My Favourite Love songs
Since Valentine's Day is upon us, I only thought it was right to share a few of my favourite love songs. I believe that this collection truly portrays several angles of love. Take all of these with a pinch of salt though as I am painfully single (I don’t even care so stop asking) and everything is relative. I hope you enjoy these records and all they have to offer. Who knows, you might even end up playing some of them for your loved ones (do not put anything on your Instagram stories I am dead serious I will block you).
1. Sexual healing - Marvin Gaye
Let’s be real it would be a sin to not include Marvin Gaye in this playlist as he is, in my opinion, the true king of RnB. I could have included several songs from his 1982 album Midnight Love, but Sexual Healing takes the cake. The song does a very accurate job of describing what the song alludes to: healing, but sexual (it does what it says on the tin basically). But it’s his signature growl that elevates this song from great, to legendary. Even from the start with his repeated whispers of ‘get up/ wake up’, the song immediately begins to feel intimate. I believe this song is the pure passion that one can feel for their partner and the accompaniment of the reggae undertones definitely aids in this feeling. You can’t help but deny that this man had love songs down to a T.
2. Baby Come Back - Player
Another oldie but goodie; this song tells the story of a couple who have recently ended, but he can’t get her out of his mind. As the title of the song says, he’s pleading to the woman to come back to him, assuring her that he was wrong and she can put all the blame on him, anything just so she returns. On your first listen, it might not strike you as a love song, but knowing that the feeling doesn’t go once things are over seems romantic to me! I can envision playing this song full-volume on a boombox, standing outside their house in the pouring rain (maybe more acceptable back then).
3. All I Do Is Think of You - Troop
You’re going to see that a lot of these songs are before the 2000s but hey, you can’t blame me! Love songs had more passion in them back then; everything these days just seems like an attempt to replicate that moment in time, but that can be for a different article. I’m thankful that Doja Cat sampled this song in Agora Hills because this song was able to be given a new life and a renewed appreciation. The trend of all-boy groups almost always guaranteed a top-tier love song or ballad, and Troop is no exception to this. Always a controversial opinion to think that some covers are better than the original but when it’s right, it’s right. Their cover of Jackson 5’s record describes how their love is so strong they can’t get her out of their mind no matter the time or day. The reason for preferring Troop’s cover over the original is mostly to do with the more modernised instrumental and how they chose to build suspense throughout the song by cutting it throughout. A true love song.
4. Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
This is probably the most boogie-ful love song that I’m aware of (I know The Beegees exist but they didn’t make this song, ok?). This record exudes a certain old-school, roller rink, disco funk that is lacking in today’s music. That feeling of locking eyes with someone from across the room will always be a great trope for a song, with this record proves that point. It is a carefree song where you can imagine the reflections of the spinning disco ball hitting every corner of the room. When it comes to the instrumental, it also ticks every box. You have the groovy bass play throughout the whole song followed by a small orchestra of sounds from the flute family, and that iconic sound of chimes right before the chorus. It evokes the excitement you feel when meeting someone for the first time, where nothing else really matters at that moment. Typing this really shows how single I am wow. Anyway, onto the next song!
5. Rain - SWV
What's even better than an all-boy band? An all-girl group of course! If you have never blessed your ears with the sounds of SWV, please let this be the only song you listen to from this article. The backing track is originally based on Jaco Pastorius’ ‘Portrait of Tracy’, but then transformed into this instrumental full of passion. The smooth and sultry intro of light rainfall, followed by a single raindrop every second note throughout the whole song allows this song to dive into the aquatic aspect, referring to their partner’s love as rain that should fall down on the woman. I like the analogy of water when referring to love because we underestimate the power of water sometimes. We also need water to survive, letting a simple metaphor be created for love and that we as humans need love to function, be that familial, platonic or romantic love. Once again, I could include a plethora of love songs by SWV in this article, but Rain triumphs all.
So I might have lied before; I did not include any songs from the 2000s. Sue me! I can appreciate and thoroughly enjoy love songs made in these years, but I’ll stand on the belief that songs made in the 70s/80s/90s will always be better. This does not apply to every artist. People such as Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, Doja Cat and Qendresa, to name a few, have perfectly encapsulated the vibe that these old-school vibes give off. On that note,if you have any recommendations for your favourite love songs, let me know! I don’t have a comment section on this but idk dm me? Maybe?
Until next time :)
