Ruben, Love That Hurts | Beaming with Pride

In the 32nd edition of Beaming with Pride (2025), we highlight the song, “Love That Hurts” performed by Norwegian singer/songwriter Ruben. 

Prepare to beam with P-R-I-D-E ️‍! Beaming with Pride celebrates, embraces, and spotlights songs by LGBTQ musicians or allies.  Here, we provide background and insight into musician(s) and analyze + go gaga over the decadent bops served up.  When the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is fully articulated.  All styles of music are welcome while the songs can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the 32^nd edition of Beaming with Pride (2025), we highlight “Love That Hurts” performed by Ruben.

“Want my feelings thrown around type of lovin’ / Like whiskey’s flowing through my veins.” Oh my, Ruben (Ruben Markussen)! In the first verse of “Love That Hurts”, The Norwegian singer/songwriter adds, “Burning virtues to the ground gets me going.” Wow! Truly, our handsome and talented musician wants a painful brand of love! “Love That Hurts” is the third track from Markussen’s 2025 EP, So Long, Ruben (“December (honey, honey)” also appears on the EP). Markussen, Kasper Daugaard, and Mcdc (Mads Christian Damgaard Christiansen) wrote “Love That Hurts.” Mcdc produced it.

First and foremost, Ruben sounds incredible.  His vocals are expressive and nuanced to the nth degree. Additionally, the vocal production is on point.  And what about the production overall? Superb, with lovely keys, a groove that cooks, and a colorful sound palette.  What does not hurt about “Love That Hurts” are the tuneful melodies from start to finish. Following the first verse, where Markussen establishes his brand of love, he continues to shine in the pre-chorus:

“Go away

If you don’t wanna stay

If you don’t wanna wait

Just get out my way.”

At least he’s honest, right? Right. The chorus is the ‘cat’s meow’ – the crème de la crème!

“I want that love that hurts me, darling

I need to feel it everywhere

Shot to the heart with an endless energy

Pick me apart, how bad can it be?

I want that love that hurts me, darling.”

Here, Ruben shows off his powerful upper register.  That falsetto is high-flying – to die for, keeping the pain going! More could be said about “Love That Hurts” as well as a stunning acoustic version but this pop joint speaks for itself.  Ruben, stay fabulous and please, don’t indulge too much in love that hurts! 

Ruben // So Long, Ruben (EP) // Markussen Music / Warner Music Norway AS // 2025

Ruben, Love That Hurts: Beaming with Pride No. 32 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Markussen Music / Warner Music Norway AS; Elias Souza, Mario Spencer, Mizuno K from Pexels;  All_CC0_Public_domain, CatsWithGlasses, David, ernestflowerss, Kelly, M. Harris, Marek Studzinski, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]