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
- Is This Love- Whitesnake
- Alone- Heart
- I Want To Know What Love is- Foreigner
- I’ll Be There For You- Bon Jovi
- When The Children Cry- White Lion
- Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Still Loving You- Scorpions
- November Rain- Guns N’ Roses
- Love Bites- Def Leppard
- Can’t Stop Loving You- Van Halen
- Alone Again- Dokken
- I Remember You- Skid Row
- More Than Words- Extreme
- Patience- Guns N’ Roses
- The Deeper The Love- Whitesnake
- Waiting For A Girl Like You- Foreigner
- Don’t Cry- Guns N’ Roses
- Every Rose Has It’s Thorn- Poison
- Tuesday’s Gone- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Love Hurts- Nazareth
- Headed for a Heartbreak- Winger
- Carrie- Europe
- Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
- November Rain- Guns N’ Roses
- Heaven- Warrant
- Amazing- Aerosmith
- Love of A Lifetime- Firehouse
- Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad- Def Leppard
- I Live My Life For You- Firehouse
- Keep on Loving You- REO Speedwagon
- Wind Of Change- Scorpions
- Come Sail Away- Styx
- When I Look Into Your Eyes- Firehouse
- When I See You Smile- Bad English
- High Enough- Damn Yankees
- Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)- Cinderella
- Angel- Aerosmith
- Oh Sherry- Steve Perry
- God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
- Dust In The Wind- Kansas
- Open Arms- Journey
- Somebody To Love- Queen
- Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
- Angie- Rolling Stones
- Love Is On The Way- Saigon Kick
- Where You Going Now- Damn Yankees
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing- Aerosmith
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You- Bryan Adams
- This Ain’t A Love Song- Bon Jovi
- Close Your Eyes Forever- Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
- Miles Away- Winger
- You Make Loving Fun- Fleetwood Mac
- Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
- Beth- Kiss
- Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
- Love Song- Tesla
- Faithfully- Journey
- The Flame- Cheap Trick
- Nights In White Satin- The Moody Blues
- Sister Christian- Night Ranger
- Another Day- Dream Theater
- I Don’t Want To Live Without You- Foreigner
- I’ll See You In My Dreams- Giant
- When It’s Love- Van Halen
- To Be with You- Mr. Big
- Changes- Black Sabbath
- Babe- Styx
- Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
- Please Forgive Me- Bryan Adams
- Cryin’- Aerosmith
- Anytime- MSG (McAuley Schenker Group)
- Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman- Bryan Adams
- What Love Can Be- Kingdom Come
- Baby, I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton
- Goodbye- Night Ranger
- Silent Lucidity- Queensryche
- Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
- Always Somewhere- Scorpions
- Don’t Stop Believin’- Journey
- The Smile Has Left Your Eyes- Asia
- Don’t Close Your Eyes- Kix
- Two Steps Behind- Def Leppard
- In My Dreams- REO Speedwagon
- Rosanna- Toto
- Goodbye To Romance- Ozzy Osbourne
- Honestly- Stryper
- She’s Gone- Steelheart
- Dreamer- Europe
- Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
- High On You- Survivor
- More Than Words Can Say- Alias
- Bed of Roses- Bon Jovi
- Right By Your Side- Enuff Z’ Nuff
- When You Love A Woman- Journey
- Reason To Live- Kiss
- Never Ending Nightmare- MSG (McAuley Schenker Group)
- Sara- Fleetwood Mac
- When I’m With You- Sheriff
- Take Away My Pain- Dream Theater
- (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection- Nelson
- More Than A Feeling- Boston
- Heaven- Bryan Adams
- All By Myself- Eric Carmen
- Love of My Life- Queen
- Angelia- Richard Marx
- If You Needed Me- Bad Company
- Just Take My Heart- Mr. Big
- Hollow Years- Dream Theater
- Kyrie- Mr.Mister
- Heaven in Your Eyes- Loverboy
- Something To Believe In- Poison
- We’ve Got Tonight- Bob Seger
- Nobody Knows- Lillian Axe
- Dream On- Aerosmith
- So Far Away- Dire Straits
- Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
- Remember My Name- House of Lords
- Time For Me To Fly- REO Speedwagon
- Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
- Everytime I Look At You- Kiss
- Love Kills- Vinnie Vincent Invasion
- Kayleigh- Marillion
- Only Time Will Tell- Nelson
- Sentimental Street- Night Ranger
- To Be Alive- Def Leppard
- Mama, I’m Coming Home- Ozzy Osbourne
- With Or Without You- U2
- 25 Days from Home- Loudness
- Save The Weak- Britny Fox
- It’s a Heartache- Bonnie Taylor
- Lady- Styx
- Crazy Without You- Sheriff
- Price of Love- Bad English
- Dreamer- Ozzy Osbourne
- Here With Me- REO Speedwagon
- The Search Is Over- Survivor
- I Won’t Forget You- Poison
- Always- Bon Jovi
- Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)- Vertical Horizon
- I Won’t Hold You Back- Toto
- Farewell To You- White Lion
- Lady ’95- Styx
- Hazard- Richard Marx
- Sailing Ships- Whitesnake
- You Give Me All I Need- Scorpions
- Wasting Love- Iron Maiden
- I Can’t Hold Back- Survivor
- Let Me Take You Home Tonight- Boston
- Hey You- Pink Floyd
- In a Darkened Room- Skid Row
- Take It On The Run- REO Speedwagon
- All I Want To Do Is make Love To You- Heart
- Sometimes She Cries- Warrant
- Everything Changes- Matthew Sweet
- I Still Think About You- Danger Danger
- Love Walked In- Thunder
- Elisa- Sheriff
- The Day That I Met You- Lillian Axe
- Save Your Love- Great White
- Amanda- Boston
- Believe In Love- Scorpions
- When Love and Hate Collide- Def Leppard
- Stay With Me- Faces
- The Ballad of Jayne- L.A. Guns
- Standing Alone- Tyketto
- Will You Still Love Me- Chicago
- Dream On- Nazareth
- The Reason- Hoobastank
- Show Me The Way- Styx
- High Hopes- Pink Floyd
- Baby You’re The Greatest- Enuff Z’ Nuff
- Tears of A Dragon- Bruce Dickenson
- Heartbreak Station- Cinderella
- Never Tear Us Apart- Inxs
- Not When I Needed It- Mathew Sweet
- I Need Your Love- Boston
- I’ll Be Alright Without You- Journey
- Africa- Toto
- You’re All I Need- Motley Crue
- The Best of Times- Styx
- One- U2
- Forever- Kiss
- Straight From The Heart- Bryan Adams
- When I Find Love- XYZ
- Still Got The Blues- Gary Moore
- Can’t Stop Falling In Love- Cheap Trick
- Tears Of Fire- Keel
- Feels Like The First Time- Foreigner
- Lavender- Marillion
- Suite Madam Blue- Styx
- These Dreams- Heart
- Send Her My Love- Journey
- Fly To The Angels- Slaughter
- Burning Heart- Survivor
- Ready for Love- Bad Company
- Don’t Walk Away- Danger Danger
- In Your Arms- Little Caesar
- Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
- Never Tear Us Apart- Inxs
- Slippin Away- Dokken
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