There was something unforgettable about having a crush in the 1960s. Maybe it was someone who sat a few desks away at school, someone you saw every weekend, or the person you secretly hoped would ask you to dance.
Before texting and social media, a glance across the room could mean everything. You waited for the phone to ring, passed notes when nobody was looking, and somehow every love song on the radio seemed like it had been written specifically for you.
If your first real crush happened in the 1960s, these 10 songs will bring those butterflies right back.
1. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
Released in 1961, this Elvis classic captured exactly what it felt like when you realized you were falling for someone and couldn’t do much about it. That gentle melody could turn an ordinary evening into something you remembered for years.
2. “Be My Baby” – The Ronettes
Few opening drumbeats are as instantly recognizable. Released in 1963, “Be My Baby” was filled with the excitement and longing that came with wanting someone to feel exactly the same way about you.
3. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles
When this song exploded in America in 1964, something as simple as holding someone’s hand suddenly sounded like the most exciting thing in the world. For teenagers falling in love, it was practically an anthem.
4. “My Girl” – The Temptations
Released in late 1964, “My Girl” became one of the sweetest love songs of the decade. Hearing it could immediately make you think about that one person who seemed capable of making any bad day better.
5. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” – The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys perfectly captured the impatience of young love with this 1966 favorite. When you were young and crazy about someone, the idea of growing up and finally being together felt incredibly far away.
6. “You Can’t Hurry Love” – The Supremes
This 1966 Motown classic offered advice that was difficult to follow when you were young. Waiting for the right person wasn’t easy, especially when everyone around you seemed to be pairing off.
7. “Happy Together” – The Turtles
Released in 1967, this song practically sounded like daydreaming set to music. If you ever sat in class imagining an entire future with someone who barely knew you liked them, this one probably made perfect sense.
8. “To Sir with Love” – Lulu
One of 1967’s biggest hits, this emotional song became attached to memories of growing up, leaving school behind, and realizing that certain people and moments wouldn’t stay with you forever.
9. “Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations
Released in 1968, this song mixed irresistible energy with the frustration of liking someone who kept letting you down. Somehow, even heartbreak sounded fun when this came through the radio.
10. “Crimson and Clover” – Tommy James and the Shondells
By 1968, popular music was changing quickly, and “Crimson and Clover” had a dreamy quality unlike almost anything else on the radio. It was the perfect soundtrack for being completely fascinated by someone.
First crushes had a way of making everything feel more important. A phone call, a dance, a shared look, or hearing the right song at exactly the right moment could become a memory that lasted for decades.
According to Billboard’s historical charts, many of these artists and songs became major fixtures of the 1960s, but their real legacy lives in the memories people attached to them.
Which song takes you back to your first real crush?
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