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June 7, 2012 1:46 PM Subscribe
Best love songs of the 90s?
I'm making a CD of love songs from the 1990s. I've searched websites and probably have enough for a full CD, but would like some more input. A good number of the ones I have so far are about people who aren't together (Nothing Compares 2 U, You Were Meant For Me, etc), so I'd especially like songs which are about people happy in love. I'd also like to hear about some lesser known songs but anything really is fair game as long as it's vaguely about love and from the 90s. Thank you.
I'm making a CD of love songs from the 1990s. I've searched websites and probably have enough for a full CD, but would like some more input. A good number of the ones I have so far are about people who aren't together (Nothing Compares 2 U, You Were Meant For Me, etc), so I'd especially like songs which are about people happy in love. I'd also like to hear about some lesser known songs but anything really is fair game as long as it's vaguely about love and from the 90s. Thank you.
I always loved Trip Shakespeare's If You Miss Me.
posted by something something at 1:59 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 1:59 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Would happy and peppy stuff do? If so, then there's The Proclaimer's "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:59 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:59 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Do you want pop/radio songs? Or are more eclectic songs be ok? Because I always think of one particularly advanced boyfriend who included Tom Waits' "Picture in a Frame" (Mule Variations, 1999) on a mix tape and I was just over the moon it was so romantic.
posted by stellaluna at 2:01 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by stellaluna at 2:01 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
Five-O by James (sorry, at work, can't link) and indeed most of the album that it's from (Laid).
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:02 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:02 PM on June 7, 2012
Stacey Earle - Simple Gearle (1998)
John Prine - I Want To Be With You Always (1991)
The second was originally done by Lefty Frizell in 1951, so maybe it doesn't count but it's one hell of a sweet song.
posted by Lorin at 2:03 PM on June 7, 2012
John Prine - I Want To Be With You Always (1991)
The second was originally done by Lefty Frizell in 1951, so maybe it doesn't count but it's one hell of a sweet song.
posted by Lorin at 2:03 PM on June 7, 2012
It's not a typical love song so much as a grandly romantic song, but I don't think any mix of love songs can be complete without it: the Divine Comedy's Tonight We Fly, from 1994.
posted by scody at 2:04 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by scody at 2:04 PM on June 7, 2012
Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns by Mother Love Bone.
(We can argue about whether it's from very late 80s or early 90s, but I'd consider it quintessential 90s Seattle music)
posted by Eumachia L F at 2:06 PM on June 7, 2012
(We can argue about whether it's from very late 80s or early 90s, but I'd consider it quintessential 90s Seattle music)
posted by Eumachia L F at 2:06 PM on June 7, 2012
Something Changed by Pulp. Ain't no lyric like a Jarvis Cocker lyric.
posted by Joey Bagels at 2:09 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Bagels at 2:09 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is that one Lisa Loeb song happy/unbreakuppy enough for you? Because if so, it's basically mandatory for something like this.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:10 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:10 PM on June 7, 2012
"Groove is in the Heart" by Dee-Lite.
posted by CrazyJoel at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by CrazyJoel at 2:13 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
The mention of John Prine reminded me of In Spite Of Ourselves. (with Iris DeMent).
posted by jon1270 at 2:16 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by jon1270 at 2:16 PM on June 7, 2012
One and Only by Queensryche wasn't one of their hits (it wasn't released as a single), but it's a damn great love song. ("Jet City Woman" and "Another Rainy Night Without You" are also great love songs from the Empire album, though they're about separation and therefore a bit on the melancholy side.)
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:18 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:18 PM on June 7, 2012
Kissing You by Des'ree
posted by spunweb at 2:20 PM on June 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by spunweb at 2:20 PM on June 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
"Beautiful Girl" by INXS
"November Rain," by Guns N' Roses, of course.
"Colorblind" by Counting Crows (Forever known to me as the song Reese Witherspoon lost her virginity to Ryan Phillipe to in "Cruel Intentions.")
"Love Will Never Do," Janet Jackson
My friends all say I'm nuts, but I've always maintained that "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails is a very romantic song. YMMV, of course. (And the video is some crazy shit.)
"Girlfriend," by Matthew Sweet
Um, how GOOD does it have to be? Because if you have room in your heart and on your playlist for a little cheese (and I always do), that opens up the field a bit, like
"Bed of Roses," by Bon Jovi
"One More Try" by Timmy T (Which is SO PAINFULLY TERRIBLE that I cannot even listen to it because it makes me cringe until I'm afraid I might break a rib, but I remember that song being played at EVERY middle school dance and couples skate at the skating rink. I was a tween in the early 90s, heh.)
"Truly Madly Deeply," by Savage Garden
"Crash Into Me," Dave Matthews Band (This was played at every formal I went to in college in the late 90s.)
This was fun.
posted by Aquifer at 2:25 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
"November Rain," by Guns N' Roses, of course.
"Colorblind" by Counting Crows (Forever known to me as the song Reese Witherspoon lost her virginity to Ryan Phillipe to in "Cruel Intentions.")
"Love Will Never Do," Janet Jackson
My friends all say I'm nuts, but I've always maintained that "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails is a very romantic song. YMMV, of course. (And the video is some crazy shit.)
"Girlfriend," by Matthew Sweet
Um, how GOOD does it have to be? Because if you have room in your heart and on your playlist for a little cheese (and I always do), that opens up the field a bit, like
"Bed of Roses," by Bon Jovi
"One More Try" by Timmy T (Which is SO PAINFULLY TERRIBLE that I cannot even listen to it because it makes me cringe until I'm afraid I might break a rib, but I remember that song being played at EVERY middle school dance and couples skate at the skating rink. I was a tween in the early 90s, heh.)
"Truly Madly Deeply," by Savage Garden
"Crash Into Me," Dave Matthews Band (This was played at every formal I went to in college in the late 90s.)
This was fun.
posted by Aquifer at 2:25 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
A couple that I still hear today and think they're pretty good love songs:
Kiss From a Rose - Seal
All My Life - K-Ci and JoJo
posted by erstwhile at 2:28 PM on June 7, 2012
Kiss From a Rose - Seal
All My Life - K-Ci and JoJo
posted by erstwhile at 2:28 PM on June 7, 2012
Sugar, "Your Favorite Thing" off File Under: Easy Listening (1994).
posted by Rash at 2:30 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by Rash at 2:30 PM on June 7, 2012
The Roots, You got me.
Lauryn Hill's cover of Can't take my eyes off of you.
Björk, Violently happy.
The Eels, P.S. you rock my world.
Basically anything on the Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs," though I guess The book of love is standard.
And dear lord you need some early Ani DiFranco on there, though most of the really classic stuff is pissed off or breakuppy after all.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:30 PM on June 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Lauryn Hill's cover of Can't take my eyes off of you.
Björk, Violently happy.
The Eels, P.S. you rock my world.
Basically anything on the Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs," though I guess The book of love is standard.
And dear lord you need some early Ani DiFranco on there, though most of the really classic stuff is pissed off or breakuppy after all.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:30 PM on June 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Lisa Loeb- Stay and Natalie Merchant- Torn are probably among the most "90s" love songs that aren't R&B.
Some others that scream 90s to me:
En Vogue- Whatta Man
Oasis- Wonderwall
Paul Westerberg- anything really, Dyslexic, Heart prob the most played.
No Doubt- Don't Speak
Jewel- you were meant for me or Foolish Games
U2- One & Acrobat. Love is Blindness
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Whitney Houston- I Will Always Love You
Green Day - Time of Your Life.
I'm not saying these are the best songs, mind.
posted by fshgrl at 2:33 PM on June 7, 2012
Some others that scream 90s to me:
En Vogue- Whatta Man
Oasis- Wonderwall
Paul Westerberg- anything really, Dyslexic, Heart prob the most played.
No Doubt- Don't Speak
Jewel- you were meant for me or Foolish Games
U2- One & Acrobat. Love is Blindness
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Whitney Houston- I Will Always Love You
Green Day - Time of Your Life.
I'm not saying these are the best songs, mind.
posted by fshgrl at 2:33 PM on June 7, 2012
fshgrl--Torn is by Natalie Imbruglia, not Natalie Merchant. (I read that and did a bit of a double-take because it seemed so utterly unlike Natalie Merchant to write a love song.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 2:35 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by dlugoczaj at 2:35 PM on June 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
No compilation of '90s love songs would be complete without some supercheese from Color Me Badd.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:38 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by Sys Rq at 2:38 PM on June 7, 2012
The '90s were really the decade of soundtracks. Speaking of school dances, OH MY GOD, how could you not have Everything I Do, I Do It For You? 1991 was a bad year for a sad little middle schooler :(
The Farrelly Brothers movies were always good. Dumb and Dumber: Where I Find My Heaven by the Gigolo Aunts, New Age Girl (Deadeye Dick)
Kate, by Ben Folds Five. So ridiculously happy that I couldn't listen to it for years after breaking up with the guy who brought it to my attention.
Re: Dave Matthews Band, I was always more of a fan of Crush.
I Know You Love Me by the Smoking Popes :)
If you're cool with country, Cowboy Take Me Away (Dixie Chicks) and Bless the Broken Road are both written by Marcus Hummon, formerly of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
posted by Madamina at 2:46 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Farrelly Brothers movies were always good. Dumb and Dumber: Where I Find My Heaven by the Gigolo Aunts, New Age Girl (Deadeye Dick)
Kate, by Ben Folds Five. So ridiculously happy that I couldn't listen to it for years after breaking up with the guy who brought it to my attention.
Re: Dave Matthews Band, I was always more of a fan of Crush.
I Know You Love Me by the Smoking Popes :)
If you're cool with country, Cowboy Take Me Away (Dixie Chicks) and Bless the Broken Road are both written by Marcus Hummon, formerly of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
posted by Madamina at 2:46 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Two suggestions:
1) All Is Full of Love (Björk; 1998)
2) Singing In My Sleep (Semisonic; 1999): dorky '90s, mixtapes included
posted by simulacra at 2:48 PM on June 7, 2012
1) All Is Full of Love (Björk; 1998)
2) Singing In My Sleep (Semisonic; 1999): dorky '90s, mixtapes included
posted by simulacra at 2:48 PM on June 7, 2012
Happy: Big Time Sensuality, by Bjork
Sad: Wicked Game, by Chris Isaak
posted by Dragonness at 2:49 PM on June 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sad: Wicked Game, by Chris Isaak
posted by Dragonness at 2:49 PM on June 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Oh and Sometimes Always by Jesus and Mary Chain. That is a cool song and the video is the most 90s thing ever.
posted by fshgrl at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 3:11 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you're open to cheesy-as-cheesy-gets, I would suggest "I Said I Loved You (But I Lied)" by Michael Bolton. (Following the title line is "cuz this is more than live I feel inside") I just love that one!
posted by lovableiago at 3:13 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by lovableiago at 3:13 PM on June 7, 2012
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
The Magnetic Fields - Nothing Matters When We're Dancing (1999)
posted by ludwig_van at 3:13 PM on June 7, 2012
The Magnetic Fields - Nothing Matters When We're Dancing (1999)
posted by ludwig_van at 3:13 PM on June 7, 2012
Everlong by Foo Fighters.
That's my favorite song ever, so I'm glad someone beat me to it. For bonus points, the band was opening for Bob Dylan on a tour, and at one point he told Grohl backstage how much he liked the song, although he didn't know the title.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 3:23 PM on June 7, 2012
That's my favorite song ever, so I'm glad someone beat me to it. For bonus points, the band was opening for Bob Dylan on a tour, and at one point he told Grohl backstage how much he liked the song, although he didn't know the title.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 3:23 PM on June 7, 2012
Everlong by Foo Fighters
Yes! And also get the acoustic/unplugged version.
posted by keep it under cover at 3:37 PM on June 7, 2012
Yes! And also get the acoustic/unplugged version.
posted by keep it under cover at 3:37 PM on June 7, 2012
How has no one mentioned Extreme - More Than Words (1990)?
posted by jeudi at 3:39 PM on June 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by jeudi at 3:39 PM on June 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
PJ Harvey -- Send His Love to Me
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:04 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:04 PM on June 7, 2012
Juliana Hatfield - Spin the Bottle (more of a crush song)
The Great Chick Folk Triumvurate of the 90s (Ani Difranco, Dar Williams and the Indigo Girls) weren't known for their love songs, but they all have some great ones:
Ani Difranco - Falling is Like This, As Is, Hell Yeah, Gravel
Indigo Girls - The Power of Two, Romeo and Juliet (beautiful cover of the Dire Straits song)
Dar Williams - In Love But Not At Peace
Cheese alert:
Janet Jackson - Again
Vanessa Williams - Save the Best for Last
Whitney Houston - My Love is Your Love
And oh god, Everlong is such a great song.
posted by lunasol at 4:28 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Great Chick Folk Triumvurate of the 90s (Ani Difranco, Dar Williams and the Indigo Girls) weren't known for their love songs, but they all have some great ones:
Ani Difranco - Falling is Like This, As Is, Hell Yeah, Gravel
Indigo Girls - The Power of Two, Romeo and Juliet (beautiful cover of the Dire Straits song)
Dar Williams - In Love But Not At Peace
Cheese alert:
Janet Jackson - Again
Vanessa Williams - Save the Best for Last
Whitney Houston - My Love is Your Love
And oh god, Everlong is such a great song.
posted by lunasol at 4:28 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'll Be (I will always associate this song with Dawson's Creek) and I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain
Do Anything - Natural Selection
The First Time - Surface
Something To Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
I Swear - All 4 One (or John Michael Montgomery if you prefer country)
posted by SisterHavana at 6:05 PM on June 7, 2012
Do Anything - Natural Selection
The First Time - Surface
Something To Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
I Swear - All 4 One (or John Michael Montgomery if you prefer country)
posted by SisterHavana at 6:05 PM on June 7, 2012
Floydd, I adore you. Lost Together is one of my favorite songs.
Blue Rodeo - Five Days in May
Everything But the Girl - Driving
Sarah McLachlan - Ice Cream
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:08 PM on June 7, 2012
Blue Rodeo - Five Days in May
Everything But the Girl - Driving
Sarah McLachlan - Ice Cream
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:08 PM on June 7, 2012
"Love Is" duet by Bryan McKnight & Vanessa Williams
"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
"Rock Witcha" by Bobby Brown
posted by Pocahontas at 8:21 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
"Rock Witcha" by Bobby Brown
posted by Pocahontas at 8:21 PM on June 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Love the cheesy songs - Boyz II Men "End of the Road" and "I'll Make Love to You", All 4 One "I Swear". Agree with the soundtracks comment, can't believe no one has mentioned Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On"!
posted by wannabecounselor at 9:36 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by wannabecounselor at 9:36 PM on June 7, 2012
"Yuko and Hiro" by Blur off of "The Great Escape". Kind of sad, unusual take, but somewhat haunting, and one of their more underrated songs.
posted by ccalgreen at 10:59 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by ccalgreen at 10:59 PM on June 7, 2012
"Kate" by Ben Folds Five. Apart from being the namesake of the woman I was in love with, how much more can you express a sentiment of love than saying they're so great you want to be that person?
posted by ccalgreen at 11:03 PM on June 7, 2012
posted by ccalgreen at 11:03 PM on June 7, 2012
Oh Yeah by Ash
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
Disco 2000 by Pulp
Your Daddy's Car by The Divine Comedy
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by The Magnetic Fields
posted by rongorongo at 2:51 AM on June 8, 2012
Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
Disco 2000 by Pulp
Your Daddy's Car by The Divine Comedy
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by The Magnetic Fields
posted by rongorongo at 2:51 AM on June 8, 2012
"Fade Into You," Mazzy Star
posted by shallowcenter at 3:36 AM on June 8, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by shallowcenter at 3:36 AM on June 8, 2012 [2 favorites]
At My Most Beautiful - REM (1999). I'd also vote for Pulp's Something Changed that someone already mentioned.
posted by crocomancer at 4:28 AM on June 8, 2012
posted by crocomancer at 4:28 AM on June 8, 2012
Can I cheat a bit? Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes was from a 1986 album, but most noted was its use in the 1989-90 movie Say Anything.
posted by Gungho at 5:05 AM on June 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Gungho at 5:05 AM on June 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
One of my cheesetastic pleasures (forgot about it!) is I Could Not Ask For More by Edwin McCain. Love that bridge...
Oh, it's a Diane Warren song. Of COURSE it is.
posted by Madamina at 8:30 AM on June 8, 2012
Oh, it's a Diane Warren song. Of COURSE it is.
posted by Madamina at 8:30 AM on June 8, 2012
Ethylene by John Hiatt. Twangy, funny, heartfelt. Always one of my favorites.
posted by MacChimpman at 8:32 AM on June 8, 2012
posted by MacChimpman at 8:32 AM on June 8, 2012
Ah, dangit, I thought nobody else had posted that yet. But +1 on the Diane Warren tip.
ANYWAYS! Here's Brickbat, by Billy Bragg. I fell in love, got engaged and got married to that one.
posted by Madamina at 8:36 AM on June 8, 2012
ANYWAYS! Here's Brickbat, by Billy Bragg. I fell in love, got engaged and got married to that one.
posted by Madamina at 8:36 AM on June 8, 2012
Longpigs, On and On. When I was 14 I though the line 'give me your cold and your shoulder to cry upon' was crazy-romantic.
(There She Goes by the Las is about heroin....but then I guess most songs are one way or another.)
posted by mippy at 9:30 AM on June 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
(There She Goes by the Las is about heroin....but then I guess most songs are one way or another.)
posted by mippy at 9:30 AM on June 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bittersweet but upbeat and oh so 90s: Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry
posted by naoko at 9:35 AM on June 12, 2012
posted by naoko at 9:35 AM on June 12, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hydatius at 1:55 PM on June 7, 2012 [3 favorites]