Valentine's Day is here and love is in the air. The sight of couples walking arm-in-arm along the boardwalk is quite a sight. For those of you who actually experience that, this is not for you. This post is for who find that sick at the moment, and are one of the people who have a lonely heart this Valentine's Day and I'm sure that you deserve a shot at love. Trust me, it will come one day. People want to think that they are experiencing it on their own, when in the end everyone goes through it. Our best companion to our loneliness is something that can sympathize with us or give us comfort. I actually got in a sad and lonely mood after listening to all of these songs for the countdown. For all those lonely hearts out there, I kick off Valentine's Day with the top 20 list of Sad Love Songs...
20. "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling
This 2001 song was a breakout hit for The Calling. The song offers a heartbreaking tribute to the man who just broke up with his loved one and hopefully they return back. In 2011, we call that "taking a break". Interesting note: This song was named Billboard's #1 Adult Pop Song of the 2000s and I can see why.
19. "Don't Know What You Got Til It's Gone" by Cinderella
This 1988 single is the biggest hit from Hair Metal band "Cinderella". This song speaks to a good amount of lonely hearts out there, who don't realize what they have until it is gone. After listening to this, you may want to go to the ATM and take out about $250 for a good time. Watching the video you can see that they had no idea what to do to, but it's in widescreen.
18. "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette
The lead single from the popular 1990 film "Pretty Woman", Swedish duo Roxette conjure up this Christmas song that turn into a Valentine's Day heartbreaker. Yes, this was suppose to be a Christmas song (That was according to Wikipedia). You can definitely see this song being used during figure skating performances. However, it's a powerful song with a powerful message of realizing that it is over and moving on from a loved one.
17. "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield
Who remembers this 2003 dance hit from Daniel Bedingfield? The older brother of pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield? Nobody? Alright, this two-hit wonder burst onto the music scene with this song about being dumped and just trying to deal with it.
16. "That's What You Get" by Paramore
Remember when Paramore had 5 members? Those were some good times. To reminisce about the good ol' days, watch this video for the fourth single from their debut album called "That's What You Get". In 2008, Paramore educates us on the idea of following your heart, going for it, and then facing the idea of rejection. It even has a hand-clapping opportunity right after the bridge.
15. "Better Than Me" by Hinder
Following the pop success of "Lips of an Angel", Oklahoma band "Hinder" chose the more melodic and more passionate song for their second single. "Better Than Me" tells us the story of a troubled person who has a guilty conscience in dealing with a loss, however in the end they realize that they didn't deserved them in the first place. Very powerful message and the rock energy at the end gives it the punch that it deserves. The video has an interesting take on the song with an ending that I didn't see coming.
14. "All Cried Out" by Allure featuring 112
This 1997 cover was an instant radio hit and put the all-girl group Allure on the map. The song was originally sung by Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam and was a Top 10 hit for them in the 80s. The song featured a talented group of young men called "112", who later had radio hits such as "Peaches and Cream" and "Dance With Me". This song is a see-saw battle between a man who went down the wrong path and the woman he hurt. The video kind of follows the song, however lip sync to the song itself is another story. (Note: It was tough finding this video on YouTube)
13. "Grenade" by Bruno Mars
This 2010 radio-friendly hit is an interesting follow-up to his debut feel good single "Just The Way You Are". The song is about a man who is willing to do anything for one girl, however she is not willing to do anything for him. This emotionally-raw lyrics represents the song's true message as opposed to the light-hearted melody and harmony.
12. "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
This 2010 country crossover hit serves as a reminder that feelings after someone can't go away in a heartbeat and that it takes time to heal. In some cases a lot of time. The song talks about a heartbroken person who tries to hold back how they feel and calls up their old lover in an attempt for a reunion. The title track of their sophomore album is their biggest hit to date.
11. "Swing, Swing" by The All-American Rejects
The debut single from an Oklahoma band almost didn't make it to the band's freshman album. "Swing, Swing" was made in the guitarist's grandparents' cabin and one of the last songs to be recorded. However, it's one of the band's biggest hits to date. The songs offers a teenage man going through heartbreak as we all go through and just trying to move on. The song is more a plea to help him deal with it.
10. "When Love and Hate Collide" by Def Leppard featuring Taylor Swift
Originally set to release with on their 1992 album Adrenalize, it was not produced in time and held off. It was finally released in 1995 as a single on their greatest hits album, "Vault". This power ballad was not successful in the United States until Taylor Swift sang on the song during the CMT show "Crossroads". The song is about a man who suffering from a battle within, between love and hate for a girl who recently separated from him.
9. "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down
This 2003 hit from one of the decade's biggest bands talks about loneliness on the road. The lead singer penned the song about his now ex-wife and knowing that there is loneliness in the matter of missing someone. However, there is some comfort dreaming about the person that they miss.
8. "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx
This 1987 piano ballad found commercial success during a time filled with powerful rock ballads with heavy guitar solos and beat-driven melodies. However, this served as Richard Marx's biggest hit to date. The song was written by Richard Marx and dedicated to Cynthia Rhodes. Bryan Adams was the intended singer for the record, but passed over the song. The song is about a person who can't shake the feelings of loving someone and no matter what happens that he's got her back and is willing to wait to be with her again.
7. "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
Following the hugely successful "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", Cyndi Lauper choosing a follow-up single was a huge task for the redhead from New York, however she did with one of the biggest songs of the 1980s. In an interview, Lauper told that the song was about occurrences that were happening in the studio and in her life. The song is about two people who part their different ways but somehow come back to each other in times of need, only to part once again. The video describes the song better with a young lady leaving everything behind including a love.
6. "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison
If there is one thing that we have learned about the band "Poison" is that Bret Michaels's heartbreak equals commercial success. The breakout hit for the LA hair metal band serves as their biggest hit. The song was written after Bret found out that his girlfriend at the time was cheating on him from a phone call. There are several meanings and influences behind the song, but the message behind the song is clear. The person can be a good person, but still can cause you heartbreak.
5. "What Hurts The Most" by Cascada
Alright, here we go. The song was produced in 2003 by country artist Mark Willis for the album "And The Crowd Goes Wild". Later that year, it was covered by Irish girl group Bellefire for their debut album. The song was not a single until 2005 by former S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara and got her a Top 10 hit. In 2006, the song went back to its country roots with the super trio known as Rascal Flatts and serves as the band's biggest hit to date. In 2007, German band Cascada covered the song as a dance song and experienced success in both sides of the Atlantic. The song itself is about the love that never was and not really knowing what happens is the part that hurts the most.
4. "My Immortal" by Evanescence
One of the biggest bands of the 2000s ended their biggest year with a radio-friendly ballad called "My Immortal". Actually, there are two edits of the song. The album edit is strictly Amy's voice and piano. The radio edit starts off with Amy's voice and piano, but for the final chorus the band kicks it up to 11 and end on a powerful punch to add the exclamation mark to the song's message. The song is about a relationship that is in ruins and no matter how bad that relationship got they will always be a part of each other.
3. "Careless Whisper" by Wham!
After riding high on the success of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and the increased popularity of saxophone solos, "Careless Whisper" was Wham's follow-up single and the first one to feature George Michael alone. The song is about a person who has cheated on their lover or in this case their partner and the cheater knows that they are going to find out about it. So, he decides end things to stop the other person from being hurt. After the end, he decides that he couldn't bear with the knowledge of hurting the other person. Therefore, he is never gonna do that again.
2. "Picture" by Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow or Allison Moorer
After dismal sales of his 2001 album "Cocky", "Picture" was released in late 2002 and breathe new life in the album. The song was originally intended to be released with Sheryl Crow singing, however Crow's label did not give permission to use the song for official single release. Therefore, Allison Moorer (who is on the same label as Kid Rock) took Sheryl's place on the single. However, radio still played the original version with Crow. The song is a staple of a heartbroken country man. The song describes the story of a relationship gone south and eventually parting ways. In the bridge, we hear about an event where they meet up after some time apart. She asks how he is doing, and he admits that he misses her and wants to be together.
1. "End of The Road" by Boyz II Men
My #1 song for the lonely hearts out there comes from a Philadelphia quartet that could be the catalyst for the 1990s revival of the R&B group. The lead single from the Eddie Murphy movie "Boomerang" talks about how the guy can't let go of the girl, which is exactly plotline to the movie. The voices from the group, along with the raw emotion of the content makes this an amazing song. As a plus, there is a hand-clapping opportunity towards the end.
Honorable Mentions:
"Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon
"I Miss You" be blink-182
"Crazy" by K-Ci & JoJo
"Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige
"Apologize" by Timbaland featuring One Republic
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