Bold, electrifying, and rebellious, rock and roll is all about defiance and a classic rock ballad is no exception. Rather than say "I love you"—because that's boring and overdone—rockstars find creative ways to express their feelings. In I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler sings about the pangs of falling so deeply in love that spending any time apart is too much. In Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper admits that she'd be there for her partner, no matter the circ*mstances. Backed by emotional guitar solos, there’s no escaping the appeal of these head-banging masterpieces. Whether you’re looking for the perfect song to jam to with that special someone, or just something to drive to with the windows down late at night, we’ve got something for your playlist. Check out these 25 rock love songs:
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon
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Sometimes, romance sparked by friendship is the purest kind. Enter: REO Speedwagon's get-out-of-the-friendzone anthem.
“Me & You Together Song” by The 1975
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If the honeymoon phase had a song, this record would likely be the answer.
“I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner
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Is this played during the cheesy scene in every rom-com? Yes. Do we still love it? Absolutely.
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“I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
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A song that originated on the soundtrack of a movie about an incoming asteroid targeting earth, this track escaped the film's poorly-received orbit to became the ultimate rock ballad.
“You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
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Sure, Bohemian Rhapsody is pretty great, but let’s not forget about this gem. What’s better than a 2-in-1 best friend and life partner?
“Faithfully” by Journey
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All relationships have their rough patches, but Faithfully is all about pushing through. (Bonus: this song has the greatest guitar solo.)
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“One” by U2
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This 90s hit is about one thing: love. Whatever that may look like to you. One is the ideal song to sing to yourself in the mirror when you’re deep in your feelings.
“I’ll Stand By You” by Pretenders
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Everyone loves a little spontaneity at times, but nothing beats being able to rely on the person you love.
“Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure
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Overtaken by love and incredibly optimistic, The Cure brings you a song you can dance to in your room after a successful first Tinder date. (Who said online dating has to be a disaster?)
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“Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana
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New relationships are tricky, even for world-renowned musical artists. Heart-Shaped Box is said to be about Kurt Cobain’s young relationship with Courtney Love. (R.I.P. Kurt.)
“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses
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With a beautiful piano accompaniment and dramatic changes, this is a story of lost love that you’ll shed a few tears to.
“R U Mine?” by Arctic Monkeys
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The Arctic Monkeys make gushy, lovey-dovey songs cool. Here's one track, and perhaps their best, to set the mood.
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“Feel like Makin’ Love” by Bad Company
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Sending this song to your crush may be a bold move, but hey, we’re not gonna stop you.
“Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow” by Freddie Mercury
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Ever wished you could go back to the way things used to be? Well, Freddie has a song for you.
“You & Me” by Dave Matthews Band
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The perfect soft rock song, You & Me gives us a glimpse into true love, where anything is possible (and 2020 is a distant memory).
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“Lady” by Styx
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Upbeat and uplifting, Lady is still a classic nearly 50 years after its release.
“Forever” by Kiss
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The best kind of love sticks around forever, and this early 90s song is here to remind you just that.
“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” by Van Halen
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Not every relationship has a happy ending. But even once the dust settles, does true love ever really fade away? That's what Van Halen asks, and we'd like to think it's a resounding yes, for our own sanity.
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“More Than a Feeling” by Boston
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Everyone has a song that makes it impossible to think of anything other than that special someone. The lead singer of Boston is no exception.
“How Deep Is Your Love” by Bee Gees
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A classic for a reason. See also: covers by Tina Turner, N’Sync, and Backstreet Boys.
Jenna Calderón
Jenna Calderón is a freelancer with a passion for storytelling. When she’s not writing, she's taking care of her plants, drinking tea from cute mugs and buying too much stationery.