“Love” has been everything from “fake” to “real” on the Hot 100.
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Let’s open the latest mailbag.
Hi Gary,
Lady Gaga gave us one of her best tunes with “Bad Romance.” Now, we have an update of sorts, musically and title-wise, thanks to “Stupid Love.”
It’s also the latest Billboard Hot 100 hit with a simple adjective descriptor in front of the word “Love.”
I think it would be a fun idea to run down all those types of songs, and certainly not a “stupid” one (or a “stoopid” one, to paraphrase Alice Cooper’s “Hey Stoopid,” a No. 78 Hot 100 hit in 1991).
So many silly “love” songs to celebrate, especially in a time when we could all use the best of humanity’s love.
Pablo Nelson
Oakland, California
Hi Pablo,
Thanks as always. Hope you’re staying safe.
(And if you’re like the Billboard staff, perhaps you’re actually seeing more of your co-workers these days, even at home, via video chats. The downside? Finding a view that shows the least clutter. [Tip: aim your computer’s camera toward a window …] The upside? Pets!)
Let’s all take our minds off the more serious issues facing us these days with a chart-geeky topic like this.
How has love been represented over the years on the Hot 100? Let us count the ways.
Here’s a look at notable “love” stories that have hit the chart’s top 40. As musical artists are poets, we’ve seen, and heard, no shortage of viewpoints.
“Afire Love,” Ed Sheeran, No. 37, 2014
“Baby Love,” The Supremes, No. 1 (four weeks), 1964
“Baby Love,” Regina, No. 10, 1986
“A Better Love,” Londonbeat, No. 18, 1991
“Big Love,” Fleetwood Mac, No. 5, 1987
“Burning Love,” Elvis Presley, No. 2, 1972
“Butta Love,” Next, No. 16, 1997
“Cold Love,” Donna Summer, No. 33, 1981
“Cool Love,” Pablo Cruise, No. 13, 1981
“Crazy Love,” Poco, No. 17, 1979
“Crazy Love,” The Allman Brothers Band, No. 29, 1979
“Endless Love,” Diana Ross & Lionel Richie, No. 1 (nine weeks), 1981
“Endless Love,” Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey, No. 2, 1994
“An Everlasting Love,” Andy Gibb, No. 5, 1978
“Everlasting Love,” Carl Carlton, No. 6, 1974
“Everlasting Love,” Rex Smith & Rachel Sweet, No. 32, 1981
“Everlasting Love,” Howard Jones, No. 12, 1989
“Everlasting Love,” Gloria Estefan, No. 27, 1995
“Fake Love,” BTS, No. 10, 2018
“Fastlove,” George Michael, No. 8, 1996
“First Time Love,” Livingston Taylor, No. 38, 1980
“Forever Love,” Color Me Badd, No. 15, 1992
“Ghetto Love,” Da Brat feat. T-Boz, No. 16, 1997
“Greatest Love of All,” Whitney Houston, No. 1 (three weeks), 1986
“A Groovy Kind of Love,” The Mindbenders, No. 2, 1966
“Groovy Kind of Love,” Phil Collins (two weeks), No. 1, 1988
“Higher Love,” Steve Winwood, No. 1 (one week), 1986
“Honey Love,” R. Kelly & Public Announcement, No. 39, 1992
“Jungle Love,” The Steve Miller Band, No. 23, 1977
“Jungle Love,” The Time, No. 20, 1985
“Lady Love,” Lou Rawls, No. 24, 1978
“Letting Go (Dutty Love),” Sean Kingston feat. Nicki Minaj, No. 36, 2010
“A Little Love,” Corey Hart, No. 37, 1990
“Lost Love,” H.B. Barnum, No. 35, 1961
“Lotta Love,” Nicolette Larson, No. 8, 1979
“A Love Bizarre,” Sheila E., No. 11, 1986
“A Love So Fine,” The Chiffons, No. 40, 1963
“Lucky Love,” Ace of Base, No. 30, 1996
“Mighty Love – Pt. 1,” The Spinners, No. 20, 1974
“Modern Love,” David Bowie, No. 14, 1983
“More Love,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, No. 23, 1967
“More Love,” Kim Carnes, No. 10, 1980
“Muskrat Love,” Captain & Tennille, No. 4, 1976
“My Love,” Petula Clark, No. 1, 1966
“My Love,” Paul McCartney & Wings, No. 1 (four weeks), 1973
“My Love,” Lionel Richie, No. 5, 1983
“My Love,” Justin Timberlake feat. T.I., No. 1 (three weeks), 2006
“My Own True Love,” Jimmy Clanton, No. 33, 1959
“My Own True Love,” The Duprees, No. 13, 1962
“My Summer Love,” Ruby and The Romantics, No. 16, 1963
“My True Love,” Jack Scott, No. 3, 1958
“Old-Fashion Love,” Commodores, No. 20, 1980
“Our Love,” Natalie Cole, No. 10, 1978
“Our Winter Love,” Bill Pursell, No. 9, 1963
“Part Time Love,” Little Johnny Taylor, No. 19, 1963
“Part Time Love,” Gladys Knight and The Pips, No. 22, 1975
“Part-Time Love,” Elton John, No. 22, 1978
“Precious Love,” Bob Welch, No. 19, 1979
“Puppy Love,” Paul Anka, No. 2, 1960
“Puppy Love,” Barbara Lewis, No. 38, 1964
“Puppy Love,” Donny Osmond, No. 3, 1972
“Radar Love,” Golden Earring, No. 13, 1974
“Real Love,” The Doobie Brothers, No. 5, 1980
“Real Love,” Jody Watley, No. 2, 1989
“Real Love,” Mary J. Blige, No. 7, 1992
“Runaway Love,” Ludacris feat. Mary J. Blige, No. 2, 2007
“Same Love,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert, No. 11, 2013
“Saturday Love,” Cherrelle with Alexander O’Neal, No. 26, 1986
“Second Hand Love,” Connie Francis, No. 7, 1962
“Secret Love,” Billy Stewart, No. 29, 1966
“Secret Love,” Freddy Fender, No. 20, 1975
“Sexy Love,” Ne-Yo, No. 7, 2006
“Stone Love,” Kool & The Gang, No. 10, 1987
“Stoned Love,” The Supremes, No. 7, 1970
“Stupid Love,” Lady Gaga, No. 5, 2020
“Sweet Love,” Commodores, No. 5, 1976
“Sweet Love,” Anita Baker, No. 8, 1986
“Tainted Love,” Soft Cell, No. 8, 1982
“Tender Love,” Force M.D.’s, No. 10, 1986
“The Greatest Love of All,” George Benson, No. 24, 1977
“The Real Love,” Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, No. 24, 1991
“The Right Kind of Love,” Jeremy Jordan , No. 14, 1993
“This Love,” Maroon 5, No. 5, 2004
“True Blue Love,” Lou Gramm, No. 40, 1990
“True Love,” Glenn Frey, No. 13, 1988
“Warm and Tender Love,” Percy Sledge, No. 17, 1966
“Wasted Love,” Matt McAndrew, No. 14 , 2015
“Wild Wild Love,” Pitbull feat. G.R.L., No. 30, 2014
“Yester Love,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, No. 31, 1968
“Young Love,” Air Supply, No. 38, 1982
“Your Love,” Graham Central Station, No. 38, 1975
“Your Love,” Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., No. 15, 1977
“Your Love,” The Outfield, No. 6, 1986
“Your Love,” Nicki Minaj, No. 14, 2010
“Your One and Only Love,” Jackie Wilson, No. 40, 1961
“Your Other Love,” Connie Francis, No. 28, 1963
“Your Precious Love,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, No. 5, 1967
“Your Unchanging Love,” Marvin Gaye, No. 33, 1967