Falling in Love as Portrayed in Laufey’s “Valentine”

Icelandic-Chinese jazz singer-songwriter Laufey recently released the music video for her single “Goddess” on April 11th. The song was first performed at the Brussels stop of her Bewitched tour on February 21, 2024. Laufey gained international recognition among Gen Z in 2022 with her TikTok viral single “From The Start.” Although her career began a few years earlier when she auditioned for Iceland’s Got Talent as a fourteen-year-old, she is now the darling artist among hopelessly romantic teenagers. 

Laufey’s success among the younger generation is primarily attributed to her unique songwriting style, perfectly demonstrated in “Valentine.” “Valentine” belongs to Laufey’s debut album “Everything I Know About Love” from 2022.  In this adorable ballad, Laufey describes her experience of falling in love for the first time, filled with excitement, fear, uneasiness, and bewilderment. She uses a “funny, off, almost-drunk pacing” to deliver her mellow and effortless lyrics, as she described herself in an interview. Her language is simple yet perfectly captures the empathetic experience of falling in love. 

“Valentine” recounts the chronological development of Laufey’s feelings as she experiences her first success finding love.

I've rejected affection

For years and years

Now I have it, and damn it

It's kind of weird

He tells me I'm pretty

Don't know how to respond

I tell him that he's pretty too

Can I say that? Don't have a clue

With every passing moment

I surprise myself

I'm scared of flies

I'm scared of guys

Someone please help

Laufey demonstrates her initial response to this newfound love in the first verse and pre-chorus. She admits, “Now I have it, and damn it // It’s kind of weird.” The sharp monosyllabic phrases and plosive stop - “it” - quickens the rhythm by creating an internal rhyme. The change in speed imitates the manner of speech of someone startled after suddenly finding love. The lyrics further resemble casual conversation by using hypophora at the end of the first verse - Laufey asks, “Can I say that?” and then answers her own question - “Don’t have a clue.” Her immediate reply is full of self-awareness and the natural nervousness of a youth. By creating the effect of naturally flustered speech, Laufey enhances the connection between herself and the audience. In the pre-chorus, she uses another set of rhymes to characterize her disorientation in navigating this new relationship. Laufey admits, “I'm scared of flies // I'm scared of guys” and uses the perfect end rhyme of “flies” and “guys” as if promising a connection between the two lines. Yet listeners are only met with the opposite—a lack of connection. One will ask, why is she telling us that she is scared of flies? Laufey’s speech is flooded with passion, fear, and surprise: there is a yappiness to the lyrics, which makes the song so personal and relatable to the average listener.

What if he's the last one I kiss?

What if he's the only one I'll ever miss?

Maybe I should run, I'm only 21

I don't even know who I want to become

As the song progresses, Laufey is plagued with fear and self-doubt. In the second verse, she questions, “What if he's the last one I kiss? // What if he's the only one I'll ever miss?” yet provides no answer. The many hypotheticals suggest a deep insecurity projected onto this new romance; Laufey is concerned with the singularity of her relationship and focuses on its (possibly) fleeting quality in the larger scheme of things. Instead of appreciating her partner and this new opportunity, Laufey worries about the future and how long she can hold onto it. In desperation, Laufey feels on edge and troubled despite success. Her insecurity is further demonstrated in the chorus as she “think[s]” she has “fallen in love this time.” Laufey is ridden with doubt and discomfort as she cannot consider her feelings confidently.

The first one to ever like me back

I'm seconds away from a heart attack

How the hell did I fall in love this time?

And honestly, I can't believe I get to call you mine

I blinked and suddenly, I had a Valentine

(Valentine)

Finally, Laufey descends into the most coveted pleasant, warm, and fuzzy romance. In the final chorus, Laufey asks, "How the hell did I fall in love this time?” Here, she emphasizes her feelings of pleasant surprise and uses colloquial language to continue to build intimacy with the audience. Subsequently, Laufey exclaims, “​​And honestly, I can't believe I get to call you mine,” further highlighting her bewilderment and excitement. More significantly, Laufey addresses the audience in the second person for the first and last time, while she has been using “he” previously throughout the song. This change suggests a change in her attitude towards the relationship as well - Laufey was passive and reserved by observing her relationship from the third person perspective; now, she indicates a closeness by directly using “you”. Positioned at the end of the song, the audience, while not exactly the recipient of Laufey’s expressions, is left with a tinge of sweetness from this detail, carrying the fuzzy feeling of (finally) reciprocated love into their lives. 

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Almost everything I lauve about Laufey is demonstrated in the language of “Valentine.” While I cannot comment on the music and true artistry of Laufey, the multi-talented musician that she is, I still greatly appreciate the beautiful lyrics she brings to us. This song is so relatable (at least to a teenage girl who has fallen victim to unrequited affection many times) and always leaves me giggly with a smile on my face. In only 2 minutes and 48 seconds, you experience every beautifully emotional stage of falling in love. Again, it is so cute; go stream it now! 

Reference List 

“Laufey – Valentine.” Genius, 2022, genius.com/Laufey-valentine-lyrics. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

SiriusXM. “Valentine — Laufey | LIVE Performance | SiriusXM.” YouTube, YouTube Video, 8 Sept. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYva_xWGoIw&ab_channel=SiriusXM. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.