The 90s gave rise to grunge and hip-hop in the mainstream, and it was a decade full of technopop and boy bands. Even so, the great love songs of the 90s could stand toe-to-toe with any decade when it came to pulling the old heartstrings. Which of these romantic classics was your favorite?
“I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders – 1994
In “I’ll Stand By You,” Chrissie Hynde vows to stand by her man even if he’s on the wrong side of town. It was a great love song for those who didn’t get enough support from their family or friends, and it did great commercially, reaching number one in the US and UK.
“I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men – 1994
In “I’ll Make Love to You,” the singer promises his lover that he will always be there for her. It was great for showing true commitment and love, but it also had great commercial success: it reached number one in 14 countries worldwide and sold 12 million copies on its way to selling 22 million as of 2004.
“Can You Feel the Looooove Tonight” by Elton John – 1994
In “Can You Feel the Looooove Tonight,” a great love song from The Lion King, Elton sings about how he feels after seeing his lover for the first time in days. It was great at capturing that feeling of being reunited with someone and it served as a great anthem for couples.
“I Want it That Way” by The Backstreet Boys – 1997
In “I Want It That Way,” a great love song from their second album, they sing about how much they want to be together and that’s all that matters in life. Their lyrics are great at capturing the high emotions of being in love and their music was perfect for this song.
“Baby I Love Your Way” by Big Mountain – 1994
“Baby, I Love Your Way” is a great love song in which the artist sings about how he’s been waiting for his lover and it was all worth it. The music video features great shots of nature as well as intimate scenes with the singer and actress Cynthia Jane Furey giving off an ethereal vibe.
“Here and Now” by Luther Vandross – 1993
In this classic 90s love anthem, the singer is singing to his lover about how he’s always been there for them and will continue to be. The lyrics are uplifting as well as heartfelt which makes for a great love song. Vandross’s silky smooth voice is at its best in this great love song.
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt – 1991
This great tune is a classic from the 90s. It starts out with Bonnie singing about how she can’t make her lover want to stay and their relationship has fallen apart just like they always knew it would in the end. The lyrics are intense, yet romantic at times which makes for an intriguing great love song that most people are familiar with. Overall, it’s a great love song that stays true to the genre and holds up well over time.
“I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts – 1994
It’s tough to remember that this one was a love song in its own right, and really it’s about a “friendly” kind of love. In fact, this tune rose to fame not on its radio merits, but as the theme song for the sitcom Friends. However, as great love songs go, it’s one that you might not be able to get out of your head for days or weeks at a time.
“All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You” by Heart – 1990
This great song became a 90s anthem right off the bat, with a hint of rock and roll in it, but the main focus is on the lyrics: “All I wanna do is make love to you/One night of love was all we knew.” The rest of the song tells the story of that one great night … and the aftermath.
(Like Love Songs of the 90s? Then you might like our article on Love Songs of the 70s, click here. Or maybe Love Songs of the 60s, click here.)
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