Talking about love is hard, and singing about it is even harder. That’s why we’re leaving it up to the experts to put all these messy feelings into poetic words and beautifully packaged melodies.
Let Beyoncé, Lana, and Chance show you what romance is really about with our list of the best modern love songs. Whether you’re building a playlist for an evening with that special someone or planning a Galentine’s Day brunch, these hits are sure to give you all the feels—and get you dancing too.
1."Have Some Love" by Childish Gambino
In his otherwise melancholy album "Awaken My Love," this song from Childish Gambino stands out as an uplifting, yet groovy love song.
2. "All of Me" by John Legend
Not only are John Legend's songs undeniably romantic, but they seem to have worked well for him—he and Chrissy Teigen have one of the most-loved marriages on the internet.
3. "R.E.M." by Ariana Grande
Grande’s sugary voice, on the aptly named album “Sweetener,” gives a pop twist to the classic love-declaring ballad.
4. "Romeo and Juliet" by The Killers
This cover of a Dire Straits song has managed to eclipse the original in pop culture, and doubles as a karaoke favorite.
5. "Make Me Feel" by Janelle Monáe
No heart-rending lyrics, no dark ruminations—Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel,” off of her much-celebrated album “Dirty Computer,” is all about the easy, sweet kind of love.
6. "Lovesong" by Adele
The power and emotion behind her voice will have you falling in love with Adele by the end of this song.
7. "With You" by Mariah Carey
So much of Carey’s substantial discography is devoted to declarations of love, so it’s hard to choose a single song for this list. That said, “With You” is a definite standout.
8. "LOVE." by Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari
This isn’t the “we’ll be together forever” type of love song. This is a realistic, “I wanna be with you,” “will you still love me if…” tune—and it’s all the better for it.
9. "Blessings" by Chance the Rapper
Chance has proved time and time again—whether declaring love for his fiancee or donating his resources to Chicago charities—that he’s the real deal. Which makes this confessional, uplifting song even more touching, even if it’s more about faith-based love than the romantic variety.
10. "I Found You" by Alabama Shakes
Modern country band Alabama Shakes created an irresistible, belting ballad in “I Found You.”
11. "No One" by Alicia Keys
This classic will never fade away—it’s practically embedded in our cultural understanding of what love is. And it’s just as good every time you press play.
12. "Drunk in Love" by Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
Leave it to our queen Beyoncé to make a tune that’s just as good to dance to as it is to listen to alone in your room, or belt in the shower.
13. "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
It didn't take long for Ed Sheeran to win the hearts of romantics, in no small part due to this number.
14. "Love on the Brain" by Rihanna
Somewhere between a hymn and a lament, R&B ballad "Love on the Brain" gets stuck in your head all too easily—and you won't be sad it's there.
15. "Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is beloved for exactly this kind of song, which mixes of-the-moment beats with some irresistible, classic crooning.
16. "You've Got the Love" by Florence and the Machine
A surprisingly uplifting romantic ballad from the oft-melancholic Florence and the Machine, "You've Got the Love" is the kind of song you turn all the way up when you hear it on the radio.
17. "Love" by Lana del Rey
"Love" isn't a life-affirming ode to picture-perfect romance—Lana del Rey's brand of music is more or less incompatible with that—but the song does connect with other facets of the emotion in a way that'll have you playing it on repeat.
18. "Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens
To make the cut for the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack, any song would have to ooze romance, and "Mystery of Love" does just that.
19. "Better" by Khalid
Khalid is quickly making a name for himself with smooth tunes, and that's exactly what he delivers with "Better."
20. "Trip" by Ella Mai
Listen to British musician Ella Mai sing about how "love got me tripping on you," and it won't be long before you're tripping on her.
21. "Lover" by Taylor Swift
From Swift's album Lover comes a romantic epic that's guaranteed to make your heart flutter. Grab someone you love because this song demands a slow dance.
22. "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis sings all about opening yourself up to love, and the chorus is insanely catchy. I don't care what they say/I'm in love with you...
23. "POV" by Sean Mendes and Camila Cabello
This heartfelt song about finding peace in a partner brings tears to the eyes, especially with its touching vulnerability.
24. "Want You Back" By Haim
The perfect sugary pop song about wanting back a former lover. Heartache doesn't have to be entirely melancholy, kids!
25. "Love Me Like You Do" by Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding performed at the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, so she knows a thing or two about epic love stories. This song was originally on the Fifty Shades of Gray soundtrack but it far already surpassed that pop culture moment.
26. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
A sweet folk-pop song about pledging devotion to a loved one.
27. "Oh, What a World" by Kacey Musgraves
"I refuse to let the ugliness of the modern world make me forget about the mystery and beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis," Musgraves wrote on Instagram about the song. Oh what a world/and then there's you... It's hard not to think about the person you love while listening to the futuristic country song.
28. "I Choose You" by Adam Melchor
The chorus is just pure romance: I choose you / Out of billions of people / We got it down to two / I choose you / Darlin', it’s all addin' up / The math ain't hard to do / 'Cause I choose you. Singer-songwriter Adam Melchor even recorded a "wedding edition" of this song, perfect for a first dance.
29. "Adore You" by Harry Styles
There are plenty of love songs to pick from the pop icon's oeuvre, but this hit from Fine Line is a certified romantic bop.
30. "This Love (Taylor's Version)" by Taylor Swift
No list of modern love songs is complete without Swift's classic electropop love song about a romance that's ending. It's sad, but perfect.
31. "Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)" by Doja Cat
Doja Cat and SZA teamed up for a catchy song about needing kisses from a partner.
32. "Malibu" by Miley Cyrus
You don't need to be in Malibu to appreciate the romance of this song.
33. "You" by Regard, Troye Sivan, & Tate McRae
"You" is all about struggling to move on from your ex, which isn't exactly the best for romance, but it's an extremely love-focused song.
34. "Stuck With U" by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande
The pop stars teamed up during the early days of the COVID pandemic to fundraise for First Responders Children’s Foundation, and what resulted was a touching love song about being stuck in quarantine with your loved ones.
35. "Like I Can" by Sam Smith
There may be lovers who hold out their hands but / They'll never love you like I can, can, can, croons Smith in this instant classic of a love song.
36. "Adorn" by Miguel
A very sexy R&B slow groove singing all about adoring a lover.
37. "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
A catchy country tune a relationship that was, as the title of the song says, meant to be.
38. "Background Music" by Maren Morris
"I wrote ‘Background Music’ about the beauty of the temporary, which is inevitably all things," Morris explains of her song. "The romanticism of eternity sounds nice, but I like to think I savor things better when I know I’m not entitled to it in perpetuity. It’s a love song that addresses mortality but it’s also promising someone that even when we aren’t cool anymore, I want to grow old with them and laugh about the times we thought we were."
39. "Let's Get Married" by Bleachers
An upbeat song about getting married? Sign us up.
40. "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" by Caroline Polachek
The concept of being so hot you hurt someone's feelings is an incredible thought.
41. "Thinking of You" by Mabel
A pop song for crushes everywhere, when you just can't stop thinking about someone.
42. "Run Away with Me" by Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen is no one-hit wonder; she's built a steady catalog of love songs over her career, and this one is all about falling in love and wanting to run away from everything.
43. "Love Again" by Dua Lipa
A pop song about falling in love again after heartbreak.
44. "We Belong Together (feat. Danielle Haim)" by Vampire Weekend
"We go together like sound and sight / Black and white, day and night / We go together like left and right / Oh, we go together," lead singer Ezra Koenig begins this song, which he describes as the "most wholesome Vampire Weekend song." It's a wholesome, lovely love song.
45. "Dog Years" by Maggie Rogers
"I wrote this for somebody I was in love with at the time," Maggie explains, and you can feel the love in the lyrics, and the reassurance of it's all going to be okay.
46. "Love Me Now" by John Legend
We couldn't resist one more John Legend song on this list, an upbeat song about living and loving in the moment.
47. "If You Ever Want to Be in Love" by James Bay
Bay sings about seeing an old love and hoping to reconnect with her.
48. "Love (Sweet Love)" by Little Mix
The British girl group delivers a show-stopping anthem about wanting to settle down with "sweet love."
49. "All Night" by Beyoncé
Beyoncé's love ballad ends Lemonade, her masterful 2016 album about heartbreaking and healing.
50. "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars
Bruno sings about how beautiful his love is in this classic love song.
