Every time I turn around these days, there seems to be another song on the radio lamenting a jilted lover’s sad state. Has it always been that way? There’s Adele singing, “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you.” Kelly Clarkson sings how she “even fell for that stupid love song." Taylor Swift wonders, “Why can’t you see, you belong with me?” Gotye informs his lover is now just “somebody that I used to know.” Katy Perry gets nostalgic about “the one that got away.”
Maybe it’s just me, but sad love songs seem to get more air time than happy ones these days.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I started thinking about some good old-fashioned love songs. You know, the ones that talk about true, sincere, sappy, happy love. Most were popular in the 1970s or 80s. If you have a honey you’re smitten with, or a longtime sweetheart you can’t imagine living without because they’ve been around through it all, here are 12 golden gems to queue up this Valentine’s Day.
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1. “Love Will Keep Us Together”
Captain and Tennille made the song a worldwide hit in 1975. Love kept them together for many years but, ironically, Captain and Tennille divorced last year.
2. “Endless Love”
Written by Lionel Richie and recorded in 1981 as a duet with Diana Ross, this one goes down as one of the sweetest, sincerest love songs of all time.
3. “How Deep is Your Love”
Another classic love song, written and sung by the Bee Gees, a band that anyone around in the 1970s remembers fondly.
4. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
Not your typical ballad, the band Queen made this song popular in 1980. Apparently, lead singer Freddie Mercury composed the song on his guitar in just 10 minutes.
5. “I Just Called To Say I Love You”
If you follow the advice of Stevie Wonder in this 1984 hit, you don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day or another special occasion to tell your sweetie you love them.
6. “Saving All My Love For You”
Whitney Houston earned her first Grammy in 1985 with this hit.
7. “Because You Loved Me”
Canadian singer Celine Dion sang this theme song from the 1996 film "Up Close & Personal," starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.
8. “Glory of Love”
Featured in the 1986 film "The Karate Kid, Part II," this was Peter Cetera's first hit single.
9. “Vision of Love”
Mariah Carey’s 1990 love song spent four weeks at the top of the charts.
10. “I Will Always Love You”
Dolly Parton wrote and recorded the song in 1974. Whitney Houston's 1992 version became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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11. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
A beautiful 1987 ballad by Michael Jackson featuring a duet with Siedah Garrett.
12. “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
Originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1961, this song was re-recorded by numerous other artists. The 1993 version by the British reggae group UB40 topped the U.S. and UK charts.
