Thousands of love songs exist, but they will always remain in style. Spilling your guts about a loved one (or, in many cases, an unrequited crush) may not be the most unique topic, but it’s by far one of the most universal. Whether it’s Karen O singing “Maps” like a mantra or Tom DeLonge receiving roses by the stairs, there’s a track for everyone. That said, we asked our readers to vote on the best love songs of all time, and the answers were, of course, extensive across genres and decades. Ultimately, though, the poll had to be narrowed down to five tracks.
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From Brand New Eyes-era Paramore to a couple of classics from the Cure, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. Motionless in White – “Eternally Yours”
Motionless in White specialize in all things ghoulish and dark, but they’re still capable of writing about universally relatable topics. Taken off their 2017 album, Graveyard Shift, “Eternally Yours” closes a project filled with big riffs, Korn collaborations, and plenty of chaos, which makes it stand out from the rest. For a time, the band even played the song last in their live sets, ending their shows on a sweet note.
4. Paramore – “The Only Exception”
Of course our readers voted for a Paramore song. Prior to Brand New Eyes, Paramore had mostly delved into darker, angstier territory. “The Only Exception,” however, was a soaring standout. The ballad remains hugely popular, even as the band moved into different sounds. Hayley Williams’ vocals are on fine display, belting out a soulful, gooey chorus that makes it one of their most memorable songs. More than a decade later, “The Only Exception” still hits like the day it was released.
3. The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”
The Cure have a lot of classics, but “Just Like Heaven” is in its own league. Written about Robert Smith’s wife, Mary, the song takes inspiration from a trip they took together to Beachy Head, England. It’s also reflective of a band evolving, as their ability to transform their sound from blackened dirges to euphoric pop hits like this one inspired countless other bands. Whether you were born before or after 1987, “Just Like Heaven” is a song any generation can appreciate.
2. Bring Me the Horizon – “Follow You”
In comparison to the rest of their catalog at the time, Bring Me the Horizon’s “Follow You” marked an atmospheric shift and put greater emphasis on their love of pop. Written with Oli Sykes’ wife in mind, as the two were reportedly going through a rough patch at the time, it’s meant to offer perceptive — things can always get worse. That’s the Spirit was a divisive release for fans as BMTH continued to move further away from their roots, but “Follow You” holds up as a tremendous love song nearly a decade later.
1. The Cure – “Lovesong”
The Cure’s Disintegration will forever remain an important album, rife with melancholy, gloom, and hallucinogenic production. Appropriately, our readers deemed the aptly named track as the best love song. Smith wrote “Lovesong,” one of many popular cuts from the album, as a wedding present for his wife. Yet its chorus — “I will always love you” — isn’t maudlin like your typical love song. Rather, it’s a firm, sincere promise to remain true and to spend however long they have together. Does it get any better than this?
