Top Five Punk Rock Love Songs (A List By Anthony Barlow)

Photo courtesy LordKhan on Flickr

1. Tuesday – ‘Too Much Of Today’

Tuesday – Too Much Of Today

Dan Andriano is the original – and maybe the only – crooner of punk rock. His lyrics might be steeped in cliches, but it’s hard not to relate to every word the man utters. I think everyone’s been in a similar situation to the one described in ‘Too Much Of Today’ and it’s this, his ability to turn the most mundane things in life into poetry, that make Dan’s songs some of my all time favorites. If you want a song that’ll tug heartsrings and still provide you with the goodness only a good punk song can, it’s got to be one of his.

Side Note: I’d like to thank Helen Chambers for re-introducing me to Tuesday. I heard her cover this song at a show in Manchester (her cover is great, by the way!) Since then it’s rare that Freewheelin’ hasn’t been playing. Cheers Helen!

2. Lucero – ‘She’s Just That Kinda Girl’

Lucero – She’s Just That Kinda Girl

Lucero have got a good catalog of love songs to choose from, so what did I do? I picked the most obvious song possible. You know what? I don’t care. This song is a great song, even if it is a little cheesy. For quite a while ‘My Best Girl’ was on this list, and whilst I admire Ben Nichols and his clever use of metaphor, there’s something about this song that tops that. I’m not too sure what it is, exactly. Perhaps it’s because it feels like an old school love song? Maybe it’s the lack of lyrical trickery? Whatever it is, with this song, Lucero painted a vivid word picture in my mind that I can’t help seeing every time I hear this song play. It feels like a song written for that scene in a movie. You know the one? The one where the guy finally gets his girl. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but that’s what a good love song is right?

3. Against Me! – Pretty Girls (The Mover)

Against Me! – Pretty Girls (The Mover)

“What you gonna say when she picks up the phone?” – It’s a thought that crosses the mind of every guy when he calls the girl up for the the first time. You want what you say it to be just right, but it never is. Whilst it might not sound like the making of a great a love song, there’s no doubt in my mind that ‘Pretty Girls (The Mover)’ captures exactly what runs through everyone’s head when they’re just starting out in a relationship. Even that inkling of self doubt is there. It’s not about everything working out perfectly. It’s about everything hopefully working out.

4. Alkaline Trio – Every Thug Needs A Lady

Alkaline Trio – Every Thug Needs A Lady

I tried, I really did, but I really couldn’t stop myself from putting another gem from Dan Andriano on the list. In many ways, it’s a lot like the Lucero track, ‘Every Thug Needs A Lady’ depicts the kind of love you only ever really see in films. However, instead of ‘new love’, this song strikes me as a song for/about a married couple. A couple who’ve been through a lot together and continue to do so. It’s a song about the journey shared by a couple rather than the story of a guy trying to get the girl. Perhaps Dan wrote it for his wife? It almost feels like he’s thanking the subject of the song, whilst trying to reassure that, whatever happens, everything is going to be alright. It’s a topic that doesn’t often crop up, and that’s why it’s made my list. Well, that and the fact it’s awesome.

5. Weezer – Pink Triangle

Weezer – Pink Triangle

Weezer aren’t exactly known for their love songs, but there was one track that immediately came to mind when I thought about this ‘Top 5’. Whilst there’s a lot of songs that deal with rejection, there’s not many that deal with it quite like this. Imagine if you found that person who you want to spend the rest of your life with. Got that? Good. Now imagine finding out the girl or guy of your dreams is gay? Yeah, that’d be pretty heartbreaking. That’s precisely what ‘Pink Triangle’ is about and it’s uniqueness is why it’s got to be on this list. Not only that, but there’s a moral here too: You might want to get to know someone before declaring them “the one”. Thanks Rivers!

Anthony Barlow is an idiot from Manchester, England. He writes things about music at Moon & Back Music, co-hosts the Under The Bridge podcast, and is one half of Dicking Around Productions. You can find him at your local punk rock show, usually pestering the talent.