The 90s were an era of iconic love songs that touched the hearts and souls of listeners all over the world. These songs were more than just catchy tunes; they were timeless expressions of love that captured the essence of the decade. From Boyz II Men’s soulful harmonies to Whitney Houston‘s powerful voice, the 90s had it all when it came to love songs. In this article, we will take a trip down memory lane and revisit the top 20 love songs of the 90s. So, sit back, relax, and let the music transport you to a time when love songs ruled the airwaves.
1. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton, Houston’s rendition was featured in the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard” and quickly became a worldwide hit. The song was written by Dolly Parton and produced by David Foster. It won numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1994, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 consecutive weeks, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song is known for Houston’s powerful vocals and emotional delivery, and it has become an anthem for love and loss. It has been covered by many artists and has been used in numerous movies and TV shows. It is considered one of the most iconic love songs of all time.
2. “Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton
The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was released as the second single from Braxton’s second studio album, “Secrets,” in 1996. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for 11 consecutive weeks. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Record of the Year. It also won three Billboard Music Awards for Hot 100 Airplay Single of the Year, Hot Adult Contemporary Single of the Year, and Hot Dance Maxi Single of the Year.
3. “My All” by Mariah Carey
This 1998 hit was written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, and features Carey’s signature soaring vocals. The song spent a week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
4. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Matt Serletic. It was released as a single in 1998 and also featured in the soundtrack of the movie “Armageddon,” which starred Liv Tyler, the daughter of the lead singer of Aerosmith, Steven Tyler. The song was a huge commercial success, topping the charts in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” received positive reviews for its emotional lyrics and powerful vocals by Steven Tyler.
5. “More Than Words” by Extreme
“More Than Words” was written by Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone of Extreme and was released in 1990. The song became a massive hit for the band and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1992.
6. “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Michael Bolton
Initially recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966, this song was covered by Michael Bolton in 1991 and became a massive hit. It spent several weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
7. “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” by Bryan Adams
Written by Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John “Mutt” Lange, this song was released in 1995 for the movie “Don Juan DeMarco.” It spent several weeks at the top of the charts and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
8. “Lovefool” by The Cardigans
Released in 1996, “Lovefool” was written by Peter Svensson and Nina Persson of The Cardigans. It became a hit for the band and reached the top ten in several countries, including the United States, where it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.
9. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
Released in 1994, this song was written by Babyface and Nelson Edmonds. It became one of Boyz II Men’s biggest hits and stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks. The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1995.
10. “I Swear” by All-4-One
Written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers, “I Swear” was released in 1994 and became a massive hit for All-4-One. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 11 consecutive weeks and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1995.
11. “Angel of Mine” by Monica
Written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, “Angel of Mine” was released in 1998 and became a hit for Monica. The song reached the top ten in several countries, including the United States, where it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
12. “Breathe” by Faith Hill
“Breathe” was released in 1999 and was written by Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar. It became a massive hit for Faith Hill, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2000.
13. “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden
Written by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, “Truly Madly Deeply” was released in 1997 and became a hit for Savage Garden. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks and stayed on the chart for a total of 123 weeks.
14. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor
Originally written by Prince and performed by his side project, The Family, O’Connor’s cover version became a massive hit in 1990. The song was produced by Nellee Hooper and won the award for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards. It topped the charts in numerous countries and became an international sensation. O’Connor’s emotional delivery and vulnerability in the music video contributed to the song’s popularity. It is considered a powerful expression of heartbreak and loss, and it has been covered by many artists since its release. The song’s success helped to establish O’Connor as a major artist and had a lasting impact on popular music culture.
15. “Endless Love” by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross
Written by Lionel Richie for the film of the same name, “Endless Love” has been covered by numerous artists over the years. However, it was the duet version by Carey and Vandross that garnered the most commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in various countries. The song has been praised for its vocal performances and emotional depth, and remains a beloved classic to this day.
16. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
Written by James Horner and Will Jennings for the movie “Titanic”, “My Heart Will Go On” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1998. It was a massive commercial success, spending multiple weeks at the top of the charts in various countries. The song has become synonymous with the film and its epic romance, and remains one of Dion’s most well-known hits.
17. “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
Written by Clapton for his then-wife Pattie Boyd, “Wonderful Tonight” is a classic love song that has endured through the years. Although it didn’t achieve massive commercial success upon its initial release, the song has since become a beloved classic and has been covered by numerous artists. It has also been featured in various movies, TV shows, and commercials.
18. “When You Say Nothing at All” by Alison Krauss
Written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, “When You Say Nothing at All” was initially recorded by Keith Whitley. However, it was Krauss’ version that gained widespread recognition, reaching the top 10 on multiple charts in the US and UK. The song has since become a staple in the country music genre, and is often cited as one of the most beautiful love songs of all time.
19. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John
Written by John and Tim Rice for the movie “The Lion King”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1995. The song was a commercial success, reaching the top 10 on multiple charts in the US and UK. It has been praised for its catchy melody and emotional lyrics, and remains one of John’s most well-known hits. The song has also been covered by numerous artists and has been featured in various adaptations of “The Lion King”.
20. “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men
This is a soulful ballad by the American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released in 1994 and written by the group’s members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, along with songwriter Babyface. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was very well-received by both fans and critics alike, with many praising the group’s harmonies and emotional delivery. The track was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1995 but lost to “Creep” by TLC. “On Bended Knee” has become one of Boyz II Men’s signature songs and is widely regarded as a classic of the 1990s R&B era. It has also been covered by many artists over the years and remains a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions.
