Alt Love Songs for Your Dark Romance

Dark romance doesn't mean sad romance. Some of the best alt love songs are tender, a little dramatic and full of the kind of devotion that only someone who owns three velvet coats can really express. These are songs for slow dancing in the kitchen, sending to a crush, building a couple playlist or picking a first dance.

We've grouped them by mood, so you can find the right one for wherever you are in the story.

The classic goth love songs

1. The Cure – "Lovesong" – Robert Smith wrote it as a wedding present for his partner Mary, and it ended up as one of the band's biggest hits. Dark-sounding, totally sincere.
2. The Cure – "Just Like Heaven" – Bright, giddy and dreamy. The perfect early-crush song.
3. The Cure – "Pictures of You" – Long, lush and nostalgic.
4. Depeche Mode – "Somebody" – A simple, honest song about wanting someone who really gets you.
5. Echo & the Bunnymen – "The Killing Moon" – Big, romantic and fated.
6. Siouxsie and the Banshees – "Kiss Them for Me" – Dreamy and glamorous.
7. Cocteau Twins – "Heaven or Las Vegas" – You may not catch every word, but the feeling is pure joy.
8. Type O Negative – "Love You to Death" – Slow, heavy and seductive in the most gothic way possible.

Soft and dreamy

For slow dancing, long drives and lying on the floor together.

9. Mazzy Star – "Fade Into You" – Hazy and gorgeous. A must for any alt couple playlist.
10. Slowdive – "Alison" – A wall of shimmer around a sweet melody. More like it in our shoegaze for beginners guide.
11. Deftones – "Change (In the House of Flies)" – Heavy, dreamy and intense, like the best kind of crush.
12. Deftones – "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" – The ultimate "let's just drive somewhere" song.
13. The Cranberries – "Linger" – Sweet, aching and very 90s.
14. The Smiths – "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" – Dramatic, romantic and a little funny about it.
15. Placebo – "Every You Every Me" – Fast and obsessive, in a fun way.

Emo and pop-punk romance

For the people who show love by screaming along together in the car.

16. Paramore – "The Only Exception" – Sweet, soft and one of the most-played emo-era love songs ever.
17. My Chemical Romance – "Summertime" – From Danger Days (2010). Bright, easy and in love.
18. Jimmy Eat World – "For Me This Is Heaven" – Big, sincere feelings from Futures.
19. The Used – "All That I've Got" – Dramatic devotion, the emo way.
20. Dashboard Confessional – "Hands Down" – A perfect night captured in one song.
21. Bright Eyes – "First Day of My Life" – Gentle, acoustic and a little shy.
22. Death Cab for Cutie – "I Will Follow You into the Dark" – A tender, loyal acoustic song, and a popular wedding pick.

For more crush-friendly picks, see our list of emo songs to send your crush.

Big, dramatic and devoted

For the couples who feel things at full volume.

23. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – "Into My Arms" – Spare piano and pure devotion. A favorite for alt weddings.
24. HIM – "The Funeral of Hearts" – Gothic, romantic and unashamedly over the top.
25. Evanescence – "My Immortal" – Haunting and dramatic. Better for a moody couple playlist than a first date.
26. Kate Bush – "Wuthering Heights" – Inspired by the novel, and as gothic as romance gets.
27. Siouxsie and the Banshees – "Dear Prudence" – Their cover of The Beatles song is swirling and sweet.
28. Ghost – "He Is" – An unexpectedly tender, soaring song from a band known for theatrics.

Modern dark romance

29. Molchat Doma – "Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)" – Not technically a love song, but its cold, swaying groove is made for dancing close.
30. Chelsea Wolfe – "Feral Love" – Dark, heavy and intense.

What makes an alt love song different

Pop love songs tend to be simple: I like you, you like me, let's go. Alt love songs usually add a little more texture. They might sound dark while saying something sweet, like "Lovesong." They might be heavy and loud while being incredibly tender, like most of the Deftones catalog. Or they might be openly dramatic, like HIM, in a way that's half sincere and half having fun with it.

That mix is what makes them feel real. Love can be exciting, nervous, obsessive, cozy and a little scary all at once, and alt music has never been afraid to put all of that in one song. It's also why a lot of these tracks work for any kind of couple, any gender, any age, and any stage, from the first nervous week to year ten.

The other big difference is the sound. Fuzzy guitars, cold synths, a heavy bassline or a wall of reverb can make a simple feeling sound enormous. If you've ever slow danced to a shoegaze song, you know exactly what we mean.

How to use these songs

Sending one to a crush

Keep it light at first. "Just Like Heaven," "The Only Exception" or "Fade Into You" say "I like you" without saying "I've planned our wedding." Save the intense devotion songs for later. Our guide to goth Valentine's Day ideas has more ways to show it.

Making a couple playlist

Start with songs you both already love, then add a few from each section of this list. Swap a song each week and you'll end up with a playlist that tells your story. For more ways to celebrate being a pair, check out our goth couple ideas.

Picking a first dance

Go for something slow and steady you can actually dance to. "Lovesong," "Into My Arms," "Fade Into You" and "I Will Follow You into the Dark" all work well.

Setting a profile song

Your profile song can hint at what kind of romantic you are. On Alt Chat, every profile can have an Anthem that plays when someone opens it, so picking "Just Like Heaven" tells people a lot before you even say hello. If you need help choosing, read our guide on how to pick a profile song.

Love, but make it alt

The best thing about alt love songs is that they're honest. They're dramatic when they need to be, soft when it matters, and they never pretend love is simple. Put a few on, light some candles, and let the dark romance begin.

FAQ

What is the best goth love song?

The Cure's "Lovesong" is the classic choice. Robert Smith wrote it as a wedding present for his longtime partner Mary, and it's both dark-sounding and completely sincere.

What song should I send my alt crush?

Pick something that matches the stage you're at. A sweet, light song like "Just Like Heaven" or "The Only Exception" works early on, while something intense like "Into My Arms" is better saved for later.

What are good songs for an alt wedding?

Popular choices include "Lovesong" by The Cure, "Into My Arms" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star and "I Will Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. They're romantic without being cheesy.