’90s Love Song Essentials

In the ‘90s, love continued to reign supreme—and just about every artist had something to say about it. Pop’s most powerful voices dominated the landscape, with artists like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston sharing their grand visions of love through anthems that shattered both rafters and records. Slowing down the pace just a little, R&B groups turned out some of the decade’s most intimate classics, both sweet (Boyz II Men) and sassy (TLC). Even rock’s heaviest hitters wore their hearts on their sleeves with sweeping romantic confessions primed for first kisses and wedding dances. As Y2K approached, boy bands stole teenage hearts with swoon-worthy harmonies, while pop’s fast-rising princesses had listeners feeling a little giddy. Hollywood played a role, too, as blockbuster love songs often overshadowed the films they featured in, proving—yet again—music’s intense power to pull at heartstrings.