I'm a longtime freelance writer and blogger who frequently writes about music and the global music industry.

Who doesn't love a great love song? It can truly brighten up your day. Music has a way of getting into our hearts and leaving a profound impact on our daily lives.

Love songs put us in a happy, romantic, or thoughtful mood. We all need a great love song, so here are the greatest love songs from the past five decades.

20 Greatest Love Songs

"Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers

Album: Just Once in My Life

Release Year: 1965

This wonderful track sets the mood for a dance floor waltz. It's a perfect wedding song for love birds. It's a great love song with a one of a kind melody and great lyrics.

Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long, lonely time

Time goes by so slowly…

— "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers

"Justify My Love" by Madonna

Album: The Immaculate Collection

Release Year: 1990

"Justify my love" is a sexy and seductive love song. It is romantic and quite charismatic. Who can forget this love track?

Wanting, needing, waiting

For you to justify my love (my love)

Hoping, praying

For you to justify my love…

— "Justify My Love" by Madonna

"She Loves You" by The Beatles

Album: Twist and Shout

Release Year: 1964

This hit was a real banger back in the day. It was definitely a song to dance to. It has great pop appeal and commercial success linked to it. The Beatles have 20 number one hits. They are true legends. This song is so iconic.

Oh, ja sie liebt dich

Schöner kann es gar nicht sein

Ja, sie liebt dich

Und da solltest du dich freuen…

— "She Loves You" by The Beatles

"Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton

Album: Secrets

Release Year: 1996

This song can cause you to get teary-eyed, or it can be inspirational. It can definitely brighten up your mood.

Un-break my heart

Say you'll love me again

Undo this hurt you caused

When you walked out the door…

— "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton

"Incomplete" by Sisqo

Album: Unleash the Dragon

Release Year: 1999

This song is truly a great love song. It's a great song for all those in a relationship with a significant other.

Even though it seems I have everything

I don't want to be a lonely fool

All of the women, all the expensive cars, all the money don't amount to you

So I can make believe I have everything, but I can't pretend that I don't see…

— "Incomplete" by Sisqo

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

Album: The Bodyguard

Release Year: 1992

"I Will Always Love You" is an amazing track to sing along to. Whitney has one of the most incredible voices in history. The song comes from the legendary movie soundtrack The Bodyguard. It was written by country legend Dolly Parton.

If I should stay, I would only be in your way

So I'll go, but I know

I'll think of you every step of the way

And I will always love you…

— "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

"Best of My Love" by Emotions

Album: Rejoice

Release Year: 1977

This 1970s hit has never gotten old. The 1970s was the height of disco music. This track brings everyone to the dance floor. It's a party anthem love song.

Doesn't take much to make me happy

And make me smile with glee

Never never will I feel discouraged

Cause our love's no mystery

Demonstrating love and affection

— "Best of My Love" by Emotions

"Remember the Time" by Michael Jackson

Album: Dangerous

Release Year: 1991

Who can forget Michael Jackson's 1990s hit "Remember the Time?" It is a vocal masterpiece. Michael never fails to deliver great and remarkable music that stands the test of time.

Do you remember the time

When we fell in love

Do you remember the time

When we first met girl…

— "Remember the Time" by Michael Jackson

"All My Life" by K-Ci and Jojo

Album: Love Always

Release Year: 1997

This is the ultimate relationship track. We all want a lifelong partner to share this life with.

And all my life I've prayed for someone like you

And I thank God that I, that I finally found you

All my life I've prayed for someone like you

And I hope that you feel the same way too…

— "All My Life" by K-Ci and Jojo

"Let Me Love You" by Mario

Album: Let Me Love You (Acoustic Version)

Release Year: 1990

"Let Me Love You" is a hit song by R&B singer Mario. The song was written by R&B singer and songwriter Ne-Yo. The track was a huge U.S. hit and spent weeks atop the Billboard charts.

You should let me love you

Let me be the one to

Give you everything you want and need

Ooh baby good love and protection…

— "Let Me Love You" by Mario

"Part Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder

Album: In Square Circle

Release Year: 1985

Stevie Wonder has written many great songs over the past fifty years. This song is one of his many masterpieces. Part time lover is an iconic track. Who doesn't love this song?

We are undercover passion on the run

Chasing love up against the sun

We are strangers by day, lovers by night

Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right…

— "Part Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder

"Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey

Album: Mariah Carey

Release Year: 1990

Mariah is simply the songstress. Nobody has written more great records than the music icon. This song catapulted the music legend to superstardom. It is a great love song.

I had a vision of love

And it was all that you've given to me

I had a vision of love

And it was all that you've given me…

— "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey

"If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys

Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

Release Year: 2003

Alicia Keys is a one of a kind talent. This love song continues to dazzle audiences. It is an awesome love track.

Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you baby

If I ain't got you baby…

— "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys

"We Found Love" by Rihanna

Album: We Found Love

Release Year: 2011

There is a reason why Rihanna is so beloved by her fans. She constantly puts out great music. This song is one of her biggest hits.

Yellow diamonds in the light

And we're standing side by side

As your shadow crosses mine

What it takes to come alive

— "We Found Love" by Rihanna

"Baby Love" by The Supremes

Album: Where Did Our Love Go

Release Year: 1964

"Baby Love" is a classic love song. Motown has produced some of the greatest music in history. The Supremes are one of the most successful musical acts of all time.

Baby love, my baby love, I need you oh how I need you

But all you do is treat me bad

Break my heart and leave me sad

Tell me what did I do wrong to make you stay away so long…

— "Baby Love" by The Supremes

"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge

Album: When a Man Loves a Woman

Release Year: 1966

In this song, Percy Sledge beautifully defines the love between a man and a woman. It seems like this record can do no wrong. It is definitely one of the greatest love tracks in history.

When a man loves a woman

Can't keep his mind on nothin' else

He'd change the world for the good thing he's found

If she is bad, he can't see it

She can do no wrong

Turn his back on his best friend if he put her down

— "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge

"What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner

Album: Private Dancer

Release Year: 1984

Everyone knows this song. It is a great love track by a great artist, Tina Turner. The song is also one of her signature hits.

What's love got to do, got to do with it

What's love but a second hand emotion

What's love got to do, got to do with it

Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken…

— "What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner

"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion

Album: Let's Talk About Love

Release Year: 1997

The song comes from the iconic movie soundtrack The Titanic. It was an enormous hit that spent weeks on top of the Billboard charts. The song is one of Celine Dion's best.

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on

Once more you open the door

And you're here in my heart…

— "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion

"I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis

Album: Now in a Minute

Release Year: 1996

This love song is a 1990s classic. It has a catchy hook and great lyrics. It really brings back great memories. The 1990s was truly a great era for music.

Say you'll love, love me forever

Never stop, never whatever

Near and far and always and everywhere and everything

Say you'll love, love me forever…

— "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis

"Let's Get Married" by Jagged Edge

Album: J.E. Heartbreak

Release Year: 2000

If you're looking for the ultimate wedding song, here it is! This is a great love song about finding your soulmate. Love is complicated, but this song makes love sound easy.

Meet me in the altar in your white dress

We ain't getting no younger, we might as well do it

Been feeling all the while girl I must confess

Girl let's just get married…

— "Let's Get Married" by Jagged Edge

I hope you enjoyed my personal favorites. What are your favorite love songs of all time? Let me know in the comment section below. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.

Comments

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on June 23, 2020:

What a nice variety of romantic songs! I especially like Unchained Melody.

BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on June 16, 2020:

You put alot of work into this one.

The love songs you picked are great.

Thanks for the share.

Theblogchick (author) from United States on March 01, 2020:

Thanks Donna for commenting. You have a great day as well. God bless.

Donna Rayne from Sparks, Nevada on March 01, 2020:

Excellent list of love songs that bring back memories of love lost and love that remains as a fond memory. Thank you for sharing this with us!

Have a beautiful day!

Donna Rayne