A love song is a song about love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. Love songs can be found in a variety of different music genres and can come in various formats, from sad and emotional pieces to fast songs that only have a faint love theme.
Definition
A love song is a musical composition that expresses emotions related to romantic attraction, affection, longing, or bonding, often through lyrics and melody that evoke passion, intimacy, or commitment in relationships. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a love song as "a lyrical, musical, or poetic expression of romantic love."
History
Love songs have existed for many years and can be found in the histories and cultures of most societies, though their ubiquity is a modern phenomenon. The oldest known love song is the Love Song of Shu-Sin, which was discovered in the library of Ashurbanipal in Mesopotamia. It was about both romantic and erotic love. Prior to its discovery, Solomon's Song of Songs from the Bible was considered the oldest love song.
Early History
According to Charles Darwin, music originated in relation to the choice of partner between woman and man, suggesting that the first music would have been love music. In Ancient Greece, music was made at weddings, and love songs existed; the muse Erato was considered the protector of the love song.
Medieval Music
The philosopher Denis de Rougemont argued in Love in the Western World that the love song grew out of the courtly love songs of the troubadours. Medieval love songs were called "Minnelied" in Middle High German, or chant d'amour courtois by troubadours (Lengas d'òc) or trouvères (Langues d'oïl). The (often unfulfilled or unattainable) courtly love in a noble environment was central. The 14th-century Codex Manesse includes love songs by dukes such as John I, Duke of Brabant and William IX, Duke of Aquitaine. The Gruuthuse manuscript, written in Middle Dutch around 1400 in Bruges, contains 147 songs including a number of love songs with musical notation.
Renaissance
Francesco Petrarca sang of his beloved Laura in 366 poems collected in Canzonière, which were later set to music by composers including Claudio Monteverdi, Orlando di Lasso, and Guillaume Dufay.
Classical Music
Within classical music, Romanticism is most commonly associated with love music. The love song in classical music is often called a romance, though the term is not limited to vocal music. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that "generally it implies a specially personal or tender quality." Examples include Plaisir d'amour by Padre Martini and Georges Bizet's aria "Je crois entendre encore" from the opera Les pêcheurs de perles.
Popular Music
Love songs are a staple of popular music. The largest group of love songs in popular music are those about a broken heart. Notable examples include Lucinda Williams' "Jackson," Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (the title song of the film Titanic), and the best-selling song about a broken heart, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, written by Dolly Parton.
Characteristics
Love songs can be found across all music genres and can take various forms, including:
- Romantic ballads — slow, emotional songs expressing deep affection
- Upbeat love songs — fast songs with a love theme that emphasize sound and popularity
- Breakup songs — songs dealing with heartbreak, infidelity, and the end of relationships
- Courtly love songs — songs expressing unattainable or idealized love, historically associated with troubadours
Cultural Significance
Love songs appear across cultures and time periods in folk, popular, and art music registers. Classical ethnomusicology has tended to group ethnic folk song genres according to life-cycle function; within this schema, the love song is a common thematic song type worldwide. Love songs serve dual roles in human culture, signaling mate fitness and compatibility during courtship while fostering social connections in established partnerships.
