Top 10 R&B Love Songs in 2009

The beauty of a love song is that it is generally one that everyone can relate to. It can be upbeat, romantic, fast-paced or depressing, but the lyrics are what have to make the listener connect. These top 10 love songs of 2009 are ones that could certainly get couples on the dance floor or make them not even make it to the nightclubs or lounges.

"I'll Go" by Chris Brown

Say what you want about his personal life, but his singing and dancing talents have not remotely diminished. "I'll Go" by Chris Brown is a beautiful ballad about how no matter what happens "the love was worth it." Of course the average person will assume he's talking about Rihanna in the same way as "Crawl" and "So Cold," but "I'll Go" shows growth-that regardless of whether she has his heart in the palm of her hands and chose to leave him, it was fun while it lasted. I'm actually quite sad that that February 2009 incident happened because I thought they were a gorgeous couple. But life happens, and I'm still very much a fan of Chris Brown's music regardless of his decisions. And this song warmed my heart because sometimes it's hard to face the fact that a relationship is just not going to work out the way you want it to no matter whose fault it is.

"On the Ocean" by K'Jon

The first time I heard this song, K'Jon's voice reminded me a lot of Carl Thomas. In Chicago, this is a perfect stepper's song because of the instrumental. Even though it's a stepping song, it's suitable to play at an R&B lounge. And K'Jon seems to be in love with more than a woman. He's in love with succeeding and will travel the seven seas to reach his destination.

"Comfortable" by Ne-Yo

This Ne-Yo song slipped under the radar while "She Got Her Own" was so heavy, but true Ne-Yo fans blasted this beautiful ballad. Just like the song states, Ne-Yo wants his lady to be as comfortable as possible so they can get a little closer. He croons, "Just pull your hair back and throw on some sweats/Or something less/You ain't got to impress me/No need to fix up no make-up/No stress/Girl, I could care less/I just want you right here with me."

How cool is that? A man is truly googly-eyed over you when you don't have to wear all the fancy clothes and hairstyles, and he still wants to spend quality time with you and get, you guessed it, comfortable.

"Birthday Sex" by Jeremih

Jeremih came completely out of nowhere, and I'd never heard the song until a publicist contacted me about interviewing him. And in that same day, I heard "Birthday Sex" nonstop and loved the song. I've heard plenty of birthday songs, like Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday," Luke's "It's Your Birthday" and 50 Cent's "In Da Club" where he raps, "Go shorty, it's your birthday." But strange enough, I'd never heard such a sexy song about having sex on someone's birthday. Even Jeremih said fans would thank him and admit they had birthday sex on their birthday. How could you not like such a catchy and flirty song? "Tell me where you want your gift."

"I Invented Sex" by Trey Songz

If not for completing an interview with Trey Songz, I would've chosen "Neighbors Know My Name" because that's the best track on his latest CD, "Ready." However, I found "I Invented Sex" amusing because of one lyric alone, "reached for the handshake/got a hug." The reason it was amusing was because he really does do this in person, and I remember being really caught off-guard by his greeting. I have no idea whether Trey Songz is like this all the time, but the two times I've covered him for interviews he always looks like he could stop whatever he's doing to have sex. He's almost got a Prince feel to him. Watching Trey Songz walk through the lobby of the Swiss Hotel was something straight out of a movie. He's sexy in the same way that Richard Gere or Angelina Jolie or Prince or Halle Berry are. I don't even think he can help it nor do I think he does it on purpose. That's what made "I Invented Sex" so hot to me, the fact that I believe whoever he's been with left satisfied. Obviously Trey Songz didn't invent sex, but he sure is personifying sexy quite nicely.

"Lions, Tigers, and Bears" by Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan asks a question that anyone who has been in love (or even "in like") wants to know, "Why do we love love when love seems to hate us?" It's a fair question. Jazmine Sullivan ponders on how it is that she's just fine with performing in a sold-out crowd, but loving a man is just too much for her. Insecurities and past experiences can cloud a person's mind state when meeting someone new, and Jazmine Sullivan put these thoughts into words on a beautiful R&B song.

"Sex Therapy" by Robin Thicke

From the moment the bass starts, listeners know this is about to be yet another sexy track by crooner Robin Thicke. Robin Thicke sings, "Just let me love you/lay right here/girl, don't be scared of me/give you sex therapy." Who could be scared of somebody singing that to her?

"Epiphany" by Chrisette Michelle

Just about everybody has been in this type of relationship-waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for someone to get home, feeling lonely, repulsed by the excuses and just fed up with trying to make a relationship work all by yourself. So Chrisette Michelle finally said enough is enough and told this man, "So I think I'm just about over being your girlfriend/I'm leaving." The strange part is the beat is so hot that I wanted to dance to such a sad song, and her voice is one big powerhouse. Mix all three of these together, and you've got a hit.

"Pretty Wings" by Maxwell

You could hear the sigh of relief and the anxious await of Maxwell's newest CD after an eight-year hiatus in the R&B and neo-soul scene. Music lovers from all walks of life sincerely missed Maxwell after he just up and disappeared in 2001. And although I'm a little frustrated that there weren't more songs on his first of his trilogy CDs, "BLACKsummer's Night" did not disappoint with his first single, "Pretty Wings." It was sexy, angelic, sweet and romantic, and radio stations blasted it nonstop. He sang, "Your face will be the reason I smile," but for R&B lovers, he was the reason we smiled. We were so happy to see good ole' soul music back on the scene.

"The Point of It All" by Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton has the power to bring you to church, bring you to the dance floor and bring you closer to that special someone. And on this song, he snapped. The opening lines told listeners exactly what was on Anthony Hamilton's mind and set up the entire scene. How do you not like a song that starts with, "I can't stay away from you too long/Even if I do I'll always call/Checking on you making sure you're okay/Be the one to brighten up your day/And the point of it all/I love you."

Although "The Point of It All" is number 46 on Billboard's Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this week, it is clearly number one for 2009.