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PHOTO BY ANGIE SILVY PHOTOGRAPHY
The best way to bring heart and soul to any wedding reception is through a carefully curated playlist of R&B favorites. Make sure all of your guests have something to sing along to by selecting songs from artists throughout the years.
Your grandparents might not groove along with a song from Brandy, but maybe they’d feel inspired to get up and dance to a classic Etta James or Otis Redding tune. And while the parents of the bride may feel moved to dance when Anita Baker or Luther Vandross comes on, your bridal party might rush the dance floor for Beyoncé or Frank Ocean.
Whatever your favorites might be, this list is the ultimate R&B soundtrack.
“Before I Let Go,” by Maze & Frankie Beverly
Lyrics of Love: “You know, I thank God sun rises and shines on you/You know there's nothing, nothing, nothing I would not do”
“Ain’t Nobody,” by Chaka Khan
Lyrics of Love: “Happened so naturally/I did not know it was love”
“Caught Up in the Rapture,” by Anita Baker
Lyrics of Love: “Nothing else can compare/When I feel the magic of you”
“At Your Best (You Are Love),” by Aaliyah
Lyrics of Love: “But at your best you are love/You're a positive motivating force within my life”
“Fortunate,” by Maxwell
Lyrics of Love: “Fortunate, to have you girl/I'm so glad, you're in my world”
“Here and Now,” by Luther Vandross
Lyrics of Love: “Here in my heart I believe/Your love is all I'll ever need”
“If I Ever Fall in Love (Acapella),” by Shai
Lyrics of Love: “But to my satisfaction/Baby you were more than just a face”
“Spend My Life With You,” by Eric Benet (Featuring Tamia)
Lyrics of Love: “And I never knew what my life was for/But now that you're here I know for sure”
“Always and Forever,” by Heatwave
Lyrics of Love: “And I know tomorrow will still be the same/'Cause' we've got a life of love that won't ever change”
“Happily Ever After,” by Case
Lyrics of Love: “I will be your man/Your protector, your best friend”
“Summer Rain,” Carl Thomas
Lyrics of Love: “I feel her kisses on me even when she's gone/Can't wait 'till she gets home”
“By Your Side,” by Sade
Lyrics of Love: “When you're on my outside, baby, and you can't get in/I will show you, you're so much better than you know”
“You Are,” by Charlie Wilson
Lyrics of Love: “Tell me how can I be so lucky/That you'd fall down from heaven for me”
“Share My Life,” by Kem
Lyrics of Love: “Your my dream and my joy/My heart belongs to you girl”
“Love,” by Musiq Soulchild
Lyrics of Love: “Many nights I've cried from the things you do/Felt like I could die from the thought of losing you”
“All My Tomorrows,” by Kenny Lattimore
Lyrics of Love: “Write your name on my heart/You’re the one that I need in my life and my arms.”
“All My Life,” by K-Ci & JoJo
Lyrics of Love: “And all my life I prayed for someone like you/And I thank God that I, that I finally found you”
“Back at One,” by Brian McKnight
Lyrics of Love: “I never would have made it very far/'Cause you know you've got the keys to my heart”
“Stay With You,” by John Legend
Lyrics of Love: “Oh I'll stay with you through the ups and the downs/Oh I'll stay with you when no one else is around”
“When I First Saw You,” by Jamie Foxx (Featuring Beyoncé)
Lyrics of Love: “Then I found you and I have had the most beautiful dreams/Any man's ever had”
“I Gotta Be,” by Jagged Edge
Lyrics of Love: “Is it real, what I feel could it be you and me/'Til the end of time, never part”
“Love Ballad,” by L.T.D.
Lyrics of Love: “Loving you gave me something new/That I've never felt”
“Made to Love Ya,” by Gerald Levert
Lyrics of Love: “My time, to spend with ya forever/I was made, made to love ya”
“Forever My Lady,” by Jodeci
Lyrics of Love: “I'll never let you down/Lady believe in me”
“Exceptional,” by Babyface
Lyrics of Love: “Your love is exceptional/Born of a heart of gold”
“A Couple of Forevers,” by Chrisette Michele
Lyrics of Love: “And me and you are, built like armor/Nothing can't stop love from love”
“A Good Night,” by John Legend
Lyrics of Love: “I know it's gonna be a good night/I think I just met my wife (alright)”
“Have You Ever,” by Brandy
Lyrics of Love: “Have you ever loved somebody so much/It makes you cry”
“Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green
Lyrics of Love: “Cause you make me feel so brand new/And I want to spend my life with you”
“That’s How Strong My Love Is,” by Otis Redding
Lyrics of Love: “I'll be the moon when the sun goes down/Just to let you know that I'm still around”
“If I Ain’t Got You,” by Alicia Keys
Lyrics of Love: “But everything means nothing/If I ain't got you, yeah”
“Happy,” by Ashanti
Lyrics of Love: “All my life, I've been searching for ya/Everyday, so glad that I found you boy”
“Build Me Up Buttercup,” by The Foundations
Lyrics of Love: “I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'/You know that I have from the start”
“Sweet Love,” by Anita Baker
Lyrics of Love: “With all my heart, I love you baby/Stay with me, and you will see my arms will hold you, baby”
“For You,” by Kenny Lattimore
Lyrics of Love: “For you, I'd give a lifetime of stability/Anything you want of me”
“Candy,” by Cameo
Lyrics of Love: “There's no mistaking, I'm clearly taken/By the simple mere thought of you”
“I Wanna Be Your Lover,” by Prince
Lyrics of Love: “I want to turn you on, turn you out/All night long, make you shout”
“I Found Love (Cindy’s Song),” by Bebe and Cece Winans
Lyrics of Love: “When I found you/I found the rest of my life”
“At Last,” by Etta James
Lyrics of Love: “At last my love has come along/My lonely days are over and life is like a song”
“Endless Love,” by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
Lyrics of Love: “My love, there's only you in my life/The only thing that's bright”
“I Believe in You And Me,” by Whitney Houston
Lyrics of Love: “I believe in dreams again/I believe that love will never end”
“Always,” by Atlantic Starr
Lyrics of Love: “Girl you are to me, all that a woman should be/And I dedicate my life to you always”
“Three Times a Lady,” by The Commodores
Lyrics of Love: “To feel you, to need you/There's nothing to keep us apart”
“Everything,” by Mary J. Blige
Lyrics of Love: “To me the first time I saw your face/I would fall so deep in love”
“Halo,” by Beyoncé
Lyrics of Love: “Standing in the light of your halo/I got my angel now”
“Never Too Much,” by Luther Vandross
Lyrics of Love: “There's not a minute, hour, day or night that I don't love you/You're at the top of my list 'cause I'm always thinking of ya”
“All This Love,” by DeBarge
Lyrics of Love: “And all that I have/I give my all to you”
“Thinkin Bout You,” by Frank Ocean
Lyrics of Love: “Or do you not think so far ahead?/'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever”
“Cherish the Day,” by Sade
Lyrics of Love: “You're ruling the way that I move/And I breathe your air”
“Baby Be Mine,” by Michael Jackson
Lyrics of Love: “Warm you in my arms and melt your fears away/Show you all the magic that a perfect love can”
“September,” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Lyrics of Love: “Our hearts were ringing/In the key that our souls were singing”
“Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” by Gladys Knight & the Pips
Lyrics of Love: “'Cause for every moment that I've spent hurting/There was a moment that I spent, ah, just loving you”
“Candy Rain,” by Soul For Real
Lyrics of Love: “My love, do you ever dream of/Candy coated raindrops?”
“Ribbon in the Sky,” by Stevie Wonder
Lyrics of Love: “But what it is that was always meant/Is a ribbon in the sky for our love”
“I Like It,” by DeBarge
Lyrics of Love: “I like the way you comb your hair/And I like those stylish clothes you wear”
“Ordinary People,” by John Legend
Lyrics of Love: “Girl, I'm in love with you/This ain't the honeymoon”
“Love and Happiness,” by Al Green
Lyrics of Love: “Well, happiness is when you really feel good with somebody/But nothing wrong with being in love with someone”
“Love on Top,” by Beyoncé
Lyrics of Love: “I can feel the sun whenever you're near/Every time you touch me I just melt away”
“My Girl,” by The Temptations
Lyrics of Love: “I've got so much honey the bees envy me/I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees”
“All Night Long,” by The Mary Jane Girls
Lyrics of Love: “Oh, something's got me so excited, baby/A feeling I've been holdin' back so long”
“There Goes My Baby,” by Charlie Wilson
Lyrics of Love: “There goes my baby/There goes my destiny”
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Lyrics of Love: “From that day on, I made a vow/I'll be there when you want me”
“Rock Wit’cha,” by Bobby Brown
Lyrics of Love: “Now that you are here with me/Baby, let's do it right”
“Lady,” by D’Angelo
Lyrics of Love: “You're my little baby, my darling baby/I swear you're the talk of the town”
“Love Like This,” by Faith Evans
Lyrics of Love: “The reasons are because of you/I can go on and make it through”
“Right Here,” by SWV (Human Nature Remix)
Lyrics of Love: “True love some don't believe in/That's just what I'm givin'”
“Love T.K.O.,” by Teddy Pendergrass
Lyrics of Love: “Tried to take control of the love/Love took control of me”
“Classic Man,” by Jidenna
Lyrics of Love: “Like oh me, oh me oh my/Why can't every woman end up being my wife”
“Outstanding,” by The Gap Band
Lyrics of Love: “I really love the way you love me/Forever I'll be yours”
“The Lady In My Life,” by Michael Jackson
Lyrics of Love: “Just put your trust in my heart/And meet me in paradise”
“Nothing Even Matters,” by Lauryn Hill
Lyrics of Love: “See, I don't need no alcohol/Your love makes me feel ten feet tall”
“I’m Still In Love With You,” by Al Green
Lyrics of Love: “Well it seems to me/That I'm so wrapped up in your love”
“You’re the First, the Last, My Everything,” by Barry White
Lyrics of Love: “You're all I'm living for, your love I'll keep forevermore/First, you're the last, my everything”
“Just the Two of Us,” by Grover Washington (Featuring Bill Withers)
Lyrics of Love: “When I think of you some time/And I wanna spend some time with you”
“Anniversary,” by Tony! Toni! Toné!
Lyrics of Love: “And I've only made plans to hold your little hand/It's our anniversary (echo) anniversary”
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