Obvious drama: Celine Dion, “My Heart Goes On”
Cheesy drama: Air Supply, “The One That You Love”
Diva drama: Brandy & Monica, “The Boy is Mine”
Dolly Parton did it better drama: Whiney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
Contemporary pop idol drama: Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”
Lyrics that make no sense drama: Seal, “Kiss From a Rose”
British drama: Joe Jackson, “Breaking Us in Two”
Rip up the Pope kind of drama: Sinéad O’Connor, “Nothing Compares to You”
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt drama: 10cc, “I’m not in Love”
Old-school drama: Joe Cocker, “Feels Like Forever” or “Don’t You Love Me Anymore”
Bon-Bon’s kind of drama: Journey, “Open Arms”
Boom box drama: Peter Gabriel, “In Your Eyes”
Who wouldn’t want to wake up next to Chrissie Hynde? drama: The Pretenders, “Angel in the Morning”
Duet drama: Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
It doesn’t get more dramatic than this drama: Eric Carmen, “All By Myself”

ETA: Most of these are probably DMR-free if you want me to send anything to b'rawk.

Those are some fine suggestions, Megan. (The Joe Jackson rec is an interesting direction. I hadn't thought about him, but "Real Men" is one of her favourites. I think she could go for some more Jackson.) I already own most of them, don't worry about Buffistrawk.

Also, Tori Amos does a good cover of "Real Men."

Dolly Parton did it better drama: Whiney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”

I like the Vince/Dolly duet version.

Diva drama: Brandy & Monica, “The Boy is Mine”

Or, if you want country diva drama, there's always Reba McEntire and Linda Davis "Does He Love You."

Velvet Wrapped in Cashmere drama- Raul Malo- "Unbreakable."

Thanks for your suggestions. I've made up a draft CD, we'll see what Wallybee thinks of it.

Does anyone have suggestions for some over-the-top melodrama?

It may be too heavy (some definitely are) but Within Temptation is very dramatic. They front a mezzo-soprano so some of the songs are somewhat operatic. Probably Memories, Jillian, Angels, Our Solemn Hour, Stand my Ground.

Cheesy drama: Air Supply, “The One That You Love”

I'd go with "Making Love Out of Nothing At All." Which was produced by Jim Steinman, so you have a double there.

You can also get the combined whammy of Steinman and Celine Dion if you go with "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."

Hee. I have indeed opted for "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" (bearing in mind that he can make all the stadiums rock), and included "It's All Coming Back To Me Now". You could just about fill the entire CD with Celine Dion, but the choice has to be her collaboration with THE STEINMAN.

I am fairly certain that the completely nerdy older gentleman who did sports info/stats at my college is Jim Steinman's brother. [link]