Vie’s Verses – The 5 Best Hard Rock Love Songs
I will be the first to admit that this edition of Vie’s Verses is a little cheesy. I know other sites have done the top 10, top 20, top whatever hard rock love songs, power ballads, etc. Yet there is a reason that I am doing this cheesy version of Vie’s Verses. One, is because this week’s edition of Vie’s Verses happens to fall on Valentine’s Day (a very rare occurrence). Two, is because I am a romantic at heart. I’ll bet most of you did not know that about me.
One thing to note is that only love songs were chosen for this list. Not break up songs, not power ballads that weren’t truly love songs, only romantic love songs. So while I love Warrant’s “I Saw Red” it is a song about a cheating woman and will not work in this list. Poison’s “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” is a breakup song, so you won’t see it here. Tesla’s “Love Song,” is about a guy leaving his girl and telling her it will be all right, so, well, you get the picture.
Now without further adieu, and in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are my top 5 hard rock love songs of all time. Play them for your wife or girlfriend or significant other tonight and be amazed by how she melts in your arms.
Saigon Kick – All I Want
I know that most people are screaming that if I picked a Saigon Kick song, why didn’t I choose “Love is On The Way?” The answer is simple—read the lyrics to both songs. “All I Want” is a much more powerful song sung with raw emotion and desperation. The love that the narrator feels for his muse is overpowering. I’ve always felt that “All I Want” is one of the best love songs ever written. The line “you need a man who loves you more than his life” is extremely telling and meaningful. Being with someone who loves you more than their own means you have found the ultimate lover. It is also very hard to live up to. I only have praise for lead vocalist, Matt Kramer, who must have been fiercely in love when he wrote these lyrics. Incredible song, incredible lyrics, incredible band.
Steelheart – I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)
Simple in its construction, yet powerful in its delivery, Steelheart’s “I’ll Never Let You Go” is an amazing power ballad sung with force. Who wouldn’t love to be told “first time I laid my eyes upon you, all my dreams were answered?” And while the lyrics are few, their message is large. This is a true ode from the narrator to the woman of his dreams. Images of romance, true love, and passion are conjured up every time this song is heard. “I’ll Never Let You Go” was a monster hit for Steelheart and it is easy to see why. It is a beautiful song about finding and holding on to deep true love. On a personal side note, I cannot wait to hear this song live for the first time at this year’s M3 Music Festival.
Hinder – Lips Of An Angel
At first listen, one can debate if this is truly a love song. However, after spinning the song several times and deeply analyzing the lyrics, it is obvious that not only is “Lips Of An Angel” a love song, it is a fantastic love song. A song about two people whom can’t stop thinking of each other and still want to be together, but for some reason are not, is the perfect backdrop for a love song. Hinder took the classic love song and turned it on its head with “Lips Of An Angel.” The listener has no idea why the couple are not together anymore, but know that they should be. “Lips Of An Angel” is the type of love song that provokes chills and raw emotional reactions. When a song can produce that level of intensity it is truly a masterpiece, and one of the greatest love songs of all time.
Stryper – Honestly
This has to be one of the best love songs ever written for any genre of music, but especially for hard rock. Michael Sweet’s voice is second to none and he really wails on this power ballad. And while the song is about God’s (or Jesus’) relationship with man, everyone uses it as a love song to sing to their girl/guy when the mood is right. Between the powerful guitar, pounding drums, and Michael Sweet’s amazing voice, “Honestly” is a song filled with more passion than any other love song that comes to mind. You can feel love just by listening to this song. The message that I will always be there for you no matter what, all you have to do is call on me, is an extremely powerful sentiment. It cements the fact that true love is centered on friendship and that true friends will always be there no matter what happens. “Call on me and I’ll be there for you.”
Kiss – Forever
A magnificent late 80s acoustic ballad, “Forever” is one of Kiss’ best songs to come out of the 80s and it is their best love song. Considering that the band doesn’t write that many love songs, it is easy to make this statement, but I digress. What is most interesting about “Forever” is that the song conveys the message of being deeply in love without the narrator ever saying the words “I love you.” As a matter of fact, the word love is used only twice. It appears in the lines, “I’ve lived my life believing all love is blind,” and “it took your love to make my heart come alive.” And that is the true essence of what makes this such a powerful song. The song conveys the message that the narrator is deeply, truly, in love, but never has to use the words “I love you.” So while it is a sweet and romantic song, it still holds an air of manliness in that it doesn’t turn too sappy from the narrator’s perspective. “Forever” is a magnificent love song that has had a long history of helping guys woo their girls. There is no reason to think that “Forever” won’t continue to do so for many years to come.
Those are my picks for the five best hard rock love songs of all time. What are yours?
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