Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and the big softies here at One-Click Wonders want to celebrate by showcasing our favorite love songs. So, up until V-Day itself, this blog will feature a different collection of love songs from NBN staffers and various campus figures. Today, we have Features Editor Jason Plautz talking about the Man in Black, lovemaking and Star Trek.

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So” by Ray Charles

When a relationship is going well, all you feel is pure joy and there’s really nothing else to say but “Hallelujah.” Charles’ upbeat jam captures this feeling perfectly.

“I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash

Cash’s little ditty about devotion is bare-bones simple, with childish rhymes and a guitar part anyone could master. But somehow, “I Walk the Line” still speaks volumes about what it means to stick to your love even when you’re apart.

“Michelle” by The Beatles

I agonized over this pick, trying hard to find a Beatles song that could top the clichéd “In My Life.” I’m still not sure “Michelle” does, but it sure comes close. The beautiful guitar melody makes this one of the Beatles’ most beautiful songs and McCartney just sums it up perfectly when he sings “I love you, I love you, I love you. That’s all I want to say.”

“You Are My Sunshine”

This classic song has been covered endlessly, as a ballad, a bluegrass tune, an upbeat jazz dance and a rock tune. It was even on Star Trek. But no matter how it sounds, the lyrics about how much love can light up your life still hit home.

“Let Them Knock” by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

She’s making love to her man and nothing’s getting in her way. This could easily have been made intolerably dirty, but Jones’ gorgeous voice and the playful sax in the background make this a sexy soul number.

“These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding

In one of the most beautiful songs ever written, you can hear Redding getting emotional about wanting a girl. He wants her so badly, every part of his body is aching for her.