Love makes the world go ’round… and it also helps sell music. Whether the best love songs are crushing classics that could make a generation of babies, or are a nausea-inducing love ditty, we can’t get enough of these tunes.
Of course, cheesy love songs can still be pretty good, too!
Cheese is the best food group, so cheesy doesn’t always equal bad. I’m not going to deny my all-out love for the cheesy love song “You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago, or that I know all the words to Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is,” both of which I frequently dedicate to my boyfriend.
Heck, I’ll openly share my love for “Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins, which was my wedding song (although, I’m divorced now, so maybe it’s bad luck now).
The point is that as much as cheesy love song lyrics make us cringe, they’re classics that defined certain periods in our lives.
Whether it’s the sappiest love song ever — which is, hands down, “All Out Of Love” by Air Supply — or the most beautiful love song ever written — “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton, of course.
The fact remains that not all songs in our collection of music are ones we would proudly blast from our cars. We might, in fact, secretly love them while singing the lyrics in private or despise their sugary disgustingness. (That’s especially true with power ballads from those cheesy 80s love songs.)
Whatever you think, the cheesy love songs listed below are just that: major cheese.
The 35 Best Cheesy Love Songs of All Time
1. “I Adore Mi Amor” by Color Me Badd
Dream on, dream away / I think I’m gonna have to stay stay forever
I adore (I adore) mi amor (yea yea) I adore mi amor
2. “You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago
You’re the meaning in my life / You’re the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life / You’re the inspiration
3. “Heaven” by Warrant
I don’t need to be the king of the world / As long as I’m the hero of this little girl
Heaven isn’t too far away / Closer to it every day
No matter what your friends might say
4. “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You” by N’Sync
When I look into your eyes / I know that it’s true
God must have spent / A little more time
On you
5. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
Once upon a time I was falling in love / But now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do / A total eclipse of the heart
6. “More Than Words” by Extreme
What would you do / If my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel / That your love for me is real
What would you say / If I took those words away
Then you couldn’t make things new / Just by saying I love you
7. “When I See You Smile” by Bad English
When I see you smile / I can face the world
You know I can do anything
8. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
Near, far, wherever you are / I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door / And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
9. “Is This Love” by Whitesnake
Is this love that I’m feeling / Is this the love that I’ve been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming / This must be love
‘Cause it’s really got a hold on me / A hold on me
10. “Love of a Lifetime” by Firehouse
I finally found the love of a lifetime
A love to last my whole life through
11. “High Enough” by Damn Yankees
Don’t say goodbye / Say you’re gonna stay forever
Oh oh, all the way
12. “I Swear” by All-4-One
And I swear by the moon and the stars in the skies / I’ll be there
I swear like a shadow that’s by your side / I’ll be there
13. “All For Love” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, & Sting
When there’s love inside, I swear I’ll always be strong
Then there’s a reason why, I’ll prove to you we belong
I’ll be the wall that protects you
From the wind and the rain, from the hurt and the pain, yeah!
Let’s make it! (All for one and all for love)
14. “How Can We Be Lovers” by Michael Bolton
How can we be lovers if we can’t be friends
How can we start over when the fighting never ends
15. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
I’ll make love to you like you want me to / And I’ll hold you tight, baby, all through the night
I’ll make love to you when you want me to / And I will not let go ’til you tell me to
16. “I Knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden
I knew I loved you before I met you
I’ve been here waiting all my life
17. “Glory of Love” by Peter Cetera
I am a man who would fight for your honor / I’ll be the hero you’re dreaming of
We’ll live forever, knowing together / That we did it all for the glory of love
18. “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain
You’re still the one I love / The only one I dream of
You’re still the one I kiss good night
19. “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” by Air Supply
I can make you every promise that has ever been made / And I can make all your demons be gone
But I’m never gonna make it without you / Do you really want to see me crawl
And I’m never gonna make it like you do / Making love out of nothing at all
20. “We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters
We’ve only just begun to live
White lace and promises / A kiss for luck and we’re on our way
We’ve only begun
21. “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner
In my life there’s been heartache and pain / I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now / I’ve traveled so far to change this lonely life
I want to know what love is / I want you to show me
22. “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles
Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling
Do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand?
Do you feel the same? Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame?
23. “Can’t Live Without Your Love And Affection” by Nelson
Here she comes / Just like an angel
Seems like forever that she’s been on my mind / Nothing has changed
She thinks I’m a waste of her time
24. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder
I just called to say I love you / I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you / And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
25. “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias
I can be your hero, baby / I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever / You can take my breath away
26. “The Search Is Over” by Survivor
Now I look into your eyes / I can see forever
The search is over / You were with me all the while
27. “I’ll Be Loving You Forever” by New Kids on The Block
I’ll be loving you forever / Just as long as you want me to be
I’ll be loving you forever / All this love’s for you and me, yeah
28. “Sometimes” by Britney Spears
Sometimes I run / Sometimes I hide
Sometimes I’m scared of you
But all I really want is to hold you tight
Treat you right, be with you day and night
Baby all I need is time
29. “To Be With You” by Mr. Big
I’m the one who wants to be with you
Deep inside I hope you feel it, too
30. “Hello” by Lionel Richie
I’ve been alone with you inside my mind / And in my dreams I’ve kissed your lips a thousand times
I sometimes see you pass outside my door / Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
31. “The One That You Love” by Air Supply
Here I am / The one that you love
Askin’ for another day
Understand the one that you love / Loves you in so many ways
32. “The Lady in Red” by Chris De Burgh
The lady in red is dancing with me / Cheek to cheek
There’s nobody here / It’s just you and me
It’s where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side / I’ll never forget the way you look tonight
33. “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” by England Dan & John Ford Coley
I’m not talking about moving in / And I don’t want to change your life
But there’s a warm wind blowing, the stars are out / And I’d really love to see you tonight
34. “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA
f you’re all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I’m still free / Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain’t no lie / If you put me to the test, if you let me try
35. “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight / Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand / Strike up the band, and make the fireflies dance
Silvermoon’s sparkling / So kiss me
Laura Lifshitz is a former MTV personality currently writing about divorce, women’s issues, fitness, parenting, and marriage. Visit her website for more.
