In the world of music, heavy metal is relatively new, only existing since Black Sabbath released its first album in 1969. However, there has been a stigma attached to metal, whereas most people think that all heavy bands worship the Devil, and their songwriting is limited to dark imagery, dragons, wizards, and violence. That’s far from the truth, and metal fans have the same emotions as everybody else. There are even many great metal love songs out there.
Here is a great list of songs that may help alleviate any preconceived notions that metal is a genre with no feelings or emotions.
Table of Contents
1. Love Song by Tesla
| Genre | Hard Rock, Metal |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | The Great Radio Controversy |
Formed in 1981 in Sacramento under the names Earthshaker and City Kidd, Tesla was dubbed “the thinking man’s hair metal” and was named after inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. In 1989, they hit the Billboard top-ten for the first time with “Love Song” from “The Great Radio Controversy.” The track is about how the power of love can conquer anything. When you’re having a bad day, knowing that someone loves you and cares about you can make all the difference between giving up and continuing.
2. Song #3 by Stone Sour
| Genre | Alternative Rocky, Hard Rock, Metal |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Hydrograd |
Many people think that Stone Sour is a side project of lead vocalist Corey Taylor, but he was with them before joining Slipknot. In 2017, Stone Sour embarked on a quest to record an album that was more melodic than their previous efforts. The result was the Grammy-nominated band’s sixth studio album, “Hydrograd.” The first single from the record was an upbeat rock track called “Song #3.” However, it had the lyrics and the message of never giving up and always being there for the one you love.
3. Everlong by Foo Fighters
| Genre | Hard Rock, Alternative Rock, Metal |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | The Colour And The Shape |
After Kurt Cobain died in 1994, Dave Grohl needed to find a way to work through his feelings. The result was a band that would eventually be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Foo Fighters. In 1997, Grohl released “The Colour And The Shape.” The record’s second single was an unconventional love song called “Everlong.” Asked what the song meant, roll commented that it was about loving someone so much, both spiritually and physically, that when you sang songs together, you would harmonize with them.
4. Hold On To My Heart by W.A.S.P.
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | The Crimson Idol |
When I think of heavy metal love songs, I have to admit that the first band that comes to mind isn’t W.A.S.P. Although they are usually known for their lifestyle of debauchery and excess, Blackie Lawless shows his softer side on the track “Hold On To My Heart” from 1992’s “The Crimson Idol.” This marked a shift in sound for a band that once found themselves on the PMRC’s “Filthy 15” list. In this track, Lawless is begging for someone to hold him and take away the excruciating pain of his loneliness.
5. I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Armageddon (Original Soundtrack) |
It’s hard to believe that with a career that has spanned over five decades, Boston’s legendary rockers Aerosmith have only had one number-one hit in their career. That number-one hit also got them an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy nomination. Of course, the song I’m talking about is the theme from “Armageddon,” called “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing.” This track is a declaration of love, in which the narrator says that he doesn’t want to miss one moment that he can share with his significant other.
6. Promises by Megadeth
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | The World Needs a Hero |
Sometimes, we grow so tired of the mundane existence of our everyday lives that we latch on to anything that feels real, including people. We grow tired of having our dreams shattered and are constantly looking for that special someone to come along and help pick up the pieces, hopefully putting them back together. These relationships usually don’t last because they burn so brightly. That’s what I get from “Promises,” which is from the Grammy Award-winning thrash metal titans 2001 effort, “The World Needs a Hero.”
7. No Stranger To Love by Black Sabbath
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Seventh Star |
Since their inception in 1969, Tony Iommi has been the only consistent member of Black Sabbath, with 13 platinum and six gold albums. The Godfathers of Heavy Metal have endured several lineup changes over five decades. In 1986, during the Glenn Hughes era of the band, they released the under-appreciated album “Seventh Star.” Their twelfth studio effort included the ballad “No Stranger To Love,” which is about being so deeply in love that you can’t see when something bad is happening, even though you’ve been in this position before.
8. Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
| Genre | Alternatives Rock, Post Grunge |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Purple |
This is quite possibly the most interesting song on this list, purely from the perspective from which it’s written. In an interview with Rolling Stone, former lead vocalist Scott Weiland said that the idea for this song came from phone calls he exchanged with his wife while he was out on tour. However, his wife suspected that he had slipped back into using drugs, and Weiland wrote this song from her perspective. The track is calling him out on the lies that stemmed from his heroin addiction and is from 1994’s “Purple.”
9. Black by Pearl Jam
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Ten |
There are plenty of debates about the meaning behind the eerily beautiful ballad “Black “from Seattle’s Pearl Jam. Fortunately, lead vocalist Eddie Vedder has set the record straight as to what the track, which is found on Pearl Jam’s debut album. “Ten” is about. In an interview, Vedder said the track is about letting go of first love. Those relationships usually don’t laugh, and people go their separate ways. Life pulls us in many different directions, and people roll apart. However, you will always have that experience to keep with you for the rest of your life.
10. Thank You by Led Zeppelin
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1969 |
| Album | Led Zeppelin II |
Maybe it’s just a matter of personal opinion, but I have always thought that this was the best love song ever written. There’s just something to be said for the opening lines to this song, “If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me,” that resonates deep down into my soul. The track, featured on the critically-praised 1969 album “Led Zeppelin II,” has lead singer Robert Plant professing a never-ending love for his partner that will last a lifetime and then some.
11. Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
| Genre | Metal, Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Metallica |
Even hardened metalheads like Metallica’s James Hetfield are capable of showing their softer side now and then. On 1991’s self-titled effort, also referred to as the Black album, Metallica wanted to focus on a more radio-friendly sound. It worked because the album sold over 30 million copies worldwide. One of the album’s hit singles, “Nothing Else Matters,” was written by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield as a loving dedication to his wife and is about how he still feels close to her when he’s on tour. “Nothing Else Matters” is undoubtedly one of the best metal love songs of all time.
12. Jambi by Tool
| Genre | Progressive Metal |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | 10,000 Days |
Have you ever met that special someone whom you felt like you would give practically anything to be with? Strangely enough, Maynard James Keenan from the award-winning progressive metal band Tool has written a song that depicts exactly this message. The track “Jambi,” from the band’s highly-anticipated 2006 Grammy-nominated release “10,000 Days,” tells us the tale of a king who seemingly has everything he could want except the one person he truly loves. In the track, the king says that he would eagerly trade away all of his riches just to spend one day with this person.
13. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Appetite For Destruction |
Although they came up on the Sunset Strip, Guns N’ Roses was an entirely different band altogether. When they put out their 1987 debut, “Appetite for Destruction,” it sounded like nothing else was being released. While every track on the album is good, one of the songs that is a particularly bright spot is “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” which was also Guns N’ Roses’ only number-one Billboard hit of their career. The track is a love song written for frontman Axl Rose’s girlfriend and future wife, Erin Everly.
14. Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns by Mother Love Bone
| Genre | Post-Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Singles (Original Soundtrack) |
Mother Love Bone was a predecessor to Pearl Jam, formed in 1988. Sadly, they would only be active for two short years, as lead vocalist Andrew Wood died from a heroin overdose in 1990. In 1992, the band contributed “Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns” to the soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe film “Singles.” The track is about Woods’ fiance, Xana La Fuente, and how drugs ruined their relationship. La Fuente says that she tried to help Andrew get clean, but he would accuse her of trying to control him. The result was this song.
15. Love Reign Down by Black Label Society
| Genre | Metal |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Stronger Than Death |
Whatever you do, don’t call Black Label Society a side project for lead vocalist and lead guitarist Zakk Wylde, who is also known for playing guitar for the one and only Ozzy Osbourne for twenty years. The band is more of a passion project for Wylde, with several live and studio releases over two decades together. Released in 2000, “Stronger Than Death” included “Love Reign Down.” The track is a loving, eight-and-a-half-minute tribute to Zakk Wylde’s mother and manager, Barbara, who passed away. If this song resonates with you, check out our playlist of songs about losing someone you love.
16. Warmness On the Soul by Avenged Sevenfold
| Genre | Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Sounding the Seventh Trumpet |
When Avenged Sevenfold released “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet,” they were practically unheard of. Fast forward over two decades, and they have had six singles and two albums certified as platinum by the RIAA and are one of the biggest acts in heavy metal today. However, it all started with their highly-praised debut, which featured the surprisingly thoughtful “Warmness On the Soul.” The song is a soft, piano-driven ballad about how you can make it through anything and accomplish everything with that one special person by your side. This is one of the most legendary heavy metal songs of all time, so if you haven’t listened to it yet, I definitely recommend it.
17. I Remember You by Skid Row
| Genre | Glam Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | Skid Row |
The 1980s were a decade of excess, with what seemed like a new hair metal band popping up every few minutes. One band that stood out was Skid Row. They became a massive success, with their debut album selling over five million copies, based on the strength of hit singles like the sentimental ballad “I Remember You.” The song is about someone reminiscing about a past relationship. He is still in love with them. It was written by bassist Rachel Bolan, although there’s no indication as to if this song is based on a real-life experience.
18. Love Buzz by Nirvana
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Bleach |
Leave it to Seattle’s premiere grunge band Nirvana and its eccentric frontman Kurt Cobain to cover a three-and-a-half minute punk song which has Mariska Veres from the Dutch punk rock band Shocking Blue professing her love for someone. The track, featured on Nirvana’s 1987 debut album “Bleach,” is often mistakenly thought to be about Courtney Love. However, they did not make their relationship official until 1991. The original singer has never divulged who the track was about, either. I guess it will remain a mystery.
19. Love You to Death by Type O Negative
| Genre | Gothic Metal |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | October Rust |
Hailing out of Brooklyn, New York, and being nicknamed The Drab Four because they were obsessed with both Black Sabbath and the Beatles, frontman Peter Steele and his bandmates in Type O Negative had an obsession with depression, death, and romance. All of those are prevalent in the ballad “Love You to Death,” which is from their 1996 release, “October Rust.” The track, which is widely considered to be one of the band’s best songs, is quite romantic in a creepy, gothic, Nosferatu way.
20. I Won’t Forget You by Poison
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Look What the Cat Dragged In |
Pennsylvania’s most outlandish glam metal band, Poison, arrived with a bang. with their 1986 debut release, “Look What the Cat Dragged In.” The record was self-funded, costing only $23,000 to produce. That turned out to be a smart investment. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and also sold over four million copies, thanks to four hit MTV singles. The last of those singles were “I Won’t Forget You,” which is about holding a special place in your heart for your first love.
21. I Believe In a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
| Genre | Post Hair Metal, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Permission To Land |
In 2003, the English rock band The Darkness was trying to launch a hair metal comeback, and they succeeded with their hit single “I Believe In a Thing Called Love.” The single helped their debut album “Permission To Land” go double-platinum, selling over 2.1 million copies, including 1.3 million copies sold in the United Kingdom. It was a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States. The track was released as part of a three-song EP and is about being both in lust and in love.
22. More Than Words by Extreme
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1990 |
| Album | Extreme II: Pornograffitti |
I don’t know about most of you, but I love it when an otherwise heavy band goes for the stripped-down acoustic sound now and then. That’s exactly what the funk metal band extreme does on their smash single “More Than Words,” which became the first and only Billboard number-one hit of their career, appearing on 1990’s hit album “Extreme II: Pornograffitti.” The song is about how saying the words “I love you” may not be enough. Your actions will speak much louder than those three words.
23. Is This Love by Whitesnake
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Whitesnake |
Although they formed in London in 1978, most metal fans had not heard of Whitesnake before they released their highly successful self-titled album in 1987. I guess what they say is true. Hard work and perseverance do pay off, as their 7th studio album was the first platinum-certified record of their career, selling almost 19 million copies worldwide. “Is This Love” was the album’s second single and proved to be a big hit. Climbing up to the number-two spot on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s about the feeling you get when you meet your soulmate.
24. I’ll Follow You by Shinedown
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Amaryllis |
Shinedown’s Brent Smith must be an incredibly lucky man to have someone in his life that he would be willing to follow anywhere. That’s the point he makes in the song “I’ll Follow You.” The track is from their fourth album, 2012’s “Amaryllis.” In an interview, lead vocalist Brent Smith says that the track is a love song about “an endless devotion to his girlfriend, Teresa Collier.” He goes on to say, “I’ll do whatever it takes; I’ll follow you anywhere and everywhere.”
25. Love Walks In by Van Halen
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | 5150 |
Throughout Van Halen’s long, illustrious career, there is a clear rift between those who prefer the David Lee Roth era and those who like the Sammy Hagar incarnation of the band. “Love Walks In.” It is from the first of the four albums they would release with Hagar, 1986’s “5150.” The reaction to Hagar was overwhelmingly positive, with the album becoming the band’s first-ever number-one hit, and the song is about the feeling you get when you meet that special someone. Time just seems to stop, and nothing is ever the same.
26. Magdalena by A Perfect Circle
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Mer de Noms |
This isn’t the only song on this list about someone being in love with an exotic dancer. Nevertheless, there have been plenty of debates as to what this song is about. However, the verse “I’d sell my soul, my self-esteem dollar at a time. One chance. One kiss. One taste of you, my Magdalena” is fairly indicative of its meaning. The track is from the band’s 2000 debut, “Mer de Noms,” which was. their best-selling album, selling 1.2 million copies, and was the highest-ever debut for a rock band on Billboard.
27. Love Me Forever by Motörhead
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | 1916 |
While I would consider myself to be a fan of Motörhead, I have not heard all of their work, but I have enjoyed everything I’ve heard. Surprisingly, I don’t ever recall hearing this song before a few weeks ago. I was just as surprised as most of you probably are to see that Motörhead recorded a love song. Found on their classic Grammy-nominated album “1916,” the track “Love Me Forever” is a song where Lemmy just wants to let the relationship take its course. He just wants to be loved and to love.
28. You’re In Love by Ratt
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Invasion of Your Privacy |
Ratt started their career on a roll, with their first four albums going platinum and their fifth album reaching gold status. They were known for infusing ’80s hair metal with pop hooks to make a sound that stood out in a crowded field. Their second effort, 1988’s “Invasion of Your Privacy,” went double-platinum and hit number seven on Billboard, thanks to hits like “You’re In Love.” The track is about how love can make you do really strange things and how there are people whom you will always have feelings for. If you like this song, you’ll most likely love our playlist of songs about young love.
29. Dosed by Red Hot Chili Peppers
| Genre | Funk Metal, Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | By The Way |
When Anthony Kiedis recorded his vocals for the Red Hot Chili Peppers 2002 album” By The Way,” he must have been head over heels in love with someone. I could have picked just about any song from that album to put on this list. It’s obvious in most of the tracks, but it’s different in “Dosed.” In this song, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees sing about losing someone you loved. It’s also about appreciating the time that you have with someone while they’re still here.
30. This Love by Pantera
| Genre | Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Vulgar Display Of Power |
As Nazareth once said, “Love hurts.” It hurts especially bad lying when your trust has been betrayed. When this happens, you want to take back every kind word and deed you’ve ever said to or done for that person. That’s what Phil Anselmo was saying on Pantera’s 1992 effort, “Vulgar Display Of Power,” which celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Phil must have been in love with whomever the song is about because he has a lot of rages he’s getting out on the track. Perhaps it was his ex-wife, Opal.
31. Love Zone by Judas Priest
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | Ram It Down |
Judas Priest is one of the first bands that comes to my mind when I think about heavy metal. Along with Iron Maiden, they helped lead the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 1980s. In 1988, they were still going strong with the release of their eleventh album, “Ram It Down.” On this record, the Grammy Award-winning band featured the track “Love Zone.” In hard-driving Judas Priest fashion, Rob Halford screams (as only he can) about people who will do anything for a little love and attention.
32. I’ll Be There For You by Bon Jovi
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | New Jersey |
New Jersey has been the birthplace of a few rock legends, one of which is Jon Bon Jovi. This East Coast hard rock band has dominated the Billboard charts with ten top-ten hits and four songs going all the way to the top spot. One of those number-one hits was the ultimate eighties power ballad “I’ll Be There For You” from 1988’s “New Jersey.” This track has Jon Bon Jovi pleading for his significant other to stay, although she’s already got a foot out the door. He promises to atone for past mistakes and make things right.
33. You’re Mine by Disturbed
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Immortalized |
One of the best feelings that you can ever experience is meeting the right person at the exact moment you need them most. There’s nothing like finding the right person after going through all of the damage caused by the wrong ones. That’s the message being delivered by David Dramain in “You’re Mine.” The track, which appears on 2015’s “Immortalized,” was written for Dramain’s wife. He said that he wanted to write something that wasn’t as dark as Disturbed’s usual material. Now that’s writing from the heart.
34. Metal Love by Speedbreaker
| Genre | Speed Metal, Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Built for Speed |
Speedbreaker is a now-defunct band from Düsseldorf that formed in 2011. Before they split up in 2015, the band released two demos, a split EP, and one full-length album. That album was 2014’s “Built for Speed.” There is truth and advertising with this band. Speedbreaker is proud of its roots and is a thrash/speed metal band that rarely slows down, instead choosing to deliver whatever its message might be over pummeling drums and aggressive guitars. As you might guess, it’s about the band’s love for the Devil himself.
35. Heavy Metal Love by Helix
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | No Rest for the Wicked |
Hailing from Canada and rocking out since 1974, Helix has been nominated for two Juno Awards. They formed in Ontario to compete in a “Battle Of the Bands” contest. under their original name, The Helix Field Band. Helix then temporarily became Del Shannon’s backing band. They kept on trucking, with Michael J Fox auditioning once to play bass. By 1983, they released “No Rest for the Wicked,” beating Ozzy by four years for that album title. The record featured the track “Heavy Metal Love,” which is about falling for a tough girl who is into metal.
Popular Related Article: Playlist of Songs About Forbidden Love
36. Still Loving You by Scorpions
| Genre | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Love At First Sting |
This mega-hit was huge for the Scorpions. The German metal band is living proof that hard work and perseverance will eventually pay off, taking until their ninth studio album to make it big in the United States. That album was 1984’s hard-rocking classic, “Love At First Sting.” The album sold nearly 3.5 million copies and reached the sixth spot on the Billboard 200 charts, based on the strength of the single “Still Loving You.” The song tells the story of a couple who has parted ways, and Klaus Meine is still in love with her.
37. Love Bites by Def Leppard
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Hysteria |
“Love Bites” was probably the biggest power ballad of the 1980s, and catapulted Def Leppard from being stars in the world of hard rock to being international superstars who held the top spot on the Billboard charts and gave them the first number-one album of their career, 1987’s “Hysteria.” The song is about how painful loving someone can be after a breakup and how hard it is to resist rekindling that romance. On the track, Joel Elliot sings about how still being in love with this person is taking a toll on him, both mentally and physically.
38. To Be With You by Mr. Big
| Genre | Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Lean Into It |
Formed in 1988 in Los Angeles, Mr. Big started as a side project spearheaded by Racer X’s guitarist Paul Gilbert and bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan. However, while most of the members were in bands that played harder music, Mr. Big was primarily known for plaguing softer songs, like the acoustic ballad “To Be With You,” which was from their 1991 record, “Lean Into It.” The album was their only platinum effort, selling 1.6 million records. The song is about loving someone, wanting to be with them, and being willing to give practically anything for the chance for a shot.
39. Invasion by Vinnie Vincent Invasion
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Vinnie Vincent Invasion |
Vinnie Vincent’s claim to fame is that he was the guitarist who temporarily replaced Ace Frehley in KISS. After being ousted from the hard rock legends, Vincent decided to form a band with bassist Dana Strum. He also recruited the former Journey lead vocalist Robert Fleischman for what was becoming something of a supergroup and released the band’s self-titled debut in 1986. The album’s closing track was the eight-minute opus called “Invasion,” about someone who can come into your life and use your emotions and your libido to get whatever her heart desires.
40. IronWasting Love by Iron Maiden
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Fear Of the Dark |
Iron Maiden was at the forefront of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that was popular in the eighties. Formed in 1975 by Steve Harris, they struck gold in 1981 when Bruce Dickinson joined the band. He quit in 1992, but not before releasing the critically-praised “Fear Of the Dark” and the ballad ‘Wasting Love.” It is a refreshing change and is about how Bruce is not emotionally ready for a relationship and how he would be bad for anyone who is looking for Love. In the essence, they would be wasting their love on him.
41. A Kiss to Remember by My Dying Bride
| Genre | Doo Metal |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | “Like Gods of the Sun, |
There’s nothing like an Englishtown doom metal band swinging sordid tales about vampire love. If that’s your thing, then you’ll love “A Kiss to Remember” from My Dying Bride. This song is featured on the band’s fourth album, 1996’s “Like Gods of the Sun,” and is a gory love song that’s complete with blood drinking, stalking mankind, and being reborn into creatures of the night. Although they have never had a song or album chart in the United States, they eventually hit the top 20 in both Germany and Switzerland with the release of their 2020 album “The Ghost Of Orion.”
42. Love Of a Lifetime by Firehouse
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Firehouse |
I don’t say this very often, but if you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, I am certain that you have heard this song several times in your life. The track “Love Of a Lifetime” is quite possibly the sappiest, most sentimental song I have ever heard, and that’s saying something. As the title would suggest, this song is about a guy who finds “The One” and feels the need to tell the entire world about it. The song earned Firehouse, who is named after a KISS song, their first (and only) platinum album of their career.
43. Finally Forever by Chris Cornell
| Genre | Post-Grunge, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | Carry On |
Chris Cornell made a name for himself by being the frontman for the Seattle grunge powerhouse Soundgarden. However, Chris released ten albums with Audioslave and had a few solo efforts as well. In 2007, Cornell released his second solo album, the fairly well-received “Carry On,” which was the first album he recorded after leaving the Audioslave. One of the highlights was “Finally Forever,” in which Cornell lets his amazing voice shine over an acoustic track. The lyrics are about the butterflies and feelings you get when you meet that person whom you think you can spend forever with.
44. Beth by KISS
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Destroyer |
There are a few KISS ballads that could fit in this spot, but I figured that it would be best to go with a classic, even though picking this track is considered fairly predictable. By now, we have all heard the story behind the song KISS drummer Peter Criss wrote and sang for his wife. Featured on Kiss’s iconic 1976 classic album “Destroyer,” the simple ballad “Beth” was a love letter from the drummer to his wife, but many people don’t know that he wrote the song while he was in the band Chelsea before joining KISS.
45. Crystal Eyes by L.A. Guns
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | Clocked & Loaded |
After leaving Guns N’ Roses in 1982, Traci Guns had to find a creative outlet. The result was the Los Angeles-based glam metal outfit L.A. Guns. The band saw some success in the late 1980s with their first top-40 hit song, “Ballad Of Jayne,” from 1989’s “Clocked & Loaded.” In 1992, they released the record “Hollywood Vampires,” complete with the ballad “Crystal Eyes,” a sentimental song that sounds a lot like it’s about “the one that got away.” Whomever she is, Traci Guns will probably always love her.
46. Without You by Mötley Crüe
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | Dr. Feelgood |
Mötley Crüe helped to define the 1980s with all of the documented tales of debauchery that took place during their heyday. We’ve even got a book and a movie that help to preserve these exploits, just in case you haven’t heard about them enough. In 1988, they released the only number-one album of their career, “Dr. Feelgood.” That album also produced Mötley Crüe’s only two top-ten singles. One of those singles was the power ballad “Without You,” which has lead vocalist Vince Neil pining about all of the things he couldn’t do without his wife by his side.
47. Spend My Life by Slaughter
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1990 |
| Album | Stick It to Ya |
Slaughter was initially formed from the ashes of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. In 1990, they got in on the tail-end of the hairdresser metals movement with their debut album, “Stick It to Ya.” The record would sell over two million copies and become the only platinum album Slaughter everything released. Just like practically every hair metal band of the time, Slaughter had a couple of signature-powered ballads on the album. One of those was “Spend My Life,” which is about the search for the perfect person to spend your life with and the feeling you get when you finally find them.
48. Love Is On the Way by Saigon Kick
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | The Lizard |
Saigon Kicks was the ultimately one-hit wonder that happened to catch lightning in a bottle with their single “Love Is On the Way.” Appearing on their 1992 album is “The Lizard,” this simple, acoustic ballad shot up to number twelve on Billboard. It was the biggest hit of their career, and it all came from a short song about a guy who is so in love with a girl that he wants to rescue her from her current situation. I guess it’s true. Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. You don’t have to be flashy to write something people can relate to.
49. Forever and Always by Bullet For My Valentine
| Genre | Emo Metal |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Scream Aim Fire |
With a name like “Bullet for My Valentine,” it makes you wonder what kind of Love song you’re getting from these guys. Let’s start with the music first. The track “Forever and Always” sounds like something that came from the tail-end of the eighties. Nevertheless, let’s give them some credit. The 2008 platinum album “Scream Aim Fire” was only their second album. Lyrically, the song is just about what you would expect from the title. It is about someone who is pledging their love and allegiance to someone forever, no matter the distance that separates them. This is easily one of my favorite songs, with a theme of staying together in hard times and doing whatever it takes to make love work.
50. Say You’ll Haunt Me by Stone Sour
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Audio Secrecy |
I have always said that there has never been an expression of love better documented than Grammy Award-winning Stone Sour’s “Say You’ll Haunt Me” from 2010’s “Audio Secrecy.” We know from his time with Slipknot that Corey Taylor has an affinity for all things dark and twisted, even in his love songs. In this song, he finds himself so in love with somebody that not even death can stop it. He wants this person to promise that they will haunt him should something happen before the relationship has run its course.
Wrap Up:
We really hope you enjoyed this playlist. If you know of any great songs that we missed, let us know below!
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.