When putting together this list, a few rules had to be made, or else the list would have been impossible to create due to all the great R&B and Soul love songs recorded over the past 50+ years. First, a cutoff point of 20 years ago was established to keep the list relevant. Also, these songs celebrate love, not sex. (There's a seperate list of sexy songs on this site.) Third, there's no drama-filled songs, no negativity, no 'bad love' songs. And with said, here's your R&B Guide's picks for some of the best love songs of the past 20 years.

Cover © Geffen Records.This chart-topping song, which was released in November 2005, is on Mary's
The Breakthough album. Among the things that make it so great are the strong sentiments of faith and loyalty expressed, as well as the unbelievably strong vocals.
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Image © Motown/Universal.On "One Love," Midwest City, a four-man vocal group from Oklahoma talks love, marriage and loyalty:
Through the storm, through the rain, through the sun, we remain one love," they sing.
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Cover © Legacy Recordings.The title pretty much says it all. You can stream the song by clicking on the link below.
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If you've ever found yourself unable to stop loving someone even after their actions have given you good reason to stop, you can relate to this song. This song is for everyone who has at least once in their life thought with their heart instead of their mind. Love
really is stronger than pride sometimes.
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Cover © Universal Records."Valentine" is the fourth single off Lloyd's second album,
Street Love, which came out March 13, 2007 on Sho-Nuff/Universal Records. This smooth, mellow and sultry song is an example of the true sound of young love.
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Wait a minute - did I say in the intro that none of these songs contained drama? Well, I stand corrected. "Love TKO" is about how sometimes love beats you down when you try to battle it. Other singers, including Regina Belle and Hall & Oates, have also recorded versions of this song, but the Pendergrass version is head and shoulders above the rest.
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What more can be said about this song that hasn't been saide for almost 20 years now? It's a classic - and classy - example of some ot the best music R&B has to offer.
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This song is not only about love, but about devotion, as well. Or as Donell sings it: "
Every night I'm treatin' you right 'cause our chemistry is a mystery/To everyone lookin from outside, cause they want what we have/When I look right in your eyes, I see your soul and I'm the mate, baby/If you down you got me for life, 'cause I really love you girl."
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Although this song is sung really well, it's actually the amazingly poetic lyrics that are the highlight. A sample: "
I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles, And the heavens open up every time she smiles, And when I come home to her that's where I belong, Yet I'm running to her like a river's song." "Crazy Love" was actually written and first recorded by rock-pop artist Van Morrison.
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10. "Forever in My Life," Prince
Prince is a master of ballads and this song is one of his best. On "Forever in My Life," the Purple One proposes marriage in his own unique way: "I never imagined that love would rain on me, And make me want 2 settle down, Baby it's true, I think I do, And I just wanna tell U that I wanna with U."