44 Best Slow Pop Songs

Best Slow Pop Songs

Nothing expresses our deepest feelings better than an emotional and soulful love song. Everyone has at least one song that got them through a breakup or expressed their love for a significant other.

Perhaps the most emotionally impactful songs are the slow songs that reach our hearts and minds through poignant lyrics and long, beautiful bellows.

There have been thousands of slow pop songs over the years, but we’ve narrowed it down to a list of the best slow pop songs for you to explore below.

Contents

“Something” by The Beatles

Song Year: 1969

It’s only fitting to start with the greatest pop band in history: The Beatles. From the band’s later album, Abbey Road, “Something” was composed and written by George Harrison as a love song for his first wife, Pattie Boyd.

Countless artists have covered “Something“, and it continues to be ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.

“Dreaming of You” by Selena

Song Year: 1995

If you grew up in the 90s, you likely listened to this sweet love ballad by famed Latin pop star and Texas-native Selena. The song was originally written for a late 80s R&B band who turned the song down.

Luckily, Selena turned it into an instant hit that made the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It became even more popular because it was recorded only a few weeks before Selena’s tragic and infamous demise at the hands of her trusted employee.

“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

Song Year: 2018

The most popular song from Bradley Cooper’s hit musical A Star is Born, “Shallow” is a Gaga original. She wrote it for the two betrothed characters as a testament to the two’s love making them more secure in who they are.

“Hello” by Adele

Song Year: 2015

Perhaps Adele’s most popular song, “Hello” has garnered worldwide acclaim, reaching the top of pop charts in over 30 nations. It won 5 Grammy Awards, playing a key role in Adele’s historic role as the first woman to win song of the year twice.

“Somebody that I Used to Know” by Gotye and Kimbra

Song Year: 2011

Gotye and Kimbra are an Australian and New Zealander duo, but it didn’t take long for this hit to become everyone’s “breakup” song. As the title implies, “Somebody that I Used to Know” laments love lost and the inevitable transformation of lovers into strangers.

The music video is one of the strangest yet hypnotizing works of visual art you’ll see on in slow pop songs.

“Memories” by Maroon 5

Song Year: 2019

“Memories” is lead singer Adam Levine’s dedication to a loved one’s death. Despite negative reviews from music critics, “Memories” reached number one on international music charts and number two on U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

It just goes to show, that the critics aren’t always right, especially on matters of love and loss.

“Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend

Song Year: 2020

John Legend’s iconic voice imbues this beautiful love ballad with soul. Hearing it either makes you nostalgic for a past love or more in love with your current partner. Legend sings about how even the most mundane activities of daily life are special when experienced with the one you love the most.

Legend performed “Conversations in the Dark” first on the TV show This Is Us, then later on Valentine’s Day on the Ellen Show.

“God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” by NSYNC

Song Year: 1998

While N Sync has had countless hits, this lesser-known yet essential song from their debut album speaks to a deeper subject matter than you’d expect.

Love songs are nearly always about romantic love, but “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” is about the eternal and unconditional love between a mother and son.

“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars

Song Year: 2013

This is the song that validifies even the most forlorn of broken hearts. We all hope that the ones who hurt us the most regret it, and this song gives us our most fervent wish.

Bruno Mars wrote this when he realized he was losing a longtime girlfriend. While the validation might not come from your ex, listening to this song is the next best thing.

“Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink and Nate Ruess

Song year: 2013

Breaking up is hard to do, and this emotional pop ballad sums it up with painstaking clarity. “Just Give Me A reason” topped the charts for an entire month and received two Grammy nominations.

Pink wrote the song to convey the last stages of a relationship, where you still love each other but both know it’s time to let go.

“Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton

Song Year: 1996

Selling over 10 million copies worldwide, “Un-Break My Heart” is Toni Braxton’s biggest hit and one of the most popular heartbreak ballads in history.

Braxton won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Performance with this woefully shameless song in which she begs her ex-lover to come back and mend her broken heart.

“Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson

Song Year: 2005

Kelly Clarkson rose to fame as a teenage pop singer, and while she may not have experienced romantic love, she still knew the meaning of heartbreak.

Clarkson wrote this song when she was 16 to cope with her parent's divorce and the inevitable distance it creates between kids and their parents.

“Say it Ain’t So” by Weezer

Song Year: 1995

Yet another song about troubled youth and family dynamics, “Say it Ain’t So” is alternative rock band Weezer’s most popular song from their most popular album.

 Head singer Rivers Cuomo wrote the song as a personal experience of alcoholism ruining his parents’ marriage and creating a toxic pattern for his mother’s subsequent relationship.

“Hero” by Mariah Carey

Song Year: 1993

If you’re ever lacking motivation or feeling especially blue, this uncharacteristically inspirational song by Mariah Carey is soulful enough to uplift the heaviest of hearts. Carey wrote the song for its namesake movie with no intention of singing it herself.

“Hero” is about finding salvation, inspiration, and courage within ourselves.

“Creep” by Radiohead

Song Year: 1992

Ironically written by a decidedly anti-pop band, “Creep” became the emo ballad of a generation. Consequently, the band’s lead singer Thom York publicly decried the song for limiting the band’s creative freedom by narrowing fans’ expectations for what their future songs should sound like.

Still, “Creep” is a poignant song about toxic crushes leading to unhealthy self-images.

“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt

Song Year: 2005

Let’s lighten things up, shall we? A simple yet wonderful expression of love, “You’re Beautiful” is James Blunt’s most popular song. It reached number one on charts in Australia and the UK, along with US Top 40 Billboard Charts.

Blunt says that he wrote it in two minutes after a fleeting encounter with an ex-girlfriend that brought back intense feelings of nostalgia for a past love.

“Don’t Speak” by No Doubt

Song Year: 1996

While “Don’t Speak” topped the charts in multiple countries and earned a Grammy nomination for song of the year, it never made it onto U.S billboards. At the time, No Doubt was too alternative a band to make the commercial charts.

It’s still number one for listeners’ choice awards as one of the best breakup songs of all time. Gwen Stefani wrote it as a very public grievance about her breakup with bandmate Tony Kanal.

“Two in a Million” by S Club 7

Song Year: 1999

S Club 7 is a British co-ed pop group which is a novelty in and of itself. “Two in a Million” topped the UK and New Zealand charts and was the first song where member Jo O’Meara is on lead vocals.

The song describes the beginning stages of falling in love and feeling as if you’re two against the world.

“When 2 Become 1” by Spice Girls

Song Year: 1996

Perhaps the most iconic female pop band of their generation, the Spice Girls delivered hit after hit, and everyone had strong opinions on who their favorite was.

While the Spice Girls usually sang about female solidarity, “When 2 Becomes 1” talks about the budding relationship between bandmate Gerri Hallowell and collaborating writer Matt Rowe.

“Good Riddance” by Green Day

Song Year: 1997

If you graduated from high school or middle school in the late 90s or early 2000s, I bet this was the song that serenaded your walk across the stage.

Green Day is known for fast, punk rock songs, so “Good Riddance” was a novel concept that ironically became their most popular hit. It also became the band’s farewell song to end their high-energy concerts on a subdued yet evocative note.

“Angel” by Sarah McLachlan

Song Year: 1998

Mclachlan wrote “Angel” to honor her close friend and Smashing Pumpkins keyboard player Jonathan Melvain who died of a heroin overdose.

“Angel” topped the Canadian and US charts, and you can still hear it today as the background music on those incredibly sad animal adoption ads put out by the ASPCA.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Song Year: 1992

Houston’s iconic hit, “I Will Always Love You” corresponds with her first acting role in the award-winning film The Bodyguard. The song and album by the same name won Grammy Awards for best single and best album.

Houston’s incredible vocal range and depth of emotion in this song have made it a timeless classic.

“Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles

Song Year: 2017

“Sign of the Times” marked Harry Styles’ break with his band One Direction and a fitting name for the future successes of his solo career.

“Sign of the Times” topped the charts in the UK and the US and also made Rolling Stone Magazine’s coveted list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish

“When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish

Song Year: 2018

Billie Eilish collaborated with her brother Finneas O’Connell on this beautiful, almost a Capella ballad about O’Connell’s experience of romantic limbo. “When the Party’s Over” talks about ending a relationship that you were never fully invested in, to begin with.

Eilish’s uniquely ethereal voice, backed up by a stunning vocal harmony brings a wonderful melancholy to the track.

“Angel of Mine” by Monica

Song Year: 1998

Originally a song by a British girl group called Eternal, Monica performed the cover only one year after its original release. Monica’s more soulful solo version was a US Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper for an entire month, reaching platinum status in 1999.

Monica reinterprets the song to be about falling in love with your best friend, a situation most of us can easily identify with.

“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

Song Year: 2011

If you’re a Twilight lover, you’ll recognize this song immediately. Perri wrote and performed the song for this wildly popular vampire saga, describing the epic love affair between Twilight’s protagonists, Bella and Edward.

You don’t have to like Twilight to like the song, though. As a testament to its popularity, “A Thousand years” earned Platinum or Gold status in 9 countries.

“You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain

Song Year: 1998

Shania Twain may be a Canadian, but she’s as country as any Southern belle. “You’re Still the One” is Twain’s most popular country ballad, earning two Grammy Awards and topping charts internationally.

She wrote the song together with her now ex-husband Robert Lange about their strong bond despite a scandalously large age difference.

“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber

Song Year: 2015

While the title alone promotes a healthy outlook on self-worth, Bieber wrote “Love Yourself” as a snarky response to an ex-girlfriend’s narcissism. Bieber collaborated with famed pop star Ed Sheeran to write this award-winning song that vindicates the bitter side of a breakup.

“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls

Song Year: 1998

The Goo Goo Dolls wrote “Iris” for the blockbuster film City of Angels, starring Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage. It was so popular that the band coopted it for a separate release on their album Dizzy Up The Girl.

Lead singer John Rzeznik took inspiration from Cage’s character after reading the movie script to write “Iris,” a testament to the power love holds over humans and superhumans alike.

“Lose You to Love Me” by Selena Gomez

Song Year: 2019

Sometimes it takes a major loss to find yourself again. This inspirational ballad of self-love from pop star Selena Gomez talks about having to lose a love partner to find love within yourself.

“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith

Song Year: 1998

Aerosmith wrote “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” as the theme song for the blockbuster Armageddon, starring lead singer Steven Tyler’s very own daughter, Liv Tyler.

“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” is a rare love song that encompasses both romantic love and love between father and daughter.

“Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion

Song Year: 1996

Ranked as the 14th Top Love Song of All Time by Billboard, “Because You Loved Me” is another song written about love between father and daughter.

Celine Dion made it famous, but songwriter Diane Warren is responsible for its heartfelt lyrics about the love of a parent shaping the identity of their children.

“As Long as You Love Me” by Backstreet Boys

Song Year: 1997

“As Long as You Love Me” is one of the Backstreet Boys’ most famous songs, making 5 different US Billboard charts and topping charts in South America, Europe, Australia, and Canada.

It captures the sentiment that love knows no boundaries and is a universal feeling that unites even the most unsuspecting couples.

“You Were Meant for Me” by Jewel

Song Year: 1996

Jewel’s unmistakable voice shines in this seductive love ballad that topped all the US Billboards and earned platinum status. The sexy music video was as much a hit as the song itself, garnering an MTV Music Award for Best Female Video.

“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal

Song Year: 1994

Seal released “Kiss from a Rose” in 1994, but its worldwide acclaim came a year later when it was featured as the theme song for the US blockbuster Batman Forever.

Its vast exposure by way of Hollywood lead to three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

“Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Song Year: 1992

We’ve heard songs about romantic love, self-love, familial love, and friendship, but “Under the Bridge” defies all categories. Lead singer and lyrical poet Anthony Kiedis wrote “Under the Bridge” as an ode to Los Angeles, the place that saw all his trials and tribulations as an artist and an addict in recovery.

Red Hot Chili Peppers crank out hit after hit, but “Under the Bridge” was the first of their most commercially popular songs.

“Yellow” by Coldplay

Song Year: 2000

Lead singer Chris Martin came up with “Yellow” on a whim, singing it jokingly to his bandmates with his worst Neil Young impression. Luckily, the bandmates and producers took it more seriously than Martin did.

It ended up being Coldplay’s breakthrough hit that launched the band into the international spotlight.

“Too Good at Goodbyes” by Sam Smith

Song Year: 2017

Topping the UK charts and US charts, “Too Good at Goodbyes” is Smith’s sad recapitulation of an on-again-off-again relationship.

 If you’ve ever been in the vicious cycle of breaking up and then getting back together, you can probably relate to the feelings of jaded futility that Smith so poetically expresses in “Too Good at Goodbyes.”

“Call Out My Name” by The Weeknd

Song Year: 2018

The Weeknd wrote “Call Out My Name” for his former girlfriend and pop star Selena Gomez. It covers both the positive and negative aspects of relationships.

It is a beautiful yet foreboding song that shows how lovers can hurt each other as easily as they once helped each other.

“What Goes Around…Comes Around” by Justin Timberlake

Song Year: 2006

One of many gold-certified Billboard Chart toppers from Timberlake, “What Goes Around… Comes Around” is one of his sexiest songs.

Timberlake won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for it.

The music video, starring the sensuous Scarlet Johannsson at the peak of her sexual appeal, is one for the ages.

“Waterfalls” by TLC

Song Year: 1995

TLC’s signature song, “Waterfalls” topped charts worldwide as a poignant ballad about the most dangerous and heartbreaking issues of the 90s. Many of us didn’t know what the song was about until we saw the impactful music video.

“Waterfalls” was one of the first songs to mention AIDS, and certainly one of the first slow pop songs to breach the subject of the AIDS epidemic and the illegal drug trade in the same song.

“Love of My Life” by Queen

Song Year: 1975

No slow pop songs list list would be complete without a song from Queen. “Love of My Life” is an emotional ballad written by Freddy Mercury, debuting on the band’s most iconic album alongside “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “You’re My Best Friend.”

“What a Girl Wants” by Christina Aguilera

Song Year: 1999

Written by songwriter Shelly Peiken, “What a Girl Wants” is a nod to the nurturing love that characterized her marriage.

Christina Aguilera’s powerfully beautiful voice portrays the sentiments of the lyrics perfectly, garnering multiple Grammy nominations and platinum certifications in the U.S.

“Stay” by Rihanna Ft. Mikky Ekko

Song Year: 2013

“Stay” marks a pivotal moment in Rihanna’s career as her 24th song to top the US Billboard charts, which effectively beat Whitney Houston’s long reign for the most Billboard toppers.

“Stay” is a sultry and sensual ballad about the irresistible magnetism of true love that will seal two lovers’ fates, no matter the obstacles.

Top Slow Pop Songs, Final Thoughts

Slow pop songs run the gamut, from rock and roll to hip hop. No matter what genre slow pop songs fall under, it always speaks to deep feelings that remind us of our humanity and touch our hearts.

Next time you’re feeling inspired, nostalgic, heartbroken, or in love, you can sing along to one of these famous slow pop songs to emote at the top of your lungs.

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