Few things in life have the power to evoke such intense emotions as a truly great love song. The best ones can ignite a sense of euphoria, compelling you to sing with all your soul, or alternatively, turn you into an emotional wreck. With love songs dating back to the Middle Ages, the genre unfolds as a landscape filled with melodies and lyrics vying for the audience's attention...

The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

The song started its life as a soundtrack for a prison-themed movie. With the help of the Righteous Brothers, Leslie Nielsen, and strategically molded clay, it became one of the most popular love songs in history! The iconic scene in Ghost - the one with Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and the clay - is hard to forget.

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine

Withers wrote "Ain't No Sunshine" after watching Blake Edwards' 1962 film "Days of Wine and Roses", in which Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick portray a couple sliding into alcoholism. Withers was vague about why the movie inspired his composition, saying: "It's just something that crossed my mind watching that movie, and possibly something else that happened in my life that I don't know about."

"Ain't No Sunshine" is ultimately a deceptively simple blues ballad about addictive love!

Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do it For You

You can't mess with the 16 weeks at number one, which still hold the record for the most consecutive weeks at the top until today. This song is featured in Kevin Costner's film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", playing during the end credits. Adams used a line from the movie, "I do it for you...", as the basis for the song.

The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

The anthem of the Smiths' "angry young man" perfectly captures the confusion and drama of teenage longing: Johnny Marr's timeless, trembling guitar has inspired countless covers on YouTube. The poetic lyrics of Morrissey were influenced by Karel Reisz's film, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, written by Alan Sillitoe. Morrissey is so in love with the present moment that he shares with his companion in the car that he wouldn't mind taking his last breath on earth right here and now. That's why he continues by saying that even if a "double-decker bus" or a "ten-ton truck" were to crash into them and kill them instantly, it wouldn't bother him. In fact, for him, dying by the driver's side would be a "privilege" and "a heavenly way to die."

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

This is one of the most iconic, nostalgic riffs ever created, inaugurating an '80s anthem from year zero of this glorious decade. Strangely enough, it is the most recognizable (but least representative) of an eerie discography that is mostly inaccessible to the casual listeners - and not just instrumentally. Representatives of post-punk created a dark sound around themes of mental illness and despair. And they didn't completely sacrifice this dark aura in "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - they were simply captivated by the emotion. Love Will Tear Us Apart was a tribute to a dying relationship, to a haunted singer, and to a legendary band, expressing the awkward feeling that "something so good... just can't work anymore".

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You

During the alt explosion of the '90s, many bands had their moments of mainstream success. Mazzy Star's biggest song, the atmospheric and melodic "Fade Into You," combines dream-pop and alt-country twang, led by the beautiful vocals of Hope Sandoval. The lyrics of the singer, a reference point for the top Gen X, seem to capture a relationship with a narcissistic person who cannot be approached. And it is this contrast between romantic longing and melancholy that makes "Fade Into You" so realistic.

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

No, Sinead (and Prince), nothing compares to this song. Both versions are commendable and impressive on their own, but Sinead O'Connor's version holds a special place in the art legacy fueled by the heart. O'Connor never exaggerates in passion nor diminishes her sadness. Nothing Compares 2 U is truly the perfect love song.

Frank Sinatra - I've Got You Under My Skin

"I've got you under my skin, I've got you deep in the heart of me. So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me". Originally written by Cole Porter in 1936, "I've Got You Under My Skin" is one of Frank Sinatra's most beloved hits. He first performed it on the radio at the height of his popularity in 1946, in a medley with another Porter melody, "Easy to Love". The most famous recording he made of it was for his 1956 concept album, Songs for Swinging Lovers, arranged by his longtime collaborator Nelson Riddle.

*In addition to Sinatra's amazing performance, this version of "I've Got You Under My Skin" features an outstanding trombone solo by Milt Bernhart.

The Cure - Lovesong

When it comes to love songs, none captures the essence of love and longing quite like "Lovesong" by The Cure. Written by the band's frontman Robert Smith, the song has become a worldwide classic and favorite.

"I wrote 'Lovesong' for my girlfriend, but it ended up being a song about my love for the people in my life and the need to hold on to them," Smith stated. "It's also a song about how difficult it is to maintain any emotional balance when you're so famous." The lyrics of "Lovesong" are simple yet deeply emotional. Smith's voice is filled with longing and tenderness as he sings about his love for someone and the fear of losing them.

Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Easy to be characterized as one of the most beautiful songs of all time, being a true classic romantic! Frankie Valli expresses with enthusiasm and joy his admiration for a woman, making it clear that he is enchanted by her in every possible way. The chorus serves as a strong statement of the ultimate commitment of the singer, expressing that he is ready to love unconditionally!

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