SUPERB SUGGESTIONS FROM SA SINGING SENSATION, SELIM VALENTINO, ON HOW TO SPEND YOUR “CELEBRATION OF LOVE” DAY THIS YEAR
Although even Cupid himself might have to comply with all the lockdown restrictions, that does not mean that your Valentine’s Day this year should be unromantic as a result. But are you stuck for ideas on how to make the most out of the day that celebrates all things love? We caught up with our favourite local crossover classical performer, passionate singer Selim Valentino (formerly known as Selim Kagee), for some unique suggestions to help you out.
Valentino, often compared to the greats such as Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli (or a combination of them all) says that he and Cavina, his wife of eight years, will be spending Valentine’s Day morning enjoying a very romantic breakfast he has planned for her. However, the rest of the day he will be dedicating in true Valentino style by giving some love to others as well – performing a solo charity concert for the residents of St.Luke’s Hospice.
But he has some superb other ideas – and here is what he shared:
“With lockdown restrictions lifted, the hospitality industry needs all the support from us it can get, so make sure you make a booking at your favourite restaurant as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment. However, should you wish to play it safe and rather stay home or far from others, here are some other unique ideas to make the most out of Valentine’s Day:
Few things are as intimate as making food together. Fortunately, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday this year, there are no time pressure in preparing your favourite meals together. Alternatively, go for a long walk on the beach or a forest during sunset. You can pack a picnic basket or backpack with some snacks and find a beautiful viewpoint to sit, eat, enjoy the surroundings and each other’s company. This doesn’t have to cost much at all as it is all about spending quality time together in a relaxed, stunning environment, which will elevate both your moods.
Play the guessing game and relive some fond memories. Each of you should prepare a list of ten questions, for example “can you remember our first kiss?”, “where did we go for our very first date?”, “how did I propose to you?”, “what is the first movie we saw together?”, “what do you consider to be our song?”, and similar. Don’t make it too difficult or take it too seriously; you don’t want it all to end up in an argument. It should be fun! End off this game with a list of five things you appreciate about your significant other.
Remember the good old days of making a mixtape for each other to express your feelings or display your taste in music? Make a new one and update it with your favourite current songs. Be sure to include some nostalgic hits on there too that will conjure up some fond memories of days gone by that you shared together. This way both of you can be reminded of each other while driving to and back from work, learn how your significant other’s choice of music might have changed over the years, and which old classics make him or her think about you. Best of all, this way Valentine’s Day can last all year long.
Depending on how adventurous and metrosexual the male in the family is, make it a pamper day for both of you. After enjoying a good meal together, dress up comfortably, burn some aroma therapy oils, put on some face masks, and watch your favourite movie together that both of you love. Alternatively, enjoy some romantic classics such as Titanic, Moulin Rouge, The Greatest Showman or even some iconic gems like Casablanca or Gone With The Wind if you’ve never watched them before, If neither of you are in the mood for a movie you can also play some of your favourite albums, with each of you getting a chance to play a song following the other’s choice. Discuss what you like about the song and why it speaks to you. Afterwards, give each other a massage and use some of the aroma therapy oils for this. With both of you smelling and feeling great, you’ll no doubt end up in each other’s arms, cuddling and enjoying one another’s touch again.
Surprise your loved one with a hidden talent that he or she may or may not be aware of. Whether you’re secretly passionate about painting, writing poetry, have your own original song stuck in your head, or even great as a carpenter – be creative and make a gift for one another. Putting so much time and effort into creating something that is an expression of your love will mean so much more than just buying a gift, even if “diamonds are a girls best friend”. Your beloved will remember you fondly every time they look at this gift, which is something you simply can’t put a price tag on.
However, if you feel you are not creatively inclined, make a Valentine’s Day card of your own. Even if you’re not overly romantic in your writing abilities, you can still show your appreciation for your partner by writing down the reasons why you’re grateful for having him or her in your life. The list could include simple things such as “thank you for making me coffee in the mornings over a weekend” or “thank you for being such a good father/mother and helping the kids with their homework after work every day”.
Enjoy Selim Valentino’s acoustic piano performance of the Snow Patrol hit single, RUN, to see for yourself why he is considered to be the “King of Romantic Music” in SA:
You can also follow Valentino on his social media platforms:
Facebook (SelimValentino),
Instagram (SelimValentino)
Twitter (SelimValentino).
Also visit his official website at SelimValentino.com.