50 Old Love Songs That Still Make Couples Slow Dance

What is the most popular old love song?

"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, "At Last" by Etta James and "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers are the most popular old love songs, still played at weddings and anniversaries decades later. "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Unforgettable" are the jazz-era favorites.

Jazz standards and 40s and 50s love songs

1. "Unforgettable", Nat King Cole: the velvet-voiced classic.
2. "The Way You Look Tonight", Frank Sinatra: the timeless standard.
3. "Fly Me to the Moon", Frank Sinatra: swinging and romantic.
4. "La Vie en Rose", Édith Piaf: the French love song the world knows.
5. "Someone to Watch Over Me", Ella Fitzgerald: a Gershwin ballad.
6. "Cheek to Cheek", Fred Astaire: the Irving Berlin dance number.
7. "Moon River", Andy Williams: dreamy and gentle.
8. "Love Me Tender", Elvis Presley: a soft 50s ballad.
9. "Crazy", Patsy Cline: written by Willie Nelson.
10. "You Send Me", Sam Cooke: smooth and sweet.
11. "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", Paul Anka: a teen slow dance.

Doo-wop love songs

12. "Earth Angel", The Penguins: the doo-wop classic.
13. "Only You", The Platters: the 1955 ballad.
14. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", The Platters: a soaring standard.
15. "In the Still of the Night", The Five Satins: the slow-dance staple.
16. "I Only Have Eyes for You", The Flamingos: dreamy and echoing.
17. "Stand by Me", Ben E. King: loyalty and love.

60s love songs

18. "Can't Help Falling in Love", Elvis Presley: the most played old love song at weddings.
19. "At Last", Etta James: the ultimate first dance.
20. "Unchained Melody", The Righteous Brothers: made iconic again by Ghost.
21. "My Girl", The Temptations: pure Motown joy.
22. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", Frankie Valli: the big brass build.
23. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: the Motown duet.
24. "Wouldn't It Be Nice", The Beach Boys: young love impatient to grow up.
25. "Be My Baby", The Ronettes: the girl-group classic.
26. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", The Shirelles: a tender question.
27. "When a Man Loves a Woman", Percy Sledge: the soul ballad.
28. "Something", The Beatles: George Harrison's love song.
29. "God Only Knows", The Beach Boys: often called one of the greatest love songs.

70s love songs

30. "Let's Stay Together", Al Green: the soul classic.
31. "Your Song", Elton John: a young man's simple love song.
32. "You Are So Beautiful", Joe Cocker: short and heartfelt.
33. "Close to You", Carpenters: soft and sweet.
34. "We've Only Just Begun", Carpenters: the 70s wedding song.
35. "Annie's Song", John Denver: written for his wife.
36. "Lovin' You", Minnie Riperton: the famous high notes.
37. "You're the First, the Last, My Everything", Barry White: disco devotion.
38. "How Deep Is Your Love", Bee Gees: the soft Bee Gees ballad.
39. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", Roberta Flack: slow and intimate.
40. "Always and Forever", Heatwave: the 1977 slow jam.
41. "You Make Me Feel Brand New", The Stylistics: Philly soul.
42. "Make It with You", Bread: soft rock romance.
43. "Wonderful Tonight", Eric Clapton: written for Pattie Boyd.
44. "Just the Way You Are", Billy Joel: the 1977 ballad.

Classic country love songs

45. "I Will Always Love You", Dolly Parton: the 1974 original.
46. "Always on My Mind", Willie Nelson: a tender apology.
47. "Stand by Your Man", Tammy Wynette: the country classic.
48. "Islands in the Stream", Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: the duet.
49. "Golden Ring", George Jones and Tammy Wynette: the story of a wedding ring.
50. "Lady", Kenny Rogers: written by Lionel Richie.

Old love songs for an anniversary

For a 40th, 50th or 60th anniversary, play the songs from the year the couple met or married: doo-wop for couples who married in the 50s, Motown for the 60s and soft rock for the 70s. "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Unforgettable" and "We've Only Just Begun" are safe bets. For more, see our anniversary songs.

Old love songs for a vintage wedding

For a vintage or retro-themed wedding, "At Last", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Stand by Me" and "La Vie en Rose" set the mood from the ceremony to the first dance. For more first dance ideas, see our first dance songs, and for a big band dance floor, our swing songs and Motown songs.

Classic love songs for a slideshow

For a grandparents' anniversary or a tribute slideshow, "Unforgettable", "Only You" and "Always and Forever" carry about 150 photos, and the songs will be familiar to everyone over 60 in the room.

Classic songs to slow dance to

For a slow dance, choose songs with a steady tempo: "In the Still of the Night", "Earth Angel", "Let's Stay Together" and "Always and Forever" were made for it. See our slow dance songs for more, and for the next decade, our 80s love songs.

Why old love songs last

Old love songs were written to be sung by a real voice to a real person, with simple melodies and clear words. They were also the soundtrack to a generation's first dances and weddings, so they carry decades of memories. That is why grandchildren still choose them for their own weddings.

A love song written for your grandparents or parents

For a couple married for decades, a personalized song in a classic style can tell their story: how they met, the dance hall or diner, the children and grandchildren and the years together. It makes a moving anniversary gift that the whole family can share.

How to create an anniversary song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: jazz, R&B, country, acoustic and more.
2. Add their names.
3. Share three moments from their life together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give a classic couple a love song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.