by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Ever since the sinister serpent told Adam and Eve, "You two are adorable together," cute couples have captured people's fancies. With the internationally recognized romance-appreciation day around the corner, the Mirror asked some of the many musicians making a Montreal stand on (or around) St. Valentine's Day who their all-time favourite couple might be. The answers were drawn from literature, from cinema, from politics, even from real life! And as diverse as our selection of musicians is - ranging from the classy stylings of Cheryl Sim and Amanda Mabro, through the newer-wave of Stars and Cherry Persuasion, to the goofy fun of the Kingpins and the Diskettes - so is the range of their replies.

Andrew W.K.

"My favourite romantic couple is my mom and dad. They might not be the most interesting or original pair, but I'm choosing them because they're the couple I know best. My dad's a real oddball and my mom's a saint for dealing with him. Their marriage works because they're forced to bring out the best in one another - if they didn't then it wouldn't work. I mean, my mom has to always be really strong and smart to deal with such a weird dude like my dad, and in return he has to learn to be cool and good and thankful for having someone as awesome as my mom to actually put up with him. You know what I mean? I learn a lot from them, and I love them. Happy Valentine's Day, mom and dad. Love, Andrew W.K." With Jerk Appeal at Cabaret on Sunday, Feb. 15, 9pm, $15

Aleece Germano
(keyboards, the Cherry Persuasion)

"I've always had an existential relationship with love, so I'm fascinated by the life that Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir shared. They were lovers, best friends and intellectual counterparts who never lived together. They were equals, free to be themselves and live their lives separately yet in harmony. Who better than a pair of French philosophers to deny the world of obsession, possession, and exploitation that abounds in society's perception of romance?" With DJ Rico Valentine and guests at Petit Campus on Saturday, Feb. 14, 9pm, $7

DJ Paulo

"I have a couple of friends in real life that can show us all the meaning of romance. They've been together for four and a half years and celebrate their anniversary monthly on the sixth of every month, show their appreciation for each other with poems and small gifts, and go on romantic getaways (in Italy, Paris, Costa Rica) at least once a year to get out of their element. On their actual anniversary, they rent out a suite in Laguna (a beautiful beach resort in southern California) and spend it there. To them, Valentine's Day is just another reason to be romantic." With DJ Norm Robert at BBCM's Red Party at the Parisian Laundry (3550 St-Antoine W.) on Saturday, Feb. 14, 10pm, $55

Torquil Campbell
(singer, Stars)

"I only hesitated a moment before giving my obvious choice. But in the end, I couldn't resist, and could never resist the thrilling mix of high style and primal sexual power represented by George W. and Laura Bush. I imagine W. in the throes of passion, squatting over Laura and muttering ‘You like that, Saddam?' over and over again as he thrusts into her. For her part, has there been a first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt that mixed girlish charm and raw sex so enchantingly? These two have got it all: a sexy crusade (the war against terrorism? Makes me come just thinking about it!), a terrific sense of style and romance, and a deep and enduring love for each other and their country. If George and Laura aren't everyone's favourite Valentine's couple, well, I guess the terrorists really have won." With the Apostle of Hustle at O Patro Vys on Saturday, Feb. 14, 9pm, $15

Jordan Dare

"The couple that comes to mind at the moment would have to be Marla and Jack from Fight Club - the movie, not the book. I think Marla deserves a lot of credit. You have to love someone that puts up with that much hell. Here's a short list of examples: 1) Your mate has a crew of psychos called Space Monkeys who dedicate their days to mischief and mayhem, because he told them to. 2) He has fistfights with himself. 3) He talks to the wall more than he talks you. 4) He shot half his jaw off, blew up two city blocks right in front of you and then turned and said, ‘Everything's going to be fine.' True love?" With A Touch of Class and Le Couple at the Valentine's Neon Love at the SAT on Saturday, Feb. 14, 10pm, $20

Cheryl Sim

"Most people think of Sandy and Danny, but Rizzo and Kenicki from Grease are much more delicious and nasty in their amorous ways. He's a soft-hearted romantic behind his leather and greased-lightning exterior. She longs to be his Pink Lady despite her tough talk and tight skirts. They try to make each other jealous in-between their bouts of frenzy in the backseat of his car. She calls him a pig when he tells her that ‘a hickey from Kenicki is like a Hallmark card.' But they are made for each other and end up together during the carnival scene." At Cobalt on Thursday, Feb.12, 9:30pm, $5

David Barclay and Emily Béliveau
(the Diskettes)

"Our two favourite romantic couples are our mums and dads because over the years, they've fed us, clothed us and kept us warm. They have taught us important things concerning safety, politeness and trying our best. We would also like them to know that this band thing is only a phase." With the Barbership Potemkin and a mix-tap trade at Island View Beach (5869 du Parc) on Friday, Feb. 13, 8pm, free with two cans of food

Shane Murphy
(singer/guitarist, the Shane Murphy Trio)

"Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in The Thomas Crown Affair are one of my favourite romantic couples. Throughout the film, it's cat and mouse and Steve, well, I think Steve (Thomas Crown) falls in love with her. But Steve's a cool customer, he's already got the money and he knows he is going to get pinched if he goes back for her. She's waiting at the rendezvous with 20 cops in the bushes, Steve's on a 727 first class to Switzerland, smoking a cigar. Never trust your heart, kids, especially on Valentine's." With the Vague and Maïa Davies at la Sala Rossa tonight, Thursday, Feb. 12, 9pm, $7

Lorraine Muller
(vocals/saxophone, the Kingpins)

"The tragic Romeo and Juliet figures are indeed very romantic, but as a true representative of my generation, I prefer John Hughes' twist on people from two very separate worlds getting together. Perhaps it was the timing in my own life of all his coming-of-age films that clinched it, but when the high-school princess (Molly Ringwald) walked into the broom closet to find the high-school rocker, the "too cool for you" character (Judd Nelson) who had previously made fun of her, only to lean over and kiss him… And the jock (Emilio Estevez) becomes attracted to the high-school reject freak (Ally Sheedy). I was hooked! The very last unforgettable shot of Bender putting Claire's diamond earring in his own ear and throwing his fist up in triumph as Saturday detention came to an end felt so good! My favourite couples? The ones that preconceived ideas would have doomed!" At Café Chaos with the Bogarts and DJ Red Menace on Friday, Feb. 13, 9pm, $7, and Trip the Off and DJ Dollarama on Saturday, Feb. 14, 9pm, $7

Amanda Mabro
(singer, Amanda Mabro & the Cabaret Band)

"It's a tie for me between Alvy Singer and Annie Hall or Harry and Sally, because both couples are earnest in their representation of how neurotic and often self-absorbed people are, no matter how romantically in love. I love Alvy and Annie not only because they're crazy and I derive some kind of twisted comfort from those characters, but because they for the most part have a very communicative relationship - even if they wanna kill each other most of the time. As for Harry and Sally, well, I'm a girl and that makes it okay!" At the Valentine's Burlesque Roadshow at Petit Campus on Friday, Feb. 13, 9pm, $12

Bloodshot Bill

"Wow, that's a tough one... let's see... I was gonna say Ben and J. Lo, but sadly they're not together no more. What about Anna Nicole Smith and… oh, never mind, he's dead. How about me and whatever lucky chick I get to spank this Saturday? Naw... oh, I know! That couple in Raising Arizona! Yeah, they kick ass! I'd like to be like them one day and steal babies with my one true love..." With Slim Sandy at the Wheel Club on Saturday, Feb. 14, 9pm, $5

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