A candlelit dinner, red roses, stargazing, and love letters are all associated with sweet romance. We all know about Hallmark movies and romcoms, but music expresses this feeling of love unlike any other. There are many genres one might go to to find a romantic song, and in honor of Valentine’s Day, we share our favorite romantic songs.

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ANGELA: I GET TO LOVE YOU BY RUELLE

I’m a sucker for a good love song, so there were many contenders when it came to answering this question. But, after much contemplation, I’ve chosen I Get to Love You by Ruelle. I’d describe this song as a less mainstream version of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. The piano melodies seem to dance in the background, while the lyrics profess how the best thing in the world is getting to love the person you love. The hook reads, “I can’t believe it’s true sometimes… I get to love you.” I think this line perfectly represents how it feels to find the person you are supposed to spend forever with. Growing up, we’re told that love will be just like a Disney princess movie. But, with our modern dating culture, that seems less and less realistic. But, when you meet your soulmate, all the doubts you had about love fall away. Suddenly you completely understand how loving someone for the rest of forever truly is the best thing you could ever do.

ASHLYN: YOU’RE THE INSPIRATION BY CHICAGO

80s love ballads are the best romance songs by a longshot. This song does remind me of my mom cleaning on Sundays, but this is one hell of a romance song. There are a number of romantic lines to pick here, so let me sprinkle a few favorites of mine: “Yes, I know that it’s plain to see/ We’re so in love when we’re together/ Now I know that I need you here with me/ From tonight until the end of time”, “You’re the meaning in my life/ You’re the inspiration/ You bring feeling to my life”, “You know our love was meant to be/ The kind of love to last forever”.

This song as a first dance at a wedding? I’m sobbing. For all the shit I give my mom for being into Hallmark movies, I can’t be mad about hearing 80s love ballads ever.

GAVIN: LETS GET IT ON BY MARVIN GAYE

No song has ever sounded more “sexy” than this one.

JUSTIN: LET’S STAY TOGETHER BY AL GREEN

Let’s Stay Together is a perfect amalgamation of 70s R&B sound that could only really be rivaled by other heavy hitters of the day such as Marvin Gaye. The horns and drums in the intro melt perfectly into the bass line that sets the tone for the track just before Green begins to sing. Green’s effortless falsetto makes a spectacular blend with the background singers in the chorus, and I believe that his chest voice along with the aforementioned bass line in the verses could even make the Pope want to sin. The emotion throughout from Green’s vocals and the dynamic range make it seem as though every word he says is genuine and meaningful.

DAVIS: YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING BY JAMES MORRISON

Someone will love me some day.

DANIEL: EL PASO BY THE GRATEFUL DEAD

I mean, just listen to it, it’s got everything! Sweet sappy lyrics, some nice solid jams, a kickass story, and the worst best singing you’ve ever heard. Now, this song is originally by Marty Robbins, but the Grateful Dead take it from an amazing love story to a super duper amazing love song; so if you’ve never heard their version before, I beg of you, go check it out.

ZEKE: IF MY HEART WAS A HOUSE BY OWL CITY

I won’t deny my concerning-bordering-on-disturbing obsession with Owl City, but I truly believe that If My Heart Was a House is an incredible ballad nearly unmatched in modern pop music. From the get-go, Adam Young‘s famous dreamy lyrics and metaphors complement subdued, swirling instrumentation that is nothing short of entrancing. Lyrics like “Circle me and the needle moves gracefully/Back and forth, If my heart was a compass you’d be north” perfectly capture the sense of direction he finds in the subject of the song. One of the longer songs on 2009’s Ocean Eyes, If My Heart Was a House takes its time outlining its message of boundless, undying love. It’s the slow, 3/4 time signature, however, that really makes If My Heart Was a House feel like a slow dance with your emotions.

ISAK: 505 BY ARCTIC MONKEYS

Just listen to the verse like… so good.