Valentines to Veronica

We never have enough / time to show our love

“Valentine’s Day,” Bruce Springsteen
“Valentine’s Day,” Linkin Park
“Valentino,” Diane Birch
“Valerie,” Mightyhead
“Valparaiso,” Sting
“Vampire,” Antsy Pants
“Vampiresa Mujer,” Jonathan Richman
“Vapour Trail,” Ride
“Venezuela,” Randy Stonehill
“Ventilator Blues,”  The Rolling Stones
“Verdi Cries,” 10,000 Maniacs
“Veronica,” Dust Poets
“Veronica,” Elvis Costello

“Verdi Cries” probably teeters on the edge of precious or artsy, but after more than 20 years it still sounds lovely, with just enough precision of detail to sharpen the song and cut through some of the more aggressively nostalgic syrup it pours on. It’s a beautiful song and a very, very sad song.

But it’s not the saddest song in the list above because growing old is sadder than growing up. Despite it’s bouncy, buoyant melody, “Veronica” is one of the saddest songs I know. “She spoke his name out loud again,” gets me every time.