10. “L.O.V.E” – Nat King Cole
Let’s start the list with Nat King Cole, legend among legends. Mr. Cole really made his mark on music as a leading jazz pianist. In this song, he cleverly assigns a lyric to each letter of the word “love.” It’s been at the top of love song charts since its release.
Best lyric: “Two in love can make it / take my heart and please don’t break it / Love was made for me and you.”
9. “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
This one may be a little unknown, but I promise an earful of joy and an instantaneous love life if you sing this to someone on Valentine’s Day. With a bit of western flare, the chorus makes the song No. 9 on the most romantic list.
Best lyric: “Home is whenever I’m with you.”
8. “With or Without You” – U2
U2 is one of my favourite bands, but their best song—one that has travelled the world, with couples in love arrogantly calling it “our song”—has to be “With or Without You.” The song recounts how a man who is deeply in love has to be with you—if not, life is impossible. Guys, you know what do come Valentine’s Day.
Best lyric: “My hands are tied / my body bruised, she’s got me with / nothing to win and / nothing else to lose.”
7. “Your Song” – Elton John
This is the perfect song to dedicate to someone as the big day approaches. Elton John captures the essence of what love is. He originally wrote this song and dedicated it to his father, due to the fact that they had problems because of Elton’s homosexuality. Since then, it’s become one of the most romantic songs out there.
Best lyric: “I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words / how wonderful life is while you’re in the world.”
6. “Drops of Jupiter” – Train
Train has made a name for themselves as great romantic songwriters, making single girls cry all over the world, day after day. What many describe as a tender tour of the cosmos, lead singer Patrick Monahan actually wrote the song when he lost his mother, and wished, as he was mourning, that she could just “come back to the atmosphere, with drops of Jupiter in her hair.” That line also wins best lyric.
5. “Truly Madly Deeply” – Savage Garden
Romance, no matter the situation, comes hand in hand with corniness—disgusting, ugly, makes-me-want-to-puke corniness. Savage Garden captured all the corniness in the world the day they wrote “Truly Madly Deeply.” For this reason, this one definitely gets a spot on the list.
Best lyric: “I want to lay like this forever / until the sky falls down on me.”
4. “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
This is where things start getting serious. This classic song took romance by storm with its sweet lyrics, and has since been taken up by other groups including Matchbox Twenty. The amazing yet simple lyric “time after time” tells you all a loved one will do for you, again and again, time after time.
Best lyric: “If you fall I will catch you–I’ll be waiting / time after time.”
3. “Something” – The Beatles
There are so many songs to choose from when it comes to one of the most amazing bands to ever walk the Earth. “Something,” however, perfectly depicts how impossible it is to live without the one you love; how there’s something about her or him that’s impossible to get off your mind. Frank Sinatra said it best when he called it “the greatest love song ever written.”
Best lyric: “Something in the way she knows / and all I have to do is think of her. Something in the things she shows me / I don’t want to leave her now.”
2. “I’ll Be” – Edwin McCain
These are words that every man wants to say to a girl one day. Yet, to describe what you can do for the girl of your dreams is something most men are nervous about. Never fear, Mr. McCain has done it for us. It’s a masterpiece of a song, and to this day, one of the greatest love songs of our time.
Best lyric: “I’ll be your crying shoulder / I’ll be love’s suicide / I’ll be better when I’m older / I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.”
1. “Maybe I’m Amazed” – Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney captures the true essence of what love is all about. It’s surprising, and at times, it can be scary. Scary to feel such a feeling for someone. Scared of getting hurt. But in the end, knowing that, no matter what, it’s all worth it. I dedicate this No. 1 to my girlfriend, and wishing all the couples out there a Happy Valentine’s Day, and a Happy I Hate Valentine’s Day to all you haters!
Best lyric: “Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you.”
