Top 10 CHEESIEST Love Songs of All Time

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#10: “I’ll Make Love to You” (1994)
Boyz II Men

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 Given the rather direct title, one could raise questions about the underlying intent of this Boyz II Men chart-topper. But, here’s the thing – the fellas “submit to your demands,” so the romance is real and genuine, especially when there’s a fire and some red wine involved. Written and produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the track works best, probably, after a few drinks. On a fundamental level, however, the lyrical content reeks of its time, and the narrator of this love story is apparently just an innocent bystander until it’s time for some good loving. So, there’s somewhat of a paradox involved, as the passive-aggressive and cheesy approach would likely ruin the evening in real life.
 
 

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#9: “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You” (1999)
*NSYNC

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This was the third single off the eponymous US debut album from *NSYNC. Considering its slowed down tempo, Christian themes and overly sentimental vibe, it’s not too hard to see why. While the Carl Struken and Evan Rogers-penned track was their first to crack the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10, arguably no other lyrics from the tune will make you cringe as much as the crooning of “in all of creation, all things great and small, you are the one that surpasses them all”.  Then there’s the unoriginal, coming-of-age story of its accompanying music video, which doesn’t really help. Maybe they should have spent a little more time on this song…
 
 

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#8: “All Out of Love” (1980)
Air Supply

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Composed by Graham Russell and the legendary Clive Davis, here’s a song that relies heavily on its dramatic chorus. Sure, most people can relate to the central message of Air Supply’s love ballad, but it’s not often that you’ll hear someone singing about carrying your smile in their heart. There’s really no substance to the track whatsoever, and the structure actually overrides any bit of passion that might’ve made the final recording. We get it, Air Supply – you’re all out love, but why? It’s a song with a catchy hook, but the lyrics don’t exactly depict a timeless romance. Instead, it sounds like an overly-sensitive guy over-examining the smallest of details. You can almost hear the girl saying “Dude, just chill, man.”
 
 

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#7: “Hello” (1984)
Lionel Richie

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 Now let’s just take a second to think hard about this 80s love song where Lionel Richie undresses a woman in his mind. No, he doesn’t actually know the woman - but he’d like to – and he just can’t help but wonder if maybe she’s feeling his vibe. It’s never a good look to publically express your obsessive love for a random individual, at least via the written word, but Lionel didn’t seem to care when he wrote this Cheese-Fest of a song. It’s borderline stalky, but the romantic vocals make it seem as though Lionel is just your normal guy that may or may not be following your every move. Why, hello, ladies! Hello from the other side… of your window.



 

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#6: “Wind Beneath My Wings” (1988)
Bette Midler

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To be fair, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating the core message of this song. Even so, “Wind Beneath My Wings” gets cheesier and cheesier with each passing line. The track was actually written way back in 1982, and the lyrics are indeed emotional, but there’s a fine line between poignant words and pretentious lyrics. Did I ever tell you that you’re my hero? Of course, the film “Beaches” adds to the pop culture relevancy of the song, but when listened to on its own, ”Wind Beneath My Wings” becomes even more cheesy and self-involved, as Bette wails on about flying high and such.

 

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#5: “Hero” (2001)
Enrique Iglesias

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Released one week before 9/11, this love ballad was recorded to emphasize Enrique’s truly emotive vocals. And so, this equates to a sublimely cheesy and whispery introduction, complete with over-exaggerated vocals and a little Spanish guitar. And it wasn’t ONLY Mr. Iglesias who cooked this thing up, as it actually took three grown men to write the existential lyrics, of which Enrique communicates with such passion. It’s not like he didn’t realize the inherent cheese factor, as Enrique even owned up to this during an interview with Ryan Seacrest, but there’s something laughable about these supremely lustful words.



 
 

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#4: “Truly Madly Deeply” (1997)
Savage Garden

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When you think of effective love songs, there’s often a balance between the narrator’s desire and the qualities of his or her partner. In this selfish love song, however, it’s all about ME, MYSELF and I. Seriously, Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes rattles off every fantasy and dream he can think off, only to drop references to mountains, the sea and the sky during the chorus. You see, because he’s connected with the world and “the higher powers.” There’s a hypnotic quality to the sound design and the tone of the vocals, but the lyrics make it seem that “Truly Madly Deeply” was written specifically for weddings. And don’t even get us started on their other hit song “I Knew I Loved You.”
 
 

 
Shortly before meeting and marrying a young Canadian singer named Shania Twain, rock producer Mutt Lange collaborated with another Canadian named Bryan Adams. To be fair, the lyrics aren’t THAT cheesy, but the vocal delivery simply crosses the acceptable line. Oh, and don’t’ forget about the guitar interlude that precedes the emotional climax, in which Adams’ impassioned vocals lead to a moment of complete silence. It’s a rather clever song when you think about it, as it instructs the listener when to confront those feels through overtly dramatic moments. Remember, though – this was the early 90s, and the remnants of late 80s monster ballads could still be felt in the studio.
 
 

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#2: “I Swear” (1994)
All-4-One

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Originally recorded by country singer John Michael Montgomery, this song received an for All-4-One update via some textured harmony. Like most cheesy love songs, the lyrics reference the earthly elements – you know, just to let you know how much the passion burns. We’re not saying that these R&B crooners aren’t talented singers, but the collective vocal drama and saxophone is too much for the human ear. Then again, it’s representative of that distinct early 90s pop sound. But just when you think it can’t get any more cheesy, in comes a classic 90’s key change that drives the cheese factor all the way up.
 
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
 
“I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993)
Meatloaf  
 
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1984)
REO Speedwagon  


 
 “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988)
Poison
 
 

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#1: “My Heart Will Go On” (1997)
Céline Dion 

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With all due respect to the fictional Jack and Rose of “Titanic,” the reality is that Celine Dion never wanted to sing this cheesy love song. Written by the acclaimed songwriter Will Jennings and the late composer James Horner, there’s a heavy amount of flute in “My Heart Will Go On” – yes, FLUTE - so much that most pop singers would probably walk away without knowing the context. But Celine and “My Heart Will Go On” were meant for each other as the world needed a highly-dramatic theme song to over-emphasize the relatively short romance of Jack and Rose. This song was specifically designed to be cheesy, and all parties involved succeeded with their work.
 
So, do you agree with our selections? What do you think is the cheesiest love song? For more gut-wrenching Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.