We’ve got rid of the tree, finished off the mince pies and stopped having chocolate for breakfast, so what next? Even the most cold-hearted among us can’t have helped noticing the appearance of all things heart-shaped in the shops, which means only one thing – it’s nearly Valentine’s Day.
Romance means different things to different people; some like to go all in on Valentine’s Day, with the classic red roses, chocolates and a romantic meal, while others prefer a simpler approach, or even ignore it altogether. But whatever your thoughts, everyone loves a good love song.
Love songs have been around for thousands of years; the oldest known love song, ‘She-Sin’ was found in Mesopotamia, and there is evidence of love ballads written by 8th century Medieval Arab slaves in Spain. Everyone’s had a go, from Dolly Parton to the Beatles, Ed Sheeran to Slipknot; there’s something for everyone, from the classic to the unusual.
Music is linked to emotions, so it makes sense that it’s used to express love, whether that’s from afar, unrequited, celebrating the start or mourning the end. So, with this in mind, and in honour of 14th Feb, we’ve chosen 10 of the best love songs to play.
1. THE CLASSIC
The First Time Ever I saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
This song was on Flack’s 1969 album ‘First Take’ but didn’t become a hit until Clint Eastwood used it in his film Play Misty for Me in 1971. It was originally written in 1957 by folk singer Ewan MacColl for his lover, Peggy Seeger, although he was still married to someone else at the time so its romantic origins are a little bit shaky. But it beat Don McLean’s American Pie to the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1973.
2. THE KARAOKE FAVOURITE
My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
A song made famous by Titanic, this song nearly didn’t make it into the film as neither Celine Dion, the artist, or James Cameron, the director, liked it. Luckily, they changed their minds, and it became the song most associated with the film, Celine Dion’s signature song and one of the biggest songs of the 20th century. It’s also number 6 in the top 15 karaoke love songs, so if you think you can impress your beloved by hitting those high notes, knock yourself out.
3. THE PUNK ONE
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) – Buzzcocks
Released in 1978, Pete Shelley wrote this song after hearing the line ‘Wait till you fall in love with someone you shouldn’t have’ in the 1955 film Guys and Dolls. It was allegedly about a good friend of his who he’d fallen in love with, but this has never been confirmed. It only reached number 12 in the UK charts but has become one of the band’s best-known songs, a real classic of unrequited love.
4. THE REALLY SAD ONE
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor
Written by Prince, this song was released by the then 23-year-old Sinead O’Connor in 1990, becoming a number 1 hit in 17 countries and earning her a Grammy for Best Alternative Performance, an award she turned down because she said she hated the commercialisation of her music. The iconic video is just a close up of her face with a single, unplanned, tear rolling down her cheek.
5. THE ONE FOR THE SWIFTIES
Love Story (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
A real Romeo and Juliet take about forbidden love that appeals to teenagers everywhere, with the classic key change that turns it into a happy ending, this song was released in 2008. It became the first song to top both the country-radio and pop-radio charts, it was also her first UK hit.
6. THE CHILLED ONE
Protection – Massive Attack
This was a collaboration in 1995 between Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn, from the group Everything but the Girl – they gave her the backing track and free reign to do what she wanted with it. She recorded the vocals in ten minutes and is said to have written the song for her husband and band mate, Ben Watt, after his recovery from a serious illness.
7. THE HEAVY METAL ONE
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Proof that heavy metal isn’t all head banging and mosh pits, this song was released in 1992 and has become one of the band’s best-known songs. Lead singer, James Hetfield, originally wrote it just for himself, with no plans to release it or even play it to the rest of the band; it’s about a girlfriend he was missing while on tour. It uses the 3 / 4 waltz time which is traditionally used in classical music, in particular in The Blue Danube.
8. THE R&B ONE
Fallin’ – Alicia Keys
Another contemporary song with a nod to classical music, this song opens with a bit of Chopin. Released in 2001, it was written and produced by Keys when she was in her late teens and is about the emotions you go through when you’re in a turbulent relationship, in fact the video shows her visiting her boyfriend in prison – not your typical romantic setting. In 2024 Rolling Stone included it at no.7 in the ‘100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century’.
9. THE SURPRISING ONE
There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths
The Smiths might not be the first band you turn to when you’re looking for romantic songs, but this one, from the 1986 album The Queen is Dead, has become a bit of an anthem. Featuring the most unlikely romantic lyrics – ‘If a double decker bus, crashes into us, to die by your side would be a heavenly way to die’ it wasn’t released until 1992, 5 years after the band split up. It’s been used in various films and as part of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
10. THE BEATLES ONE
Something – The Beatles
When Frank Sinatra refers to your song as ‘The greatest love song ever written’ then you must be doing something right; although when he performed it himself, he credited Lennon and McCartney for writing it, when in fact it was written and performed by George Harrison. Harrison is alleged to have written it for his then wife, Patti Boyd, although when questioned about this in an interview his reply was ‘Maybe Patti, probably…’. This may or may not be related to the fact that Patti Boyd went on to marry Eric Clapton, who famously wrote TWO songs for her.
SOME OTHER CONTENDERS
- A Song For The Lovers – Richard Ashcroft
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- All of Me – John Legend
- Amazed – Lonestar
- At Last – Etta James
- Avalon – Roxy Music
- Because – I Am Kloot
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis
- Careless Whisper – George Michael
- Crazy For You – Madonna
- Delirious Love – Neil Diamond
- Don’t Delete the Kisses – Wolf Alice
- Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie
- Górecki – Lamb
- Grow Old With Me – Tom Odell
- I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden
- I Wanna Get Lost With You – Stereophonics
- I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
- Into My Arms – Nick Cave
- Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
- Just The Way you Are – Bruno Mars
- Killing Me Softly – The Fugees
- Love Of My Life – Queen
- Make You Feel My Love – Adele
- Never – Embrace
- No Ordinary Love – Sade
- On & On –Longpigs
- Quietly Yours – Birdy
- Speeding Cars – Walking On Cars
- Stand By You – The Pretenders
- The Bones Of You – Elbow
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- This Mess We’re In – PJ Harvey & Thom Yorke
- Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
- Where’s My Love – SYML
- You Do Something To Me – Paul Weller
- Your Song – Elton John
- Your Sweet Love – Lee Hazlewood
If you’re after the perfect playlist this Valentine’s Day, all of these, and more, are available on our specially curated playlist; whether you’re celebrating love, plucking up the courage to declare undying love, or wallowing because of unrequited love (remember, it’s not you it’s them…) there’s something on here for you.
And if random song tracks are your thing, check out our blogs on one hit wonders and covers that are better than the original and let us know what you think.
Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us here!
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