Diane Warren Songbook

From the '80s onward, there's been a constant rule within the music business: If you want a big, bold, lighter-waving blockbuster of a hit, you call Diane Warren. An endless array of the world's biggest artists have gotten even bigger by following that rule. Aerosmith had already been rock gods for decades when Warren gave them their first #1 hit ever with the quintessential power ballad "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" in 1998. Likewise, Cher was a worldwide wonder ever since her '60s partnership with Sonny Bono, but it had been 15 years since she'd had a smash the size of the Warren-penned 1989 monster "If I Could Turn Back Time." But Warren was an ally to young artists on the rise, too — in 1985 she gave the DeBarge brothers a career peak with the Caribbean-tinged grooves of the irresistible "Rhythm of the Night."

Diane Warren works her magic with the kings and queens of country in Next Steps.

It makes perfect sense that Diane Warren works so well in the world of country, where emotionally honest songwriting is valued above image, attitude, or anything else. She penned the pledge of devotion "I'll Be" for Reba McEntire, and the Nashville queen rode it all the way to the upper reaches of the Country charts in 2000. Warren's tender tale of a fragile heart "How Do I Live" was a huge hit for LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood at the same time when each artist simultaneously unleashed her own version in 1997. But even the twang-free tunes in Warren's arsenal carry melodies classic enough to make it in Music City — Mark Chesnutt's version of the Aerosmith smash "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" became a 1998 country/pop crossover hit for the ol' honky-tonker.

In Deep Cuts, Warren's ballads break through in the hands of synth poppers and Mexican divas.

Diane Warren's songs are like an international tongue that translates instantly across different styles, singers, and even languages. It's hard to imagine that the same songwriter who supplied British electro-pop princes the Pet Shop Boys with "Numb," their hit-bound prayer for solace from the stresses of the world, also gave American adult-contemporary godheads Chicago one of their biggest singles with the cinematic power ballad "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love." And when Yuri, the Madonna of Mexico, cut "Quién Eres Tú," a Spanish-language version of Taylor Dayne's #1 single "Love Will Lead You Back," it proved that there are truly no limits to the reach of a Diane Warren tune.

The songs of Diane Warren don't sit idly on the sidelines, waiting to be noticed — they stand up tall and command your attention. They're four-minute movies overflowing with intense emotions and unforgettable melodies, burning big, dramatic arcs in the air. Troll through your dictionary for the definition of "power ballad" and you're likely to see Ms. Warren's image beaming out at you. For more than a quarter-century, an endless, stunning string of stars has shown up at the door of her hit factory, including Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, and countless others. We've dipped into the worlds of rock, pop, R&B, jazz, country, and more to put together the ultimate Diane Warren songbook, pulling up some of the biggest hits of the '80s, '90s, and '00s in the process.