Top 40 romantic songs of all time

From the early days of pop music, the romantic ballad has often served as Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame members’ biggest hits.

Here are 40 of the romantic songs we cannot live without.

40. Maybe I’m Amazed, Paul McCartney

The epitome of a musical love note to one’s spouse, Maybe I’m Amazed begins our countdown setting the mood with the love story of Paul and Linda McCartney.

39. Just the Two of Us, Bill Withers

Listening to Bill Withers ode to couple time easily puts one in the mood for love.

38. You’re Beautiful, James Blunt

Who would not want this song sung to them? Seriously, this is one of those tracks that a singer will have a hard time replicating his success. When thinking James Blunt, You're Beautiful is immediately what comes to mind. Why not? It’s one of the most romantic piano-driven ballads ever.

37. You Are, Lionel Ritchie

Lionel Ritchie says it best when he croons, “You are the sun. You are the moon.” From the man who sang Three Times a Lady, that is one lucky woman sitting at the other end of this song.

36. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS

Highlighting the aspect of love that results in the unrelenting desire to simply be with the one you love, Never Tear Us Apart landed on a late ‘80s audience hungry for a new love song beyond the image-driven MTV video schlock of that decade. INXS and Michael Hutchence were more than obliged to answer with this instant romantic classic.

35. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, The Police

Proving that a love song need not be a ballad, Sting and The Police brought Caribbean rock to Every Little Thing She Does is Magic and in one fell swoop landed themselves on the pop charts that they never left. The Police’s Every Little Thing captures the pure joy aspect of love that produces that feeling that our other half is truly the better half.

34. Don’t Give Up, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush

On Peter Gabriel’s So, In Your Eyes became one of the world’s most known love songs. But, it is not even the best romantic song on Gabriel’s biggest album. Don’t Give Up is Gabriel’s duet with alternative rock’s Kate Bush and the duo bring a heart-wrenching desire to a musical masterpiece so rich in romance, it truly hurts.

33. Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Beach Boys

Capturing the innocence of young love, The Beach Boys' perfectly melded pop song blended their California sound with that unending desire to grow up more quickly than time allows.

32. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli had broken with The Four Seasons and in one of his first solo efforts scored a musical institution. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You was considered too strange sounding for American audiences and almost never saw the light of day. When a record executive felt Valli’s passion for the song, one of the most passionate love songs hit the charts and became a wedding standard.

31. The Best of My Love, The Eagles

The Best of My Love by The Eagles showcased the band's seamless harmonies on a romantic song for the ages. Picture sitting in the desert next to a campfire with the one you love and this track comes on the CD player – better make sure you are comfortable.

30. Open Arms, Journey

A band whose presence repeats on this list of top 40 romantic songs of all time, Journey finds their first entry with Open Arms from their 1981 smash, Escape. With its simple piano intro and Steve Perry’s angelic voice, Open Arms became an international hit and introduced Journey to a larger audience that would only grow through the decade.

29. All My Life, KC and Jo-Jo

KC and Jo-Jo ventured solo beyond the comfortable confines of their successful group, Jodeci, and created a love song that oozes romance. All My Life paints a picture of lifelong love that is at the heart of the romance we most covet.

28. Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding

Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding is romantic in that it is the perfect instruction manual for males everywhere. After listening and heeding Redding’s priceless words of wisdom, there is no doubt that the woman at the source of any man’s attraction will be swooning with romance.

27. You Are So Beautiful, Joe Cocker

Yes, You Are So Beautiful is so cliche at this point in history, but the fact remains that Joe Cocker’s raspy voice and hunger that is displayed on this classic is why it is still romantically endearing to hundreds of millions of people decades after its release.

26. Fallin’, Alicia Keys

Not only did Alicia Keys announce to the world that she was a musical force with Fallin’, but Keys produced a classic rhythm and blues romantic ballad. From those initial notes coming from Keys blessed vocal chords, the audience knew their love affair with Alicia Keys was simply beginning.

25. I’ll Be, Edwin McCain

Why is it so many artists score a huge success with their first single when it’s a heart-pounding ballad? Evidence of that fact again is shown with Edwin McCain and I’ll Be. Whether it's country, pop or rock, the love ballad will always get you noticed as an artist, and may even take you to number one.

24. Have I Told You Lately, Rod Stewart

Van Morrison made the song a hit, but Rod Stewart performed it on his Unplugged show and added a layer of romantic power that Van Morrison had missed. Stewart’s version celebrates the desire for partners in a lifelong love affair to let the other know how much they care.

23. Sea of Love, Honeydrippers

Richly produced, Sea of Love is the product of the ‘80s supergroup – The Honeydrippers. Comprised of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page and a slew of other ‘60s rock legends, the group became a swing band of sorts and with Sea of Love, had lovers swinging to the sweet romantic sounds of love.

22. I Want it That Way, Backstreet Boys

Many will hear I Want it That Way and not think romance. But, listening carefully to the lyrics a discovery arises. The Backstreet Boys' biggest hit not only became their go-to for live concerts for decades to come, but also showed the selfless side of love.

21. Up Where We Belong, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes

Up Where We Belong will always be associated with the romantic climax of the Richard Gere blockbuster, An Officer and a Gentleman. It should be, it is a cinematic romantic moment to treasure and Up Where We Belong aides in that resonance each time it is heard. Up Where We Belong won an Oscar for Best Song.

20. All I Want is You, U2

Rattle and Hum from U2 was a hodge-podge of American styles melded into one hit record. On an album that produced songs of love including Desire, All I Want Is You triumphs above all others in U2’s catalog. Bono sings with such a pained passion, his desire for his soul mate is expressed through ever-building intensity.

19. Against All Odds, Phil Collins

From the film of the same name, Against All Odds arrived during Phil Collins' golden period of the mid-‘80s that he’s still trying to replicate. Collins’ Against All Odds is a classic romantic song in how it slowly builds until the singer brings in his drum kit for the passionate, unforgettable, final moments.

18. Crash into Me, Dave Matthews

If there is a song that makes lovers melt it is Dave Matthew’s Crash into Me. With its vocal veracity, Matthews paints a picture of love that we now know produced a wedding and two beautiful children.

17. Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel

Billy Joel’s songs are often used in romantic situations. Many throw You’re Still A Woman To Me on without realizing that its words are spiteful and filled with vengeance. Just the Way You Are, on the other hand, is one of the simplest of the romantic songs of all time. Joel is simply extolling his passion for a woman who is his perfect soul mate, Just the Way You Are.

16. I Do Everything For You, Bryan Adams

If I Do Everything For You was good enough for Robin Hood’s Maid Marian, then Bryan Adam’s ode to selfless love deserves to be one of the top romantic songs of all time. The Kevin Costner film made the song a hit, but it is the legion of romantics who to this day continue to sing with Adams through his chorus that calls for a round of romantic karaoke.

15. Faithfully, Journey

After hearing Faithfully from Journey, it becomes clear why Steve Perry left the band. The singer missed his wife and family so much that he was physically and emotionally drained. Each moment on the road away from his family is captured in Faithfully and for those who serve overseas, the song has become an anthem for keeping the home fires burning while significant others are away.

14. Kiss Me, Sixpence None the Richer

Easily the most romantic song produced in the last five years, Kiss Me from Sixpence None the Richer takes the love affair down to its simplest form: the kiss. Isn’t that the best part?

13. The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra

Undeniably hip, Frank Sinatra’s version of the love song standard defines romantic cool in a three-minute song.

12. Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley

Love Me Tender is one of those romantic classics that is a drop everything that you’re doing and we have to slow dance to this song type of track. “Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled. For my darling I love you, and I always will.”

11. The Lady In Red, Chris DeBurgh

Chris DeBurgh sang about one woman and millions adopted The Lady in Red as if it was their own. The song captures the amazement any guy feels with the good fortune of the beautiful woman he adores sharing a romantic dance.

10. Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion

Our top 10 begins with a singer who has defined the romantic song in the last 15 years, Celine Dion. Her first of two on this countdown serves as one of her fans’ favorites. When the music drops off into quiet and Dion’s majestic voice chimes in: 'because you loved me,’ hearts swoon regardless of one's gender.

9. When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge

There is the power of passion heard in song and then there is Percy Sledge and his iconic When a Man Loves a Woman.

8. Breathe, Faith Hill

Country’s leading lady asks Tim McGraw to Breathe and audiences everywhere sigh with adoring affection.

7. At Last, Etta James

Etta James could sing the phonebook and it would feel romantic. James’ At Last rises to the top of the romantic songs of all-time in how the song feels so timeless. But, its ageless sound is unique in that its recording sounds as if it was recorded when it was first written in 1941, but James released At Last in 1960. What does that prove? For one thing, people in love will be singing At Last for centuries into the future.

6. Let’s Stay Together, Al Green

Al Green’s soul is defined by many hits, but none more recognizable than Let’s Stay Together. Green brings the power of forgiveness within love and its role in maintaining a lasting, loving relationship into the forefront. With its subtle horns and building tenor, Let’s Stay Together will never lose its favor with those in love.

5. Can’t Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley

For The King to say he Can’t Help Falling in Love is a huge stroke of royal romance. One of the most covered songs of all time is also one of the world’s most sweeping romantic melodies.

4. You’re Still the One, Shania Twain

Shania Twain combined pop passion and the country love song and produced one of the biggest selling songs of all time. It is also one of the final four of our top 40 romantic songs of all time because of Twain’s singing of seamless love that grows in spite of the challenges of decades of passed time.

3. Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers

Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze took The Righteous Brothers hit Unchained Melody and brought it to a new audience in Ghost. Already a romantic love song icon, Unchained Melody certified itself as one of the world’s most favorite love songs with the 1990 hit film.

2. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston

Again, a romantic song from a movie lands on our list, but I Will Always Love You found Whitney Houston single-handedly taking a Dolly Parton song and making it number one for more weeks than any song in history. Knowing our society’s penchant for love, is it hardly a surprise? Houston’s towering vocals and Parton’s sensational songwriting on I Will Always Love You will ensure that despite her very public breakdowns, Houston will forever be close to audience’s hearts.

1. My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

Sure My Heart Will Go On served as the theme to Titanic. Take away all the highest grossing movie of all time business and Celine Dion still has a song that would be the most romantic of all time. The lyrics stand out on the wings of Dion’s saintly voice, bringing the feel of a romantic classic that is essentially a ballad to doomed love. That, in fact, is what makes it so romantic.

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