Is quality time your love language? These songs are made for it

Memory is a silly thing. It fades, even when we try to hold on tight. But some moments leave a mark, the ones we wish had lasted just a little longer. Like when you catch someone’s eye and neither of you looks away, or when silence feels comforting instead of awkward. That subtle magnetic pull to stay close, to stay in the hug just a few seconds more. And when it ends, you’re already texting them - “Had such a good time,” “Can’t wait to see you again.” This article is for those soft, lingering moments of connection, and the songs that capture the love language of quality time. Whether you’re saying everything or sitting in quiet company, these tracks understand the feeling of not wanting it to end. Read ahead, cause after you do, you won’t want these recommendations to end either!

Wanting to spend more time with someone beautifully intertwines with yearning, and songs about pyaar and tadap are best experienced in Hindi. ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’, sung by honey-sweet legends Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi, taps deep into your emotions with its Indian classical tabla beats and harmonizing vocals. It makes you think of that one person and sing along as if you're speaking to them: “Abhi na jao chhodkar / Dil abhi bhara nahi.” This lyric alone transports you to that one moment you want to hold on to forever. Imagine this: you're out with someone you deeply love, admiring their smile, their laugh, the way your heart swells just being around them - and suddenly, three hours have flown by and they have to leave. You want them to stay. You haven’t even noticed their nervous tics, how they move, what makes them sad. There’s still so much conversation left and so little time. Little do you know, they feel the same, and there is so much pain and dissatisfaction in leaving, but duty calls - “Agar main ruk gayi abhi, toh jaa na paaungi kabhi.” I believe that the vocals are what make this an incredibly emotional song, making tears flow down my cheeks every time I hear it.

Since we have started off on such an emotional note, here’s another Indian classic bound to give you similar feels. ‘Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo’ is a song with the most wholesome metaphors and soothing vocals by Farida Khanum. A verse I deeply resonate with in this song is “Waqt ki qaid mein zindagi hain, magar / Chand ghadiyan yahi hain jo azaad hain / Inko kho kar meri, jaan-e-jaan / Umr-bhar na taraste raho / Aaj jaane ki zid na karo”. The singer’s plea is so innocent and yet so artistically explained. She explains that life is confined by time and deadlines, but the moments of the present, on the watch, are free from these shackles. She urges her beloved not to lose these moments, only to wonder what could have been. Her final request is for him not to be so stubborn for his and her own sake. This song is achingly well written and sung, and I could not emphasize more why you have to listen to it.

‘Chaar Kadam’ is a soothing number and has been my personal favourite for a long time. Shaan’s introductory vocals are followed by other contemporary artists like Shreya Ghoshal and two others. It poses a request - “Bin kuch kahe bin kuch sune haathon mein haath liye / Chaar qadam bas chaar qadam chal do na saath mere”. No matter how tired a person is, all they want to do at the end of the day is spend time with someone they love. It doesn’t matter if there is silence; their presence(physical or over a sonic medium) in itself is most important, and there is another level of intimacy in that.
For all those whose love language is quality time but are in long-distance relationships, ‘Dekha Hazaro Dafaa’ by Arijit Singh, Palak Muchal, and Manoj Muntashir has to be a staple. Honestly, this song relates to every person infatuated with another. One moment without your lover can seem like eons, and you just can’t wait to see them again. This intense desire to be close to someone creates a sense of urgency, impulsivity, and spontaneity. If that is something you have not experienced in your relationship, please listen to the lyric - “Dekha hazaaron dafa aapko / Phir beqaraari kaisi hai?” - and re-evaluate.

I will never get over the instrumental of the song ‘Tum Jab Paas’ by Prateek Kuhad. From Indian classical to Indie Folk-Pop, no other songs can top these when it comes to expressing the need for more waqt, more lamhe. The opening lyric - “Kithne vaadein kitni baathen baaqi hain / Kitne din aur kitni raatein baaqi hain / In parachhaaiyon se badal bhee jaaoon to / Main befikar hoon madahosh ho bhee jaaoon to” - conveys the comfort felt in someone’s presence sensationally. Sometimes a lifetime isn’t enough to tell someone how profound your feelings for them are, and sometimes, one moment of eye contact is enough to confess. If you relate, go dedicate this song to your beloved!

Moving on to English classics, we have two songs by One Direction. ‘A.M.’ is one of the most underrated songs by this iconic band. It’s too bad that the next generation won’t see them together in action. It all begins with a small encounter, then you begin talking as friends, and little do you know, they slowly become a part of your daily routine. You talk day and night, giving regular updates, and occasionally having the most vulnerable conversations in the ‘A.M.’. It is something you never imagined would happen, and yet it all feels so natural that you want to spend any time you have with them. So won’t you stay with them till the A.M? Because, “All my favourite conversations / Always made in the a.m., yeah-yeah”.

The next one is ‘Change Your Ticket’. It is a slightly intimate track in terms of its lyrics while still maintaining a playful beat - “Watching you get dressed messes with my head / Take that bag off your shoulder / Come get back in bed, we still got time left / This don't have to be over”. This song is a lighthearted request asking the person to stay with them a couple more days - “Come on let me change your ticket home, oh”. It perfectly captures the feeling of being left exposed and bare, and the willpower required to say goodbye or part ways.

Shawn Mendes is another outstanding artist, and his song ‘Lost in Japan’ is pleasantly refreshing in tune. His romanticism shows in the lyrics where he is ready to take a flight to Japan only to see that certain someone. The slightly high-pitched vocals go so well to convey the desperate urge to be in their presence. The song will make your heart beat faster, making you want to run into your muse’s arms instantly.

A slow love ballad is ‘Time in a Bottle’ by Jim Croce. This song is the epitome of quality time as a love language. It has mellow piano tunes and faded vocals that go so well with the title of the song, suggesting time travel. It’s extremely romantic saying that “If I could save time in a bottle / The first thing that I'd like to do / Is to save every day / 'Til eternity passes away / Just to spend them with you”.

When all you can think of when you close your eyes are moments with your partner, these songs will be the impetus that will drive the two of you to see each other again. So listen and share these songs with him or her only on the Gaana app.

(This article is written by Yashvi Sonawala).


To catch the latest updates in the music world, head to Gaana.com now!