The Biggest Songs About Love from the 1990s

Depending on who you ask, the 1990s was the best time for music, especially songs about love. Think about just how many boy-and-girl pop bands existed and thrived during the 90s. This decade was filled with slap bracelets, Furbies, beanie babies, cargo pants, denim and more importantly, boy bands. Most of the boy bands performed love songs. Love songs also dominated musical genres like R&B and punk rock.

Some of the biggest boy bands of this decade include Boyz II Men, the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees and New Kids On The Block. Boy bands weren’t the only ones producing great music during the 90s. Other amazing artists that shined in the 90s include Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Jay Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Snoop Dog and Marilyn Manson.

So, what are some of the biggest love songs of this decade? Do you recognize any? Many of these songs are still played on the radio and are even featured in popular movies and TV shows. The 1990s was a great decade for romantic comedies and coming-of-age films, many of which used popular love songs. A few even became cult classics. (After reading our article on the biggest songs about love from the ’90s, check out the best cult classics of the ’90s.)

To determine the biggest songs about love from the 1990s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historic performance data from the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Songs containing the word “love” in their title that charted between 1990 and 1999 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.

Here is the list of the biggest songs about love from the 1990s: 

50. Dru Hill Featuring Redman, “How Deep Is Your Love”

• Entered Hot 100: October 10, 1998
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

49. Nelson, “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love And Affection”

• Entered Hot 100: July 7, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

48. Sophie B. Hawkins, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”

• Entered Hot 100: April 18, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

47. Michael Bolton, “When A Man Loves A Woman”

• Entered Hot 100: October 12, 1991
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

46. Jessica Simpson, “I Wanna Love You Forever”

• Entered Hot 100: October 16, 1999
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

45. Mariah Carey, “Vision Of Love”

• Entered Hot 100: June 2, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

44. Stevie B, “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)”

• Entered Hot 100: October 6, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

43. Billy Idol, “Cradle Of Love (From “Ford Fairlane”)”

• Entered Hot 100: May 5, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

42. Tina Turner, “I Don’t Wanna Fight (From “What’s Love Got To Do With It”)”

• Entered Hot 100: May 29, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

41. Roxette, “It Must Have Been Love (From “Pretty Woman”)”

• Entered Hot 100: April 7, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks

40. Linear, “Sending All My Love”

• Entered Hot 100: February 17, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

39. New Edition, “I’m Still In Love With You”

• Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

38. All-4-One, “So Much In Love”

• Entered Hot 100: January 1, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

37. Janet Jackson, “You Want This/70’s Love Groove”

• Entered Hot 100: October 22, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

36. Mariah Carey, “Love Takes Time”

• Entered Hot 100: September 15, 1990
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

35. Toni Braxton, “Another Sad Love Song”

• Entered Hot 100: July 3, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

34. LL Cool J, “Hey Lover”

• Entered Hot 100: November 18, 1995
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 8 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

33. Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”

• Entered Hot 100: September 18, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

32. Michael Bolton, “Said I Loved You…But I Lied”

• Entered Hot 100: November 6, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

31. Robyn, “Show Me Love”

• Entered Hot 100: November 15, 1997
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

30. Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting, “All For Love”

• Entered Hot 100: November 27, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

29. Patty Smyth, “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough”

• Entered Hot 100: August 15, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 6 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

28. Brownstone, “If You Love Me”

• Entered Hot 100: December 10, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

27. Bryan Adams, “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?”

• Entered Hot 100: April 15, 1995
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

26. Janet Jackson, “That’s The Way Love Goes”

• Entered Hot 100: May 1, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

25. 2Pac Featuring K-Ci And JoJo, “How Do U Want It/California Love”

• Entered Hot 100: June 15, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

24. Vanessa Williams/Brian McKnight, “Love Is (From “Beverly Hills, 90210″)”

• Entered Hot 100: January 23, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

23. Shanice, “I Love Your Smile”

• Entered Hot 100: November 23, 1991
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

22. Jennifer Lopez, “If You Had My Love”

• Entered Hot 100: May 15, 1999
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks

21. Robin S., “Show Me Love”

• Entered Hot 100: April 3, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

20. Somethin’ For The People Featuring Trina & Tamara, “My Love Is The Shhh!”

• Entered Hot 100: August 30, 1997
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

19. Elton John, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight (From “The Lion King”)”

• Entered Hot 100: May 21, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 26 weeks

18. Jon B. Featuring Babyface, “Someone To Love”

• Entered Hot 100: April 29, 1995
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 10 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 30 weeks

17. Big Mountain, “Baby I Love Your Way (From “Reality Bites”)”

• Entered Hot 100: February 26, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

16. Mary J. Blige, “Real Love”

• Entered Hot 100: August 29, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 31 weeks

15. Color Me Badd, “All 4 Love”

• Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1991
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

14. Shai, “If I Ever Fall In Love”

• Entered Hot 100: October 17, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

13. En Vogue, “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”

• Entered Hot 100: March 21, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 30 weeks

12. Whitney Houston, “My Love Is Your Love”

• Entered Hot 100: September 4, 1999
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

11. UB40, “Can’t Help Falling In Love (From “Sliver”)”

• Entered Hot 100: May 15, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks

10. Mariah Carey, “Dreamlover”

• Entered Hot 100: August 7, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks

9. All-4-One, “I Can Love You Like That”

• Entered Hot 100: June 17, 1995
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks

8. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”

• Entered Hot 100: November 14, 1992
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks

7. Celine Dion, “The Power Of Love”

• Entered Hot 100: November 27, 1993
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks

6. La Bouche, “Be My Lover”

• Entered Hot 100: November 11, 1995
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 38 weeks

5. Savage Garden, “I Knew I Loved You”

• Entered Hot 100: October 23, 1999
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks

4. Celine Dion, “Because You Loved Me (From “Up Close & Personal”)”

• Entered Hot 100: March 9, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks

3. Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love To You”

• Entered Hot 100: August 13, 1994
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks

2. En Vogue, “Don’t Let Go (Love)”

• Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 35 weeks

1. Donna Lewis, “I Love You Always Forever”

• Entered Hot 100: June 22, 1996
• Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 9 weeks)
• Total time on Hot 100: 41 weeks