ocean with your dress train billowing up as you sink, and all these are metaphors for the obliterating power of infatuation. At this time, no one does pathological romance like Lana Del Rey! But we have to wait until September for her album. So here are some other songs about the same thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANHXSwIDdPs
Helene Smith, “I Am Controlled By Your Love”
Especially eerie because it sounds like one of those pleasant “oh baby I found you” songs until it kicks in, I can’t breathe baby unless you tell me to/And I can’t speak baby unless you tell me to and so it continues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG1AfkizQwI
Charli XCX, “Velvet Dreaming (Luv)”
The relationship described here sounds healthy but the song starts with murder talk and sounds like the stage of a relationship where murder would be amazing if u did it together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXcVJbXMhlQ
Terry Callier, “I Just Can’t Help Myself”
This song is the best ever depiction of male limerence, and it’s very heartfelt and sweet until, out of nowhere (2:40) he wails, I love you so much it scares me to death. That is sometimes how I feel about Terry Callier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E9ZNI8-_bE
Donovan, “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”
I’m not sure why this song disturbs me, probably because of the word salad and the fact that I can’t not love this perfidious hobbit no matter how hard I try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_J3AjLLC4
Bob Lind, “Elusive Butterfly”
I think maybe I have a Desperate, Squalid Psycho fetish?
You might have heard my footsteps
Echo softly in the distance through the canyons of your mind
I might have even called your name
As I ran searching after something to believe in
You might have seen me runnin’
Through the long-abandoned ruins of the dreams you left behind
If you remember something there
That glided past you followed close by heavy breathing
I also like the Glen Campbell version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7f8ATNvZDA
Moloko, “Sing It Back”
I am controlled by Róisín Murphy.
Bonus (a little on-the-nose but you’ll be pleased to know the Baz Luhrmann Romeo + Juliet gets even better with age):