Before reading, press play to hear all the songs as you go.

Love songs dominate the music industry (at least according to a 2005 Billboard music study). That’s just a fact. While sappy, “I’m utterly in love” love songs are great and all, I think the best kind of love song is a sad one. Ones that deal with infidelity, unrequited love, loving someone so much that you would literally die for them. Those are the ones that really tug at the heart strings and create good music. That’s why I’ve chosen to write about these songs that exemplify that element.

“I Heard Love Is Blind” – Amy Winehouse

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my love for Ms. Winehouse runs deep, so obviously I had to include her in this compilation. In this piece, she sings of her infidelity, how it meant nothing, and that she still loves her man. “I Heard Love Is Blind” was written entirely by Winehouse and features simple jazzy tones beneath her sultry, mid-1940s, soulful voice. Winehouse pulls so much of her musical inspiration from classic mid-20th century jazz artists such as Frank Sinatra. Her debut album, “Frank,” was named as an homage to Sinatra and how much he meant to her. I could honestly go on forever on how much I love Amy and how much she means to me, but for your own good, I will leave it at this.

“I Hate To Sleep Alone” – Cher

Let’s jump back a couple decades to 1971 when pop, rock, disco, and power ballad icon Cher released her album, “Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves” with “I Hate To Sleep Alone” as track two on side two. Needless to say, it wasn’t released in CD or MP3 format yet. Now the situation in “I Heard Love Is Blind” has been flipped. The story of a woman’s infidelity now becomes the narrative of a man’s unfaithfulness. Cher sings of being left for another woman and being left alone, just wishing that her lover would return. This painful story of love creates another powerful ballad from the queen.

“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” – The Smiths

I apologize for choosing such a well known song and not broadening your knowledge of such a wonderful, influential band, but I couldn’t pass it up. This song fits so well with the sad love song theme. In a way, it’s kind of the ultimate love song, and feels very Romeo and Juliet. I could try to explain more but I think I’ll just let the lyrics do that talking. “And if a double-decker bus / Crashes into us / To die by your side / Is such a heavenly way to die.” The song is all about how much someone loves another but it’s also violent and a little morbid. Yet the song is so catchy and true to the ‘80s alternative rock era that you’ll be happily singing along before you even realize what you’re singing about.

“Sweet Adeline” – Elliott Smith

Those who know of Elliott Smith, an artist who spent most of his life in Portland, OR, know that he continuously fought with alcoholism and his struggles really show through in his music. In “Sweet Adeline,” Smith seems to have gone through a bad breakup resulting in the burning of pictures and spiral back into alcoholism. He still loves her, still calls her his sweet Adeline and “my clementine,” but also has to find a way to cope. “Waiting for sedation to disconnect my head / Or any situation where I’m / Better off than dead.” Smith is still so in love yet also so lonely, making this the perfect addition to a sad song playlist.

“Champagne Coast” – Blood Orange

Written by singer/songwriter Dev Hynes, Blood Orange’s “Champagne Coast” was featured in the “Palo Alto” soundtrack, where I discovered and fell in love with it. Their alternative style is just straight up weird, as are the inspirations for the songs. The video for this song has animated, Sims like women simply dancing around in their rooms. While the song has obvious sexual undertones, Hynes himself said in an interview with Songs Operated that it “is mostly about longing, creating scenarios in regards to an unrequited lover, plans that will never see fruition. So you’re left alone in your digitally created interior to dance by yourself.” This universal feeling of loneliness ties “Champagne Coast” into this week’s theme wonderfully. I hope you listen and enjoy, but don’t end up as sad, lonely, and heartbroken as these artists.