The 100 Best Love Songs Ever—Consider It the Ultimate Date Night Playlist
Need a Valentine's Day playlist? These songs are all sweet without schmaltz.
With Valentine's Day on everyone's minds, chances are you're looking for a playlist of love songs to embrace the romance in your life. We've got you covered! Whether you're a rock-solid couple approaching a golden anniversary or just excited for a first date (or third—we see you!), these tracks capture the feelings of infatuation, falling in love and sticking it out through thick and thin, better or worse. Listen to these love songs (we've listed 'em in no particular order) with whoever's lucky enough to be your Valentine!
1. "I'll Make Love to You," Boyz II Men
C'mon—between those harmonies and the fact they're promising to "give you the love of your life," how can you not love this song?
2. "Unchained Melody," Righteous Brothers
Missing a long-distance bae? Or just bummed that your cute coworker took a really long lunch break? Here's your anthem.
3. "Make You Feel My Love," Adele
Adele's rendition of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" is one of the rare instances when the cover surpasses the original.
4. "I Love You Always Forever," Donna Lewis
You may not have heard this 1996 smash in a while, but we bet you'll be able to sing along to every word. The soft vocals, tempo changes and piano-heavy bridge make this not only sweet, but also an absolute earworm. Also check out Betty Who's fun cover.
5. "Say You Won't Let Go," James Arthur
James Arthur wrote one of the most romantic songs of the decade with his 2016 smash "Say You Won't Let Go," an examination of a powerful love from its very first moments to partners' final breaths.
6. "Still Into You," Paramore
While Paramore's "The Only Exception" would be the more predictable choice for its balladry, the frenetic beat and soaring vocals of "Still Into You" captures the very butterflies that frontwoman Hayley Williams belts about in this song.
7. "I Hear a Symphony," The Supremes
Because love is "so inviting, so exciting," indeed.
8. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," Roberta Flack
This 1969 classic won Roberta Flack the prestigious Record of the Year Grammy, as well as a rightful place in music history.
9. "Hunt You Down," Kesha
Kesha pays tribute to Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line" with the heartfelt and hilarious "Hunt You Down," perfect for lovers with a sense of humor.
10. "Friday I'm in Love," The Cure
Sure, "Love Song" is beautiful and enduring, but The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love" is just so bubbly and bright—and since Valentine's Day is on a Friday this year, it's particularly perfect.
11. "Your Song," Elton John
Elton John's "Your Song" is so beautiful that you can forgive whoever serenades you with it for forgetting what color your eyes really are.
12. "Come What May," Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor showed off their surprisingly impressive pipes for "Come What May," an original song from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack. It's as emotionally charged and bombastic as the film itself (you'll sing along between sobs) and perfectly pairs Kidman's delicate vocals with McGregor's more powerful belting.
13. "Can't Help Falling in Love," UB40
Sure, Elvis Presley did a stellar job with the original, but UB40 used their reggae-pop signature to make this track completely their own.
14. "Something," The Beatles
George Harrison penned this sweet Beatles song about his then-wife, Pattie Boyd.
15. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," The Proclaimers
Two fun facts about this irrepressibly catchy tune: Craig Reed of The Proclaimers said he wrote this classic pop tune within the span of about 45 minutes. It went to No. 1 in Iceland, Australia and New Zealand in 1990 before hitting the U.S. charts with its re-release for the film Benny & Joon.
16. I Will Always Love You," Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton penned lyrics so clever alongside a melody so strong that a lot of listeners don't even realize this is actually a breakup song. That said, maybe keep that in mind when picking out a wedding song!
17. "Love on Top," Beyoncé
Beyoncé sounds positively joyful in this ode to a man who finally makes her the top priority that she (and you!) obviously deserve to be.
18. "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," Janet Jackson
You can hear the happiness in Janet Jackson's voice in this 1989 smash.
19. "Pushin' Time," Miranda Lambert Feat. Anderson East
Miranda Lambert's duet with then-beau Anderson East is a beautiful ode to finding unexpected love after heartbreak—even if you know, instinctively, that rebounds likely are a war against time.
20. "Close Your Eyes," Michael Bublé
One of Michael Bublé's signature ballads, this is a popular couples' first dance song for a reason.
Related: We Ranked the Best Madonna Songs of All Time
21. "Heroes," David Bowie
David Bowie is a king beseeching his queen to kiss him at the Berlin Wall in this epic 1977 classic.
22. "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Do," Bob Dylan
Dylan pens a beautiful love song to a partner he fears may be fleeting. If his vocals aren't your thing (believe us, we hear you), check out this beautiful cover by Miley Cyrus featuring Johnzo West.
23. "The Best," Tina Turner
Recently re-popularized by Schitt's Creek, Tina Turner cemented her legacy even further with "The Best." Because, well, that's precisely what she is.
24. "Truly Madly Deeply," Savage Garden
"Truly Madly Deeply" was such a massive hit for Savage Garden that it became the only song in history to spend a full year in the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a record-setting 123 weeks on the Adult Contemporary Chart ... only to be outdone by "I Knew I Loved You," also by Savage Garden.
25. "I Believe In a Thing Called Love," The Darkness
The Darkness made us all believers with this rollicking 2003 glam rock love song.
26. "You're My Best Friend," Queen
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury captured the essence of a great relationship in this tune, singing, "Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had / I've been with you such a long time / You're my sunshine / And I want you to know / That my feelings are true / I really love you."
27. "You're Still the One," Shania Twain
Shania Twain won two Grammys for "You're Still the One," which became one of her most successful songs ever.
28. "Because You Loved Me," Céline Dion
Céline Dion performed this theme for the Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford film Up Close and Personal.
29. "The Bones," Maren Morris
Maren Morris performs a killer love song with "The Bones"—and the cute music video comes from her honeymoon footage with husband Ryan Hurd.
30. "The Story," Brandi Carlile
This 2007 hit from Brandi Carlile tells a story within itself, especially thanks to Carlile's emotive vocals.
31. "By Your Side," Sade
"By Your Side" was the first new Sade single in eight years at the time of its 2000 release, and the powerful lyrics and her signature smoky, smooth vocals made it beyond worth the wait.
32. "Crazy for You," Madonna
Madonna nails exactly how it feels to be at the same party as your crush.
33. "Suspension," Mae
This exuberant 2005 track from Mae perfectly captures the early stages of romance before you've had "the talk" but are 100 percent smitten.
34. "I'll Stand by You," The Pretenders
The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde wrote what may well be the perfect description of unconditional love and devotion. (Want something lighter and poppier but still romantic? Check out "Don't Get Me Wrong," which is absolutely adorable.)
35. "All My Life," K-Ci & JoJo
K-Ci & JoJo were the R&B ballad kings of the late 1990s, and this song is why. See also: "Tell Me It's Real."
36. "At Last," Etta James
Somehow, Etta James' signature song only peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100.
37. "New Year's Day," Taylor Swift
The closing track from Taylor Swift's Reputation is a beautiful piano ballad about finding love to sustain great nights and rough days. The vivid imagery and romance is Swift at her best—vulnerable without being self-conscious (or self-referential, like in the also beautiful "Daylight" from Lover).
38. "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," Prince
This 1994 Prince hit features a sweet falsetto and sweet (and clean!) lyrics.
39. "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To," Weezer
This Weezer classic examines a romance from awkward beginnings to marriage to complacency and a possible end. For an added bonus, check out their duet version with Sara Bareilleshere.
40. "No One," Alicia Keys
This midtempo ballad from Alicia Keys' third album features some of the strongest vocals of her entire career. The track was the most-played song on radio in 2008, won two Grammys and was one of the best-selling singles of all time. Not bad!
Related: 50 Best Songs of the 2010s That We'll Be Listening to for Decades to Come
41. "For the Longest Time," Billy Joel
This 1983 singalong ditty from Billy Joel blends simplicity with old-school harmonizing and some of the sweetest lyrics ever.
42. "Hold On Forever," Rob Thomas
The simple production complements the heartwarming lyrics of this sweet Rob Thomas tune.
43. "Be My Baby," The Ronettes
Ronnie Spector was the only member of The Ronettes harmonizing on the original single version of "Be My Baby," which is considered a groundbreaking moment in pop for its Phil Spector-"wall of sound" production style.
44. "Whenever You Call," Mariah Carey
This piano ballad from Butterfly is an incredible showcase of Mariah Carey's infamous vocal range, but also of her songwriting ability. If you like this, check out the duet version with Brian McKnight.
45. "Back at One," Brian McKnight
Speaking of Brian McKnight, this beautiful piano ballad flaunts McKnight's impressive range—check out the incredible high note at 3:01! Enduring love is a great theme for the crooner, whose song "Still" also captures that adoration.
46. "I'm Yours," Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz made music history with the sunny, infectious "I'm Yours": It was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 76 weeks, beating LeAnn Rimes' cover of "How Do I Live," which held the title previously with 69 weeks; the "I'm Yours" record was eventually eclipsed by Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" and AWOLNATION's "Sail."
47. "Such Great Heights," The Postal Service
Ben Gibbard sings of blissful love in this sweet tune, which opens with imagery: "I am thinking it's a sign / That the freckles in our eyes / Are mirror images / And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned."
48. "Bob and Bonnie," Houston Calls
This 2005 pop-punk tune from Houston Calls celebrates the sweetest moments in a long romance, from bonding over The Beatles' "Blackbird" and The Princess Bride to decades later: "Does he still look at you the same way now? / Feel the same as 38 years ago and how!"
49. "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill's cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" by The Four Seasons is emotive and beautiful. The 1998 hit earned her a Grammy nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
50. "Take My Breath Away," Berlin
This song became a smash in part due to its iconic use in Top Gun.
51. "Wonderful Tonight," Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton wrote this classic tune about Pattie Boyd, and he performed it for her the day after their wedding.
52. "Everything's Magic," Angels and Airwaves
This poppy, ebullient tune captures the butterflies and surges of energy you get with the right person. Tom DeLonge deserves his flowers.
53. "The Best Thing," Relient K
This catchy song nails the feeling of finding love after turmoil, and who could resist lines like, "'Cause when I looked into your eyes and you dared to stare right back / You should have said, 'Nice to meet you, I'm your other half'"?
54. "The Luckiest," Ben Folds
Ben Folds' beautiful piano ballad would make a great first dance at a wedding...unless you're an ugly crier.
55. "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," Jackie Wilson
Because that's exactly what love should do!
56. "Hold My Hand," New Found Glory
Just try not to pogo to this adorable ditty with lyrics like, "And you smell like how angels ought to smell."
57. "For Once in My Life," Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was just 18 years old when he released this classic.
58. "Alive With the Glory of Love," Say Anything
Say Anything singer Max Bemis wrote "Alive With the Glory of Love" about his grandparents. He told The Pittsburgh Gazette, "My grandparents were Holocaust survivors, which struck a chord with me. I thought about what it would be like to be in love and be separated from the person you love, because these times are just as dire in a way. Anything can happen, in a war and terrorist attacks and cynicism and all these actors who oppose love."
59. "God Only Knows," The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys' 1966 classic was one of the first commercial songs ever released to use "God" in its title, and Paul McCartney called this the best song ever written.
60. "Again," Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz penned a perfect song about love at first sight.
Related: 40 Songs That Scream Female Empowerment From Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Dolly Parton & More
61. "When a Man Loves a Woman," Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge captures the yearning of a powerful romance.
62. "Hands Down," Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional crooner Chris Carrabba is perhaps best known for breakup songs, but he really nails the adrenaline rush of falling in lust here.
63. "Ain't Nobody," Chaka Khan
This funk track from Rufus and Chaka Khan is a great uptempo track to dedicate to your bae.
64. "Always Remember Us This Way," Lady Gaga
This song from A Star Is Born is sung beautifully by Lady Gaga, but good luck getting through it without crying.
65. "Underneath Your Clothes," Shakira
Shakira expresses ownership, pride and adoration all at once in this lovely ballad.
66. "My Love Is Your Love," Whitney Houston
When Whitney Houston sings about loving her partner for richer or for poorer and for better or worse (in big ways—like sleeping in Grand Central Station and in the midst of a hypothetical World War III), you 100 percent believe her.
67. "If I Should Fall Behind," Bruce Springsteen
This classic Bruce Springsteen tune drives home the idea that love is, indeed, patient.
68. "Come to Me," Goo Goo Dolls
A perfect wedding song that even mentions getting to the church on time while celebrating a relationship standing the test of time.
69. "We Belong," Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar's powerhouse pipes are on full display with moving lines like "Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better / We belong, we belong, we belong together."
70. "Everytime I Close My Eyes," Babyface
This gorgeous 1996 track earned Babyface a Grammy nod for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
71. "Grow Old With You," Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler sings this adorable tune in The Wedding Singer when he wants to win over Drew Barrymore's character.
72. "Open Arms," Journey
Journey makes us almost want to text our exes ... almost. Seriously, please resist the urge!
73. "XO," John Mayer
John Mayer covered this Beyoncé song and made it his own.
74. "Yes," Demi Lovato
Expecting a ring? You'll be singing this Demi Lovato song when your partner gets down on one knee.
75. "Let's Stay Together," Al Green
Every lyric of this Al Green classic is romantic! Also, never forget Barack Obama crooning the opening bars.
76. "I'll Tumble for Ya," Culture Club
For when you're literally falling in love!
77. "Somebody Loves You," Betty Who
Betty Who's ebullient pop confection launched a million flash mob proposals.
78. "I Swear," All4One
I swear by the moon and the stars and the sky that you'll love this song.
79. "Baby Hold On," Eddie Money
The late Eddie Money sings about sticking it out even when you lack, well, money.
80. "Cuz I Love You," Lizzo
Lizzo has said this is her favorite song from her album by the same name.
Related: These 101 Songs About Depression Will Remind You That You're Not Alone
81. "For You I Will," Monica
This lovely ballad by Monica has the added bonus of Space Jam nostalgia.
82. "I Got You Babe," Sonny and Cher
Cher and then-husband Sonny Bono's sweet duet withstood the test of time in a big way.
83. "Come to My Window," Melissa Etheridge
"Come to My Window" was the first song Melissa Etheridge released after coming out as a lesbian. The passionate track earned Etheridge a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and has a music video starring Juliette Lewis.
84. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tyrell
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tyrell already had a classic with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," but it gained a younger, new audience after it was featured in Guardians of the Galaxy.
85. "Don't Go Home Without Me," Lights
In this sweet track, singer Valerie Poxleitner-Bokan croons to the man she wants to grow old with, "So if our bodies get ugly and our hearts stop beating / Our house is crumbling under me and our kids start leaving / I hope you know I appreciated you in every possible way / All of the little things that you did, they got me through the hardest days."
86. "So in Love," Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton
Jill Scott's duet with Anthony Hamilton details a sweet exchange between partners who absolutely adore one another.
87. "Head Over Feet," Alanis Morissette
Sure, everyone loves angry Alanis Morissette, but smitten Alanis is an absolute delight in her own right.
88. "Let's Hear It for the Boy," Deniece Williams
Is this song a little back-handed? Maybe, considering she points out that her boy is broke, inarticulate, a bad dresser and can't hold a tune. But the point is that she loves him anyway! This is for when your man isn't perfect, but he's perfect for you.
89. "Handle Me With Care," The Traveling Wilburys
Worried about getting a broken heart but madly in love anyway? This one's for you.
90. "Like I'm Gonna Lose You," Meghan Trainor Feat. John Legend
Meghan Trainor and John Legend remind us that we only live once, so make the most of the time you've got with the person you love.
91. "Best of My Love," Emotions
For the love who's not afraid to show you off!
92. "Piece by Piece," Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson starts "Piece by Piece" as a solemn song about her father's abandonment, but ends it as a love song to her then-husband, Brandon Blackstock. We're not crying, you're crying. (Also, we absolutely hate him for breaking her heart.)
93. "You Might Think," The Cars
The Cars' quirky tune actually beat out Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for Video of the Year at the 1984 VMAs.
94. "Best Part," H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar
"You're the Tylenol when my head hurts." Beautiful!
95. "Lasting Impressions," The Starting Line
This classic from The Starting Line nails the excitement and longing associated with a long-distance romance.
96. "Forever Your Girl," Paula Abdul
On top of the devoted sentiment Paula Abdul espouses in "Forever Your Girl," can we talk about the adorable video? She's choreographing kids who turned out to be stars in real life, including Elijah Wood, Nikki Cox and Trevor Wright.
97. "How Long Will I Love You," Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding's sweet and soft piano-driven love song promises, "How long will I love you? / As long as the stars are above you / And longer, if I may."
98. "I Choose You," Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles wrote a love song so beautiful that it's a popular wedding choice. Our fave line? "My whole heart / Will be yours forever / This is a beautiful start / To a lifelong love letter." As a bonus, it also reminds us of the immortal Simpsons Valentine's Day episode.
99. "She Is Beautiful," Andrew W.K.
Because you can party hard and be in love at the same time!
100. "Goodnight and Go," Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap brings cheeky humor to this love song, which Ariana Grande later used in a quasi-cover.
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