The last line is fairly important when it comes to penning good pop songs. For these three tunes, though, their final words ...

Some of the most romantic-sounding hits hide much heavier truths. Over the years, millions of listeners have slow-danced, proposed, or even walked down the aisle to songs that were never meant to ...

If you look at the Top 10 songs on the Billboard charts, odds are you’ll find nary a love song. Tracks about heartbreak, friendship and self-empowerment abound, but straightforward ballads about ...

This essay first appeared in the NPR Music newsletter. Sign up for early access to articles like this one, listening recommendations and more. I love the word "heartthrob." It stops you whether you ...

The singer-songwriter Jens Lekman released this song more than 20 years ago. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IF YOU EVER NEED A STRANGER (TO SING AT YOUR WEDDING)") JENS LEKMAN: (Singing) If you ever need a ...

Lining up for her brew in a Silverlake coffee shop, Wet Leg singer Rhian Teasdale is telling a friend about some valuable celebrity advice she once got. It’s not surprising that she took it seriously, ...