The unwavering power of love ballads throughout the decades

As the month of love has well and truly drawn to a close, I thought now is a better time than any to reflect on the power of music in illustrating the emotional intensity that is often experienced within love. The influence of powerful love ballads has left an everlasting impact on music within the last century, moving from simple, yet emotional, timeless melodies to more intense and raw love songs that continue to redefine the emotion of love within music. For this article, I have chosen various love ballads throughout the decades which resonate with me, and I hope I can help inspire you to curate your own list of love songs that continue to leave an everlasting impact on you and society in general.  

‘Unchained Melody’ – The Righteous Brothers (1965) 

If you were to ask me for a quintessential love ballad, ‘Unchained Melody’ would most likely be the first thing to come to my mind. This version, released in 1965, is undeniably a beautiful love song, capturing the devotion and longing that is felt when missing the one person you love the most. Its simplicity echoes the vulnerability of love, whilst the gradual climax of the song illustrates the overwhelming nature that is often resonated with love, making it a perfect love ballad that continues to have a lasting impact, with over 1,500 recordings of the song being produced by hundreds of artists throughout the decades since its original release in 1955.  

‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’ – Frankie Valli (1967) 

Frankie Valli released ‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’ in 1967, and it continues to be a timeless love song that is still played almost sixty years later. The emotional confession made is simple, and uncomplicated, as he describes her beauty and the effect she has on him. Truth be told, the reason I have chosen to include this song is purely to credit Heath Ledger’s performance in 10 Things I Hate About You, in which he descends the bleachers, microphone in hand, dance in his step, as he sings this song to Kat, running from security – the epitome of rom-com scenes, if you ask me.  

‘With Or Without You’ – U2 (1987) 

Whilst this song may not completely capture the happier aspects of being in love, it certainly remains a powerful love ballad that portrays the inner turmoil of someone who you may not be able to fully live with, but also someone you could never live without either. Bono sings ‘With Or Without You’ with such emotional restraint, that the listener has no choice but to feel the aching and sense of longing that is often associated with romance. The repetition of the title throughout the song aims to solidify this tension, alongside the gradual rise in instrumentation, cementing it as one of the most emotional and intense love ballads of the 1980s. This song continues to have a lasting impact, with people even choosing it as their first song for their weddings! 

‘Iris’ – The Goo Goo Dolls (1998) 

‘Iris’ will always remain one of my favourite love songs, so there was no doubt in my mind it would make the list. The raw, emotional intensity of the lyrics, combined with the long instrumental in the middle of the song, makes it a powerful ballad, conveying the aching need of wanting to be known by another in a way you couldn’t quite possibly convey – “When everything’s made to be broken / I just want you to know who I am”. There is something undeniably heartbreaking about this song, and the complex art of longing for a love that isn’t just surface-level, but something deep and intimate that could only be had with one other soul. This song, in my opinion, deserves its place on any list that mentions love ballads.  

‘Chasing Cars’ – Snow Patrol (2006) 

‘Chasing Cars’, having been described by the lead singer of Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, as the ‘purest love song’ he has ever written, perfectly captures the beauty this song portrays. The gradual progression, from a slow, soft-moving beginning, to the building of both the lyrics and the instruments, increasing the momentum, mirrors the intense emotions that are felt within love. The song is simple, genuine and sincere, and has every right to be considered as one of the most significant love ballads of the twenty-first century.  

‘Someone Like You’ – Adele (2011) 

I have chosen to conclude this list with Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’. Many would consider her rendition of Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’ as her most powerful love ballad; however, I have to disagree. ‘Someone Like You’ conveys the emotional heartbreak that is felt at the end of relationships, and the vulnerability of the song itself marks it as a beautiful love ballad. The confessional lyrics, combined with the simplicity of the piano throughout, create a universal experience of heartbreak that remains poignant within love, resonating deeply with many listeners, making it a key addition to this list.