The Best Soul Music Love Songs of 2020
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Looking for the best soul music love songs of 2020? Look no further! We’ve rounded up the year’s most soulful, heart-warming tracks perfect for any romantic occasion.
What is Soul Music?
Soul music is a genre that combines rhythm and blues, gospel, and sometimes jazz. It is most popular with African American audiences, but it also has a wide appeal to listeners of all backgrounds. The best soul music love songs often have a feeling of yearning or nostalgia, and they can be both happy and sad at the same time.
Love Songs from the 1970s
Love songs from the 1970s were often about unrequited love, young love, or love that was just beginning. The decade was also full of songs about love that was lost. These were the best soul music love songs of 2020.
“Love and Happiness” by Al Green
Love and Happiness was written by Al Green and released in October 1972. It reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of his signature songs. The lyrics describe the feeling of being in love and the happiness it brings. The song has been covered by many artists, including James Brown, Erykah Badu, and John Legend.
“Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Ain’t No Sunshine is a song by Bill Withers from his 1971 album Just As I Am, produced by Booker T. Jones. The record featured musicians Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson, Jr. on drums and Stephen Stills on guitar. String arrangements were done by Booker T. Jones, and recorded in Memphis by engineer Terry Manning. The song was released as a single in September 1971, becoming a breakthrough hit for Withers, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number three on the R&B chart; it peaked at number two in the United Kingdom.
“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” is a classic soul love song originally released in 1972. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, but Green’s version is still the most popular. The lyrics are simple, but they are sung with such emotion and conviction that it is impossible not to be moved by them.Green was inspired to write the song after watching the Vietnam War on television. He has said that he wanted to create a song that would make people feel good and make them forget about the war. “Let’s Stay Together” definitely accomplishes that goal.The song is also notable for its use of the word “baby” as a term of endearment between a man and a woman. This was somewhat unusual at the time, as most soul songs up to that point had used the word “girl” instead.
Love Songs from the 1980s
The 1980s were a time of change, and that was reflected in the music of the time. Soul music was no exception. Love songs from the 1980s were filled with emotion and often contained messages of hope and social change. They were also often a reflection of the personal struggles that people were going through at the time.
“Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
“Sexual Healing” is a song recorded by American singer Marvin Gaye from his 1982 album Midnight Love. It was written by Gaye and Odell Brown, and produced by Gaye and Brown. The song recorded in July 1982, following Gaye’s recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction, was his first solo single in almost four years since “A Funky Space Reincarnation” in 1978.
Upon its release, “Sexual Healing” became Gaye’s biggest hit single in ten years since “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in eight countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. It spent five weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart becoming Gaye’s third number-one hit on that chart after “Got to Give It Up” (1977) and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” (1968), respectively. The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards winning two for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male and Best R&B Instrumental Performance. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 332 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Additionally, VH1 ranked it 77th on their 100 Greatest Love Songs list while assigning it ninth place on their 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s countdown.
“I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince
Released in 1980, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” was one of the first big hits for Prince. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song is a classic example of Prince’s signature ‘ Minneapolis sound,’ which combined elements of funk, soul, rock, and pop. The lyrics are all about wanting to be someone’s everything and being willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. “I Wanna Be Your Lover” is a timeless love song that remains popular to this day.
“The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston
This song was released in 1985 as a single from Houston’s self-titled debut album. “The Greatest Love of All” is a ballad written by Linda Creed and Michael Masser. The song serves as an inspirational anthem about loving oneself. In the lyrics, the narrator states that the greatest love of all is happening inside of oneself.
The song received critical acclaim upon its release, with many critics praising Houston’s powerful vocal performance. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including George Benson, Celine Dion, and Barbra Streisand.
Love Songs from the 1990s
From Whitney Houston to Boyz II Men, the 1990s were a decade that produced some of the best love songs of all time. If you’re looking for a soulful playlist to set the mood, look no further than these classics.
“I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
This song was released in 1994 and quickly became a huge hit, thanks in part to its simple, sensual lyrics. It’s the perfect choice for a slow dance or a romantic night in.
“End of the Road” by Boyz II Men
“End of the Road” is a song recorded by American R&B group Boyz II Men for the film Boomerang (1992). It was written and produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons. The song was released on May 18, 1992, by Motown Records as the lead single from the film’s soundtrack album. It topped charts worldwide, including in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and several European countries.
The song won multiple awards and was nominated for several more, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and the Billboard Music Award for Single of the Year. “End of the Road” remains one of Boyz II Men’s most successful singles and is considered one of the best-selling singles of all time.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
The ballad was originally written and recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter, Dolly Parton. Parton’s version of the song hit number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart twice: first in June 1974, and again in October 1982. In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded her own cover of the song as a tribute to The Bodyguard co-star and fellow musician, Kevin Costner. Released as a single from the film’s soundtrack album, Houston’s version became one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song received critical acclaim, with many critics calling it one of Houston’s best performances. It won numerous awards and became one of the most successful songs of all time.
Love Songs from the 2000s
The best soul music love songs reflect the emotions of love, heartbreak, and hope. These songs touch on the highs and lows of relationships and provide a soundtrack for both the good and the bad times. From classic soul to contemporary R&B, these are the best soul music love songs of 2020.
“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé
“Crazy in Love” is a song by American singer Beyoncé, featuring American rapper Jay-Z. The song was released as the lead single from Beyoncé’s debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003). It features a sample of “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)” by Chicago soul group The Chi-Lites and production by Rich Harrison.
The single became one of the most successful releases of 2003, topping the charts in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, while reaching number two in the United States. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 2004 ceremony and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The song’s accompanying music video features Beyoncé dancing provocatively with Jay-Z in different black/white settings, including in front of a wall with graffiti that says “Welcome to Hell”. Since its release, “Crazy in Love” has been included on various lists of best love songs.
“Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
“Let’s Get It On” is a song by American singer Marvin Gaye, released on July 21, 1973, as the lead single from his thirteenth studio album of the same name. The song was written by Gaye and producer Ed Townsend.
According to Townson, the inspiration for the song came while he was watching a couple having an argument near his apartment complex. One evening while lying in bed with Townsend trying to Fall asleep, he began singing the phrase “let’s get it on”. As they continued working on the song, they added sexual innuendos and took out any references to lovemaking being a physical expression of God’s love in an attempt to make it more radio-friendly.
The song became one of Gaye’s most successful singles charting at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles chart. Internationally, the song peaked at number seventeen in the United Kingdom and at number three in Canada. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked “Let’s Get It On” as number486 on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” is a timeless ballad of yearning and sensuality. Released in 1982, the song spent an astonishing nine weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of the most successful soul singles of all time.
With its plush string arrangements and Gaye’s silky-smooth vocal performance, “Sexual Healing” remains one of the most beloved R&B/soul love songs of all time.
