In this day and age, handwritten love letters have become near obsolete. Why send a note professing to your amour when you can send a *heart eyes* emoji instead? In an ode to the nostalgic art form, we scoured the internet archives to uncover the poetic and romantic love letters written by our favorite musical icons. 

In 1988, Tupac Shakur was doing more pen-to-paper writing than just songs. His love notes to his high school sweetheart Kathy show the giddiness of young love. Shakur’s 1995 love letter to Madonna shows growth in emotional maturity. Sid Vicious and Jimi Hendrix didn’t pour their heart out quite like Shakur; they kept their love letters short but sweet. Of course, we had to include the modern-day equivalent of love letters, Instagram captions, which Camila Cabello and John Legend used to tell the world exactly how they feel about their S.O. 

 

Tupac Shakur to Madonna

 

 

M,

I’ve waited a long time 2 finally write this. Mainly because I was struggling to find all the answers so that I wouldn’t leave any unanswered questions. First and foremost, I must apologize to you because like you said I haven’t been the kind of friend I know I am capable of being. Not because I am evil or because you weren’t worthy but at the risk of sounding overdramatic, the effects of racism make it difficult for a young black male to properly show affection for an older white woman. Can u understand that? For you to be seen with a black man wouldn’t in any way jeopardize your career, if anything it would make you seem that much more open & exciting. But for me at least in my previous perception, I felt due to my “image” I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was. I never meant to hurt you. As a matter of fact, I was honestly stuck on you but I got scared. I didn’t want to be another “toy” or another one of many. Also, I read somewhere in an interview where you said “I’m off to rehabilitate all the rappers & basketball players” or something to that effect. Those words cut me deep seeing how I never knew you to be with any other rappers besides myself. It was at this moment out of hurt & a natural instinct to strike back and defend my heart & ego that I said a lot of things I have since come to regret. But you know fucked up society can be. If it wasn’t then I could openly show you how I felt anytime, anywhere and you in return could show your support for me in the open not just anonymously. Can you feel me? In the time since, as you can see, I have grown both spiritually and mentally. It no longer matters how I’m perceived. Please understand, my previous position as that of a young man with limited experience with an extremely famous sex symbol who also happens to be known to every man, woman, and child in the world. Please remember me not for my shortcomings but for the good times and the magic that we shared (assuming of course that I meant anything to you.) Now my outlook is different, everyone is judged and treated not by their color or fame but on how they treat me and because you have been so kind even in the midst of my craziness I offer my friendship once again this time much stronger & focused. If you are still interested I would like to further discuss this with you but some of it couldn’t wait. I felt compelled to tell you….just in case anything happens to me. 

Please be careful Madonna, everyone is not as honorable as they seem. There are those whose hearts bleed with envy & evil, they would not hesitate to do you harm! Let my 5 bullets be proof of that! 

P.S if there is any information you can share with me regarding Jack & crew please do it could very well be a matter of life and death. 

Always, Tupac

 

 

Tupac Shakur to Kathy Loy

 

I love you more than ever
I want you now more than before
No one compares to you
The one that I adore
Everything is so beautiful
Since I fell in love
I yearn to kiss you passionately
You’re all that I think of 
Your scent is on my mind
I pray we stay together
I remember your silhouette 
I love you more than ever! 
I love you Kathy, Tupac 

That is by keeping honesty and an understanding between us. I love you and I want to be sure I don’t get hurt because I wouldn’t recover quickly. So be honest about anything and everything (so far you have.) If you want to be with other guys tell me so I don’t get my feelings hurt. I don’t want anyone but you but that’s just me. You’re the first girl that’s done this to me! With thought of your kiss, forever yours, Tupac.

 

Johnny Cash to June Cash

 

Happy Birthday Princess,

We get old and get used to each other. We think alike. We read each other’s minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted. But once in a while, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me. You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much. Happy Birthday Princess. – John

 

 

Sid Vicious to Nancy Spungen 

 

What Makes Nancy So Great By Sidney

1. Beautiful 
2. Sexy
3. Beautiful figure
4. Great sense of humor
5. Makes extremely interesting conversation 
6. Witty
7. Has beautiful eyes
8. Has fab taste in clothes
9. Has the most beautiful wet p**** in the world 
10. Even has sexy feet
11. Is extremely smart 
12. A great hustler

 

 

Jimi Hendrix to an unidentified girlfriend

 

Little girl…

Happiness is within you…so unlock the chains from your heart and let yourself grow—like the sweet flower you are…I know the answer—just spread your wings and set yourself FREE.

Love to you forever, Jimi Hendrix

 

 

Katy Perry to her childhood crush 

 

Dear Christopher, 

I got your address from a special person. Your mom, I didn’t know it, but your mom was sitting right in front of me on the couch and I said I liked you and I didn’t know that it was your mom! I was so embarrassed your mom told me to write you and I did. You know how I remember your town is rolling stones! I’m writing in my car that’s why it’s so messy.

 

Dear Chris,

Thank you for that charming note. I know I’m a girl and writing to a boy seems silly, but oh well. It’s very pretty in California there is lot of friends here. My sister is off to Santa Cruz to the boardwalk for 3 days. I know she seems lucky but I’m just as lucky as her I don’t have my sister for 3 days what a relief! You know how sisters are because you have two brothers! I hope you have a good time getting your black belt! Oh I forgot to tell you I’m going to modeling school! Well got to go! And I’m going to the Texas convention. P.S I like you a lot! Write back asap. 

Love, Katy Hudson

 

 

Camila Cabello to Shawn Mendes

 

I’ve learned a lot about love with this guy. It’s not just the happy blissful moments you see in pictures and videos- When you’re in a relationship with someone, it feels like they are this mirror reflecting yourself back to you- I constantly have to confront my fears, my anxieties, my insecurities, my patterns of thinking, my beliefs about life and about myself. It’s not as simple as it looks in pictures sometimes. sometimes, it’s messy and uncomfortable and ugly lol. But there’s nothing like the pull, the FORCE that is love, to be the light in the darkness- to be the gravitational pull that gives you the relentless strength to be braver, wiser, and better than you were yesterday. It’s so instinctive for us to love, even if our minds try to protect us from it sometimes, but our nature as humans is to love. And to be in love means to choose that person over and over again, to go through the messy stuff with. And that’s way more beautiful and raw and real than perfection. I’m all for being vulnerable on social media because I think only the neatness and perfection of life is shown on here, and that can make us all feel extra lonely and weird! So raise your glass to the messiness and weirdness of being human and the miracle. And the easiness. And the instinct. And the relentless force that is love.

 

John Legend to Chrissy Teigen 

 

This is for Chrissy. I love and cherish you and our family so much. We’ve experienced the highest highs and lowest lows together. Watching you carry our children has been so moving and humbling. I’m in awe of the strength you’ve shown through the most challenging moments. What an awesome gift it is to be able to bring life into the world. We’ve experienced the miracle, the power, and joy of this gift, and now we’ve deeply felt its inherent fragility.

I wrote this song because I have faith that as long as we walk this earth, we will hold each other’s hands through every tear, through every up and down, through every test. We promised each other this on our wedding day seven years ago, and every challenge we’ve faced has made that promise more powerful, more resilient. Our love will remain. We will never break.

Thank you to everyone who has been sending us prayers and well wishes, flowers, cards, words of comfort and empathy. We feel and appreciate your love and support more than you know. More than anything, we’ve heard so many stories about how so many other families have experienced this pain, often suffering in silence. It’s a club no one wants to be a part of, but it’s comforting to know we’re not alone. I’m sure Chrissy will have much more to say about this when she’s ready. But just know we’re grateful and we’re sending love to all of you and your families.