20 Rock Ballads From the 2000s That You Hate to Love

The 2000s… an era of rock ballads that hit you right in the feels and somehow made it totally okay to crank up and still not lose your street cred… “Yeah, Buckcherry’s Sorry is a little emotional, but whatever, dude — they sang Lit Up, too!”

These also aren’t your grandma’s love songs; they’re the emotional anthems you secretly belt out when no one’s watching. Whether they make you cringe or tear up (or both), these rock ballads from the 2000s earned their spot on your playlist. Let’s revisit 20 of those tracks you hate to love, in no particular order. 

Buckcherry – "Sorry"
A raw, emotional apology wrapped in crunchy guitars — and who knew Josh Todd had an emotional side?

3 Doors Down – "Here Without You"

The classic “I miss you” ballad. Cheesy? Maybe a little. Good? Undeniably.

Staind – "It's Been Awhile"
The breakup ballad for when you're not just sad — you're deeply, painfully reflective and maybe haven’t done laundry in two weeks.

Vertical Horizon – "Everything You Want"
Pop-rock meets alt ballad. It’s that feeling when someone checks all the boxes on paper, but something’s just… off. Or worse — you were that person, and never even knew it.

Nickelback – "How You Remind Me"
Yup, the song that launched a thousand eye rolls — but still fills arenas.

Seether – "Broken" (feat. Amy Lee)
Dark and moody with Amy Lee’s haunting vocals. The ultimate soundtrack for your first real breakup… or at least your 8th-grade version of one.

Puddle of Mudd – "Blurry"
Emotionally intense, relatable for many, and maybe just a tad overplayed.

Kings of Leon – "Use Somebody"
That plea of loneliness you pretended not to relate to... but definitely sang at full volume while driving home alone at 1am.

Lifehouse – "Hanging by a Moment"
Somehow both uplifting and devastating… and let’s not forget catchy AF. This one is classic early 2000s emotional whiplash.

Hinder – "Lips of an Angel"
The toxic breakup ballad of the 2000s… and yet somehow romanticized by every guy who still texts his ex “just to check in.”

Linkin Park – "Shadow of the Day"
Softer than their usual high-energy chaos. Not sure exactly what this one is about, but it’s dripping in emotional devastation and has a beautiful melody.

Hoobastank – "The Reason"
That soaring chorus? Infectious. Yeah, your mom loved it too, but you know you still can’t resist singing along every time.

Creed – "My Sacrifice"
All the soaring drama you could ask for, wrapped in Scott Stapp’s signature voice. It’s church rock, stadium-sized.

Finger Eleven – "One Thing"
That late-night, staring-at-the-ceiling kind of ballad — when you can’t stop thinking about that one thing.

Default – "Wasting My Time"
Putting all the effort into a relationship but getting nothing back. Yup, that’s this song… a relatable one for many.

Shinedown – "Second Chance"
An emotional power ballad for anyone who’s ever fantasized about quitting their job, leaving their hometown, and becoming someone with a chin piercing and a motorcycle… well, maybe not that last part, but you get the point.

Our Lady Peace – "Somewhere Out There"
Delicate, spacey, and melodic with Raine Maida’s signature vocals. A staple of 2000s rock ballad playlists — and you probably had the lyrics in your AIM away message too.

Papa Roach – "Forever"

Less rage, more regret. Papa Roach slowed it down just enough to remind us they had feelings too.

Evanescence – "My Immortal"
Amy Lee’s haunting vocals float over that simple, melancholy arrangement and then bam! The full band kicks in near the end. It’s dramatic, theatrical, and designed to ruin your mascara.

Eve 6 – "Here’s to the Night"
The unofficial graduation anthem of every emotionally unstable teenager in the early 2000s. Bittersweet, reflective, and nostalgic.

There you go — 18 rock ballads from the 2000s you might not admit to listening to, but when one comes on, you know you’re singing every word. Or maybe you just remembered a few you haven’t heard in a while and now have your drive-home-from-work playlist sorted for today. Whatever it is, loving these guilty pleasures is way more fun than pretending you don’t. Rock on… softly.