Love makes the world go round, and everyone wants to find it. Love inspires art, poetry, and, of course, music. Love songs make us feel good whether we are passionately in love, timidly in infatuation, or tending a broken heart. Love songs let listeners feel all their feelings as they navigate the journey to find and keep love. Music is the salve for the lovesick and the lonely-hearted. Love songs remind the world that love is out there and eventually finds everyone. The universality of love songs is why there will never be a shortage of music that touches those tender moments of connection and vulnerability.
Love songs can be upbeat and fun, celebrating new love, sad and soulful, lamenting the one that got away, or loud and angry about a love gone wrong. As long as music fans are riding the rollercoaster of love, musicians will be making the soundtrack to everyone’s love story. The world will never run out of ways to talk about and dissect the ways being in love makes us feel. Everybody has a favorite love song, and if you have been around awhile, you probably have a favorite break-up song, too. While music fans wade through the ups and unfortunate downs of falling in and out of love, one thing is for sure: music will always be there to put the pieces back together and nurse that broken heart until it’s time to get back out there and find someone special that ignites that spark again. (Read about the Absolute Best Songs In History.)
The biggest songs about love on the Hot 100 come from singers and songwriters who know a thing or two about the beauty of love, and chances are one of your favorites is on the list.
To determine the biggest songs about love on the Hot 100, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historic performance data from the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Songs containing the word “love” in their title were ranked based on an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Only songs that reached No. 10 or higher on the Hot 100 were included. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024.
50. Usher Featuring Young Jeezy, “Love In This Club”
Source: Charley Gallay / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 1, 2008
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks
49. Enrique Iglesias Featuring Ludacris & DJ Frank E, “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: December 11, 2010
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks
48. Drake, “Fake Love”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: November 12, 2016
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks
47. Jon B. Featuring Babyface, “Someone To Love”
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: April 29, 1995
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 10 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 30 weeks
46. Adele, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)”
Source: Sascha Steinbach / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: December 12, 2015
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks
45. Big Mountain, “Baby I Love Your Way (From “Reality Bites”)”
Source: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) / Wikimedia Commons
- Entered Hot 100: February 26, 1994
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 4 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks
44. Rihanna, “Love On The Brain”
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: June 11, 2016
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 31 weeks
43. Selena Gomez, “Same Old Love”
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Rema and Selena Gomez accept the Best Afrobeats award for Calm Down onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV)
- Entered Hot 100: October 3, 2015
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks
42. Justin Bieber Featuring Big Sean, “As Long As You Love Me”
Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: June 30, 2012
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 5 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
41. Akon Featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”
Source: Handout / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: October 14, 2006
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
40. Mary J. Blige, “Real Love”
Source: alphonsephotography / Flickr
- Entered Hot 100: August 29, 1992
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 31 weeks
39. Color Me Badd, “All 4 Love”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1991
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks
38. Shai, “If I Ever Fall In Love”
Source: marilyn barbone / Shutterstock.com
- Entered Hot 100: October 17, 1992
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks
37. En Vogue, “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”
Source: Scott Gries / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 21, 1992
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 30 weeks
36. Whitney Houston, “My Love Is Your Love”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: September 4, 1999
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks
35. Halsey, “Bad At Love”
Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: September 23, 2017
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 32 weeks
34. UB40, “Can’t Help Falling In Love (From “Sliver”)”
Source: Carl Court / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: May 15, 1993
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
33. Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z, “Crazy In Love”
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: May 24, 2003
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks
32. Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I., “My Love”
Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: September 23, 2006
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
31. Mariah Carey, “Dreamlover”
Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: August 7, 1993
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
30. Luke Combs, “The Kind Of Love We Make”
Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: July 2, 2022
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 32 weeks
29. Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo, “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)”
Source: Fiona Goodall / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: June 27, 2020
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 31 weeks
28. Gnash Featuring Olivia O’Brien, “I Hate U I Love U”
Source: Adam Bettcher / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: May 7, 2016
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 39 weeks
27. All-4-One, “I Can Love You Like That”
Source: Thos Robinson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: June 17, 1995
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
26. Eminem Featuring Rihanna, “Love The Way You Lie”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: July 10, 2010
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
25. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: November 14, 1992
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks
24. Bee Gees, “How Deep Is Your Love”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: September 24, 1977
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
23. Celine Dion, “The Power Of Love”
Source: celebrityabc / Flickr
- Entered Hot 100: November 27, 1993
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
22. La Bouche, “Be My Lover”
Source: Olaf Kosinsky / Wikimedia Commons
- Entered Hot 100: November 11, 1995
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 38 weeks
21. Savage Garden, “I Knew I Loved You”
Source: Patrick Riviere / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: October 23, 1999
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
20. Ellie Goulding, “Love Me Like You Do”
Source: Chris Jackson / Chris Jackson Collection via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: January 24, 2015
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 34 weeks
19. DJ Snake Featuring Justin Bieber, “Let Me Love You”
Source: didierappere-photographie / Flickr
- Entered Hot 100: August 27, 2016
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 5 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
18. Celine Dion, “Because You Loved Me (From “Up Close & Personal”)”
Source: Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 9, 1996
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
17. Santana Featuring Michelle Branch, “The Game Of Love”
Source: KMazur / WireImage via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: October 5, 2002
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 37 weeks
16. Usher Featuring Pitbull, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love”
Source: Bryan Steffy / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: July 31, 2010
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 34 weeks
15. Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love To You”
Source: Eric Fougere / Sygma via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: August 13, 1994
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks
14. Pop Smoke, “What You Know Bout Love”
Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: July 18, 2020
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 42 weeks
13. En Vogue, “Don’t Let Go (Love)”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1996
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 35 weeks
12. Mario, “Let Me Love You”
Source: Jamie Lantzy via Wikimedia Commons
- Entered Hot 100: October 23, 2004
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 36 weeks
11. Sara Bareilles, “Love Song”
Source: Mark Mainz / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: November 17, 2007
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 41 weeks
10. Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”
Source: Dave M. Benett / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 1, 2008
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 39 weeks
9. Maroon 5, “She Will Be Loved”
Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: July 24, 2004
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 41 weeks
8. Donna Lewis, “I Love You Always Forever”
Source: Steve Eichner / Contributor / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: June 22, 1996
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 9 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 41 weeks
7. Maroon 5, “This Love”
Source: Bruno Vincent / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
LONDON - OCTOBER 6: Maroon 5 pose backstage at the press conference for this years MTV Europe Music Awards, at Sketch on October 6, 2004 in London. The eleventh annual awards - taking place at Romes famous Tor Di Valle - happen on November 18, 2004 and sees them returning to Italy for the first time since the 1998 Milan event. Talent announced today includes Gwen Stefani, Franz Ferdinand and Maroon 5 among others. (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)
- Entered Hot 100: February 14, 2004
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 43 weeks
6. Khalid & Normani, “Love Lies”
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 3, 2018
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 51 weeks
5. Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: December 5, 2015
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 41 weeks
4. Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris, “We Found Love”
Source: Adam Bettcher / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: October 8, 2011
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 42 weeks
3. Faith Hill, “The Way You Love Me”
Source: Brenda Chase / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: March 11, 2000
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 56 weeks
2. Taylor Swift, “Love Story”
Source: Bryan Bedder / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: September 27, 2008
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
- Total time on Hot 100: 49 weeks
1. Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
- Entered Hot 100: May 25, 2019
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 54 weeks