20 Greatest Love Songs
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
Song Title | Artist |
---|---|
"Unchained Melody" | Righteous Brothers |
"Justify My Love" | Madonna |
"She Loves You" | The Beatles |
"Unbreak My Heart" | Toni Braxton |
"Incomplete" | Sisqo |
"I Will Always Love You" | Whitney Houston |
"Best of My Love" | Emotions |
"Remember the Time" | Michael Jackson |
"All My Life" | K-Ci and Jojo |
"Let Me Love You" | Mario |
"Part Time Lover" | Stevie Wonder |
"Vision of Love" | Mariah Carey |
"If I Ain't Got You" | Alicia Keys |
"We Found Love" | Rihanna |
"Baby Love" | The Supremes |
"When a Man Loves a Woman" | Percy Sledge |
"What's Love Got to Do With It" | Tina Turner |
"My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion |
"I Love You Always Forever" | Donna Lewis |
"Let's Get Married" | Jagged Edge |
"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