Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14 and began as a way to recognize several martyrs by the name of Saint Valentine. In the United States alone, more than 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent out each and every year; along with those cards, people celebrate with candy, flowers, and of course, music. After all, no special holiday is complete without the right music, and you can find lots of music to choose from when you’re looking for the perfect songs for Valentine’s Day.
While it is difficult to narrow down the great tunes to just a handful, we’ve done our best to choose some well-loved songs that most people will consider special. Below are ten of the best Valentine’s Day songs ever written.
1. “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
Written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore, this song was featured in the Paramount Pictures movie Blue Hawaii and was written specifically for vocals, guitar, and piano. It is familiar to most people because it was sung by Elvis Presley in the same movie and is, in fact, one of his most well-known songs. Originally published in the key of F major, it is a beautiful tune that has the perfect combination of lyrics and music, which makes it one of the most recognizable songs of the 20th century. You may want to check Elvis Presley Can’t Help Falling in Love sheet music.
2. “Endless Love”
Written and recorded by Lionel Ritchie, this slow-moving, very romantic song has been sung and played at many Valentine’s Day dances and at many weddings as well. It was written for vocals, piano, and guitar, and it was designed to be sung and played in the key of Bb major. With lyrics that begin, “my love, there’s only you in my life, the only thing that’s right,” it is easy to understand why the song is so popular. It is a beautiful song that captures how millions of people feel about the true love in their lives.
3. “True Love Ways”
Written by the late great Buddy Holly and Norman Petty in the key of Bb major and in 4/4 time, the song is known for being one of his best and most popular hits. It was one of the last songs he sang at a concert in Iowa before his death in early 1959, and its slow beautiful melody is certain to catch any music lover’s attention. Written for voice and piano, the song enjoyed a surge in popularity after it was featured in the movie The Buddy Holly Story in 1978. And if you’ve never heard it yourself, you owe it to yourself to give it a listen.
4. “Unchained Melody”
Everyone recognizes this song simply by the first few notes. It was written by Hy Zaret and Alex North and recorded by The Righteous Brothers in the 1960s. It was composed in 6/8 time in the key of Bb major, and its slow-moving melody has lyrics that we are all familiar with, starting with, “oh, my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch.” The song was written for voice, piano, and guitar, and it has been featured in tons of movies and television shows throughout the decades, thanks to its overwhelming popularity. Make sure you check out The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody sheet music.
5. “It Had to Be You”
Enjoying renewed popularity thanks to the movie When Harry Met Sally, this quirky song is written by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones and has been recorded numerous times, most notably by Harry Connick, Jr. It is written for voice and piano in the key of C major, and the arrangement used in the above-mentioned movie is the most popular one by far. For those who have never listened to the lyrics, it’s worth it to give them a listen because they are unique and somewhat surprising, and they match the music just right.
6. “Love Will Keep Us Together”
Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the song was made enormously popular by the pop duo The Captain and Tennille in the 1970s. It is written in the key of Bb major for voice, piano, and guitar, and although it isn’t a slow-moving song, its upbeat and lively music and lyrics have made it one of the most popular rock/pop songs of all time. This is likely due to the fact that it puts “love” as the number-one ingredient for any long-lasting relationship, and that is just what people like to hear.
7. “Your Song”
This is one of the most recognizable love songs ever written, and it was composed by long-term collaborators Elton John and Bernie Taupin. With four verses of meaningful lyrics, the song is written in the key of Eb major in 4/4 time and is always a highlight of any of Elton John’s concerts. It is fairly slow but lively at the same time, and it was written specifically for voice, piano, and guitar. With lyrics that include, “my gift is my song and this one’s for you,” there is little wonder why the song has remained enormously popular throughout the decades.
8. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
Written and sung by Freddie Mercury and the rock group Queen, this upbeat song is instantly recognizable to millions of people across the globe. It is written in 4/4 time in the key of D major for vocals, piano, and guitar, and it is one of the songs that made Queen so enormously popular in the past several decades. It is not a difficult song to sing or play, but it is a unique song nonetheless, thanks to the perfect marriage between the interesting lyrics and the energetic, lively music.
9. “I Will Always Love You”
Written, recorded, and made popular by the country megastar Dolly Parton, this slow-moving, almost cathartic song surged in popularity after it was featured in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the 1980s. It was written in 4/4 time and in the key of C major. Its beginnings almost sound as if it will be a sad song, but it really isn’t sad. In fact, it is a testament to the power of love and the deep feelings that one human being can have for another human being for a very long time. You can find Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You sheet music here.
10. “I Just Called to Say I Love You”
This song is written and recorded by Stevie Wonder in the key of Db major for vocals, piano, and guitar. It is an upbeat song that catches people’s attention as soon as it begins, and it is the perfect song for people in love who enjoy doing “little” things for the person they love. It is by far one of Stevie Wonder’s most popular and well-known songs, and with good reason. It’s one of those songs that makes you feel good and brings a smile to your face every time you hear it, and that is a feeling that doesn’t go away quickly.
If you consider music to be the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, finding the right sheet music is a piece of cake. Most companies that sell sheet music will help make sure that you get the music in the key that suits you best, and when you find one that offers thousands of songs both old and new, you’ll know that you’re in the right place. Music does the soul a world of good, and it’s good to know that you can have access to any type of music any time you’re ready for it. These romantic songs sound even better with saxophone. Check saxophone sheet music here.
And if these won’t work, you can still go for Way Maker by Sinach 😉
