This week, I’m joined by Sean Faust to celebrate the era when power ballads ruled the radio, the arena, and your feelings. We’re curating a playlist packed with towering choruses, emotional guitar solos, and slow-burn anthems that demanded a lighter in the air — preferably before venue security noticed.

From hair-metal to arena-rock, these songs lived at the intersection of romance, drama, and unapologetic volume. Whether they blasted from a car stereo, closed out a concert set, or soundtracked a breakup you swore you were “fine” about, these tracks  ...