Top 10 Ballads

Coming up with a list of the Top 10 Love Songs is not an easy task especially when you have previously come up with a list of the top 30 best love songs.

Another thing that has affected the 10 songs I've chosen is the fact that my tastes and preferences have changed ever since I came up with that top 30 list. In fact, you will find that 3 of the songs featured in this list didn't even make the cut in the original top 30 ballads list.

So believe me, when I say, that these are my current Top 10 Love Songs, at the time of writing this post. I expect to change again in the future, although probably not so drastically.

It must be remembered that this top 10 list is in no particular order.

1. Everything I Do (I Do For You) ' Bryan Adams

One of the biggest ballads of the 90s, 'Everything I Do' is up there in many people's list of the best love songs ever composed. It is the most modern original composition in this Top 10 Love Songs list, making it even more special and unique. Easily Bryan Adam's biggest hit in terms of commercial success, this continues to be a favorite at weddings.

2. Hard To Say I'm Sorry ' Chicago

Peter Cetera's voice is almost inseparable from this classic love song. This was the song that revived the fortunes of Chicago after a commercial slump in the late 70s and the early part of the 80s. This is probably the one song that will forever remain in my Top 10 Love Songs list and probably yours too.

3. I Will Always Love You ' Whitney Houston

Few songs have such a vocal performance as powerful and as memorable as this song. Originally a country song from Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston remade the song completely, so much so, that it is considered to be her song, rather than Dolly's. The fact that it was part of a successful film The Bodyguard, guaranteed the success of this song.

4. Unchained Melody ' Righteous Brothers

It shouldn't come as a surprise that this is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century. While originally recorded and released in 1965, its popularity with modern audiences is due to its inclusion in the 1990 hit movie Ghost. Old fashioned and traditional, yet sincere and timeless.

5. Don't Know Much ' Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville

Don't Know Much is one of the simplest yet one of the most powerful love songs ever made. It explores how people may not be sure about a lot of things in life yet the one thing that they're always sure about is that they are in love with their partner. This is the song I would play at a first dance at a wedding. Certainly deserves its place in the Top 10 Love Songs list.

6. Endless Love ' Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie

Probably the most well-known ballad of the 80s, it is about 2 lovers that declare their complete, limitless and eternal love to one another. It continues to be in high rotation on adult contemporary radio stations as well as at weddings. While the song was successfully remade by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross, it doesn't top the original in my opinion.

7. Close To You ' The Carpenters

More often than not, this is my most favorite love song of all time and deserving of a place in this Top 10 Love Songs list. But that's probably because I'm a big fan of The Carpenters and simply adore Karen Carpenter. I haven't been able to find another song that is sweeter, simpler and more beautiful. The lyrics are touching. The arrangement is perfect. The voice is certainly from above. A timeless classic.

8. It Must Have Been Love ' Roxette

This song always reminds me of the movie Pretty Woman and the scene where it is played. It is played as Vivian (played by Julia Roberts) is leaving Edward (Richard Gere) for what appears to be the last time. The lyrics of the song explain that all that she has gone through with Edward 'must have been love' even though it looks to have ended.

9. Waiting For A Girl Like You ' Foreigner

You may be surprised to find that I've chosen this song in this Top 10 Love Songs list instead of Foreigner's other big hit, I Wanna Know What Love Is, which is generally considered to be their best ballad. All I can say is that this is one of the songs currently going through my head, for many different reasons. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful song, often overshadowed by their other hit. An interesting fact is that this song spent a record 10 weeks at number 2 on the US charts without ever reaching number 1.

10. Sara ' Starship

Easily my favorite power ballad of all time, 2 ingredients make this song both powerful and memorable. Firstly, the emotive lyrics demonstrate the rollercoaster that relationships can be especially when they end. Secondly, lead singer Mickey Thomas' vocal performance is very genuine and combined with the great lyrics creates something that tugs the heart.

There is a good chance that I will go back and update this list before the end of the year. If I don't, please remind me to do so. You may not agree with some of my choices, but I hope that this is a relatively good list of the Top 10 Love Songs.


------

Martin Sejas is the chief writer of All Time Classic Songs, one of the leading websites on the greatest songs ever written. Apart from the top 10 love songs, it also focuses on the most influential from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Download your free ebook on the 30 Greatest Love Songs Of All Time.