All You Want Is Love (Songs): Our 2025 Valentine’s Day Soundtrack!

Love is within the air – and in our audio system! This Valentine’s Day, Atwood Journal’s employees is popping up the romance with a handpicked playlist of our all-time favourite love songs. Be part of us as we have fun the music that makes our hearts beat a little bit quicker!

Playlist: Our Favourite Love Songs of All Time!

Our Favourite Love Songs

Valentine’s Day 2025

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The 1975 actually locked in with Being Humorous in a International Language, and nowhere was that extra obvious than on their on the spot traditional love music, “I’m in Love With You” – a monitor that actually says all of it, proper there within the title. Via buoyant beats and a radiant, celebratory ambiance, the indie pop band created an irresistible ode to that humorous feeling – reminding us how particular, how lovely, and the way thrilling it’s to be in love. – Mitch Mosk

How have you learnt you might be in love? Possibly it’s when actuality is healthier than your goals. Aerosmith positive thinks so. “I don’t wanna shut my eyes/ I don’t wanna to go to sleep/ ‘Trigger I’d miss you child/ And I don’t wanna miss a factor,” are the lyrics to this touching but rock ‘n’ roll love ballad that fantastically captures the extreme emotion – when valuable moments develop into one thing you by no means need to miss out on. – Lauren Turner

“When the rain is pouring down, and my coronary heart is hurting – you’ll at all times be round, this I do know for sure.” That potential to be there for us at our darkest hour; what higher phrases may actually encapsulate love, whether or not romantic, platonic, familial, or something in between? It’s a quintessential Keys music, easy and forthright but filled with ardour and authenticity. And that beat – you simply gotta nod your head. – Christine Buckley

Tright here is one thing so inherently lovely about Alex Turner’s voice. As he croons and pleads with such devotion to a lover he’ll be all the things they are going to ever need or want – he merely simply desires to be theirs. Certainly a personification of the love some could really feel on a day like at this time. – Jada Moore

I can’t hearken to “God Solely Is aware of” with out getting emotional, and I wouldn’t have it some other approach. As romantic as it’s bittersweet, The Seashore Boys’ love music aches with the burden, the heat, and the surprise of affection. However above all else, it’s the vulnerability that shines by means of: “I’ll not at all times love you, however lengthy as there are stars above you, you by no means must doubt it, I’ll make you so positive about it; God solely is aware of what I’d be with out you.” Whereas it was groundbreaking for its time, what makes “God Solely Is aware of” proceed to resonate 60 years on is its uncooked, unfiltered, unabridged humanity. It’s a reminder that, no matter occurs and nonetheless lengthy the journey, love is value each second. – Mitch Mosk

The Beatles actually began their monumental profession with a music titled “Love Me Do,” have a compilation known as Love, wrote a common anthem known as “All You Want is Love,” conquered the world with a military of affection songs, and recorded their final session as a unit by singing how the love one provides is the same as the love one takes. And but, it’s a single launched after their break-up has me unhealthily obsessed. “Actual Love” is a John Lennon composition, accomplished by the remainder of the band with Jeff Lynne after his demise for the The Beatles Anthology, and proves that the band had not misplaced a single step. After these magical opening chords, piano sourced from Lennon’s house demo, the music carries on with the chiming guitars, hovering harmonies, and melodic journeys that recall the perfect of each period of the band. Lennon sings about love in such a heartfelt, easy approach that speaks volumes about its universality. He sings about life’s plans, childhood innocence, and romantic dissatisfaction simply to succeed in the identical reply; in the long run, it was actual love he was ready for. It’s such a quintessentially Beatles conclusion, however from harmless boy-girl pop tales to psychedelic meditations, they’ve been telling us that each one we wanted was love from the very starting. – David Diame

Even within the pantheon of Beatles love songs – a very lengthy and winding (and great) highway – no love music is as pure, as tender, as lovely, or as heartbreaking as “In My Life.” Lennon’s wistful stroll down reminiscence lane is an intimate ode to individuals and locations previous and current – to the moments in our lives that fill the world with that means. It’s mild, it’s sentimental, it’s nostalgic, and it aches with the burden of life itself. “Although I do know I’ll by no means lose affection for individuals and issues that went earlier than. I do know I’ll typically cease and take into consideration them; in my life, I really like you extra.” – Mitch Mosk

I‘ve at all times felt a particular connection to Billy Joel’s Piano Man album – it’s one of many first information I actually fell in love with as a child – and that bond has solely grown deeper over time, particularly as I ‘went out into the world’ and made a life for myself in New York. Already one in every of my favourite love songs, “You’re My House” will perpetually be the final music I listened to earlier than I walked down the aisle at my wedding ceremony. It’s a heartfelt reminder that ‘house’ isn’t a spot – it’s an individual, and while you’re in love, you’re at all times proper the place you belong – alongside the one you like: “Nicely, I’ll by no means be a stranger and I’ll by no means be alone. Wherever we’re collectively, that’s my house.” Timeless phrases, capturing a timeless reality. – Mitch Mosk

I know I’m not alone after I say “this was our music,” but it surely actually is – I walked down the aisle to Blind Pilot’s timeless love music, and I’ll perpetually cherish this lovely music as an ode to togetherness, to expressions of intimacy, and to the heat and surprise of being in love with somebody who is aware of the true you, the complete you, all of you – in and out, proper facet up and the other way up.

“So Far Away” isn’t the standard love music. It’s about a facet of affection we don’t suppose we’ll really feel after falling: loneliness. Carole King describes time away and miles between as an vacancy having nothing to do with feeling insecure. She describes a vulnerability we might by no means learn about if we weren’t already feeling so liked within the first place. – Josh Bloom

My spouse’s favourite love music; she says it reminds her of me (I’ve inexperienced eyes) and the way she feels once we’re collectively. Coldplay actually nailed the easy magnificence and luxury of affection with this music, channeling all these complicated, massive, daring, feelings into candy strains “Honey, you’re a rock upon which I stand” and “I got here right here with a load and it feels a lot lighter now I met you” – two issues I can intimately relate to, and cherish about my very own love story.

Nashville-based Crys Matthews is a shocking people artist identified for being a champion of social justice. Matthews has simply collaborated with fiancé Heather Mae on the music “The Good Stuff” off of her newest album Reclamation. The piece is a heartfelt dedication to one another and ode to all the great things their partnership brings. Mae is a social justice warrior as properly and collectively they’re so highly effective, courageously baring their soul. The intimate vulnerability the monitor exudes is deeply charming. – Chloe Robinson

“However distant/ I’ll at all times love you/ Nonetheless lengthy I keep/ I’ll at all times love you/ No matter phrases I say/ I’ll at all times love you/ I’ll at all times love you,” The Remedy sing of their traditional “Lovesong.” The enduring guitar riff blended with a mind altering bassline, captures love at its most uncooked and purest kind – timeless. When it doesn’t matter what you say, what you do, irrespective of a lot time you spend aside or the place life takes you, you’ll at all times be in love with that particular person. What makes it much more romantic? It was initially written by member Robert Smith as a marriage current for his spouse. – Lauren Turner 

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This love music is as nonsensical as it’s profound. The devices interact in dialogue: strings going backwards and forwards, horns butting in, acoustic guitars murmuring amongst themselves. Tillman sings, “I need to take you within the kitchen/carry up the marriage costume somebody was most likely murdered in.” Reverence and irreverence flip to one another and ask, “What are you doing together with your entire life? How about perpetually?” – Nasim Elyasi

This music gave me language for falling in love lengthy earlier than it ever occurred to me. I bear in mind searching of the window within the backseat of my mother’s automotive on roadtrips, staring longingly, taking part in this music on repeat from the household iPod. “I simply need you to know who I’m,” will at all times resonate. – Hannah Burns

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Falling in love feels just like the apocalypse. It’s the calm earlier than the storm, leaping into the void ignoring the way it feels to be in ache. Ignoring all of the evil on the earth, with a view to take pleasure in even a sliver of happiness. “Wasteland, Child!” describes simply this sense, the innocence of falling in love with out serious about the attainable unfavourable penalties. Quoting some of the well-known monologues in TV sequence historical past, “Love is terrible. It’s terrible. It’s painful. It’s horrifying. […] Makes you say and do belongings you by no means thought you’d do. It’s all any of us need, and it’s hell once we get there. So, no surprise it’s one thing we don’t need to do on our personal.” (Sure, it’s the Scorching Priest’s monologue from “Fleabag”). That is precisely “Wasteland, Child!” is about, by the way in which. Love is all any of us need, and it’s all of the concern and the fireplace of the top of the world once we get there, however we wouldn’t give it up for something. – Dimitra Gurduiala

Perhaps the digital style isn’t identified for love songs, however Illenium’s album Ascend comprises one that’s placing and dreamy. The lyrics present an individual’s love for his or her accomplice, claiming that dying in that individual’s arms is precisely the place they’re presupposed to be. Feeling secure, being completely satisfied, and embracing life with that somebody are the stunning issues on this monitor. Stuffed with guitar, as it’s a attribute of Illenium’s work, it certainly is an uncommon, but great, love music, additionally made particular for its collaboration alongside X Ambassadors. – Bárbara Martínez Campuzano

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“This is How You Fall in Love” captures the essence of a heartfelt, slow-dance second, making it excellent for a marriage. Its bittersweet lyrics and evocative melodies create a fantastically weak ambiance, embodying each love and heartbreak. The music’s emotional depth and ease make it an unforgettable soundtrack to a cherished reminiscence. – Danielle Holian

For all of his explosive guitar wizardry and technical prowess, most wouldn’t affiliate with Jimi Hendrix with the tender, considerate, and meditative; in actuality, a lot of his being was spent in that mindset. “Might This Be Love” is really one in every of his earliest explorations of his delicate, romantic facet, with the music being a candy declaration of affection to any person else. They’re the “waterfall” within the music; an eternally dashing, limitless supply of vitamins, which provides the music its central metaphor. In a haze of R&B-like guitar stylings blended with Mitch Mitchell’s percussive saunter and Noel Redding’s insistent bedrock bass, Hendrix disregards everybody else who dares to tease him, content material with the love that he has and the way in which their relationship’s blossomed. The loveliest factor? Hendrix’s vocals, cooing for his lover to fall with him for 1,000,000 days, earlier than bursting right into a flow-like guitar solo that rushes as elegantly and fantastically because the waterfalls he depends on. The outro of this music is magnificent, and cements the music’s easy grandeur in a approach that communicates the facility of affection. – David Diame

Hmmmm, I’m not so positive what my absolute all-time favourite love music is, however Kendrick Lamar has been on my thoughts lots these days, having simply caught his current efficiency on the Tremendous Bowl and listening to an extra of his music in preparation for mentioned occasion– together with relistening to the DAMN. album right through once more for the primary time in ages. So I’ll give one in every of my favourite tracks from that 2017 traditional a shout-out on this column: “LOVE.,” a duet with a singer named Zacari who fully fell off the map after this music got here out, however positively made his mark along with his ode to “sippin’ bubbly, feelin’ beautiful, livin’ beautiful,” all whereas the Important Man borrows a bit from 50 Cent & Nate Dogg on “21 Questions” whereas asking “If I didn’t journey blade on curb, would you continue to love me? If I minimized my web value, would you continue to love me?” Kendrick Lamar is thought for being aggressive and outspoken in a lot of his music, however giving him the area of three minutes and 33 seconds to let his extra weak and delicate facet come by means of proves to be a rewarding transfer as properly. Plus, the top result’s one in every of my private favourite hip-hop love songs. – Josh Weiner

Laufey’s voice itself personifies the sensation of heat and luxury. The lyrics a poetic expression to the one that has fully enamored Laufey. This music is a ravishing and romantic hear excellent to set the temper of the day! – Jada Moore

A romp by means of the extreme and jarring but beautiful feelings of latest love: thrills, trembling, anticipation, craving, doubt, despair, and most of all utter foolishness. It’s as near a pop music as Zeppelin ever bought, but nonetheless smashes collectively completely different types, with a half-time shuffle and a samba overlayed playfully on their signature blues-rock. You possibly can’t not smile at this one when the lovesick hero realizes his love hasn’t left him, he’s only a “idiot ready on the unsuitable block.” – Christine Buckley

Tright here’s good motive The Nationwide have graced the pages of this Valentine’s Day playlist twice — the band (and poetic lead singer Matt Berninger) craft among the most interesting songs of this century on the subject of the anxieties, fleeting joys and even pressures of affection. “Sluggish Present” spells issues out plainly and sweetly, but by no means strays from the fragile stability, the tightrope that must be walked in love — a stability between determined longing and permitting your accomplice to develop into who they’re. All of the whereas, on a regular basis anxieties and doubts creep in (when Berninger sings “I leaned on the wall, the wall leaned away,” you’re feeling it viscerally. And the everlasting line “You understand I dreamed about you/for 29 years earlier than I noticed you,” is positively crushing and certainly, life-affirming. – Beau Hayhoe

Matt Berninger is likely one of the greatest on the subject of transporting the listener into a selected second, and all through “New Order T-Shirt,” he delivers a montage of of many occasions that he fell in love along with his spouse Carin. It’s unimaginable to carry onto each single second that you just felt in love, however Berninger implores, “I hold what I can of you.” Whether or not it’s your accomplice rubbing the small of your again or ingesting a beer and holding a pet, you’ll bear in mind sure moments perpetually. – James Crowley

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“Cigarettes and Espresso” may be some of the timeless love songs ever, with Redding’s uncooked, soulful voice speaking longing in a approach I discover virtually unimaginable to duplicate. Its simplicity is what makes it so excellent, as if eternal love is so simple as a cup of espresso, as if selecting pleasure is sufficient. He lays it out so plainly that you don’t have any alternative however to consider him. – Juls Patterson

What do you do when your entire world is torn asunder? Confronted with the collapse of a band he’d identified since he was 15, a bearded, bedraggled Paul McCartney was on the verge of a breakdown. Solely by means of his love for Linda Eastman (quickly Linda McCartney), ensconced on this searing, plaintive ballad, may the brand new musical duo unfold their Wings. – Aidan Moyer

For somebody as partizan as I’m to his music, to see Peter Gabriel seem right here twice is exhilarating (his cowl of The Magnetic Fields’ “The Guide of Love” lovely, the unique one of many most interesting love songs ever conceived). “In Your Eyes” shouldn’t be one other ’80s love music – it would simply be the best music of all time. It’s lyrically resplendent, and glows with the inventive depth that solely Peter Gabriel displayed across the launch of So. Add Youssou N’Dour’s glowing backing vocals into the outro, and you’ve got a music as hallowed as ‘a thousand church buildings’, as fulfilled as vanquished ‘fruitless searches’, as proud as romance ever was. – Frederick Bloy

This music seemingly has a little bit magic to it, as it’s as emotionally consuming as the perfect type of love could be. The orchestral backdrop and repetition of each music and lyrics creates the distinctive juxtaposition of a wealthy melody with a fragile message: love has existed because the starting of time, and as illogical and tacky as it’s typically, how fortunate are we to have discovered it. – Melanie Lustig

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Love songs can run the entire gamut of feelings—from anguished pleas to infuriated betrayals—however there’s one thing so comfy and carefree about “I Need You (Fall 2010)” off of Ratboys’ The Window. Ratboys take the monumentally massive feeling and shrinks it into probably the most particular and private of vignettes, enlarging its affect. Burning clean CDs, nerding out about favourite bands, occurring journeys with no vacation spot; being captured in on a regular basis moments illustrate the expertise of falling in love so intimately. Its virtually pet love-like disposition is completely mixed with the jaunt of their energy pop melodies, sometimes punctuated by their exploding drums and guitars earlier than blowing up solely, which make the entire thing so effortlessly informal. It virtually appears like Julia Steiner winks when she politely and forwardly asks to “hang around perpetually, beginning now”, combining the incomprehensibly massive with the comfortably cheerful in a single cozy request. If somebody mentioned that to you, it’d be arduous to not settle for. – David Diame

Tright here’s such levity on this music, and a tenderness that instantly grabs and hooks you in. It’s the epitome of a “going regular” music, if that phrase was nonetheless in our basic lexicon. Sam Cooke makes romance look (and sound) easy right here, getting launched into the stratosphere with the power and fervor of affection. And people traditional doo-wop harmonies actually make the center flutter. – Kendall Graham

They say the one you like must be extra than simply your lover, but in addition your greatest buddy. That’s why I actually take pleasure in Sarah Banker’s single “FRIENDS”. Her heat, flirtatious vocals sing, “Let’s be pals/ Let’s be lovers/ Let’s be all the things /Between the streets/To underneath the covers.” She is looking for a romance that’s all encompassing and I believe that’s the kind of partnership we should always all attempt for. – Chloe Robinson

“Turning Web page” is a ravishing ode to like and the way delicate but highly effective it may be. Stuffed with utter devotion, this music is a confession that captures simply how valuable love is. Via a gradual piano and soul transferring violins, Sleeping At Final mimics craving and the essence of time transferring slowly because the storyteller reminisces on a time earlier than they met their vital different, “Nothing ready me for/ What the privilege of being yours would do.” However as quickly as their worlds collide, the music picks up its tempo and the melody captures the whirlwind of uncooked emotion effortlessly, “Your love is my turning web page/ The place solely the sweetest phrases stay/ Each kiss is a cursive line/ Each contact is a redefining phrase.” In brief, “Turning Web page” makes it really feel as should you may maintain the fragileness of affection within the palm of your hand. – Lauren Turner

The timeless music ‘There Is A Mild That By no means Goes Out’ by The Smiths and written by Morrissey and Marr, captures the valuable existential feeling of falling in love for the primary time. This music is immersed within the want of eager to transcend the ordinariness of life with one other individual and the promise this may maintain by means of ‘a light-weight that by no means goes out.’ The palpable tremor of ‘There Is A Mild That By no means Goes Out’ revolves round risking one’s emotional self for the attainable affirmation of affection amidst an evening that may rework life and actuality itself. – David Buyze

Though Stevie Surprise by no means explicitly says the phrase ‘love’ in his music “If It’s Magic,” it’s nonetheless in my view of probably the most highly effective love songs of all time. Stevie’s potential to seize the very essence of affection, whether or not romantically, platonically or in any other case, is really magnificent. This music is value a hear this Valentine’s Day. – Noa Jamir

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The already lovely ballad grew to become reimagined as a Blind B-side – cementing itself as a traditional in its personal proper. With out realization, you’ll be craving for a previous lover, singing, “Wild, wild horses / Couldn’t drag me away.” (In fact, The Rolling Stones’ unique remains to be a traditional over a half-century later.) – Marissa DeLeon

Gracing the top credit of their 1988 stay/studio album Rattle and Hum, “All I Need Is You” was the final followers heard from U2 earlier than they chopped down The Joshua Tree with 1991’s Achtung Child. It’s additionally their most simple love music – whereas tracks like “Drowning Man” and “Sweetest Factor” are sometimes awarded the title, this is likely one of the solely occasions of their discography when love isn’t bracing itself in opposition to previous or impending heartbreak. It’s no surprise it typically segues into “The place The Streets Have No Title” in stay variations — each songs are damaged free by their defenselessness. – Emma Schoors

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