Happy National Kissing Day! The unique holiday falls on June 22 every year. Its origins are a bit murky, but Days of the Year notes, “It seems to have developed over time in certain cultures. Some researchers speculate that it began with mouth-to-mouth feedings from mothers to children. However, other researchers refute this, noting that this would likely have made it present in all cultures naturally.”

Besides inspiring us to want to kiss our significant other or even make a move on someone we’ve got a crush on, National Kissing Day has us thinking about music. There are a bunch of songs about kissing or that have the word “kiss” and its tense variations in the title or lyrics.

To celebrate the holiday, we gathered a short list of our favorite “kiss” songs that will undoubtedly have something for everyone.

• The Crystals - 'Then He Kissed Me'

  Few songs are as dreamy as The Crystals’ “Then He Kissed Me.” It’s definitely one of the best examples of the magic that was Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound.” The song has been covered by a number of artists, including The Beach Boys, KISS and St. Vincent. Additionally, it’s soundtracked memorable scenes in Adventures in Babysitting and Goodfellas.

• Lita Ford - 'Kiss Me Deadly'

  The lead single off of Lita Ford’s 1988 album Lita, “Kiss Me Deadly” remains one of the best hard rock songs from the ’80s that just continues to get better with age. That was apparent when it was featured in the 2019 MCU movie Captain Marvel. The way the song explodes in the first verse never fails to pump us up to this day.

• Hall & Oates - 'Kiss On My List'

  “Kiss On My List” kicked off an incredible streak of singles from Hall & Oates in the 1980s. Featured on the duo’s 1980 album Voices, “Kiss On My List” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was their second number-one hit.

• Prince & The Revolution - 'Kiss'

  Pretty much any playlist isn’t complete without some Prince, and this one is no exception. Naturally, “Kiss” was a must for this list for obvious reasons. It became Prince’s third number-one hit single. And who can forget Julia Roberts singing “Kiss” in that fancy bathtub in Pretty Woman?!

• Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Suck My Kiss'

  “Give to me sweet sacred bliss/Your mouth was made to suck my kiss.” Few rock lyrics are both so aggressive and so sweet! “Suck My Kiss” remains a setlist mainstay for the Chili Peppers for a reason!

• Seal - 'Kiss From a Rose'

   

  Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” is nearly 30 years old, and it still slaps! It’s just a monster of a song, and it doesn’t hurt that it was attached to a unique summer blockbuster like Batman Forever. No wonder it won Grammy Awards for Record of Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance!

• U2 - 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me'

  Funny enough, this U2 track was also featured on the soundtrack for Batman Forever along with “Kiss From A Rose.” In fact, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” was the lead single off the film’s soundtrack, and “Kiss From A Rose” was the second single. Even though Seal ended up overshadowing U2, this song still absolutely rocks.

Get The MTR Rewind Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Your connection to the music and entertainment news you want and, the community information you need, plus exclusive games and contests.

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.