Love has always been R&B’s greatest muse. From the sultry slow jams of the ’80s to today’s genre-blending ballads, Black artists have shaped the soundtrack to our most intimate moments.
These songs don’t just play in the background of our lives; they’ve serenaded proposals, soundtracked wedding receptions, and comforted broken hearts with the reminder that love, in all its complexity, is universal and timeless.
As we celebrate love this Valentine’s season, let’s honor the musical architects who taught us how to express what often feels inexpressible, that overwhelming, all-consuming, beautiful thing called love.
Here and Now
Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross’ “Here and Now” stands as one of the most romantic ballads ever recorded, a timeless declaration of love that has become synonymous with wedding ceremonies since its 1989 release. This dreamy, sensual masterpiece became Vandross’ first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six, while simultaneously reaching number one on the Hot Black Singles chart. The song’s impact was so profound that it earned Luther his first Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1991. Vandross performed this song on The Oprah Winfrey Show and memorably sang it during a wedding scene on the sitcom 227, cementing its status as the ultimate romantic anthem.
Sweet Love
Anita Baker
Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” emerged from the mid-1980s as one of the decade’s most iconic love songs, showcasing the Detroit songstress’s rich voice that would define the Quiet Storm era of R&B. Released as the lead single from her phenomenally successful 1986 album Rapture, “Sweet Love” became inescapable on radio from 1986 through early 1989, dominating airwaves and establishing Baker as one of the genre’s premier vocalists. On the track, Baker reflects on believing in her partner and how their love is incomparable to anyone else’s. The sophisticated production, combined with Baker’s jazz-influenced vocal stylings, created a template that countless artists would attempt to emulate, making this not just a great love song but an essential piece of R&B history.
I’ll Make Love to You
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” solidified the Philadelphia quartet as certified romantic crooners and became one of the biggest hits of the entire 1990s. Written and produced by Babyface as a follow-up to their previous chart-topper “End of the Road,” the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an astounding fourteen weeks in 1994, tying Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” for the most weeks at number one at that time. The song made Boyz II Men the first act to have consecutive double-digit runs atop the Hot 100 chart while simultaneously breaking their own previous record. The track won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and has since become a modern-day standard covered by artists.
I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” became a cultural phenomenon that transcended music itself. Originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton, Houston’s 1992 powerhouse version from The Bodyguard soundtrack spent an unprecedented fourteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B chart as well. Her ability to blend strength with tenderness, power with subtlety, made this the quintessential wedding, funeral, and farewell song all at once. The track helped make The Bodyguard soundtrack one of the best-selling albums of all time and cemented Houston’s status as one of the greatest vocalists in music history.
My Boo
Usher & Alicia Keys
“My Boo” was released in 2004 as part of the deluxe edition of Usher’s blockbuster Confessions album, uniting two artists at the absolute height of their powers. The song drips with imagery of first stolen kisses, holding hands on long walks home, and that innocent young love that never quite leaves your heart. The chemistry between Usher and Keys is undeniable. Her soulful vocals blend seamlessly with his smooth delivery, creating a modern-day R&B classic. “My Boo” became the ultimate schoolyard romance anthem, creating new memories for a generation of listeners.
