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35 Most Romantic '90s Love Songs That Still Hold Up Today
Of course the iconic anthem from the "Bodyguard" tops the list.
The 1990s were known for many things—butterfly hair clips, flannel shirts, and baggy jeans come to mind—but beyond those fashion trends, it was also a great time for something else: the love song. Music in the decade was incredibly varied. Everything from pop rock power ballads to bouncy California rap, and R&B;, ruled the charts, giving fans plenty of options for their Walkman or tape deck.
And while some '90s love songs feel as dated as the styles that have yet to make a comeback, many of them have held up well. Ginuwine's "Pony" continues to feel sensual and futuristic, Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" remains a peerless alt anthem, and Mariah Carey's "Emotions" still captures the rapturous feeling of falling head over heels for someone. Björk's "Hyperballad" and Melissa Etheridge's "Come to My Window" deal with the changing nature of love, and what it takes to stay happy in a relationship.
The hits on this list are united by their emotional candor. They cover the excitement of finding the one (K-Ci & JoJo's "All My Life"), wrestle with feeling shy around a crush (Aaliyah's "4 Page Letter"), picking up the pieces post-heartbreak (The Cranberries' "Linger"), and all themes in between.
Whether you're trying to find a nostalgic song for your first wedding dance, something to, err, make love to, or an upbeat anthem to blast while doing some quarantine cleaning, read on for a list of the best, most romantic love songs of the 1990s that span all genres.
Perhaps the signature slow jam of the entire decade, Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" was written and produced by '90s R&B savant Babyface. The song reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and clocked in at No. 22 on the all-time chart. It's a stunning showcase for vocalist Wayná Morris, but the song really soars when the four members are singing the chorus in harmony.
"It's been seven hours and fifteen days / Since you took your love away," Sinéad O'Connor sings at the beginning of "Nothing Compares 2 U," which was not only one of the biggest hits of the '90s, but as vivid and finely detailed as a breakup song can get. Originally written by Prince and brought to life through O'Connor's breathy, wounded lead vocal performance, "Nothing Compares 2 U" still feels as raw and vital today as it did when it came out more than 30 years ago.
Anytime a song is recognizable by just a single note you know it's special, and that's exactly the case with Whitney Houston's smoldering cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You." It's one of the best-selling singles of all time, having sold upwards of 20 million copies worldwide, and Houston's high note on the chorus is one of the signature pop music moments of the last century.
The message of The Cardigans' "Lovefool" is surprisingly dark. It's about a woman so desperate to reman in a failing relationship she's simply asking her partner to convincingly pretend to be in love. You'd be forgiven for missing that though, as the disco-inflected drums and bass line are irresistibly fun, and Nina Persson delivers the lyrics with a sweet level of restraint.
Originally meant to play over a love scene in Batman Forever, Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" ultimately was used in the film's end credits. It went on to be a colossal hit, making off with Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1996.
The Roots' "You Got Me" expertly captures relationship insecurities that come with distance and different lifestyles, but the Grammy-winning track ultimately has a positive outlook. "If you were worried 'bout where / I been or who I saw or / What club I went to with my homies / Baby, don't worry, you know that you got me," Erykah Badu memorably sings on the hook. The song's stayed relevant, being interpolated by Drake and Earl Sweatshirt, and sampled by British producer Burial.
Perhaps the most memorable of Elton John's many stellar contributions to the Lion King soundtrack, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a piano-powered ballad about the power of true love to tame even the most restless hearts. "And can you feel the love tonight? / How it's laid to rest / It's enough to make kings and vagabonds / Believe the very best," he sings.
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf
This operatic power ballad written by Jim Steinman, was kind of a proto-meme as people were never sure what exactly it was that Meat Loaf wouldn't do for love. The song won Meat Loaf a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1994.
A simmering R&B ballad about finally finding the person you've always dreamed of, K-Ci & JoJo's "All My Life" showcases the brothers' gift for joyful tenor harmonies. The duo came close to giving the song to another artist, but their vocals are what give it its signature warmth.
A gargantuan love song almost as big as the film it came from (or the iceberg that sunk its titular boat), Céline Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" kept the love story of James Cameron's Titanic in the ears and hearts of listeners for years to come. Love can touch us one time / And last for a lifetime / And never let go 'til we're gone," she sings.
'90s boy band music can get a little saccharine, but the earnestness of Backstreet Boys' 1997 hit "As Long as You Love Me" is charming. "I don't care, who you are, where you're from / What you did as long as you love me," they sing in harmony.
*NSYNC's first big hit was a lovelorn record about being single and distraught, but thanks to a memorable bass line from producers Denniz Pop and Max Martin, as well as swooning lead vocals from Justin Timberlake, "I Want You Back" is as catchy as anything in the boy band's repertoire.
The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love" was not only one of the band's biggest hits, but a complete departure from their usual more somber sound in favor of bright, blissful guitar chords. "'Friday I’m in Love’ is a dumb pop song, but it’s quite excellent actually, because it’s so absurd," singer Robert Smith once said of it, and like all the great dumb pop love songs out there, it'll leave you with a massive grin.
One of the most gifted and idiosyncratic songwriters of the decade, D'Angelo's neo soul opus Brown Sugar is filled with inimitable love songs delivered in his signature falsetto. The title track is a masterpiece, with swinging drums and swaggering come-ons from D'Angelo.
Pulled from the soundtrack of one of the defining films of the '90s (Reality Bites) Big Mountain's cover of Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way" throws a lot at the wall and manages to make most of it stick. There's the ooey gooey saxophone line at the beginning, a reggae dub rhythm guitar, and a little flute lick on the hook, all of which come together for a sweet and distinctly Gen X love song.
Originally recorded by Jennifer Rush, Céline Dion covered "The Power of Love" in 1993, adding another powerhouse pop jam to her repertoire. It gets overshadowed by "My Heart Will Go On," but it's still a sweeping ode to submitting to your feelings and letting them lead the way. "We're heading for something / Somewhere I've never been / Sometimes I am frightened, but I'm ready to learn," Dion sings.
You might not know who sings it, but you'll definitely recognize the hook of All-4-One's "I Swear" when it comes on the radio. "I swear like the shadow that's by your side / I'll be there for better or worse," the group sings together over uplifting chords. A killer saxophone riff on the bridge cements the status of "I Swear" as a '90s slow jam staple.
"How Do U Want It" might focus a bit more on physical attraction and materialism, but there's no denying its infectious hook from K-Ci & Jojo, as well as Tupac Shakur's complete mastery of rhythm and cadence on the verses. Plus, while many '90s radio hits already sound quite dated, "How Do U Want It" remains fresh and vital.
A gentle, lovelorn song about the search for connection, Mazzy Star's "Fade Into you" was a modest hit when it came out in 1994, but remained popular for its haunting melody and evocative lyrics. If you love Lana del Rey or any similar modern alt-pop singers, the ethereal vocals of Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval will surely be a favorite. "I want to hold the hand inside you / I want to take a breath that's true," she pleads.
An evocative piano ballad about finally recognizing your love for a close friend is more romantic than platonic, Vanessa Williams's "Save The Best For Last" captures a sentiment that many of us have felt over the years. "All of the nights you came to me / When some silly girl had set you free / You wondered how you'd make it through / I wondered what was wrong with you," she sings.
Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. He has written for Billboard, Complex, and i-D, among other outlets.
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