Valentine's Day: One Guy's Guilty-Pleasure Love Songs

I'm a man. I like cheering for the Bears. I eat big steaks. I consider Braveheart and The Big Lebowski two of my favorite movies.

And while I love the songs of the Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Pearl Jam and other man-friendly artists, there are some less-masculine radio tunes that have a special place in my heart.  

We saw last week that men have a pop-culture soft side when we delved into our favorite romantic comedies. (.) This week, in the continued spirit of Valentine's Day, I'm putting myself out there and letting readers in on my favorite guilty-pleasure love songs.

What constitutes a guilty-pleasure love song? Simple. If you're a guy driving around with a male friend and a love song comes on the radio that makes you feel compelled to change the station in the interest of avoiding an awkward, Tommy Boy-like situation, it's a guilty pleasure.

(Like it was for Tommy and Richard, though, a guilty pleasure may be such a pleasure that you will not change the station and you will sing along.) 

So here are five of the best, in no particular order. (I have a lot more, but I don't want to take up too much of your time.) In the comments, tell me which ones are your favorites and which ones I missed.

Oh, and please don't tell anyone about this. 

Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper

Genre: Very 1980s Guilty Pleasure

Definitive lyrics:

"You say go slow,

I fall behind,

The second hand unwinds."

More Than Words, Extreme

Genre: Power Ballad Guilty Pleasure

Definitive lyrics: 

"All you have to do is close your eyes,

And just reach out your hands,

And touch me,

Hold me close, don't ever let me go."

 Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers 

Genre: Guilty By Association With A Steamy Pottery-Wheel-Based Movie Scene

Definitive lyrics:

"And time goes by so slowly,

And time can do so much,

Are you still mine?"

Kentucky Rain, Elvis Presley

Genre: Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

Definitive lyrics:

"Finally got a ride, with a preacher man who asked,

'Where you bound on such a cold, dark afternoon?'

As we drove on through the rain, as he listened I explained,

And he left me with a prayer that I'd find you."

Love Story, Taylor Swift

Genre: Very Guilty Pleasure

Definitive lyrics:

"You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,

It's a love story baby just say, 'Yes.'"