Hard rock became excessively popular in the 80s and 90s. Let’s go back in time and dwell in an epic list of the best hard rock love songs and rock ballads.

While hard rock emerged in the late 60s and developed in the 70s, it was the glam 80s that showcased the genre in new light. Typically the hard rock sound is characterized by aggressive vocal tones with distorted guitar parts, bass, drums and keyboards. While hard rock was not considered a part of mainstream in the 60s and 70s, it was the magical 80s that propelled the genre to unprecedented heights. Hard rock garnered significant attention in the 80s making it commercially popular globally.

While the hard rock sound in the 70s was heavy, it was bands in the 80s amalgamated the aggressive sound with melodic structures. The hair metal scene in the 80s became exceedingly popular with music aficionados. No rock music fan could miss songs by hair metal bands.

The brand of hard rock ballads and power ballads that emerged in the 80s and early 90s are considered epic by music critics globally. Thanks to music television channel MTV, a number of bands with the hard rock sound received significant airplay. Hard rock love songs became a trend in the 80s. Many hair bands achieved considerable chart success with their brand of rock ballads.

Record companies in the 80s cashed in on the ballad trend. Many hair metal bands who were previously unsigned, found recording contracts with major record labels. Record companies were quick to realize the potential of hard rock ballads. Many record labels released a series of ‘Greatest Hits’ and ‘Best of’ compilations featuring rock ballads. The AOR scene of the 80s defined ‘epic’ in every capable proportion. Stadium rock also popularly known as ‘arena rock’ reached its height of popularity in the 80s. Glam metal bands and hair metal bands performed at sell-out venues globally. Aside from US and Europe, hard rock ballads became hugely popular in Asia, Japan in particular.

Japan has been a popular destination for hard rock bands of the 80s and 90s. Power ballads and hard rock ballads are excessively popular with music fans in Japan. Since the 70s a number of bands have been touring Japan and performing at sellout venues. Many hard rock bands and glam metal bands from US and Europe have been touring consistently in Japan since the 80s. The popularity of hard rock may have diminished in different parts of the world, however, in Japan; the genre is amongst the most popular genres. Hard rock ballads, power ballads, acoustic rock ballads, slow rock, and melodic rock are very popular in Japan. Needless to say Japan is a popular music market for heavy metal music.

Hard rock succumbed to the alternative/grunge revolution in the 90s. However, since the year 2000, hard rock is on a revival. Many new bands have emerged and are bringing back memories of ballads of a bygone era.

The space below showcases a list of the best Rock Love Songs and Rock Ballads

200 Greatest Hard Rock Love Songs and Rock Ballads

1. Is This Love- Whitesnake
2. Alone- Heart
3. I Want To Know What Love is- Foreigner
4. I’ll Be There For You- Bon Jovi
5. When The Children Cry- White Lion
6. Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd
7. Still Loving You- Scorpions
8. November Rain- Guns N’ Roses
9. Love Bites- Def Leppard
10. Can’t Stop Loving You- Van Halen
11. Alone Again- Dokken
12. I Remember You- Skid Row
13. More Than Words- Extreme
14. Patience- Guns N’ Roses
15. The Deeper The Love- Whitesnake
16. Waiting For A Girl Like You- Foreigner
17. Don’t Cry- Guns N’ Roses
18. Every Rose Has It’s Thorn- Poison
19. Tuesday’s Gone- Lynyrd Skynyrd
20. Love Hurts- Nazareth
21. Headed for a Heartbreak- Winger
22. Carrie- Europe
23. Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
24. November Rain- Guns N’ Roses
25. Heaven- Warrant
26. Amazing- Aerosmith
27. Love of A Lifetime- Firehouse
28. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad- Def Leppard
29. I Live My Life For You- Firehouse
30. Keep on Loving You- REO Speedwagon
31. Wind Of Change- Scorpions
32. Come Sail Away- Styx
33. When I Look Into Your Eyes- Firehouse
34. When I See You Smile- Bad English
35. High Enough- Damn Yankees
36. Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)- Cinderella
37. Angel- Aerosmith
38. Oh Sherry- Steve Perry
39. God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
40. Dust In The Wind- Kansas
41. Open Arms- Journey
42. Somebody To Love- Queen
43. Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
44. Angie- Rolling Stones
45. Love Is On The Way- Saigon Kick
46. Where You Going Now- Damn Yankees
47. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing- Aerosmith
48. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You- Bryan Adams
49. This Ain’t A Love Song- Bon Jovi
50. Close Your Eyes Forever- Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
51. Miles Away- Winger
52. You Make Loving Fun- Fleetwood Mac
53. Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
54. Beth- Kiss
55. Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
56. Love Song- Tesla
57. Faithfully- Journey
58. The Flame- Cheap Trick
59. Nights In White Satin- The Moody Blues
60. Sister Christian- Night Ranger
61. Another Day- Dream Theater
62. I Don’t Want To Live Without You- Foreigner
63. I’ll See You In My Dreams- Giant
64. When It’s Love- Van Halen
65. To Be with You- Mr. Big
66. Changes- Black Sabbath
67. Babe- Styx
68. Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
69. Please Forgive Me- Bryan Adams
70. Cryin’- Aerosmith
71. Anytime- MSG (McAuley Schenker Group)
72. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman- Bryan Adams
73. What Love Can Be- Kingdom Come
74. Baby, I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton
75. Goodbye- Night Ranger
76. Silent Lucidity- Queensryche
77. Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
78. Always Somewhere- Scorpions
79. Don’t Stop Believin’- Journey
80. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes- Asia
81. Don’t Close Your Eyes- Kix
82. Two Steps Behind- Def Leppard
83. In My Dreams- REO Speedwagon
84. Rosanna- Toto
85. Goodbye To Romance- Ozzy Osbourne
86. Honestly- Stryper
87. She’s Gone- Steelheart
88. Dreamer- Europe
89. Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
90. High On You- Survivor
91. More Than Words Can Say- Alias
92. Bed of Roses- Bon Jovi
93. Right By Your Side- Enuff Z’ Nuff
94. When You Love A Woman- Journey
95. Reason To Live- Kiss
96. Never Ending Nightmare- MSG (McAuley Schenker Group)
97. Sara- Fleetwood Mac
98. When I’m With You- Sheriff
99. Take Away My Pain- Dream Theater
100. (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection- Nelson
101. More Than A Feeling- Boston
102. Heaven- Bryan Adams
103. All By Myself- Eric Carmen
104. Love of My Life- Queen
105. Angelia- Richard Marx
106. If You Needed Me- Bad Company
107. Just Take My Heart- Mr. Big
108. Hollow Years- Dream Theater
109. Kyrie- Mr.Mister
110. Heaven in Your Eyes- Loverboy
111. Something To Believe In- Poison
112. We’ve Got Tonight- Bob Seger
113. Nobody Knows- Lillian Axe
114. Dream On- Aerosmith
115. So Far Away- Dire Straits
116. Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
117. Remember My Name- House of Lords
118. Time For Me To Fly- REO Speedwagon
119. Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
120. Everytime I Look At You- Kiss
121. Love Kills- Vinnie Vincent Invasion
122. Kayleigh- Marillion
123. Only Time Will Tell- Nelson
124. Sentimental Street- Night Ranger
125. To Be Alive- Def Leppard
126. Mama, I’m Coming Home- Ozzy Osbourne
127. With Or Without You- U2
128. 25 Days from Home- Loudness
129. Save The Weak- Britny Fox
130. It’s a Heartache- Bonnie Taylor
131. Lady- Styx
132. Crazy Without You- Sheriff
133. Price of Love- Bad English
134. Dreamer- Ozzy Osbourne
135. Here With Me- REO Speedwagon
136. The Search Is Over- Survivor
137. I Won’t Forget You- Poison
138. Always- Bon Jovi
139. Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)- Vertical Horizon
140. I Won’t Hold You Back- Toto
141. Farewell To You- White Lion
142. Lady ’95- Styx
143. Hazard- Richard Marx
144. Sailing Ships- Whitesnake
145. You Give Me All I Need- Scorpions
146. Wasting Love- Iron Maiden
147. I Can’t Hold Back- Survivor
148. Let Me Take You Home Tonight- Boston
149. Hey You- Pink Floyd
150. In a Darkened Room- Skid Row
151. Take It On The Run- REO Speedwagon
152. All I Want To Do Is make Love To You- Heart
153. Sometimes She Cries- Warrant
154. Everything Changes- Matthew Sweet
155. I Still Think About You- Danger Danger
156. Love Walked In- Thunder
157. Elisa- Sheriff
158. The Day That I Met You- Lillian Axe
159. Save Your Love- Great White
160. Amanda- Boston
161. Believe In Love- Scorpions
162. When Love and Hate Collide- Def Leppard
163. Stay With Me- Faces
164. The Ballad of Jayne- L.A. Guns
165. Standing Alone- Tyketto
166. Will You Still Love Me- Chicago
167. Dream On- Nazareth
168. The Reason- Hoobastank
169. Show Me The Way- Styx
170. High Hopes- Pink Floyd
171. Baby You’re The Greatest- Enuff Z’ Nuff
172. Tears of A Dragon- Bruce Dickenson
173. Heartbreak Station- Cinderella
174. Never Tear Us Apart- Inxs
175. Not When I Needed It- Mathew Sweet
176. I Need Your Love- Boston
177. I’ll Be Alright Without You- Journey
178. Africa- Toto
179. You’re All I Need- Motley Crue
180. The Best of Times- Styx
181. One- U2
182. Forever- Kiss
183. Straight From The Heart- Bryan Adams
184. When I Find Love- XYZ
185. Still Got The Blues- Gary Moore
186. Can’t Stop Falling In Love- Cheap Trick
187. Tears Of Fire- Keel
188. Feels Like The First Time- Foreigner
189. Lavender- Marillion
190. Suite Madam Blue- Styx
191. These Dreams- Heart
192. Send Her My Love- Journey
193. Fly To The Angels- Slaughter
194. Burning Heart- Survivor
195. Ready for Love- Bad Company
196. Don’t Walk Away- Danger Danger
197. In Your Arms- Little Caesar
198. Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
199. Never Tear Us Apart- Inxs
200. Slippin Away- Dokken

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Thank you for visiting my profile. I am a Freelance Content Writer. I like to learn something new every day. When I’m not at the computer, I’m either reading or on vacation. I dwell in peace, I hope you do too. My Favorite Quote “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”- Dalai Lama

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