People of Rec League, what are your favorite love songs?

Question

shanna · Answer

Recently would be “Haha hi”,by BoywithUke: the melody just makes you feel the butterflies

Haley Mai · Answer

Harvest Moon by Neil Young: cliché? maybe. but one that pulls me into a trance every single time i hear it.

Jeanine Nault · Answer

I Will Always Love You, Dolly Parton: Of course the Whitney Houston cover, but the original!

Dylan · Answer

Rina Sawayama - This Hell: GOT MY INVITATION TO ETERNAL DAMNATION! GET IN LINE, PASS THE WINE BITCH... WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL!

one of my most played songs of the last few years. the lyrics are IN-cre-DI-blé (this hell IS better with you), the video is SO FUN (hot gay throuple disco rodeo) and the dopamine is ~fLoWiNg~ directly into my veins.

the way my spine fucking TINGLES when she references Shania, Britney, Whitney, Lady Di, Paris...

LET'S GO GIRLS!

Dylan · Answer

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You: no matter how much i listen to this, it kills me every time

Dylan · Answer

Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs: Perform this duet with your ex (maintaining eye contact the entire song) to have the crowd gossiping about you for years after

Dylan · Answer

Texas - Inner Smile: the joy and nostalgia goes hard with this one! so underrated. and featured in the 2002 CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE, Bend It Like Beckham

Dylan · Answer

Tracy Chapman & Luciano Pavarotti - Baby Can I Hold You Tonight (Live): The voices of both these beautiful humans give me goosebumps. Oh, to have been in the crowd for this magical moment.

Dylan · Answer

Desire - Under Your Spell: i don't think i will ever tire of this perfect song

Dylan · Answer

Lykke Li - Unchained Melody: is this the saddest song of all time? maybe it's not sad to everyone. it's up there for me. lykke li's vocals are hauntingly beautiful.

original by the righteous brothers below (but i always mix it up and think it's roy orbison):

Dylan · Answer

Stella Donnelly - Love Is In The Air: not married and have never been... BUT this cover is cute and feels wedding dance appropriate <3

original by john paul young below:

Dylan · Answer

Cleo Sol - Know That You Are Loved: from Cleo's 2021 record Mother. i can listen to this on repeat for hours as a form of self-love meditation. this song has got me through the darkest of days <3

Dylan · Answer

Laurel - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody): Laurel's vocals always give me goosebumps, and this cover is no exception. These versions are so different but so sublime.

original by talking heads below:

ellie jones · Answer

easy living by billie holiday: my wedding song <3 so simple, so romantic.

"living for you is easy living. it's easy to live when you're in love, and i'm so in love, there's nothing in life but you!!!"

In A Design Mood · Answer

Love Love Love - Donny Hathaway: It’s a perfect song. His voice is perfect. The lyrics are perfect. It starts perfectly with “Love, love, love why'd you take so long to come to me, aw baby”

even*cleveland · Answer

John Cale & Brian Eno / Spinning Away: A love song about the creative process; I never get tired of it.

"I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time ..."

Nicole · Answer

We Belong Together by Ritchie Valens: Romance perfection.

Paul Clarkson · Answer

A Little Is Enough (Pete Townshend)

Jules · Answer

sledgehammer: no whispers or acoustic guitars here. actually sounds like the big, scary, fun feelings when you want someone bad

rory · Answer

I Want - Mk.gee: heavy on the yearn

Melody · Answer

Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life: I have a whole playlist but this has to be my OG

Sophie · Answer

Love You For A Long Time (Live) by Maggie Rogers: Sounds like how watching a sunrise feels

Amber O · Answer

“by your side” - Sade: All the feels

Shanna · Answer

Let's Live for Today by Grass Roots: Talk about yearning! It's so sexy and so sweet.

Courtney · Answer

Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me): Obviously this song belongs to Whitney first and foremost, but this particular cover brings it into love song territory for me.

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Houses: I think of this as the counterpoint to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"--Judy Collins wrote this after dreaming about Stephen Stills one night. I'm obsessed with their fifty-plus-year-long connection.

Amy · Answer

Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young): ❤️

Rish · Answer

The Curse: Josh Ritter's The Curse is one of the best examples of lyrical storytelling. Josh Ritter's ability to tell a heart-wrenching story with an incredibly unique concept while maintaining his signature poeticism throughout is next to none. The story of The Curse follows an archaeologist and a mummy. The mummy is discovered in his tomb and immediately falls in love with the archaeologist, silhouetted at the doorway. Her presence has given him life, but he is far too weak, as his body can barely keep his heart beating. It is on the boat home that he begins to talk, learning her language by listening to her talk. Eventually, he builds the strength to respond and the two are able to converse. Upon the completion of their journey, the mummy is put in a museum in New York City. By day, he pretends to be dead, but at night, he and the archaeologist wander the halls of the museum. However, it takes him a while to gain the strength needed to walk, needing to be supported by the archeologist as they walk, but he adjusts eventually. The mummy and archaeologist talk about his life on their nightly escapades and he learns to read from the papers and books she writes about him. Eventually, the archaeologist comes less and less, then she doesn't come at all. Deciding he didn't want to play dead anymore, the mummy gets up and walks outside, causing absolute chaos. He finds her, and she has grown old. As they walk, he supports her, in the same way she supported him in their early days wandering the museum. They begin to tour the country, talking to large crowds and getting famous. But the archaeologist is getting old. She stops going out and becomes bedridden. Then she dies. The last chorus of the song is retrospective. The mummy recalls a conversation the two had on the boat: "She asked are you cursed / He says "I think that I'm cured" / Then he kissed her and hoped that she'd forget that question." In these lines, the true meaning of the song is found: The mummy can never truly find love because any mortal lover would die. Their lifespan would be a footnote in his near-infinite life. His curse is cursed with immortality and the fact that he can never truly love or be loved. Josh's ability to convey this message so simply is what makes him one of my favorite songwriters. This song is an absolute must for those who enjoy incredible storytelling. The music video for this song is also worth mentioning, it follows the plot, but the archaeologist and mummy are portrayed by puppets. Much like the song itself, the music video is simple, yet heart-wrenching. I also wanted to touch on Josh's live performance of this song at his November 9th, 2025 show in Minneapolis. The stage was dark, with only two spotlights: One was on Josh, and one was on his keyboard player. The music stayed soft throughout, allowing Josh to perform the song to his fullest ability. His sincerity and artistic touch left the theater without a single dry eye. It was an incredible performance by this incredible artist. The Curse is an incredible piece of art.

JaperMoon · Answer

Love on the Brain

Aya C · Answer

'Till Forever (Labi Siffre): Quiet love moments

Julie Gainer · Answer

linger cranberries: But I’m in so deep…You know I’m such a fool for youuuu. ✨Iconic and beautiful ✨

Jeff Crump · Answer

Beirut - “Scenic World (version)”: Hard to find something that feels exactly like this song.

Sam · Answer

Can't Wait Until Tomorrow (Angel Olsen): Such a tender song that found new meaning for me after becoming a parent. The kind of love song that’s not just about romantic love.

Eevin · Answer

Decemberists - A Beginning Song

Jamie · Answer

party 4 u (charli xcx): what is more romantic and head over heels than the idea of throwing an entire party just in the hopes that one person will come? this is totally something i would embarrassingly do, but charli makes it sound cool and chic

Meredith Potter · Answer

Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers): Straightforward, honest, and about what really matters.