Enough of “Silly Love Songs”? We think not. “Love is in the Air”, and we are here to help you celebrate it with 8 epic “Lovesongs” from some pretty amazing artists. Great love stands the test of time, and so does our Love Songs 2021 Playlist. We cover decades with entries from the 80’s to 2020. While you may not be “Addicted to Love”, “You’ve Got the Love” and we’re pretty sure we’ve got “A Song for You“. I “Faithfully“ put “All of me” into curating this playlist. So get “Lost in Love”, let it take you “Beyond“, and may it “Never Tear Us Apart” because“You Are the Best Thing“.
1. Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
“Your lights are on, but you’re not home. Your mind is not your own, your heart sweats, your body shakes. Another kiss is what it takes. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat. There’s no doubt, you’re in deep. Your throat is tight, you can’t breathe.” Mr. Palmer, are you describing love or a hangover or both? Wait. It’s a love hangover. Interesting that they are so similar. We never want to be hungover again, but we love love. And love can definitely be addictive. But of course, if that’s the case, there’s a fellowship for that.
Passionate love of whiskey
This is the most obvious on our list of sober love songs. It comes with an iconic 80’s video too. Because of this, we have the quintessential 80’s group Halloween costume. Unfortunately, Robert Palmer is no longer with us to enjoy seeing groups of women in black dresses with way too red lips, hair in taunt buns running around parties in their black panty hose chasing a single dude in a black and white outfit. Robert Palmer had a heart attack at 54. Although there is no evidence of alcoholism, he was known for his passionate love of whiskey, which may have contributed to his much too early death.
2. Lovesong – The Cure
Sticking with the 80’s, we’ve got Lovesong from The Cure. There are some things you hear about a band that just don’t seem real. It does not seem possible that he went to Catholic school. He got kicked out, but he went! And even more unlikely, he met his wife while he was there… when he was 14. And they are still married today! He dedicated Lovesong to his bride, Mary Poole, as a wedding gift. This is romantic. Doing so much acid that you can’t speak for a month is not.
At one time Rob Smith claimed that Mary drinks more than he does. But ultimately, he credits Mary for saving his life by helping pull him out of the abyss of a very dark, self-destructive time fueled by alcohol and drug abuse. Through his lyrics, Rob lets Mary know how much he loves her even though he is touring. It’s a powerful expression of deep devotion that anyone would want to hear from their lover. We’re just happy Rob is still around to sing it and that his and Mary’s love has proven to be rock band tour tested, tried and true. Relationship goals!
3. All of Me – John Legend
Another “Legendary” Love is Chrissy Teigen’s with John Legend. Legend serenaded Teigen with “All of Me” at their wedding. They both star in the music video, and it could not be cuter. All of Me is the perfect love song for their self-proclaimed unbreakable bond and one of Legend’s biggest hits. The ballad has become the go-to first dance song at weddings.
John Legend is one of the biggest stars on the planet but it’s Chrissy Teigen we want to talk about. What does it take to inspire such an epic love song? Wouldn’t we all like to know? We’ll go with complete authenticity. Super model good looks don’t hurt but it’s Teigen’s honesty that is so refreshing. She recently started her sobriety journey and has been completely open and vulnerable with her experience.
Teigen credits Holly Whitaker’s book “Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol” for starting her on the journey.
Working to Stop the Sigma Surrounding Addiction
This open, honest reflection is exactly what we need to help stop the stigma. Chrissy, we thank you and we applaud your sobriety. However, we are very envious of your legendary love. But totally happy for you. Really.
4. Beyond – Leon Bridges
“Feeling things I’ve never felt. It’s kinda hard for me to explain. Her personality and everything. Brings me to my knees. She might just be my everything and beyond. Space and time in the afterlife. O me o my I can’t explain. She might just be my everything”.
Is this not the ultimate expression of complete and total love? Grammy Award-winning Leon Bridges seems to have an old soul. His lyrics convey soul-piercing wisdom far beyond his 31 years. The undeniable swagger comes through in his voice. It’s smooth like silk, sweet like honey, and perfect for some sexy time with your love.
Bridges has been Grammy nominated 4 times and won in 2019 for Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand. River was featured on HBO’s Big Little Lies. He’s collaborated with Gary Clark, Jr., Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, toured with Harry Styles, and performed at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. However, the road to success was not always smooth sailing.
Bridges openly admits he has struggled with depression and alcohol in the past. In an interview with Evening Standard, he says, “I wouldn’t call myself an alcoholic, but, like, for me, I couldn’t perform without drinking because it made me less self-aware when I was on stage. It was just one of those things that, with the lifestyle, was just so easy, like, to drink every day. When I was out it was usually five to 10 shots, a beer, and that was happening every day. Maybe a couple of shots before the show, then after the show, more drinking. Then when I’m at home, more. So, I made new rules when I was like, okay, don’t drink during the week.”
The Love of Sober Friends Is Something to Celebrate
In the same interview, Bridges credits “a tight group of friends” for helping dig him out. We love this. It reinforces how important fellowship is when dealing with addiction and in recovery. Love of good sober friends is always something to celebrate.
He also says, “It was just one of those things that, with the lifestyle, was just so easy, like, to drink every day.” This is admirable and we really hope it sticks. The fast lifestyle of successful artists is undeniable. Luckily, progress is being made. The academy that hands out the Grammy Awards has actually launched a program called MusiCares. This particular program is aimed at helping musicians who are going through numerous types of health battles including addiction.
5. Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
There are front men, and then there is Michael Hutchence of INXS. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a lead singer with more raw sex appeal. His stage presence is phenomenal, and his dance moves are mesmerizing. The fact that he left this world at 37 is a complete tragedy. How he left is still controversial, but we know he had a complex cocktail of booze and benzos in his body when he died. Hutchence is gone, but love for him, and INXS, remains in our hearts. The epic love song “Never Tear Us Apart” lives on, and it is very romantic.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Bishop Briggs did an incredible remake featured in Fifty Shades Freed, which would be a fabulous choice for Valentine’s Day movie night.
6. A Song For You – Amy Winehouse
Another complete tragedy is the death of Amy Winehouse. Her talent was off the charts, and so was her addiction. She was fighting it, but lost the battle in 2011 at only 27 years old. The song was previously recorded by one of Winehouse’s favorite artist, Donny Hathaway. It seems like a tribute to him, but ended up in tributes to her. The song was recorded by Winehouse using a single raw take in the midst of her struggles with drugs and alcohol. It was released on her first posthumous album Lioness: Hidden Treasures.
Ironically, the song is about forgiveness and seems like flash of truly authentic sentiments from somewhere deep within the raging storm of the turbulent self-destruction marking Winehouse’s last few months on earth. We wish we could have seen more.
7. You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter,, Ray LaMontagne’s lyrics cut straight to the heart. His sultry, breathy voice instantly transports you to that warm comfortable feeling of hanging out in a space with a super soft landing. This is what we all want, and it’s what he seems to have found. “You Are The Best Thing” is filled with gratitude, a foundation for recovery and describes his perfect love from strong, kind hearts. Yay for Ray!
This is fantastic but we know even the most perfect love is not all sunshine and butterflies. LaMontagne has an interesting relationship with alcohol. In a quote for WENN he says, “I try not to (drink) as I have a tendency towards melancholy. So, if I start drinking, I get drawn deeper and deeper into anger. It escalates until I am somewhere I don’t want to be. So, I try to be aware of that and realize that moderation is the key.” The time it took to get to this point could not have been fun for his love. The song says. ”We’ve come a long way and this love will never fade away.” We believe it. While the journey of sobriety is not easy, it’s worth it and can bring people closer in the end.
8. You’ve Got the Love – Florence + The Machine
You’ve Got the Love. Here’s some hope for you lovelies who do not currently have romantic love. The way Florence Welsh belts out this tune makes you forget all about it and just happy to be alive. She talks about the feeling of wanting to give up but turning to love to pull through. She doesn’t even mention what kind of love. Just like in life, the door is wide open. To access to all kinds of love… puppy love, friend love, sibling love and higher power love, you just have to walk through.
This tune works well for all love but is particularly fitting for love of a higher power. The video from the original by Candi Stanton of The Source plays this out with an angel like figure looking after others. So do these lyrics “When food is gone you are my daily meal. When friends are gone I know my Saviour’s love is real. You know it’s real.”
Self-Love Is the Most Important Love
The song takes on even more meaning when we consider Florence Welch’s sobriety journey. Her mother saw the path of destruction Florence was on and on her 27th birthday begged her friends to help keep her out of the 27 Club. (see Amy Winehouse above). Thankfully, she survived and got sober instead.
Welch is now celebrating 6 years of sobriety and speaks of the importance of grace and forgiving yourself when she shares her story. This is self-love – the most important love and key to recovery. It’s the one we give ourselves. This is the love we all can and should embrace and celebrate.
Creating the Ultimate Sober Playlist for Life
The Sober Curator is creating an Ultimate Sober Playlist for Life. Check out our song recommendations in Play It Again. Send us your requests to @thesobercurator and they may end up on one of our future sober playlists!
PLAY IT AGAIN is The Sober Curator’s curated playlist of sobriety anthems—songs that capture the essence of recovery journeys and lift the spirit. From timeless classics to modern hits, these tracks inspire, heal, and motivate, no matter what genre of choice. Each song is handpicked for its power to transport you to another state of mind and remind you why living alcohol-free rocks.
Got a favorite sobriety theme song? We want to hear it! Send your picks to thesobercurator@gmail.com and help us keep the playlist growing.
SOBERSCRIBE NOW!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
