11 of the most romantic songs of all time

You know those songs that make your eyes well up and get you dreaming of rooms filled with plush red roses and teddy bears? Of course you do. It was tough to narrow it down, but here is our list of the most romantic songs in the world – perfect for a first dance, a loved-up date or just a casual Sunday night in on the sofa.

1. Lionel Richie and Diana Ross - Endless Love

Right from the gentle piano intro to the song, you just know this is going to be an unashamed love-fest. Their voices dance around each other in beautiful harmony and it's a true loved-up classic. Because what's more romantic than the idea of endless love? Nothing. Swoon!

2. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are

Love songs aren't just relegated to being the old classics, thanks to Bruno we have this newer entry to the most romantic songs ever. It's hugely popular at weddings these days, probably because there's a universal truth that speaks to us all - we just want to be loved for who we are!

3. Billy Joel - Always a Woman To Me

Often referred to as a modern love song, Billy Joel wrote it about his wife at the time, Elizabeth Weber. She was a shrewd businesswoman and sorted out his financial affairs after he'd made some ill-advised business deals. You gotta love having a tough negotiator for a wife, and the lyrics reflect his love and respect for her.

4. Sade - Your Love is King

The sultry sax intro, her velvet-smooth vocals, the unashamedly slushy lyrics... no list of romantic songs would be complete without Sade! A true classic, after all what could be better than a love that makes our souls sing?

5. Temptations - My Girl

The music of The Temptations is a textbook example of the famous Motown sound, and this song is no exception. Featuring lush vocal harmonies, soaring strings and a sneaky little sax riff, this is a stone cold classic that everyone knows! In fact, it's such a classic, it even featured in Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

6. Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares To You

We challenge you to watch the iconic video for this song and not feel at least a little bit choked up! Sinead O'Connor pulls at the heartstrings with the definitive cover of this Prince song, and apparently her tears in the video were real, as she remembered her mother who had passed away.

7. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warns - Up Where We Belong

Up Where We Belong was a Platinum-certified, Grammy Award-winning hit, and those of us of a certain age know exactly why! The song featured in the most famous scene of the smash 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. A hunky Richard Gere turns up at the factory where his love interest works, wearing white naval uniform, to literally sweep her off her feet! Now that's something to daydream about during a quiet afternoon at work...

8. Kool and the Gang - Cherish

Cherish by Kool and the Gang is another wedding staple, thanks to its lyrics about treasuring love and life. Aww!

9. Alicia Keys - Fallin'

Winning a whopping three GRAMMY Awards, this song has gone on to be Alicia Keys' signature track. Featuring a stripped back production, the true star of this song is Alicia's incredible gospel-style vocals. And this song reminds us, what's love without a few ups and downs? (Or ins and outs, in the case of this song!)

10. Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love

Featuring on the brilliant soundtrack to the movie Saturday Night Fever, this song was a huge hit, spending 17 weeks in the top 10 of the US charts. Take That went on a hit with it in 1996 too, topping the charts worldwide. Another unashamedly slushy track, we love the lyric, "we belong to you and me". So romantic!

11. Elton John - Your Song

A classic from Elton John, featured to great effect in the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge, Your Song is a sweet, self-deprecating ballad to a lover. Utterly heartwarming, you can't help but wish that someone would write a song like this for you! ❤️

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