Do you know that feeling that you get when you can’t wait to see that “special someone”? We’ve all had crushes at some point in our lives, which is why many songs about crushes have been written over the years.
Crushes have, without a doubt, inspired some of the greatest music in history, and below we’ve put together an epic list of songs about them. We also have all the songs mentioned below on a Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page.
1. Boyfriend by Justin Bieber
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Believe |
With 38.4 million albums sold, eight Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, 26 top 10 hits, and eight Billboard 200 number-one albums, Justin Bieber has had the kind of career that most artists can only dream of. One of those number-one albums was 2012’s four-times platinum album “Believe” propelled by singles like “Boyfriend.” The song is about how Justin Bieber claims that he would take care of a young lady if he was her boyfriend. He says that if he was her boyfriend, he would never let her go and give her everything she wants.
2. Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Illuminate |
This song is the age-old story of a guy who has a crush on a girl, but (of course) there’s a catch. She’s with somebody else. In this situation, there are usually two things that you can do. You can bide your time and wait for your opportunity, or you can choose to sit on the sideline and watch someone else make her happy. We both know that won’t work. So, what do you do? Well, you treat her like a gentleman and show her what she’s worth. That’s the message that Shawn Mendes is delivering in this track.
3. Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue
| Genre | Pop, Dance, Electronic |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Fever |
Just like the thumping bass line in this song, you can’t get this song out of your head, no matter how hard you try. While nobody accused this tune of being the most complicated track, there’s something to be said about its simplicity. It keeps its lyrics to a minimum and follows each verse with an infectious line that can only be described as a sensual humming. This was a huge comeback for the Australian pop star, who hit the number seven spot on the Billboard Hot 100, previously peaking at the third spot with her hit “The Loco-Motion.”
4. Take Your Time by Sam Hunt
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Take Your Time (Remixes) |
Sam Hunt has got one of those voices that can soothe you like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter morning. In the title track to his 2015 effort “Take Your Time,” Sam Hunt catches a glimpse from a girl whom he would like to get to know, but he’s confident enough to work up the courage to talk with her because he knows that even the greatest of romances all start with a simple “hello.” What sets him apart from most guys is that he’s not intimidated by her.
5. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Kiss |
Carly Rae Jepsen exploded onto the national music landscape with her first single “Call Me Maybe,” which skyrocketed to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, this has been the only number-one hit of her career thus far. Still, when Ms. Jepsen did it, she knew how to do it big. Her very first single state at the top of the charts for an astounding nine-week run. The song had a simple premise. The girl meets a guy, gives him her number, and hopes that he calls her sometime soon.
6. Play It Again by Luke Bryan
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Crash My Party |
When you’re crushing especially hard on someone, everything in your life reminds you of them, right now to the song that you’re listening to on the radio, which either reminds you of them or is a song that they previously told you they enjoy. Nevertheless, anytime that song comes on, you will listen to it through until the end before going about your business and doing whatever it was you were doing. If you get this, then you get the sentiment behind Luke Bryan’s hit “Play It Again” from his breakthrough album “Crash My Party.”
7. The Tide Is High by Blondie
| Genre | Rock, Calypso, Reggae, Alternative |
| Year Released | 1980 |
| Album | Autoamerican |
Speaking of crushes, I know that I’m not only speaking for myself when I say that practically every high school and middle school guy on earth (and a few girls as well) had a massive crush on Blondie’s Deborah Harry. They followed the success of the punk-infused hits “One Way or Another” and “Call Me” by doing a complete about-face and releasing a Calypso-infused dance track called “The Tide Is High,” which has the same premise but is delivered differently. The song was a success, climbing to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
8. Fallin’ For You by Colbie Callait
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Breakthrough |
There’s nothing that feels as good or as scary as realizing that you are falling deeply in love with someone way too quickly. Everything inside of you may be telling you to pump the brakes and slow it down, but you just can’t seem to help yourself. Every time you turn around, it seems like you’re falling deeper and deeper in love with them. So, what do you do in this case? If you’re Colbie Caillat, you lean into it and embrace it. You’ve already built this moment up in your mind. You might as well enjoy it.
9. Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | City of Angels: Music from the Motion Picture |
In 1998, the film City of Angels featured Nicholas Cage portraying an angel named Seth who gives up his immortality and spot in heaven for the love of his life, played by Meg Ryan. This song, recorded by the alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls, reflects the sentiment of the movie in the lyrics. John Rzeznik starts by saying how he would be willing to give up forever just to touch this person. He goes on to say that he doesn’t think that the world sees him because they won’t understand him as she does.
10. Crush by Dave Matthews Band
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Before These Crowded Streets |
It’s not very often that you hear an artist pouring his heart and soul out into a song like Dave Matthews does on his song crush, which is from his 1998 release” Before These Crowded Streets.” In this song, the 16-time nominee and two-time Grammy Award-winning artist think about doing things as simple as going for a drive and watching the sunrise to fill their souls. He also admits to being madly in love with his crush and not knowing if what’s happening is real or if he is dreaming. As long as she’s around, he’s happy.
11. Crush On You by The Jets
| Genre | Pop, R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | The Jets |
Is it just me, or does this song take you back to a time when crushes were innocent and flirtatious like they are supposed to be? Maybe it’s the beat, or maybe it’s the delivery, but something about this song Just screams “Middle School Dance” and “first crush.” However, this isn’t a case of the lead vocalist blatantly coming out and saying that they have a crush on somebody. Instead, this is a playful and tongue-in-cheek way of admitting to crushing on someone without actually admitting to it. Isn’t it more fun that way?
12. Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen
| Genre | Pop, Adult Contemporary |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Dirty Dancing (Original Soundtrack) |
You can’t hear this song without thinking about the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, which starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray. In the 35 years since this film was released, the song has become synonymous with the dance scenes between the lead characters of the film, Johnny Castle and Frances “Baby” Houseman. I’m especially reminded of the scenes when the two of them were practicing dancing for the big finals while it was raining outside. Just like it is indicated in the lyrics of the song, you can see in Baby’s eyes how much she wants to be with Johnny.
13. Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Doo-Wops & Hooligans |
Bruno Mars is one of the most decorated artists in the modern R&B and soul scene today, having been nominated for an impressive 31 Grammy awards and winning an astounding 15 of them. This track from his smash hit debut album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” took home the 53rd Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The track is a simple and sweet tune in which Bruno tells the object of his affection that he loves her just the way she is. He wouldn’t change a thing about her. Now, that’s a crush in its purest, sweetest form.
14. Perfect by Ed Sheeran
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | ÷ |
With his poignant lyrics and crafty songwriting, Ed Sheeran has found an audience that has embraced his music and his message around the world. This track has a nostalgic, doo-wop feel to it with a modern delivery. Sheeran is singing about how he and his significant other were only kids when they fell in love with each other, but here they are years later, and they are still together. I’ve always thought that those scenarios made the most beautiful love stories. There’s something about growing into a relationship together that always makes for the perfect love story.
15. Cupid by Sam Cooke
| Genre | R&B |
| Year Released | 1961 |
| Album | Cupid (Single) |
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “When you fall in love, that’s when Cupid has you in his crosshairs.” Of course, I’m paraphrasing because I don’t remember exactly how the same goes, but I do remember the gist of it. This song is the musical equivalent of that saying. R&B and soul vocal legend Sam Cooke is pouring his heart and soul out to the one and only Cupid to put the object of affection in his can’t-miss crosshairs, thus creating the world’s best love story. Here’s to hoping that Cupid’s aim is true for Mr. Cooke.
16. Sussudio by Phil Collins
| Genre | Pop, Rock |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | No Jacket Required |
When Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975 over creative differences in the direction of the band, who would have thought that by 1981, Phil Collins would be one of the world’s biggest pop acts? Collins adopted a much more radio-friendly style that saw him shoot up the Billboard charts. Well, it worked wonders with his 1985 record “No Jacket Required,” selling over 25 million copies worldwide. One of that album’s biggest hits was the horn-laden “Sussudio,” which is about a guy who will do anything to get the girl. All she has to say is the word.
17. U Got It Bad by Usher
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | 8701 |
In the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, there was probably no R&B artist that was hotter than Usher. According to RCA, the artist sold over 65 million albums worldwide, including his 2001 release, titled “8701,” which was certified five-time platinum. That album featured the hit single “U Got It Bad,” which is about how much you miss that “special someone” when you don’t get to spend time with them. When you reach that point in your relationship, that’s when your friends normally tell you that “you got it bad,” meaning you are head over heels for that person. This is one of the most powerful songs about missing someone because it’s something so many of us can relate to. We’ve all had a crush or someone we’re really into that we just want to spend more time with.
18. You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift
| Genre | Pop, Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Fearless |
In her relatively short career, Taylor Swift has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, including two RIAA diamond-certified records. One of those diamond albums was the 2008 hit record” Fearless,” which sold 11.9 million copies around the world thanks to successful smash singles like “You Belong with Me.” By now, we are all familiar with this song. If you remember correctly, this is the song in which Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech when she won the VMA for video of the year. The song has Swift pining for a boy who is already with another girl. “You Belong with Me” is easily one of the most famous songs about crushes of all time.
19. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 (Featuring Cardi B)
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Red Pill Blues |
In this acoustic, poppy tune, lead vocalist Adam Levine sings about how he just spent 24 hours with his lover, but it wasn’t enough. He wants more. However, he’s looking for a lot more than that. It seems like what he’s looking for is a good time whenever he’s ready to pass through. He needs a girl that’s going to be down for whatever, whenever he’s ready. That sounds like an unrealistic expectation unless you are a multi-platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning artist like Levine. I guess it’s true. Some people do get to live the dream.
20. Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | That’s So Raven (Original Soundtrack) |
You hear this sentiment all the time. It’s easy to fall in love with another pretty face because they are practically a dime a dozen. Sometimes, we want something real and true instead of The Superficial relationships we see broadcast everywhere that are based strictly on physical attraction. In this quirky, upbeat tune, pop singer Jesse McCartney says that he’s not interested in finding another pretty face. He’s more attracted to the things that matter most, like someone’s heart and soul. Better yet, he’s specifically interested in the heart and soul of the girl he’s singing to.
21. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1981 |
| Album | Ghost in the Machine |
Before releasing perhaps one of the creepiest stalker songs of all time in 1983, The Police were busy crushing on whoever they were talking about in their hit single “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” which was their highest-charting hit at the number-three spot on Billboard before “Every Breath You Take” shot to the top of the charts. Still, this song is one of the most upbeat and adorable songs that you will ever hear about a man and his crush. The word around the campfire is that their relationship is quite magical.
22. Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
| Genre | Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | The Best Damn Thing |
Canadian-born Avril Lavigne’s introduction to the music industry in the United States was a successful one, with her hit single “Girlfriend” being her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one in the United States, as well as topping the charts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The song became a battle cry for girls who had previously felt ignored by the objects of their affections and were now given a voice to let their prospective crushes know how they felt. Make no mistake, while this may have just sounded like another ordinary pop-punk song, it was a game-changer for girls everywhere.
23. Hot for Teacher by Van Halen
| Genre | Hard R9ck |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | 1984 |
Van Halen had everything it needed to be one of the most popular hard rock acts of the 1980s. They had one of the world’s most renowned guitar players and a bigger-than-life, charismatic frontman. In 1984, all of the pieces came together to create one of the most beloved and quintessential hard rock albums of all time, simply titled “1984.” The album sold over 11.75 million cookies and was certified a diamond-seller by the RIAA based on the strength of singles like “Hot for Teacher.” As you may have guessed, it’s about crushing on a “hot teacher.”
24. Into You by Ariana Grande (Featuring Mac Miller)
| Genre | Dance, Pop, Electronic |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Dangerous Woman |
There are times when you can give hints to someone about how you feel about them, and there are times when you have to toss subtlety out of the window and blatantly say what you want from the object of your affection. Ariana Grande has chosen to forgo the former and opt for the latter in this tune featuring the late rapper Mac Miller. Instead, Grande chooses to let Miller know exactly what it is that she wants from him in this high-energy, hip-hop-infused dance track, leaving any guesswork completely out of the equation.
25. Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
| Genre | Pop, Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1961 |
| Album | Blue Hawaii |
Elvis Presley couldn’t have opened “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with the most perfect line in musical history when he said, “Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you.” He was smitten with whomever he was signing about from the start, and it was quite obvious. This is one of The King’s most tender, touching ballads, and he lets his listeners know from the beginning that this is going to be so much more than” just a crush.” He was in love from the very beginning, and it shows.
26. First Date by Blink-182
| Genre | Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Take Off Your Pants and Jacket |
Is there anything sweeter than a pop-punk song about your first date? No, I don’t think so. However, just in case I was wrong, the guys from Blink-182 are here to back me up on this. This song from the band’s album “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” can practically give you diabetes because it’s so saccharine. The song starts with lead vocalist Tom DeLonge admitting he’s nervous about the couple’s first date and then ventures into dangerous territory when he asks to hold her hand and admits that he is nervous about ending the night with a kiss.
27. Alone by Heart
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Bad Animals |
Ann and Nancy Wilson were two sisters that made up half of the dynamic hard-rocking band Heart. Together, they made the most successful song of their respective careers when they hit the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1987 with their hit “Alone.” The message behind this song is simple. It’s about a woman who has always gotten by on her own, but then she met “that special someone” who made her care about that sort of thing and spends the rest of the track pondering how she can get him alone. If you’re someone who feels alone but you do have a crush right now, you’ll love this song. And you almost might want to check out our playlist of songs about being alone because many of them will resonate with you.
28. You Really Got Me by The Kinks
| Genre | Garage Rock, Rock, and Roll |
| Year Released | 1964 |
| Album | Kinks |
There are only so many ways that you can come up with to tell someone that you have feelings for them. That’s why Ray Davies of The Kinks blew the doors off what people traditionally thought of as rock and roll when they released their proto-punk garage rock anthem “You Really Got Me” in 1964. However, instead of saying “I like you,” and “I think about you all the time,” Ray Davies of The Kinks opted for “Girl, you really got me now. You got me, so I can’t sleep at night.” Thus, a garage rock revolution was born.
29. Crazy for You by Madonna
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Vision Quest (Original Soundtrack) |
Recorded for the 1985 Matthew Modine and Linda Florentino film Vision Quest, this song was the lead single for the film’s soundtrack. Madonna Alsop had a scene in the film where she performed the song in a smoky Club, which only adds to the ambiance of the tune. The song is about two people who see each other from across a room and want to pursue a romantic relationship with each other. This is the first time that they are seeing each other, but the physical attraction between the two people is undeniable, and once they kiss, the romance is sealed.
30. The Search Is Over by Survivor
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Vital Signs |
The band Survivor was riding high in 1984 after recording the theme song “Eye of the Tiger” for the film Rocky III. Their album “Vital Signs” cracked the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, based on the phenomenal performance of singles like “I Can’t Hold Back,” “High On You,” and “The Search Is Over.” The latter was their highest-charting single since “Eye of the Tiger,” peeking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about a guy who searches for the love of his life but finally realizes that this person was right there the whole time.
31. Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez
| Genre | Synth Pop, Dance Pop, Electronic |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Revival |
Selena Gomez is one of the few artists who have made the seamless transition from television to a successful career and pop music. In her 2015 release “Revival,” the former Wizards of Waverly Place actress mixed elements of synth-pop, electronica, and dance music to create a unique sound that is all her own. Although “Hands To Myself” f was not a hit single on the charts, it showcased Gomez’s vocal ability as she sings about how hard it is to bottle up and internalize all of those passionate feelings and behave yourself around the person you love.
32. #1 Crush by Garbage
| Genre | Alternative, Electronic |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Garbage |
Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1993, Garbage is an alternative rock band that also experiments in electronic dance music and hip-hop. The band also has the distinct honor of being one of the very few bands that have kept their original lineup since its inception. Garbage made a lot of noise in the alternative music scene in the late 1990s with their self-titled debut album. That album included the hit “#1 Crush,” which is about becoming so completely infatuated with someone that there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them, and you see them everywhere you go and in everything you do.
33. I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen
| Genre | Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Born in the U.S.A. |
If you’ve ever felt so strongly about someone that it gave you the sensation of feeling like you were on fire, then you have known true love in its purest form. What is the only emotion capable of making me feel both pleasure and pain at the same time, which is exactly what the 20-time Grammy Award-winning artist Bruce Springsteen must have been feeling when he wrote this track from his 1984 classic rock and roll album “Born in the U.S.A.” Only The Boss could make something that’s as wrong as this feels so right.
34. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Bad |
There’s something about listening to Michael Jackson’s music that just makes you feel good inside. The way that the King of Pop was able to convey his messages in his music was unlike any other, and we can share that feeling every time we listen to one of his tracks. One particular track that comes to mind is the way you make me feel, from his thirty-four-time platinum-selling album “Bad.” I don’t know what it is, but this song just makes me feel good, and I’m sure it will make you feel pretty good too.
35. Baby, I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Frampton Comes Alive! |
Originally released as a reggae-flavored single in 1975, this hit by Peter Frampton did not gain traction until it was included in his 1976 classic live double album “Frampton Comes Alive!” Coincidentally, the album would go on to sell 8 million copies and was the world’s best-selling live album for over two decades. The track is a sweet tale about the narrator being enamored with everything that his partner does and who she is. It is also the story of the couple growing old gracefully together, which is always a plus in any long-term relationship goals you may have.
36. I Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson
| Genre | R&B, Motown, Soul |
| Year Released | 1968 |
| Album | Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 |
I don’t know about any of you, but I’m old enough to remember when relationships meant something to the people involved in them. That’s the sentiment that Smokey Robinson expresses in his hit track “I Second That Emotion.” In this phone, he is singing about how he doesn’t want someone for a one-night stand or for someone to play “Kiss and Tell” with. Instead, he’s looking for something that’s going to last a lifetime, and he’s wondering if she’s wanting the same thing. If that’s what she wants, he seconds that emotion.
37. I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
| Genre | Rock and Roll, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1964 |
| Album | Meet the Beatles! |
Perhaps no band in history has undergone as many stylistic changes in their career as The Four Lads from Liverpool, also known as The Beatles. However, when they were first introduced to the rest of the world, they had a simplistic, straightforward rock and roll style that at the time was seen as controversial, believe it or not. By the time I Want to Hold Your Hand was released in the United States, the band had been making waves in their native England for years. Nevertheless, this track was the first of their record-setting 20 number-one hits.
38. So Into You by The Atlanta Rhythm Section
| Genre | Blues, Funk |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | A Rock and Roll Alternative |
Again, there are only so many ways that you can think of to tell a person that you are into them, including saying I’m “So Into You,” which is what The Atlanta Rhythm Section did on their album “A Rock and Roll Alternative.” Formed from the ashes of the defunct band The Candymen in 1970, the band went through several lineup changes and paid their dues for over six years before seeing their first taste of success, rising to number 13 on the Billboard 200 charts, thanks to this song and its relatively simple message.
39. Wanted by Hunter Hayes
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Hunter Hayes |
Released as the second single from Hunter Hayes’ 2011 self-titled debut album, the track “Wanted” is a simple acoustic and piano-driven ballad but is also a master class on how to make the person you love feel appreciated. In this phone, Hayes talks about how he’d fall apart without his significant other and how she makes everything make sense to him. If that isn’t enough, he tells her that he wants to make her feel wanted and that her beauty is deeper than her makeup. There are guys out there that should be taking notes from Hunter.
40. Bad Case of Loving You by Robert Palmer
| Genre | |
| Year Released | |
| Album |
This song is a prime example of one of those tracks where I had no idea who sang it until years later, although I had heard this song Practically throughout my entire life. While Robert Palmer might be more well-known for his hit “Addicted To Love,” he first broke into the music scene with “Bad Case of Loving You,” which was the second Billboard top 20 hit of his career. The song has Palmer talking to a fictitious doctor, admitting that he has a “bad case of loving you,” which is exactly the right amount of cheesy.
41. Smile by Uncle Kracker
| Genre | Pop, Rock, Country |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Happy Hour |
I couldn’t think of a song on this list with a more appropriate title because when I hear this song, I just want to smile. Now, some of you may disagree, but this song from Uncle Kracker is one of those tracks that gets stuck in your head and will stay there for days. It also represented a stylistic change for the artist, who adopted more of a country feeling on this album, forsaking his rap-rock roots and opting for a sweeter delivery. Fans didn’t seem to mind, as it was the third top-40 hit of his career.
42. Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon
| Genre | Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Wheels Are Turnin’ |
It’s no secret that the 1980s were dominated by hard rock bands pouring their respective hearts out on a seemingly endless stream of power ballads. Well, while REO Speedwagon may not have been pioneers of the trend, they were certainly helping to steer the ship with hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” I think that this song about lead vocalist Kevin Cronin not being able to fight his feelings has made the cut on every one of those late-night power ballad infomercials and has been a mainstay at weddings and school dances for almost four decades. This is one of my personal favorite songs about crushes because I’m a big REO Speedwagon fan.
43. Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield
| Genre | Pop, Rock |
| Year Released | 1981 |
| Album | Working Class Dog |
In the 1970s and the 1980s, there was a wave of television stars who got the notion that they could be pop stars as well. Unfortunately, Rick Springfield was one of those actors. However, we were blessed with the timeless classic that is “Jesse’s Girl,” so I guess it was a win after all. As the title suggests, the song is about Rick Springfield lusting after the girlfriend of his best friend. I think that most of us can relate because we have all been in a situation similar to this at some point in our lives.
44. I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Funk |
| Year Released | 1979 |
| Album | Prince |
Before he became an international movie star with the film Purple Rain in 1984, Prince was one of the up-and-coming names in R&B and soul music in the late 1970s. One such example can be heard on his funk-infused track “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” which is from his self-titled debut album. In typical Prince fashion, the Purple One makes it abundantly clear that he is not like anybody else and that the object of his affection is hanging around, but that’s what sets him apart; however, Prince has never lacked confidence in his romantic abilities or endeavors.
45. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
| Genre | Alternative |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | The Raw & the Cooked |
Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, the fine young animals were ahead of their time with an alternative sound that was on The Cutting Edge of what was about to blow up on the radio. Fast forward to the late 1980s, you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing this track from the Fine Young Cannibals, which was also nominated for three Grammy Awards. This song pays tribute to those girls who think their respective Clause into us and don’t let go. They may indeed drive us crazy, but they do it in the best possible way.
46. Girl Crush by Little Big Town
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Pain Killer |
While a girl having a crush on another girl is certainly not taboo in this day and age, the title of this song is somewhat misleading, as it is not exactly what it seems. Lead vocalist Karen Fairchild is admitting to being jealous of the girl who is with the guy she wants. This song can be considered semi-autobiographical because Fairchild married guitar player and fellow bandmate Jimi Westbrook after her divorce, and the two have been happily together for 13 years now. Westbrook recently said that when the opportunity came to be with Karen, he seized it.
47. Check Yes Or No by George Strait
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Strait Out of the Box |
If you are old enough to remember the days before text messages and cell phones, you can most assuredly remember writing notes to your crush and passing them on in class or during recess. If any of this rings a bell, then I’m sure that you’ve sent a note through a friend that had the recipient either check “yes” or “no” to answer if they liked you. You would have to wait all day for an answer. Country music superstar George Strait turned that sentiment into one of his astonishing 44 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
48. Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | The Incredible Machine |
The country music group Sugarland was born from the combination of Jennifer Nettles from Miner’s Daughter and Kristian Bush’s band Bush. The group saw their biggest hit in 2010, when they cracked the top 20 in the Billboard Hot 100 with their single Stuck Like Glue.” As you may expect from the title, this song is just about as wholesome as a country song can be, with Jennifer Nettles singing about how she and her significant other are practically inseparable. There’s something to be said about knowing that your significant other is your best friend.
49. Crush by Yuna (Featuring Usher)
| Genre | Nigerian R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Chapters |
Yuna, whose birth name is Yunalis Binti Mat Zara’ai, is a good morning Malaysian singer who went viral by uploading her music onto the MySpace social networking platform, and her management was able to parlay millions of views into a record deal with the label Fader. This caught the attention of the R&B singer Usher, who collaborated with her on the singer’s most popular hit, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot R&B chart. The song has both singers trying to be coy about the fact that they want each other, but we all know what’s going on.
50. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover by Sophie B. Hawkins
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Tongues and Tails |
I’ve heard many analogies for being in a relationship in my day, including the “dog on a chain” scenario that Sophie B. Hawkins paints in her soulful track “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover,” which is perhaps most well-known for her prolonged enunciation of the word “damn” in the title line from the song. In this song, Hawkins speaks of her potential beau as a dog who is being kept on a chain by his master, although she believes that she can set him free and give him everything he wants. Because he’s the only person that she wants.
51. Crush by David Archuleta
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | David Archuleta |
Sometimes you can talk with someone for years before you realize that they are the perfect person for you. Then, all of a sudden, it happens like magic. There they are, just where they’ve been for years, only now you happen to see them in a completely different way. That’s the message being conveyed in David Archuleta’s hit single “Crush” from his self-titled debut album. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008. and spent an impressive 28 consecutive weeks on the charts. It was Archuleta’s only top-ten hit of his career.
52. Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
| Genre | Dance, Electronic |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Body Talk |
Attention! Attention! Pop artist Robyn is putting all significant others on notice if their boyfriends happen to catch her eye. She makes absolutely no qualms about telling any guy whom she’s interested in to let his girlfriend know that she plans on moving in on her territory. Set to a techno-laden drum and bass beat, Popstar tells the object of her affections that she doesn’t care what he has to do to get rid of his current lover as long as it’s done. She even goes as far as to offer a few built-in excuses.
53. Crush by Mandy Moore
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Mandy Moore |
In the early 2000s, before she earned critical acclaim for her role in the television show This Is Us, Mandy Moore was making hit singles and selling millions of albums worldwide. Speaking matter-of-factly, Ms. Moore has sold over two million albums worldwide and has had three RIAA gold-certified albums. Her debut album cracked the Billboard 200 Top 40 thanks to the moderate success of her single “Crush,” which is a sweet, simple song about trying to separate yourself from a sea of people who happen to be crushing on the same person by allowing yourself the freedom to be vulnerable.
54. I Can Love You Better by The Dixie Chicks
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Wide Open Spaces |
Most of us have seen our crush with someone else and thought that we could love them better or take better care of them than the other person. In my experience, you always think that you can do a better job than the person who has what or whom you want. The question is, do you say something, or do you let things play themselves out? If you’re the Dixie chicks, you speak up and let your voice be heard. You know the saying. All is fair, and love and war, and the Dixie Chicks aren’t playing around.
55. Closer by Tegan and Sara
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Heartthrob |
Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin are identical twin sisters from Calgary, Alberta, who began playing together in 1998 and have released an incredible ten studio albums together. Their single “Closer” from their 2013 record “Heartthrob” is very reminiscent of 1980s synth-pop, not unlike a lighter version of Depeche Mode. The song focuses on the narrator’s desire for things to get physical between her and her crush and concentrates on that moment right before they do. That’s what I like about this song. It is concerned more with the anticipation of the moment than the actual moment.
56. Stacy’s Mom by Fountains Of Wayne
| Genre | Alternative, Indie, Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Welcome Interstate Managers |
We have all had that one friend when we were growing up that had the hottest mom on the block. Apparently, that must have been Stacy’s mom because she’s got it going on. At least, that’s what the New York City-based alternative group Fountains of Wayne were claiming in their hit “Stacy’s Mom,” which peaked at the twelfth spot on the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative charts. The song offers a tongue-in-cheek look at comical life in suburbia, where you and your friends are busy crushing on the mom of a girl who is crushing on some of you.
57. Rush, Rush by Paula Abdul
| Genre | Dance, Pop |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Spellbound |
Waiting is hard, especially when it comes to wanting to be with that special someone. During the moment when you are forced to wait, every moment feels like an eternity. For some of us, that’s no problem. However, for others, let’s just say that patience isn’t a virtue. Although the tempo and mood of this song would suggest otherwise, Paula Abdul’s lyrics indicate that she falls in the latter category. Even the title of the song suggests that Ms. Abdul would rather that things move along quickly. Perhaps it’s because her potential lover is currently with someone else.
58. Love You Out Loud by Rascal Flatts
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | Melt |
When you feel like you’re falling for someone, sometimes you just want to keep it to yourself, while other times you want to shout it from the rooftops. In the single “Love You Out Loud,” Rascal Flatts lead vocalist Gary LeVox chose to go the quiet and reserved route until he was sure that he had what he wanted. Now, he’s ready to let everybody know how proud he is to be with the person he is with. It’s like the lyrics say, “Baby, I want the whole world to see just how good your love looks on me.”
59. That’s as Close as I’ll Get to Loving You by Aaron Tippin
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Tool Box |
This song was certainly a change of pace for Aaron Tippin who normally made his living singing patriotic songs about loving his country. Tippin said in an interview that his producers wanted him to try to do something differently, so he decided to look at things from a completely new perspective. The video for this song depicts a carpenter who is doing some work for a woman around her house and realizes that he is starting to fall in love with her. However, he realizes that he can never have her. Hence, the title of the song.
60. I Try to Think About Elvis by Patty Loveless
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | When Fallen Angels Fly |
Patty Loveless got her first recording contract with MCA Records Nashville as a teenager in 1985. The gifted singer has won multiple awards, including multiple Academy of Country Music Awards and a Grammy Award. In 1994, the country singer had her highest charting album ever with the record “When Fallen Angels Fly,” thanks to songs like the single “I Try to Think About Elvis.” The track is about doing whatever you can or thinking about whatever you can to make the time pass by more quickly when you can’t be with the one that you want to be with.
61. My Eyes Adored You by Frankie Valli
| Genre | Soft Rock, Poo |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Closeup |
Have you ever sat and wondered what might have been had you not made some of the decisions you made in life? In this song from Frankie Valli, he reminisces about a crush that he had while he was in the sixth grade, and she was in the fifth grade. He sings about how they grew apart and went their separate ways, but he always thought about her and how much he adored her, even though she never knew how much he cared for her. Frankie even talks about how he still thinks of her to this day.
62. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | 19 |
Adele is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed artists of her generation. In the 16 years since signing her first recording contract, Adele has won an incredible 15 of the astonishing 25 Grammy Awards she’s been nominated for. The talented singer and songwriter have also sold over 64.7 million albums worldwide. One example of her amazing vocal talent and songwriting is found in the single “Make You Feel My Love,” in which she lets her lover know that when times get turbulent, she wants him to be able to feel loved.
63. Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel
| Genre | Rock, Adult Contemporary |
| Year Released | 1977 |
| Album | The Stranger |
In this upbeat, rolling song by Billy Joel, the piano man sings about having a crush on a Catholic schoolgirl named Virginia. He spends the majority of the song trying to persuade her to come out with him and have a good time, foregoing The Prudent and conservative mannerisms she is being taught by her learning Institution. It goes without saying that characters like the one Billy Joel portrays in this song were frowned upon and thought of as being a little too loose, carefree, and irresponsible. Still, that’s half the fun of it too. This is a beautiful song about young love, and most of you have probably heard it at some point.
64. Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Wheatus |
When it comes to songs about crushing on someone, I guess a little self-deprecating humor is just as effective as anything else, right? I don’t know how appealing calling yourself a Teenage Dirtbag is, but it worked for the band Wheatus. The song is also known for its video, which was based on the Jason Biggs film Loser. The song was also featured in the movie soundtrack, although the lyrics depict a situation that was somewhat different than the movie. In the song, the two end up going to an Iron Maiden concert together. How romantic.
Related Article: Playlist of Songs About Teenagers
65. Johnny Angel by Shelley Fabares
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1962 |
| Album | Shelley! |
In 1962, Shelley Fabares had the only top 20 hits of her career, taking her single “Johnny Angel” up to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for two weeks. In the song, Shelly is singing about a boy named Johnny, who is the object of her affection. She secretly dreams of the two of them having a life together and loans for him to call her up and ask her out on a date. Unfortunately, it was not common for a girl to ask a guy out in 1962.
66. Crush by Jennifer Paige
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Jennifer Paige |
Some crutches turn into the most epic romances we’ve ever heard of, While others are fleeting and are gone on a whim. It’s hard to tell how a crush is going to turn out. Most of the time, you have no choice but to go along for the ride, no matter how long or how brief it is. The subject is Jennifer Paige’s hit single “Crush,” which must have been the fleeting kind because she seems to be over it just as quickly as it started. At least, that’s the vibe she’s giving off.
67. Crush On You by Lil Kim (Featuring Notorious B.I.G and Lil Cease)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Hard Core |
In this hip-hop classic from Bad Boy Entertainment, Lil Kim, Notorious B.I.G, and Lil Cease take turns going at each other, talking about all of the extravagant and luxurious things that they can afford to get, although each of them claims that they don’t need anything like that from the other. Still, the song is about how having affection toward someone might cause you to want to do nice things for them or buy nice things for them. However, each of the rappers in the song makes it clear that they don’t need anything from anybody.
68. Whenever You Come Around by Vince Gill
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | When Love Finds You |
Vince Gill has to be one of the first names that come to mind when you think of country music in the 1990s. This Grammy award-winning singer and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee has charted more than 40 singles on the US Billboard charts for 20 Studio albums and has also sold over 26 million albums. His wholesome voice also provides the perfect amount of charm in his single “Whenever You Come Around”, which is about a man who gets nervous and doesn’t know what to say anytime his crush is around him.
69. Dibs by Kelsea Ballerini
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | The First Time |
Wherever you go, there always seems to be that one person that everybody wants to crush on. It’s almost like people are starting a bidding war over them or something. If you can relate to this, then you understand the gist of Kelsea Ballerini’s song “Dibs” from her album “The First Time.” In this song, Kelsea has her eye on a guy whom she’s interested in “taking off of the market.” As the song continues, he asks her potential love interest if he’s free on Friday night and if she can call “dibs” on him to mark him.
70. Farmer’s Daughter by Rodney Atkins
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | It’s America |
The song is about somebody who was looking for work and decided to apply for a job on a farm doing full-time work. The farmer and the gentleman shook hands, and he agreed to start work right then. The work might have been a bit more than he thought he could handle, and he was getting ready to quit when something changed his mind. He got his first look at the farmer’s daughter. Well, I guess that job worked out because, according to the song, the narrator and the farmer’s daughter worked out just fine and are still together.
71. Complicated by Carolyn Dawn Johnson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Dress Rehearsal |
Isn’t it strange the way that things get complicated when feelings of friendship turn into something more romantic? I’ve always found that the worst part is not knowing exactly where you stand with that special someone. Are you “just friends,” or has your relationship evolved into something more serious? If you get butterflies in your stomach every time your hands accidentally brush against each other, for if you find yourself getting jealous more often than normal, then you can relate to Carolyn Dawn Johnson’s song “Complicated,” which was featured on her 2004 album “Dress Rehearsal.”
72. I’ve Got a Crush on You by Frank Sinatra
| Genre | Big Band, Easy Listening |
| Year Released | 1966 |
| Album | I’ve Got a Crush on You |
If there was one thing that Frank Sinatra wasn’t lacking, it was certainly his self-confidence, and who can blame him? With album sales topping over 37.25 million hits worldwide, there weren’t many people who didn’t know who “old blue eyes” was. That’s why you have to pardon his bravado when he calls himself a “big and brave and handsome Romeo.” Setting aside all of his self-confidence in bravado, what Frank Sinatra is doing in this song is bearing his soul to someone whom he feels he can care deeply for, which is something he probably didn’t do very often.
73. Heaven by Bryan Adams
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | Reckless |
Canadian-born singer and songwriter Bryan Adams has had 11 top 10 hits in his career, with four of them reaching the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Coincidentally, one of those number-one hits was the track “Heaven,” which was featured on his number-one album “Reckless.” The song is about finding peace and comfort in your lover’s arms and not needing anything else to make you feel safe, secure, and happy. To some people, this is the epitome of being happy, or in heaven, as they say.
74. Rumor by Lee Brice
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Lee Brice |
People in small towns like to talk. This much is a given, especially when the same circle of friends runs around together for years and something romantic develops between two members of the circle. If you’re from a small town, people are going to be at the same social gatherings and functions, so there’s no use trying to hide it if the two of you have something going on together. However, it is pretty fun to keep people on their toes and talking, and Lee Brice must think so too on his single “Rumor” from his self-titled debut album.
75. Undone (The Sweater Song) by Weezer
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Weezer |
Weezer’s “Undone (The Sweater Song)” is one of the most unconventional songs about crushes that I have ever heard, but that’s why I like it so much. After a bunch of banter at the beginning of the song, lead vocalist Rivers Cuomo gets down to the heart of the matter. This song is an analogy in which Cuomo is giving his crush a chance to see him naked, whether that is physically or metaphorically naked is unstated. It could mean that he wants her to see his bare soul, or it could mean that he wants her to see him bare naked.
Spotify Playlist of Songs About Crushes
That does it for this playlist. Give us your input in the comments section below, and let us know if there are any great songs that we missed that we should add to this list.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.