Date Night Playlist: Top Nine Most Romantic Songs Ever

Perhaps you are planning a romantic date night, and as well as slaving away in the kitchen putting together the type of meal that would make Gordon Ramsey sing your praises and delicately distributing rose petals throughout the house, you’ll also want to make sure you have a soundtrack to match the ambiance of the evening.

Maybe you are looking to mark the occasion of an anniversary or birthday, or perhaps you are being spontaneous in your efforts; either way, you’ll want a selection of music that really sets the scene and gets things started in the right direction.

Why not put together a loving playlist that you can serenade your partner with from the moment they walk in the door after a long day at work?

If you want to be extra creative, you could look to put together your playlist by using non-mainstream classics, perhaps by making use of unlimited royalty-free music offered by relevant providers of license-free tracks and songs.

However, if you choose to make your playlist from well-known, passionate, and intimate songs, then you might want to make use of these ten great tracks that are sure to get everyone in the mood for love.

My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion

This song will forever be synonymous with Kate Winslet hogging a wooden door while watching Leonardo Di Caprio freeze to death, but nonetheless, you can’t argue with the romantic nature of his Celine Dion classic.

This 1997 song went on to win every award under the sun, including the Oscar for Best Original Song and four Grammy Awards. It’s a song that has to be on your romantic playlist.

I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton

Yes, the Whitney Houston version is, of course, better known, but the Dolly Parton original is actually, for us, a far more romantic option. Originally released in 1973 before being rereleased in 1982 as part of the soundtrack to The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, it’s the 1992 cover by Houston for the hit movie The Bodyguard that most remember.

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Guitar legend Eric Clapton reportedly wrote this romantic ballad while waiting for Pattie Boyd, his then wife, to get ready. It is worth noting that Clapton had an affair with Boyd while she was married to George Harrison, Clapton’s best friend.

Nonetheless, this song is about as romantic a song as you could get, so it’s best to ignore the background of their relationship.

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

This track got a new lease of life when it was used in the closing scene of Love Actually, perhaps among the most romantic movies of all time, and is a track on Pet Sounds, which is commonly featured on lists of best albums ever made.

The song is incredibly romantic, and the brainchild of Brian Wilson, who put his heart and soul into the project, with Pet Sounds initially proving to be a flop on its release but going on to become an undisputed classic.

The Beatles – Yesterday

This 1965 release, penned by Paul McCartney, was apparently put together after he heard a melody in a dream he had while at the home of his then girlfriend Jane Asher. So impressed by the track he had put together, he was convinced he must have heard it somewhere else prior to coming up with it.

The lyrics are a little maudlin, but the sentiment is strong enough for it to feature on your romantic playlist.

When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge

The power and emotion in the voice of Percy Sledge when he belts out the chorus of this track is truly something to behold. It was released in 1966 and was a massive hit, and by all accounts, the story behind the creation of the song goes something like this.

Sledge, who was recovering from a break-up, asked Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright (who were members of his backing band, to play a slow blues number, and he went on to improvise lyrics. They originally revolved around the line ‘Why did you leave me baby,’ which he then changed to ‘When a man loves a woman,’ and history was made.

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

If there is a cooler song than Let’s Stay Together, then we don’t know of its existence. This Al Green song always ends up on lists of most romantic songs ever, and rightly so. This track will be ideal on your playlist, not just because of its lyrical content but also the tune itself, which is sure to get you in the mood for love.

Endless Love – Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

Perhaps the most romantic duet in musical history, this track should appear early on in your playlist for maximum effect, perhaps as you pop open the champagne. It was written by Richie and featured on the soundtrack of the movie Endless Love.

The movie itself was only a moderate success, whereas the song was a massive hit all around the world.

A cover of the song by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey in 1994 was also a big hit, illustrating the staying power of Richie’s masterpiece.

Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

This song has been covered by over 600 artists, but the Righteous Brothers’ version, released more than a decade after the original was recorded by Les Baxter, is the undisputed classic.

Amazingly when it was released, it was a b-side to ‘Hung on You,’ but radio DJs quickly saw the potential of Unchained Melody, and it is now one of the most recognized songs ever written.

Its use in the 1990 film Ghost led to a new found success, cementing the track as perhaps the most romantic song ever written.