45 Rock Love Songs, from Wonderful Tonight to Everlong

What is the best rock love song?

"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton and "Something" by The Beatles are the classic rock love songs, and "Faithfully" by Journey and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith are the power ballads everyone knows. For something newer, "Everlong" by Foo Fighters and "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol are favorites.

Classic rock love songs

1. "Wonderful Tonight", Eric Clapton: written for Pattie Boyd.
2. "Something", The Beatles: George Harrison's love song.
3. "Maybe I'm Amazed", Paul McCartney: written for Linda.
4. "You're My Best Friend", Queen: John Deacon's song for his wife.
5. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", Queen: a rockabilly romp.
6. "Wild Horses", The Rolling Stones: a tender country-rock ballad.
7. "Thank You", Led Zeppelin: a gentle love song from a heavy band.
8. "Layla", Derek and the Dominos: the famous riff and piano coda.
9. "God Only Knows", The Beach Boys: often called one of the greatest love songs ever written.
10. "Just the Way You Are", Billy Joel: a piano rock classic.
11. "Make You Feel My Love", Bob Dylan: later covered by Adele and Garth Brooks.

80s and early 90s power ballads

12. "Faithfully", Journey: love on the road.
13. "Open Arms", Journey: the slow-dance favorite.
14. "I Want to Know What Love Is", Foreigner: with a gospel choir.
15. "Waiting for a Girl Like You", Foreigner: soft and hopeful.
16. "Heaven", Bryan Adams: the 1985 ballad.
17. "Alone", Heart: the big-voiced power ballad.
18. "Is This Love", Whitesnake: hair metal tenderness.
19. "Still Loving You", Scorpions: a soaring German rock ballad.
20. "Always", Bon Jovi: the 1994 power ballad.
21. "Bed of Roses", Bon Jovi: a piano-led rock ballad.
22. "Forever", Kiss: a softer side of Kiss.
23. "Love of a Lifetime", FireHouse: the wedding-reception power ballad.

More rock ballads, from Guns N' Roses to Nickelback

24. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", Aerosmith: from Armageddon.
25. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", Bryan Adams: from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
26. "More Than Words", Extreme: the acoustic duet.
27. "Patience", Guns N' Roses: whistled and acoustic.
28. "Sweet Child O' Mine", Guns N' Roses: the famous riff about a girlfriend.
29. "Iris", Goo Goo Dolls: from City of Angels.
30. "Far Away", Nickelback: a 2000s rock ballad.
31. "Here Without You", 3 Doors Down: love across the distance.
32. "The Reason", Hoobastank: wanting to be better for someone.
33. "Collide", Howie Day: acoustic rock and sweet.

Alternative and indie love songs

34. "Everlong", Foo Fighters: urgent and romantic.
35. "Lovesong", The Cure: written as a wedding present for Robert Smith's wife.
36. "Just Like Heaven", The Cure: dreamy and bright.
37. "In Your Eyes", Peter Gabriel: the boombox song from Say Anything.
38. "Chasing Cars", Snow Patrol: quiet and devoted.
39. "Yellow", Coldplay: their breakthrough love song.
40. "The Only Exception", Paramore: learning to believe in love.
41. "Such Great Heights", The Postal Service: indie electronic devotion.
42. "First Day of My Life", Bright Eyes: a hushed acoustic love song.
43. "Lover, You Should've Come Over", Jeff Buckley: yearning and beautiful.
44. "Fade Into You", Mazzy Star: dreamy alt-rock romance.
45. "Hey There Delilah", Plain White T's: love across the miles.

Rock first dance songs

For a rock-loving couple, "Wonderful Tonight", "Faithfully", "Lovesong" by The Cure, "Chasing Cars" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" are the most-requested first dances. They are slow enough to dance to and still sound like you. For more, see our first dance songs, slow dance songs and rock wedding songs.

Rock ballads for a wedding reception

Between the slow dances, a reception full of rock fans will want the singalongs: "Sweet Child O' Mine", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Just Like Heaven" keep the floor moving, while "Open Arms" and "Love of a Lifetime" bring couples back together for the last slow songs of the night.

Rock songs written for a real partner

Many of the best rock love songs were written for one person: Eric Clapton wrote "Wonderful Tonight" and "Layla" about Pattie Boyd, Paul McCartney wrote "Maybe I'm Amazed" for Linda, John Deacon wrote "You're My Best Friend" for his wife, and Robert Smith wrote "Lovesong" as a wedding present. That real story is part of why they still feel personal.

Rock ballads for an anniversary

For a couple who met at a concert or bonded over a band, play the songs from the year you met: 80s power ballads for a 40th anniversary, 90s and 2000s rock for a 20th. See our anniversary songs for more ideas.

Which rock ballad to dedicate

To dedicate one to your partner, choose by message: "You're My Best Friend" for the person who is both, "Faithfully" for a long-distance or traveling partner and "Something" for someone you still cannot describe. For more dedications, see our love songs for her and love songs for him.

A rock love song written about you two

The best rock love songs were written about real people. A personalized song in a rock style can be written about yours: how you met, the concert you never forgot and what you want to say to them now.

How to create a rock love song

1. Choose rock, or another style from 14 genres.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments from your story together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your partner a rock love song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.