All songs are love songs. That is if you believe Charles Darwin’s claim that music, like birdsong, developed as a vehicle for sexual selection (indeed, a good voice and a sexy Les Paul go far). But regardless of whether or not music is inherently sexual, sexual and romantic themes have always been as abundant in musical history as they have been in human lives. As we prepare (or don’t) for a warm and passionate Valentine’s Day, there is no better time for some beautifully cheesy love songs.
We’ll start our journey through time in the ’50s: the decade of post-war prosperity and cultural transformation. With the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra and, importantly, the Fender Stratocaster, the 1950s turned popular music on its head. Sweet and unabashedly sappy, romantic songs like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” by Paul Anka capture a vintage tenderness, while songs like Connie Francis’ rock ‘n’ roll inspired “Stupid Cupid” and hit doo-wop song “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers offer a playful contrast. ’50s love songs stand out for their straightforward, light-hearted lyrics and playful, rock ‘n’ roll sensibilities.
The 1960s, a decade of political unrest, classic rock and Beatlemania, brought a new pop edge to the love songs of the ’50s. The 1960s excelled in cheesy pop ballads with songs like “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley and “Mr. Lonely” by Bobby Vinton. The British invasion of the mid-’60s brought new energies and sounds to the American music scene, with the Beatles releasing pop rock ballads like “And I Love Her,” which stood out in its simplicity of both instrumentation and lyrics. Artists like Bob Dylan also infused love songs with poeticism with songs like “Lay Lady Lay.” The love songs of the ’60s set the tone for the change and unrest of the decade with a mix of sentimentality and boldness.
With the ’70s came some of my favorite artists of all time: Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel and Led Zeppelin, just to name a few. ’70s love songs were distinguished by their polished production and smooth sounds; soft rock ballads like Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” and acoustic ballads like Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” were especially prominent. ’70s love songs were less melodramatic than either the ’60s or ’50s, focusing more on honesty than poeticism in their lyrics. Disco love songs like the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love” also made their debut in the 1970s. The ’70s captured the soul of love while minimizing cheesy saccharinity, making the love songs of the genre timelessly romantic.
The ’80s were big synths and poppy melodies. With the New Wave came bigger sounds and brighter styles. Whitney Houstin’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and Madonna’s “Crazy for You” captured the excitement of love. Conversleyballads like Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” brought the mellowness of vulnerability and nostalgia. At the same time, rock bands like Bon Jovi, with “I’ll Be There For You,” and Guns N’ Roses, with songs like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” blended the passion of love with its intensity. Whether soaring and dramatic or sweet and nostalgic, the 1980s constituted an era of unforgettably individualistic love songs.
The melodrama returned with a vengeance in the 1990s. The decade of boy bands, rollerblades, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 1990s introduced another unfortunate reality: Celine Dion. “My Heart Will Go On,” one of Dion’s several kitschy ballads, is nothing more than shamelessly forced sentimentality with overdramatic, soaring vocals. The ’90s weren't all bad, however. The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” made the melodrama of the ’90s more palatable, and even grunge bands like Nirvana released songs like “Heart-Shaped Box,” an ode to Cobain’s relationship with his wife, Courtney Love. ’90s love songs represented the diversity and flux of the decade.
With the turn of the millennium came a new wave of love songs that leaned heavily away from the rock of earlier decades and towards pop. Songs like “Fix You” by Coldplay brought a melancholic edge to the unembroidered pop of songs like Rihanna’s “Umbrella” or Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles.” The 2000s also marked the world’s introduction to pop and R&B queen Beyoncé, who released decade-defining love songs like “Halo” and “Crazy in Love.” With the new romcom craze of the 2000s also came a new slew of romantic melodies by everyone from Usher to Maroon 5. I can’t say I don’t understand Y2K nostalgia.
Whether through the folk-pop revival or the growth of R&B, the 2010s introduced new sounds of love. We got smooth sweetness through Bruno Mars, with songs like “Just the Way You Are.” Taylor Swift revolutionized the art of “breakup songs” and demonstrated her masterful craft of the conventional love song with songs like “Lover” and “Everything Has Changed.” Ed Sheeran showed off smooth vocals in charming acoustic melodies with songs like “Perfect.” The love songs of the 2010s encapsulated the decade’s mix of digital-age romance with a classic sentiment.
There’s an argument to be made that love songs have gotten less mainstream in the 2020s, being replaced instead by sad songs. I disagree. Break-up songs are love songs, too, and artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams have mastered the craft with albums like Sour and The Secret of Us. Sabrina Carpenter sings of feminine sexuality in Short n’ Sweet, and Zack Bryan brings a country twang to a more classic romance.
Each decade leaves its unique mark on the love song, and whether or not we like it, the love song is here to stay. There’s a beating heart of humanity that underlines every cheesy lyric and romantic melody. Love has always been humanity’s muse, and as we step into another Valentine’s Day, there is no better moment to pull up Spotify and listen to the world falling in love.
Yaelin Hough is a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences. She can be reached at yh2299@cornell.edu.
