The UK’s favourite love songs revealed…and a music therapist reveals why we swoon for romantic tunes

The UK’s top romantic songs have an average BPM of 111, showing that faster songs are more likely to get hearts racing on the year’s most romantic day, but some higher BPM songs can boost that romantic mood of the day.

Over two-fifths (45%) of respondents shared that they are more likely to pick a venue for a Valentine’s date if love songs are being played. Restaurants are the top choice among date planners, as over half (52%) set their sights on dining out. However, one in three (30%) people shared that they will be wining and dining at home for the occasion.

When it comes to where daters are likely to avoid on Valentine’s Day, clubs (2%), cafes (4%) or leisure activities (4%) like mini golf topped the list.

For [those at home OR businesses looking to decorate for the day], flowers and candles tie in as the top mood setters for Valentine’s Day, both winning almost one in five (19%) respondents’ hearts.

More than one in six (17%) also say dressing up for the occasion sets the romantic mood, while a further one in seven (13%) say music holds the key to spread the love via the airwaves on Valentine’s Day.

Our Music therapist for PPL PRS, Marianne Rizkallah, explains why romantic music plays such a vital role in keeping romantic spirits alive on Valentine’s Day:

“Music’s impact seems to be focused on the limbic system, that deals with our emotions. Music’s positive impact, stimulating dopamine creation, creates activations in the limbic system and promotes positive feeling states.

“I think memory and association play a big part in Valentine’s songs – the positive associations with a song that reminds you of your significant other, the couples that have “our song”, and the emotional attachments to that.”