Love songs are just like time-capsules: When we revisit them years later, we are instantly transported back to the very first moment we locked eyes with that special someone or said goodbye to them for the last time — and everything in between. With the rise of different instrumental approaches and cultural shifts, this thematic category has evolved over the decades. Love songs are diverse in every possible way, from sound to lyrical content, providing us with endless accounts of love, heartbreak, and nostalgia. It is through music that we relate to others and feel the experiences that have shaped us throughout our lives. Although it’s nearly impossible to pick from the extensive archive of heartwarming tracks, we chose these for their everlasting ability to encapsulate the most personal yet universal feelings.
1960s (Olivia)
Song: ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’
Artist: Frankie Valli
Year: 1967
Timelessness solidified many iconic ‘60s tracks into the musical zeitgeist. Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” celebrates putting yourself out there without the guarantee of reciprocation. It expresses a vulnerability anyone can relate to: “But if you feel like I feel / Please let me know that it’s real.” The rapid tempo transitions between the calm verses and energetic chorus mimic the feeling of heart palpitations, a viscerality that matches the experience of courageously admitting your feelings. Channel your inner Heath Ledger in “10 Things I Hate About You” this Valentine’s Day and declare your love once and for all.
1970s (Olivia)
Song: ‘Let’s Stay Together’
Artist: Al Green
Year: 1972
Al Green popularized the slower soul sound focused on themes of romance and desire that took the ‘70s by storm. Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” is the epitome of this sound, perfect for all of you “so in love.” Green’s romantic lyrics are accompanied by signature soul arrangements — soft horn instrumentation, a strong bassline, and harmonious background vocals — that curate a warm listening atmosphere. “Whether times are good or bad,” Green assures his lover that “Loving you forever is what I need.”
1980s (Rosa)
Song: ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’
Artist: Whitney Houston
Year: 1987
It’s hard to resist moving your body the moment Whitney Houston’s rapturous “woo” fills the room. As you’re tapping your toes or buoyantly dancing along to its synthetic ‘80s beat, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” encompasses the intense longing for “a love that burns hot enough to last.” Houston’s desire to transcend the momentary intimacy experienced on the dance floor into an enduring partnership travels from her voice to your ears. So, if you want to take that weekly discussion spark to the next level — or, in this case, out of the classroom — make that move.
1990s (Rosa)
Song: ‘So Into You’
Artist: Tamia
Year: 1998
Throughout the ‘90s, love songs began to shift away from outward declarations of passion to emotional introspection. Tamia’s mellow groove hit “So Into You” captures the tail end of this transition, centering the passionate yet inexplicable feelings of love through candid lyrics: “I really like what you’ve done to me / I can’t really explain it, I’m so into you.” Romantic or not, we’ve all experienced these waves of overwhelming emotions that feel impossible to rationalize or even articulate. “So Into You” assures us that simple, affectionate words can convey the depth of the devotion we wish to express.
2000s (Olivia)
Song: ‘Maps’
Artist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Year: 2003
The start of the new millennium also started a new era of music: realism. The 2000s maintained the lyrical depth the 1990s established. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps” exemplifies this vulnerability by centering the instability of relationships. The refrain, “Wait, they don’t love you like I love you” repeats 13 times throughout the song, resonant and aching. If you find yourself far away from the one you love this Valentine’s Day, let this song remind you that you’re not alone in that feeling.
2010s (Olivia)
Song: ‘The Louvre’
Artist: Lorde
Year: 2017
The 2010s was the era of the singer-songwriter, most of all the illusive lyrical genius and sonic experimentalist Lorde. Off of her career-defining LP “Melodrama,” “The Louvre” captures the ephemeral beauty of a whirlwind romance. The song begins with simple acoustic guitar strumming and quickly gains tempo, welcoming ethereal synths and bass that mimic Lorde’s heartbeat-like refrain: “Boom, boom, boom, boom.” Whether you’re someone’s “sweetheart psychopathic crush” overthinking punctuation use, or getting caught up in the “rush at the beginning,” Lorde assures us there’s “nothing wrong with it.” Take in those fleeting moments and embrace yearning this Valentine’s Day.
2020s (Rosa)
Song: ‘Love You Anyways’
Artist: The Marías
Year: 2024
This decade brings Grammy-nominated band The Marías and its hit song “Love You Anyways.” This track features a smooth, tactile bass that ebbs and flows. Over the instrumental, frontwoman María Zardoya waxes poetic on her hesitations around admitting the feelings she’s been drowning in. Both aurally and emotionally, the song suggests that, although we may “never find the words to say,” we owe it to ourselves to embrace all that resides in our aching heart before we express our adoration to another. Life revolves around heart-to-heart connections; take the time to first listen to the one that’s beating in your chest.
Listen to the playlist here!
