Classic Rock Love Songs

If you believe that nothing says "I love you" like a power chord, or that the music of romance reaches a higher plane when played in a stadium, then our selection of great rock love songs must represent some kind of aural nirvana. All the classics are here, from Elton John's "Your Song" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", to Extreme's "More Than Words" and 10cc's "I'm Not in Love". Whether you choose Dire Straits' take on an old story ("Romeo and Juliet") or the emotional soul-baring of Ozzy Osbourne (in Black Sabbath's "Changes"), the love of your life is sure to return the sentiment via air guitar.

Don't just kiss her . . . rock her world, in Next Steps.

Great rock love songs are often inspired by, and dedicated to, very specific paramours, but sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to uncover the truth behind a shout-out: contrary to popular belief, Toto's "Rosanna" was never actually dedicated to Rosanna Arquette, who had been dating keyboard player Steve Porcaro, but the band liked the sound of her name because it suited the melody of a previously written tune. And although Joni Mitchell is never mentioned by name in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Our House", she was effectively the subject — then lover Graham Nash shared a place with her in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon.

Flowers wilt but rock is permanent . . . and there's more of it Deep Cuts.

Few bands coat harmonies with longing and yearning like America, so we've included "Sister Golden Hair" here, in the perhaps mellowest section of our love/rock playlist, alongside George Harrison's dreamy, lilting cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You" and Don Henley's ray of Pacific coast sunshine, "Best of My Love". Then again, ZZ Top's "I Need You Tonight" rumbles like love-thunder outta Texas, Pat Benatar proclaims "We Belong" like she's sitting astride a very tall stack of amps, and Stevie Nicks positively glows with lust throughout "Rooms On Fire".

Rock can be the soundtrack to many things: a high-energy workout at the gym, a fist-pumpin' road trip, the adrenalizing prelude to a sporting showdown . . . but not here. On this playlist, rock is exclusively the language of love, a place where some of the genre's most powerful artists follow a kinder, gentler muse. It's all about the expression of our deepest feelings through song, whether that means tickling the ivories, gently plucking at a six-string, or firing off mega-chords like fizzing love rockets. Prepare your heart for the emotional fireworks of Bryan Adams ("Heaven"), Styx ("Babe"), Electric Light Orchestra ("Telephone Line"), and many more heavyweight artists who know exactly how it feels to be struck hard by love.