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 ...

These 10 love songs gently remind him that he’s loved, safe, and deeply chosen. From timeless ballads to modern confessions, each track speaks the words men rarely hear but always need. In a world ...

I love the word "heartthrob." It stops you whether you read it or let it pass through your own lips in a giddy, longing breath. It has too many "t"s and a stutter in the middle, just like the tha-wump ...