Top 10 Heartbreak Songs

The proof of these 10 heartbreak songs is that not everybody associates Valentine's Day with positive thoughts of love and romance.

For people who have discovered Cupid's unkind streak, February 14 will no doubt offer up a painful souvenir that love sometimes really does stink. Of course, this reality has not been ignored by songwriters. For every uplifting song about the sincerity of romance, there's a plaintive composition citing its heartbreaking misery.

In no particular order, each song here extols the sadder side of love: breakups and heartaches just a couple of the examples. Grab a tissue. You may just need one..

Image: Broken Heart: Buy This at Allposters.com

One of the most played and best-loved songs of the rock era, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' crowned The Righteous Brothers as the kings of heartbreak.

From 1978, Gwen Dickey's plaintive vocals contributed to making this one of Rose Royce's finest songs. Relatively unsuccessful in the band's homeland, Love Don't Live Here Anymore was the biggest hit in the group's career in the UK.

The heartbreak of a broken relationship is the subject of Elton John's Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word. Included on his album Blue Moves, this one really tears at the heart strings.

A highly personal song from Adele which describes the break-up and aftermath of a long term relationship and its consequences. It has resonated with millions, making it one of the most successful heartbreak songs of all time.

Have you ever dumped a significant other, walked away and regretted it later? If so, then Grammy of the Year and Record of the Year winner Need You Now by Lady Antebellum is the perfect heart breaker for you.

• Image: Broken Heart: Buy This at Allposters.com

Most notably covered by Al Green, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart gave The Bee Gees one of their early #1 songs in the USA. It missed out on this level of success in the UK, where the heart break quota must have been a lot lower at the time.

What has become one of the biggest selling songs of 2012, Somebody That I Used To Know is destined to become one of the classic break up songs of all time. A little piece of pop perfection.

Overblown? Slick? Haunting? This lush break-up song is possibly one the best recordings of its genre and probably responsible for a run on Kleenexes at the time.

The Irish master of the story song recounts his suicidal thoughts after having been stood up at the altar and later the sad death of both his mother and father. Alone Again (Naturally) was his biggest song in the USA and one of a string of hits around Europe.

Originally recorded by Dolly Parton, I Will Always Love You became Whitney Houston's signature song - its lyrical content made visual by its inclusion in the movie, The Bodyguard. I have you - no, you don't - yes, I do - no, you don't - he leaves.

With each article, Richard invites you to step into his world of music, television and entertainment. He will introduce you to British Glam Rock, share The 20 Scariest Film Scores Ever? and even give you an up close look at some classic actors such as Christopher Lee as Dracula.

For a complete list of Richard's articles, please visit Richard's profile.