Cynicism is a growing phenomenon in music. True love songs are hard to come by these days. Deriving its name from Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” Yellow Diamonds is a series of lyric breakdowns in which VIBE Senior Music Editor Austin Williams celebrates songs that sound like love found in a hopeless mainstream.
In Thursday’s (May 26) edition of this column, I mentioned my girlfriend and I celebrated our third anniversary in Puerto Rico. Because we’re both cursed with boundless work ethic and limited PTO, our trip was tragically short. But for the few days that we were able to get away, music was essential to our experience. From the merengue and salsa tunes that scored our private dance lesson to the tree frogs that sang us to sleep each night outside of our villa-style lodging, everything we heard enhanced the romanticism of our baecation. This includes the songs we played throughout our stay.There are a few key ingredients that determine what counts as baecation music. Of course, love has to be at the center of each song, preferably a carefree and uncomplicated one. There also needs to be a warmness to the music’s production that’d match the climate of most baecation destinations. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, each ballad must contain enough nostalgia and singalong-friendly lyrics to inspire impromptu duets between lovers.With all these factors in mind, I’ve compiled 12 baecation love songs crucial to curating the right vibes on your own romantic getaways this summer. Whether you and your partner are beach bums, sight-seers, or expert explorers, check out the music below for ideas on what to add to your travel playlists.