Looking for the perfect love song for the woman who has your heart? Whether you’re planning a wedding first dance or something else special, these songs stand the test of time.
1. Just The Way You Are — Bruno Mars
Back in 2010, Bruno Mars made us all melt with his song Just The Way You Are. Many women (and men too, for that matter) struggle with their self-image. Just The Way You Are is all about loving your partner even if they don’t love themselves.
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2. When You Say Nothing at All — Keith Whitley
Have you ever been so in love with someone that you didn’t even need to say it? Keith Whitley’s song is about the kind of love that is best expressed just by being together.
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3. At Last — Etta James
At Last has been a favorite of weddings ever since it was recorded. The song is about waiting for your true love and finally meeting them, knowing that your life will never be the same.
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4. My Girl — The Temptations
My Girl was first recorded by The Temptations in 1965, but it’s still just as relevant — and as imminently danceable — today. The song is all about how when you find the person you’re meant to be with, it feels like every day is beautiful.
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5. When a Man Loves a Woman — Percy Sledge
Sledge’s song has been famously covered by Michael Bolton and Bette Midler, but sometimes you just can’t beat the original. The song is a tribute to all the crazy things people do for the ones that they love.
6. A Thousand Years — Christina Perri
Christina Perri’s song might have become associated with the Twilight franchise, but it can absolutely stand on its own. This sentimental song is about waiting for the person you love, no matter how long that might be.
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7. Us Against the World — Coldplay
Us Against the World is about the experience of taking on all of life’s challenges with the person you love. At the end of the day, love isn’t about feeling butterflies — it’s about sticking with your person through thick and thin.
8. Crush — Dave Matthews Band
Crush was a hit in the 90s, but it’s still a great love song today. It’s all about wanting to get lost in the person that you love, whatever that might mean for the two of you.
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9. I Choose You — Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles landed on the map with 2008’s “Love Song”, but I Choose You is a REAL love song (ironic, isn’t it?). I Choose You is upbeat and fun but still meltingly romantic.
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10. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You — Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You has been covered countless times, but Frankie Valli’s original is amazing on its own. Many of us can probably relate to feeling like this about the person we love, too.
11. Perfect — Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is the king of romantic ballads, and Perfect is one of his best. This is another one that is often played as a first dance song at weddings, and it’s not hard to see why. Perfect is about how the best moments in a relationship are the flawed ones.
12. Everything — Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé’s stunningly beautiful voice was made to sing love songs. But though he has sung many of them, Everything is one of the best. It perfectly encapsulates the answer to what the person you love is to you. In short, they’re everything.
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13. Come Away With Me — Norah Jones
Norah Jones became famous for her smokey, sultry vocals that are perfect for love songs. Come Away With Me is by far one of the most famous, with lyrics about coaxing your lover to run away and be alone together.
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14. Ho Hey — The Lumineers
Ho Hey is a fantastic remnant of the hipster era of the early 2010s, and climbed to #3 in the charts through 2012.. It’s hard to resist tapping your toes to the folksy chords and the sweet lyrics: “I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart…”
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15. The Book of Love — Peter Gabriel
The Book of Love is about how when you’re with your person, anything is interesting — even reading boring facts and figures together. Reading about love isn’t very compelling, but experiencing it for yourself is amazing.
16. Fine By Me — Andy Grammer
Sometimes people have a hard time expressing their feelings, and Fine By Me is all about that. The lyrics might not be poetry, but they express the simple emotion of hoping that the person you love will stick around for the rest of your life. Most of us can relate.
17. Stuck on You — Lionel Ritchie
Lionel Ritchie has done a few love songs in his day. Stuck on You might not be the most well-known, but it’s a great song about being unable to deny your true feelings for the person you love.
18. My Heart Will Go On — Celine Dion
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since 1997, you’ve heard Celine Dion’s hit many times. But repeated listens don’t damper the effects of this sweet ballad, which climbed to fame after featuring on the Titanic soundtrack. Celine Dion’s vocals are gentle and powerful all at the same time.
19. I’ll Stand By You — The Pretenders
One of the scariest parts of being in a new relationship is trusting your significant other with your secrets. I’ll Stand By You is about hearing those darker confessions and promising that you won’t love that person any less.
20. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You — Brandy
There were plenty of amazing love songs on the R&B scene of the 1990s. Brandy’s (Everything I Do) I Do It For You made a name for itself not only because of its catchiness, but also because of its message about sacrificing everything for the person you love.
21. All of Me — John Legend
Back when All of Me was first released, it seemed like it was on every radio station. But that didn’t hurt its popularity. The song was a hit as a first dance song at weddings for years, expressing the vows to share every part of yourself with the person you love.
22. You Are So Beautiful — Joe Cocker
You Are So Beautiful is a simple song with simple lyrics, and that’s why it’s so compelling. Sometimes the best love songs are the ones that are simple and sweet.
23. Die a Happy Man — Thomas Rhett
All those grand gestures — vacations, parties, big life events — are a great part of a relationship. But Thomas Rhett’s song is all about how just being together is enough to make him die a happy man.
24. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) — James Taylor
James Taylor’s buttery voice is perfect for love songs, and it’s at its best in How Sweet It Is. The song says what we often forget to say — thank you, to our significant other, for loving us.
25. Marry Me — Train
Train is known for hits like Drops of Jupiter and Hey Soul Sister, but the band’s 2009 hit Marry Me enjoyed many weeks at the top of the charts. The song is about a man thinking about his future with a woman he’s just seen for the first time.
26. Lucky — Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat is the queen of the fun and upbeat love song, and Lucky might just be one of the best. The lyrics are all about feeling blessed that the person you love isn’t just your significant other, but also your best friend. Would that we could all be so, well, lucky!
27. Always Been You — Shawn Mendes
Do you have a love story with many twists and turns? Shawn Mendes’ song is about finding your way back to the right person regardless of the setbacks: “You’re the only one my heart keeps coming back to”.
28. New Light — John Mayer
Many relationships started with a friendship, and that’s what John Mayer’s song is all about. All it takes to change is to see the other person in a new light for the first time.
29. Stay With Me — Sam Smith
Stay With Me is a soulful love song about wanting a casual relationship to turn into something more. Maybe your relationship started out the same way. But no matter how it did, you’ll get the feels listening to this love song with your significant other (or serenading your girlfriend love songs, if you’re brave!).
30. You’re Beautiful — James Blunt
You’re Beautiful isn’t technically a love song, but it expresses a sentiment that many of us can relate to — being struck by the beauty of someone we wish we could know. Hopefully it turned out better for us than for James Blunt, who ends the song “I will never be with you”.
31. Can’t Help Falling in Love — Elvis
A favorite of couples since the 1950s, Can’t Help Falling in Love is a classic. Elvis’ sultry vocals are never better than in this gorgeous song about falling in love without even meaning to.
32. Love of My Life — Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire’s Love of My Life is a simple invitation to share your life, with all its ups and downs. It’s a perfect song for a first dance at a wedding (or really, any other occasion).
33. You Send Me — Sam Cooke
You Send Me isn’t a common expression nowadays, but back when Sam Cooke recorded his song, it meant “you make me happy”. Language might change over the years, but love certainly doesn’t.
34. Let’s Stay Together — Al Green
Isn’t it exhausting to watch some couples split up and then get back together, over and over again? Let’s Stay Together is a proposal to stop the games and just agree that your relationship is here for the long term.
35. Beyond — Leon Bridges
Beyond is about wondering what will come when you open yourself up to the possibilities of a new relationship. It can be so scary to think about what will happen right before you jump in!
36. I’m Yours — Jason Mraz
I’m Yours is an irresistibly bouncy song, which is one reason why it topped the charts back in 2008. But at its core it is about being totally devoted to the person you love.
37. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) — The Proclaimers
It’s impossible to resist dancing along to this bumping dance track from The Proclaimers. But the catchy hit is all about doing whatever it takes to reach the person you love. The lyrics also mention working hard to give your beloved a better life. It’s a love song that you can’t help but sing along to
38. I Just Called to Say I Love You — Stevie Wonder
You should say “I love you” to your partner every day. Stevie Wonder’s song reminds us not to wait for Valentine’s Day to say those words.
39. The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra
Some memories of our loved ones last forever, giving us comfort during the hard times. The Way You Look Tonight is the perfect song for a first dance at a wedding.
40. Fall in Love With Me — Earth, Wind, and Fire
Fall in Love With Me is a promise of all the wonderful things that will happen in a relationship. The first step, of course, is to fall in love!
41. God Only Knows — The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys were better known for their upbeat, summery tunes, but God Only Knows is a classic love song. So many of us have been changed by the ones we love and can only say “God only knows what I’d be without you…”