39 Best Motown Love Songs: Classic & Modern Wedding Hits
When many think of Motown, they may forget that Motown is an actual record label rather than a style of music. However, Motown has released some of the best music in the styles of soul, R&B, and pop.
Motown Records started in 1959 and has grooved its way into music history and also the hearts of many fans. Motown love songs have been on our record players, 8-track tape decks, cassettes, CDs, and music files for decades. Here’s the best.
Many of Motown’s songs lend themselves perfectly to playing at weddings. Motown has released many hits over the years and many were released as love songs.
No matter the tempo, I list both fast-tempo and slow-tempo love songs. The focus is on the top 10 slow Motown love songs perfect for your wedding.
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Motown Love Songs Playlist
Classic 1950s & 1960s
You Really Got A Hold On Me – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Released in 1962 on the album The Fabulous Miracles
A love dedication about a guy being in love and how it’s taking control over him.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You really got a hold on me, you really got a hold on me, you really got a hold, baby
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me
Baby, I Need Your Lovin’ – Four Tops
Released in 1964 on the album Four Top
A mid-tempo song from a man letting a woman know that he needs her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
My Girl – The Temptations
Released in 1964 on the album The Temptations Sing Smokey
Even though the song is about a man who is happy to have his lover, the song is commonly played as a fun father-and-daughter dance at wedding receptions.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’ve got so much honey the bees envy me
I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
Well I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl
Next, read an R&B wedding playlist.
I’ll Always Love You – The Spinners
Released in 1965 on the album The Original Spinners
A song about a man who is not ashamed of letting a woman know that he will always be there for her and will always love her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’ll always love you, baby
Darling, return my love
No matter where you go
Ooo Baby Baby – The Miracles
Released in 1965 on the album Going to a Go-Go
A slow dance song about a man who is sad because his lover left and will love her if she comes back.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
‘Cause I feel that one day, I’ll hold you near
Whisper, I still love you
Until that day is here, I’m crying
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
Released in 1965 on the album Four Tops Second Album
An upbeat song about a guy who wants to break up with his girlfriend but can’t because every time he sees her he gets weak in the knees.
(Get more upbeat love song ideas)
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
‘Cause sugar pie, honey bunch
I’m weaker than a man should be
I’m a fool in love, you see
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) – The Isley Brothers
Released in 1966 on the album This Old Heart of Mine
A song about a man who is hurting because his lover left but he wants to let her know that he misses her and loves her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I love you
This is old heart, darling is weak for you
I love you, yes I do, yes I do
Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
Released in 1966 on the album Reach Out
A fun song about being there for your lover – all she needs to do is ask for it.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Reach out
I’ll be there, to love and comfort you
And I’ll be there, to cherish and care for you
It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Released in 1966 on the album Take Two
An upbeat duet love song about a couple’s dreams coming true by having each other.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
One can wish upon a star
Two can make a wish come true, yeah
One can stand alone in the dark
Two can make a light shine through
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Released in 1967 on the album United
A mid-tempo song that was made for a wedding day. This duet song is about a couple in love and doing whatever it takes to be together.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Ain’t no valley low enough
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
I Was Made To Love Her — Stevie Wonder
Released in 1967 on the album I Was Made to Love Her
A song about a man who God made just for his lover to love and take care of her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I know that my baby loves me
My baby needs me
That’s why we made it through the years
I was made to love her
Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Released in 1967 on the album United
A slow duet love song about a rare kind of love a couple has for each other that was made in heaven.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Heaven must have sent you from above
heaven must have sent your precious love
You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Released in 1968 on the album You’re All I Need
A song about a couple’s destiny to love each other and they cannot get through life without each other and don’t need anything else to survive.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I will go where you lead
Always there in time of need
And when I lose my will
You’ll be there to push me up the hill
For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder
Released in 1968 on the album For Once in My Life
An upbeat love song about a man whose rainy and sad days are over now that he found his one true love.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
For once I can say
This is mine you can’t take it
As long as I know I have love I can make it
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Released in 1968 on the album You’re All I Need
Ever been in love? If so, you know the magic that you feel of being in love, and this song tries to explain the feelings you experience.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
No other sound is quite the same as your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
So let’s stay together
Soulful 1970s
I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
Released in 1970 on the album Third Album
A song about helping someone you care for no matter what to get through difficult times.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
I’ll be your strength
I’ll keep holdin’ on
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Released in 1971 on the album Let’s Stay Together
One of the greatest love songs of all-time and a popular wedding anniversary song as it tells about loving someone for their lifetime.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Ooh, loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue
You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Released in 1972 on the album Talking Book
A song that Wonder dedicated to his newborn baby and helping her grow up. The song became Wonder’s third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You are the sunshine of my life
That’s why I’ll always stay around
You are the apple of my eye
Forever you’ll stay in my heart
I Believe (When I Fall in Love) – Stevie Wonder
Released in 1972 on the album Talking Book
The song describes the feelings experienced when falling in love for the first time and that it will be forever.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I believe when I fall in love with you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – Gladys Knight & The Pips
Released in 1974 on the album Imagination
A song about being thankful for finding your one true love.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
There have been times when times were hard
But always somehow I made it, I made it through
Cause for every moment that I’ve spent hurting
There was a moment that I spent just loving you
For The Love Of You – The Isley Brothers
Released in 1975 on the album The Heat Is On
A song about feeling lucky to be loved by the one you love and wanting to love her in return.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I wanna be livin’
For the love of you, oh, yes, I am
All that I’m givin’
Is for the love of you
Three Times A Lady – The Commodores
Released in 1978 on the album Natural High
The song is a reflection of being thankful for the woman of your life and telling her you love her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
Released in 1979 on the album McFadden & Whitehead
From the disco era, a fun party dance song that can be played as a last dance song as you start your new life together.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
To every word I say, every word I say
Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now
We’re on the move
1980s Soul Music
One In A Million You – Larry Graham
Released in 1980 on the album One In A Million You
A beautiful and romantic love song about a man that wants to live his life loving and caring for the woman of his dreams.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
A one in a million, chance of a lifetime
And life showed compassion
And sent to me a stroke of love called you
A one in a million you
Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
Released in 1981 on the album Endless Love Soundtrack
One of the most romantic duet love songs of all time for two legendary singers about how their love for each other will never die.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
‘Cause you
You mean the would to me
I know I know
I’ve found, I’ve found in you
My endless love
I Believe In You And Me – The Four Tops
Released in 1983 on the album One More Mountain
A song about having faith that a relationship will last forever and that the couple will love each other their whole lives.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
And like the river finds the sea
I was lost now I’m free
I believe in you and me
Stuck on You – Lionel Richie
Released in 1984 on the album Can’t Slow Down
Richie had many love songs as a solo artist and this song is one of my favorites about a man being in love and wanting to be with her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’ve packed up my troubles and I’ve thrown them all away
‘Cause this time, little darling
I’m coming home to stay
You Are My Lady – Freddie Jackson
Released in 1985 on the album Rock Me Tonight
When released this was a very popular first dance song because it tells of a man dedicating his life to the one he loves.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You are my lady
You’re everything I need and more
You are my lady
You’re all I’m living for
1990s R&B Hits
I Love Your Smile – Shanice
Released in 1991 on the album Inner Child
An upbeat song about a girl who likes a boy for the way that he treats her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’m showin’
The life that I’m livin’
This is the life that I have
And it’s given to you
Hey Mr. D.J. – Zhané
Released in 1993 on the album Pronounced Jah-Nay
A mid-tempo dance tune asking the DJ to play some great music as it’s time to party all night.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
There’s a party over here
Yo, oh no, the party’s over there
Call up your friends, let ’em know
On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men
Released in 1994 on the album II
Many guys played this song as a proposal song but it is really about a guy asking his lady to take him back because he messed up.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Oh God give me a reason
I’m down on bended knee
I’ll never walk again until you come back to me
Because of You – 98 Degrees
Released in 1998 on the album 98 Degrees and Rising
A mid-tempo boy band love song professing your love to the one you love.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You’re my sunshine after the rain
You’re the cure against my fear and my pain
‘Cause I’m losing my mind when you’re not around
It’s all (It’s all) It’s all because of you
Thank God I Found You – Mariah Carey featuring Joe & 98 Degrees
Released in 1999 on the album Rainbow
A song about being thankful for finding your one true love and thus the end of being lonely.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Thank God I found you
I was lost without you
My every wish and every dream
Somehow became reality
Back At One – Brian McKnight
Released in 1999 on the album Back at One
This song is about the feelings of falling in love and having an undeniable feeling that you need to spend the rest of your lives together.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
One, you’re like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl, it’s plain to see
That you’re the only one for me
2000s Romantic Tracks
Love of My Life – Brian McKnight
Released in 2001 on the album Superhero
A song about feeling extremely lucky to have your lover in your life and that you get to experience life together.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
The irreplaceable love of my life
You’re so incredible
Here in these arms of mine
The irreplaceable love of my life
Ready for Love – India.Arie
Released in 2001 on the album Acoustic Soul
The song is a declaration of wanting to find someone to share life with and hoping he will accept her to love.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I am ready for love
Here with an offering of
My voice
My Eyes
My soul
My mind
2010s Favorites
Share My Life – Kem
Released in 2010 on the album Intimacy: Album III
The song is a vow to love a girl and want to share his life with her and to trust that he will always be there for her.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Your my dream and my joy
My heart belongs to you girl
So I sat down one day and I wrote this song
Cause I need you, in my world
Modern 2020s
Lie To Me – Kem
Released in 2020 on the album Love Always Wins
A song about not having any secrets in your relationship and trusting each other.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Take a look around you
Tell me baby can’t you see
That I loved you right from the start
You wear the crown in my heart
Live Out Your Love – Kem
(featuring Toni Braxton)
Released in 2020 on the album Love Always Wins
A love song about an everlasting love that gets better with each day.
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I can’t believe
You waited for me
The little things you do to me
Now I can see
You were made in heaven
Just for me
Have a favorite Motown love song? Please share your song below in the comments!
