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20 of the best love songs from the 2010s
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

20 of the best love songs from the 2010s

As long as there's music, there will be love songs. Here are 20 of the best from the 2010s. 

 
1 of 20

“All of Me” by John Legend

“All of Me” by John Legend
John Legend Shutterstock

Written by John Legend for his wife, Chrissy Teigen, you can hear the love he has for her in every single lyric of “All of Me.” Legend could make any combination of words sound good with his singing voice, but these are particularly beautiful. 

 
2 of 20

“Slow Burn” by Kacey Musgraves

“Slow Burn” by Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves Shutterstock

Kacey Musgraves’ album Golden Hour is all about falling in love, so of course, it’s full of gorgeous love songs. But its lead track, “Slow Burn,” stands out for its unique perspective for a love song, one that can be applied to romance just as much as love in other areas of life. 

 
3 of 20

“Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars

“Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars Shutterstock

Bruno Mars had everyone wanting him to be their man in 2010 when he released “Just the Way You Are.” Hearing somebody say that you’re perfect exactly how you come is always meaningful, but it’s particularly special when it comes from Mars’ silky-smooth voice. 

 
4 of 20

“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran

“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran Shutterstock

If there’s one thing Ed Sheeran can do, it’s make people melt. He knows how to match lyrics with a melody, and his angelic love song “Thinking Out Loud” is the perfect example of that ability. He’s a special artist, and this is a special song. 

 
5 of 20

“Lover” by Taylor Swift

“Lover” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift Shutterstock

Taylor Swift has written tons of breakup songs and plenty about pining for someone, but she hasn’t written many about just being in love. Her clear state of bliss was evident in “Lover,” and it made for a timeless love song anyone can enjoy. 

 
6 of 20

“Love On The Brain” by Rihanna

“Love On The Brain” by Rihanna
Rihanna Shutterstock

Rihanna’s love songs are always unique, but “Love On The Brain” is particularly special thanks to its gritty vocals and quintessential RiRi sound. Rihanna is grappling with her need for that particular love throughout the song; no other artist could’ve recorded it as well as she did. 

 
7 of 20

“Video Games” by Lana Del Rey

“Video Games” by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey Shutterstock

“Video Games” is the ultimate Lana Del Rey love song. She’s recorded plenty, but this one has everything that makes her fans fall in love with her — singular lyrics, stunning vocals, and an unexpectedly catch melody. 

 
8 of 20

“Die For You” by The Weeknd

“Die For You” by The Weeknd
The Weeknd Shutterstock

Love songs don’t always talk about death, but when they do, they mean business. The Weeknd was serious when he said he would die for his lover, even during the challenging parts of their relationship. 

 
9 of 20

“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.

“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.
Daniel Caesar Shutterstock

“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar didn’t get nearly the attention it deserved when it was released, so if you haven’t heard this song, do yourself a favor and listen to it immediately. H.E.R. and Caesar’s voices blend beautifully, and the lyrics are just as stunning. 

 
10 of 20

“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga Shutterstock

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper had the world in a chokehold in 2018 with “Shallow,” the song they wrote for the movie they co-starred in,  A Star is Born. The song became a bit of a caricature thanks to the hype around it, but in retrospect, it’s still just as good a love song.

 
11 of 20

“The Bones” by Maren Morris

“The Bones” by Maren Morris
Maren Morris Shutterstock

Maren Morris closed out the decade with her sophomore album Girl. It housed one of her biggest hits to date, “The Bones,” which is a love song with a great message: as long as the foundation of a relationship is strong, it can weather any storm. Hozier later joined Morris for a duet version of the song, making it even better. 

 
12 of 20

“Love On Top” by Beyoncé

“Love On Top” by Beyoncé
Beyonce Shutterstock

Some of Beyoncé’s biggest hits have been upbeat love songs, like “Crazy In Love” and “Sweet Dreams.” None will ever beat “Love On Top,” though. This punchy bop showcases Bey’s insane vocals with a succession of key changes and proves that love songs can have a fast tempo, too. 

 
13 of 20

“Thinkin' Bout You” by Frank Ocean

“Thinkin' Bout You” by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean Shutterstock

The world hasn't gotten nearly enough Frank Ocean music. "Thinkin' Bout You" is some of his best work. The synthy melody, the perfect falsetto, and the meaningful yet relatable lyrics still sound brand new today. An epic love song, if there ever was one. 

 
14 of 20

“Garden (Say It Like Dat)” by SZA

“Garden (Say It Like Dat)” by SZA
SZA Shutterstock

Every song on CTRL is damn near perfect, and there are so many quips about love that everyone on earth can understand, but “Garden (Say It Like Dat)” is extra special, and its lyrics are extra understandable. 

 
15 of 20

“Latch (Acoustic)” by Sam Smith

“Latch (Acoustic)” by Sam Smith
Sam Smith Shutterstock

Sam Smith is far more famous for “Stay With Me,” and while that is a beautiful love song, the acoustic version of “Latch” is even better. The Disclosure remix of this song made it popular, but the original allows you to hear the lyrics for what they are. 

 
16 of 20

“LOVE.” by Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari

“LOVE.” by Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari
Kendrick Lamar Shutterstock

DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar is an hour of hits. Lamar certainly isn’t best known for writing beautiful love songs, but “LOVE.” is proof that he can. Love songs took on all different forms in the 2010s, and it’s best exemplified by Lamar’s offering. 

 
17 of 20

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges Shutterstock

Gorgeous vocals, endearing lyrics, and a timeless melody: “Beyond” by Leon Bridges has all the makings of an incredible love song. Country fans have latched onto it in recent years thanks to Luke Combs duetting it, and that is a win for all music lovers because everybody with ears needs to hear this song. 

 
18 of 20

“Say Something” by A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera

“Say Something” by A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
A Great Big World Shutterstock

A heartbreaking love song, “Say Something” by A Great Big World will make even the coldest of people shed a tear. Add on Christina Aguilera’s voice, and cue the tears. 

 
19 of 20

“Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish

“Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Shutterstock

“Ocean Eyes” is the song that made Billie Eilish famous, but it’s not nearly her biggest hit. Still, it’s one of her best, and it’s made far more impressive when remembering how she and her brother were when they wrote it. 

 
20 of 20

“Still Into You” by Paramore

“Still Into You” by Paramore
Paramore Shutterstock

“Still Into You” is Paramore doing what Paramore does best. It combines genres and Hayley Williams’ unparalleled voice to make an anthem for the ages. It’s so fun that you might not notice it's a love song if you’re not listening carefully. Over 10 years later this song is still as good as it was when it was released. 

Acacia is a South Dakota-based writer with a love of all things pop culture, particularly music, television, and celebrities. Her previous work can be found on Nicki Swift and Mashed. When she's not writing, Acacia is watching television, listening to music, completing a crossword puzzle, or reading. 

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