This is not your mother’s “just talk to them.” Having a crush is magical and terrible all at once. Some people face them head-on and get their feelings out immediately; I for one would rather walk in the snow naked before I tell someone I like them.

Some people read vicariously; others write out their fantasies. Some suggestively subtweet; others passive-aggressively retweet. I, however, find crushes to be precious things to be nurtured and dealt with individually. Every crush is different.

To indulge myself in emotion without interacting with my crush, I make playlists. With 99 (and counting) compilations on my Spotify account, how could I not have curated playlists for every crush and boyfriend I’ve ever had?¹ At this point, I’d consider myself an expert in the craft.

Think of a playlist as an ice cream sundae. Music is the ice cream; the other aspects, the toppings. Songs make up 100 percent of a playlist but only 90 percent of its impact. The other 10 percent is your title, your cover picture, your caption and you. These let you take ownership of your collection of songs, and in turn, your crush.

Titles are every listener’s first taste of the playlist. Some playlists are meant to be shared with the world; this one is just for you. The best titles are suggestive but vague. Take one of mine, “the boy in the bronx.” There are many boys in the Bronx, but this playlist is dedicated to one.² This playlist is just another compilation of love songs to the wandering listener, but only I know it’s much more.

Cover pictures follow the same guideline. Don’t upload your crush’s Facebook profile picture. Instead, use a picture that suggests the kind of relationship you want to have with them. I draw from my favorite romantic comedies; for “the boy in the bronx,” I used a still of Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in “Sabrina.” If you have trouble finding photos, peruse Tumblr or Pinterest.³

Your caption should add detail to your title without giving too much away. Feel free to write a one-line love letter here, but if you’re bold enough to have a blunt caption, you’re bold enough to talk to your crush. Subtlety is the name of the game.

This is not a careless collection of cliché love songs. Crushes are nuanced; music is, too. However you feel about a person, there is at least one song for it, in any genre, in any stage of crushing. To get you started, here are some⁴ of my favorites:⁵

So, go ahead. Try it. You’re safe; no one’s looking. Take a few minutes to make a playlist or two. Or three. Or 14.⁹ There’s no harm in doing it; it’s a guiltless indulgence and a cathartic release. Happy Valentine’s Day, kids.

¹ “Ever had” since creating my Spotify account in 2014. My apologies to Ethan, Henry, Nick P., Nick S. and Aidan for their lack of playlists.
² To the boy in the Bronx: For your sake, I hope I’m worth the concession.
³ I could probably write an entire article defending Pinterest, but just trust me. It’s great.
⁴ When I say some, I mean some.
⁵Please don’t get mad at me if I mis-categorize songs, or totally leave out genres. My apologies to disco and musical theatre and rap fans, but we’d be here all day if I included those.
⁶ I know I said this wasn’t full of cliché love songs, and it’s not full of them. Who can resist a good love song?
⁷ This category is not about threesomes.
⁸ Yes, country. I suppose I’m slightly biased since I grew up listening to country, but it actually slaps when it’s done right! As with Pinterest, there’s something for everybody.
⁹As of right now, I have 14 playlists dedicated to my crushes. However, this does not mean that I have had 14 serious crushes since 2014. Some of my playlists have multiple versions. This is because I find playlists that are comprised of music from one genre are more cohesive than those that are a salad of genres. And, as I have proven, there’s enough music out there to make multiple substantial compilations. “the boy in the bronx,” for example, has four versions: indie pop, pop, vintage jazz, and country. Similarly, you could create different versions based on the mood you’re trying to create. Does this person make you happy and sad at the same time? Why have one playlist when you can have two? Ultimately, the playlists you make are up to you, but if you’d like my humble opinion, this method gives you both quantity and quality.