What is the ultimate ROCK POWER BALLAD? [Archive]

mickill

11-30-2005, 11:57 AM

I think that the quintessence of true ROCK POWER BALLADRY is inherently a phenomenon of the 1980s, so please keep you Aerosmith's Don't Wanna Miss A Thing to yourself. I have 4 nominees:

Keep On Lovin' You - REO Speedwagon
I Wanna Know What Love Is - Foreigner
Love Song - Tesla
I Remember You - Skid Row

It's mainly between the first two. Both are equally powerful and belong in the upper echelons of ROCK POWER BALLADOM.

DroppinScience

11-30-2005, 11:59 AM

Ummm... Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses"?

Ugh, they have a billion more of that kind of stuff. :rolleyes:

fucktopgirl

11-30-2005, 12:02 PM

def leppard,,the name of the tune escape me !

Kid Presentable

11-30-2005, 12:06 PM

You bunch of fucks. It's 'Home Sweet Home'.

cj hood

11-30-2005, 12:23 PM

'angel eyes' from like '91......i forget who sings it!

yeahwho

11-30-2005, 12:28 PM

The Wheel in the Sky say's it has to be one of those overwrought Journey songs. I love that stuff.

yeahwho

11-30-2005, 12:31 PM

'angel eyes' from like '91......i forget who sings it!

OR,

What a shot you could be if you could shoot at me
with those Angry Eyes :mad: (y)

mickill

11-30-2005, 12:39 PM

Ummm... Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses"?

Ugh, they have a billion more of that kind of stuff. :rolleyes:

Yeah, but that particular tune's a bit too nineties for this discussion. I'd opt for I'll Be There For You, personally.

Def Leppard...hmmm...Love Bites?

Kid, there's no way Motley Crue is touching REO Speedwagon and Foreigner in this regard. It's not their domain.

Journey on the other hand....Don't Stop Believin' still sends chills up my spine, man.

nypb

11-30-2005, 12:54 PM

Sister Christian!

night ranger

cj hood

11-30-2005, 03:43 PM

Sister Christian!

night ranger

killer track!

i'm also down with any Journey!

WhoMoi?

11-30-2005, 03:47 PM

Journey on the other hand....Don't Stop Believin' still sends chills up my spine, man.
(y)

I Wanna Know What Love Is - Foreigner
Love Song - Tesla
(y)

I used to love that Tesla song. Seventh grade dances...good times.

"Is This Love" by Whitesnake would be up there.
"Fly to the Angels" by Slaughter is my vote for the most annoying one. That guy's voice was so grating.

DapperDiverge

11-30-2005, 03:56 PM

ultimate love ballad is "love song" by The Cure...duh!!! :cool:

of course Extreme's "more than words" in '91 was awesome

Funky Pepp

11-30-2005, 04:15 PM

The best ever "SCHWEINEROCK-BALLADE" is Carrie from Europe!

rob20

11-30-2005, 04:28 PM

the ballad of jayne- la guns

rob20

11-30-2005, 04:31 PM

poison- life goes on

WhoMoi?

11-30-2005, 05:03 PM

ultimate love ballad is "love song" by The Cure...duh!!! :cool:

That's not a rock power ballad though.

mickill

11-30-2005, 05:17 PM

That's not a rock power ballad though.
Thank you. I think some of you people are missing the point here.

And Sweet Child O Mine and Patience are not POWER BALLADS, they're just badass songs.

And wait....More Than Words? WTF? Hellllllo? POWER, people.

Kid Presentable

11-30-2005, 08:19 PM

Thank you. I think some of you people are missing the point here.

And Sweet Child O Mine and Patience are not POWER BALLADS, they're just badass songs.

And wait....More Than Words? WTF? Hellllllo? POWER, people.

Yeah, crashing drums, heartfelt lyrics, spandex. Shit Motley Crue used all of that and a piano.

Drederick Tatum

11-30-2005, 08:46 PM

I'll take November Rain and Slash's 14 solos.

Kid Presentable

11-30-2005, 08:58 PM

I'll take November Rain and Slash's 14 solos.

Yeah but that's 90's.

What it Takes by Aerosmith is an example of the last great ballad of the 80's.

I nominate Berlin-Take my breath away.

yeahwho

11-30-2005, 09:09 PM

I nominate Berlin-Take my breath away.

I am a sucker for that song. Is it a Power Ballad though?

WhoMoi?

11-30-2005, 09:13 PM

I am a sucker for that song. Is it a Power Ballad though?

Me too. But no, it's not.

Kid Presentable

11-30-2005, 09:18 PM

Me too. But no, it's not.

Clearly it is. What would you prefer to call it?

yeahwho

11-30-2005, 09:23 PM

Clearly it is. What would you prefer to call it?
Synthy Moody Poppy Love Song, that works on some levels, but not the "ROCK POWER BALLAD" level.

So Ruff

11-30-2005, 09:28 PM

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Close thread, close forum, close worldwide web.

Kid Presentable

11-30-2005, 09:30 PM

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Close thread, close forum, close worldwide web.

Now that's not a power ballad.

Oh, and the synth was the guitar of the 80's.

But Home Sweet Home is the winner.

WhoMoi?

11-30-2005, 09:50 PM

Clearly it is. What would you prefer to call it?

Absolutely not, sir. It's what yeahwho said it was...a synthy pop ballad, definitely not a rock ballad.
A power ballad is a rock ballad typically done by a metal or "hair" band. It was obligatory during the 80s for every band of this type to do at least one per album.

(Is the word "ballad" starting to look weird to anyone else? I don't think I've ever typed or written that word so much in my life.)

paulb

11-30-2005, 09:52 PM

Metallica - Fade To Black

Documad

11-30-2005, 11:06 PM

I'd like to nominate Cheap Trick -- The Flame on my behalf of my best work buddy.

If it's Journey, it has to be Faithfully. You have to see the cheesy video of the band getting on and off the tourbus with babies and girlfriends to truly appreciate it. It's burned in my memory all these years later.

As for REO's Keep on Loving You, I have deep and painful memories associated with it and with all of High Infidelity. I have to catch them at the state fair sometime. They tour with Styx. My favorite Styx song is Renegade so I'm not nominating them.

Documad

11-30-2005, 11:09 PM

What it Takes by Aerosmith is an example of the last great ballad of the 80's.
Freaky! My same best work buddy (we've actually worked 3 different jobs together over time) said during Aerosmith's early comeback that what they needed was a good power ballad. Then What It Takes came out and he said "that's it!"

fucktopgirl

11-30-2005, 11:10 PM

bryan adams,again the name of the tune,i cannot remember

i think" were in heaven"

anyway that song is good,i love bryan adams voice!

mickill

12-01-2005, 12:09 AM

YeahwhoMoi? are absolutely right. There's no way in hell Take My Breath Away belongs in this discussion.

And I Will Always Love You? Fade To Black? The CURE? Seriously, no, no and no. Stop it. Let's try to follow these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_ballad) simple guidelines or something.

I think 'Heaven' works, though.

And 'Alone' by Heart is another good one if you guys wanna go more the pop route here.

The reason why I think a song like Heaven works, and something like Take my Breath Away does not is because Take My Breath Away lacks so many of the congenital elements of a true rock song. It's not even really rock to begin with.

For Aerosmith, I'd go with 'Angel'.

Monsieur Decuts

12-01-2005, 12:16 AM

I think the theme song to Growing Pains is a pretty stiring power ballad.

yeahwho

12-01-2005, 12:18 AM

Lenny Kravitz. I hate Lenny Kravitz.

That's all I need to know about VH1. They like Lenny Kravitz.

And they didn't put Journey on a Power Ballad top 25 list.

:eek:

TAL

12-01-2005, 12:21 AM

Knuckles

12-01-2005, 12:42 AM

these tunes always put the little lady in the mood for some sweet lovin' (y)

Lady - Styx (the first true power ballad)
Every Rose Has It's Thorn - Poison
Don’t Know What You've Got ‘Til its Gone – Cinderella
Love Bites – Def Leppard
Miles Away - Winger

paulb

12-01-2005, 02:46 AM

sorry Mickill, lets get back to topic...

Metallica - To Live is To Die

scotty

12-01-2005, 05:30 AM

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler.

Close this thread right now, because this is not only the greatest power ballad, but the greatest song ever.

ericlee

12-01-2005, 05:58 AM

Skynard has a couple, better than Freebird as they listed on thier list.
Such as Simple man and Tuesdays gone.

I want to say that RHCP's Breaking a girl and I could have lied could be technically titled power rock ballads.

Eddie Money- Take me home tonight
Simple Minds- Alive and Kicking
Eagles- Victim of Love
ZZ Top- Rough Boy
Foreigner- Waiting for a girl like you
Bad Company- Feel like making love
Reo Speedwagon- Cant fight this feeling

I think some of the Smashing Pumpkins songs are in the power ballad status.
such as suffer and Tristressa. Well there's more than that from them.

pshabi

12-01-2005, 08:15 AM

(y)

(y)

I used to love that Tesla song. Seventh grade dances...good times.

"Is This Love" by Whitesnake would be up there.
"Fly to the Angels" by Slaughter is my vote for the most annoying one. That guy's voice was so grating.
HMMMMMM, Class of 96?

Actually, I'd guess 94.

pshabi

12-01-2005, 08:17 AM

Yeah but that's 90's.

What it Takes by Aerosmith is an example of the last great ballad of the 80's.

I nominate Berlin-Take my breath away.
Aerosmith "What it Takes" was 89 at the earliest and without looking it up, may have even been 90 or 91.

I know this cause I got MTV when I moved in 89 and I remember watching the video many many times.

I'm almost sure it's 90s.

pshabi

12-01-2005, 08:19 AM

Freaky! My same best work buddy (we've actually worked 3 different jobs together over time) said during Aerosmith's early comeback that what they needed was a good power ballad. Then What It Takes came out and he said "that's it!"
And they stayed "power ballad" pretty much ever since.

Kid Presentable

12-01-2005, 08:25 AM

Aerosmith "What it Takes" was 89 at the earliest and without looking it up, may have even been 90 or 91.

I know this cause I got MTV when I moved in 89 and I remember watching the video many many times.

I'm almost sure it's 90s.

89.

ericlee

12-01-2005, 08:45 AM

Scorpions- still loving you

What about some Type o Negative. Most of their stuff on October Rust is power rock ballardish. I think so at least.

Kid Presentable

12-01-2005, 08:56 AM

Mickill, you have to admit although it's a cautionary tale, 18 and life is the better power ballad.

ericlee

12-01-2005, 09:00 AM

oh yeah, can't forget Ozzy and Lita- Close my eyes forever!!!!

Koolbite

12-01-2005, 09:05 AM

1: Jane says - JANE'S ADDICTION
2: Sweet child'o'mine - G'n'R
3: eeeeeerrrr... Purple Rain ... ? If it's considered a rock power ballad then i think i'd actually put it number 1.

Kid Presentable

12-01-2005, 09:24 AM

Not many of these are from the 80's. If that's the case, I nominate Mr. Bigs' To be with you.

fucktopgirl

12-01-2005, 09:50 AM

"listen to your heart" Roxette

mickill

12-01-2005, 09:54 AM

Scotty, there's no way in hell Bonnie Tyler is taking this distinction over the other nominees. No way in hell.

I want to say that RHCP's Breaking a girl and I could have lied could be technically titled power rock ballads.

Eddie Money- Take me home tonight
Simple Minds- Alive and Kicking
Eagles- Victim of Love
ZZ Top- Rough Boy
Foreigner- Waiting for a girl like you
Bad Company- Feel like making love
Reo Speedwagon- Cant fight this feeling

I think some of the Smashing Pumpkins songs are in the power ballad status.
such as suffer and Tristressa. Well there's more than that from them.
Neither of those RHCP songs fit the criteria, man. Apart from Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore, I don't think anything else here is ROCK POWER BALLAD material. The Pumpkins have some pretty schmaltzy tunes, but few if any that would qualify.

Mickill, you have to admit although it's a cautionary tale, 18 and life is the better power ballad.
It's not even a ballad, man. Not in the traditional sense of the word anyway.

ericlee

12-01-2005, 09:58 AM

Not many of these are from the 80's. If that's the case, I nominate Mr. Bigs' To be with you.

but do they necessarily have to be from the 80's. I don't think so because there's alot of post 80's power ballads that need to be represented as well. Even on the list that Mickill posted as an example had thus kind of bands such as Staind, Lenny Kravitz, Creed, Nickleback and Kid Rock.

Another thing. How can you consider To be with you a power ballad? I can almost see the ballad part but I fail to see "power" in this. I mean it's all acoustic for cripes sake.

alexandra

12-01-2005, 10:00 AM

i'm thinking like... Purple Rain, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (yeah it's from '73, blahblah).

mickill

12-01-2005, 10:05 AM

Stairway to heaven - Led Zep (yeah, I know it's not the 80's but it's the mother of all that is POWER BALLADS)
Always - Bon Jovi
Beth - Kiss
Lady - Styx
Don't know what you got - Cinderella
Angie - The Rolling Stones (see Stairway)
Close your eyes forever - Ozzy & Lita Ford
Heaven - Warrant
Every rose has it's thorn - Poison
Patience - G n' R
Is this love - Whitesnake
I'll remember you - Skid Row
I would do anything for you - Meatloaf
Sister Christian - Night Ranger

Yeah, a mixtape of these songs turned up soo loud the speakers were distorted, wearing a mullet, a denim jacket, your IROC Z with the T-Tops off parked in front of 7-11. Now that's the 80's (y)

Let's not deviate from the conventionalities of traditional ROCK POWER BALLADRY. Stairway is not the "mother of all POWER BALLADS", dude. It's not even a POWER BALLAD. The rest of your list, minus Angie, is pretty on point, though. But I still don't personally think that Patience belongs on anyone's list.

Bon Jovi actually is one of the few bands that managed to effectively incorporate the subgenres most vital elements in their post 80s work.

Listen To Your Heart works for me too. I like that.

ericlee

12-01-2005, 10:22 AM

Neither of those RHCP songs fit the criteria, man. Apart from Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore, I don't think anything else here is ROCK POWER BALLAD material. The Pumpkins have some pretty schmaltzy tunes, but few if any that would qualify

Ok, I may be out of context about RHCP but I'm just trying to find something that's not 80's. You can't tell me that you don't feel it when you listen to those two songs though. I forgot the one that's on the Coneheads soundtrack but that's a great one as well.

On the other hand, you can't tell me Bad Company doesn't qualify or Eagles at that.

And what? Foreigner, Waiting for a girl like you isn't qualified? C'mon man

Edit: don't ever forget Nazareth- Love hurts

Tzar

12-01-2005, 10:29 AM

i'm, ME, not even gonna mention Metallica in this thread. they don't have power ballads.

mickill

12-01-2005, 10:58 AM

i'm, ME, not even gonna mention Metallica in this thread. they don't have power ballads.
Thank you! Exactly.

Bad Comapany? No. The Eagles? Hell no. Soul To Squeeze? Hell F'ing no.

Waiting For A Girl Like You is like Chicago's Stay The Night or like Hall N Oates' Kiss On My List or something. It's totally not a ROCK POWER BALLAD. It's more Power Pop.

I think Love Hurts might be the true mother of all ROCK POWER BALLADS.

roosta

12-01-2005, 11:09 AM

Styx - Im Sailing Away....

Tzar

12-01-2005, 11:15 AM

well i'm listening to Metallica - It's Electric

i think Motorhead do the original. im guessing it's from the 80's?? anyone know the song? it sounds very balladish. not tonnes but would pass.

pshabi

12-01-2005, 11:47 AM

Scorpions- still loving you

What about some Type o Negative. Most of their stuff on October Rust is power rock ballardish. I think so at least.
If your going Scorps, why not "Winds of Change."

Not a "love" ballad but a power ballad fo sho.

pshabi

12-01-2005, 11:48 AM

Mickill, you have to admit although it's a cautionary tale, 18 and life is the better power ballad.

Yeah, but I like the "ballad" off the follow up album. I think it's called "Wasted Time."

hpdrifter

12-01-2005, 03:30 PM

Uh, what is it with people and the lack of knowledge of what a power ballad is. I made a cd compilation of power ballads and it consisted of the following:

Chicago: Hard to Say I'm Sorry
Def Leppard: Love Bites
Bon Jovi: I'll Be There for You
Heart: Alone (can't believe you forgot this one, 'tards.)
Bryan Adams: Heaven

Okay, so I don't remember what the others were but that's not the point.

These are power ballads. Whitney is not power.

Idiots. Gosh!

mickill

12-01-2005, 03:42 PM

Ahem!!

And 'Alone' by Heart is another good one if you guys wanna go more the pop route here.

Post #33, douchebag. Look it up. Holla.

paulb

12-01-2005, 03:47 PM

did u guys not get that i was joking about naming the Metallica songs?

hpdrifter

12-01-2005, 03:50 PM

Ahem!!

Post #33, douchebag. Look it up. Holla.

D'oh. That's what I get for not reading page 2. I was overzealous in my quest to son you. Always one step ahead motherfu!@#$ %@^

Douchebag is a little harsh. You're putting me in the same category with TS and DS? :(

mickill

12-01-2005, 03:53 PM

Hey man, you played yourself as soon as you kicked down the door calling everybody tards and idiots, you little whiner. But no, you're not a douchebag. I was just trying to cut you.

Fritobandito

12-01-2005, 03:59 PM

Ugly kid joe ,,, i hate everything about u lol :)

WhoMoi?

12-01-2005, 06:58 PM

HMMMMMM, Class of 96?

Actually, I'd guess 94.

'97 (high school, that is) :cool:

ericlee

12-01-2005, 08:25 PM

Bad Comapany? No. The Eagles? Hell no. Soul To Squeeze? Hell F'ing no.

Waiting For A Girl Like You is like Chicago's Stay The Night or like Hall N Oates' Kiss On My List or something. It's totally not a ROCK POWER BALLAD. It's more Power Pop.

I think Love Hurts might be the true mother of all ROCK POWER BALLADS.

Bad Company is on a few Power Rock ballad lists that I've looked up. I'm sorry but to me it's most definitly considered a power rock ballad.

I can't find Eagles on any lists besides Desparado and I can't consider that to be one at all.

Yeah, I'm wrong about the RHCP but give it time for the next generation to critique the music of this age as we are now with these 80's tunes.

More than words? A "POWER" ballad? It's a ballad man and that's it. Not a hint of distortion or drums at that. I don't even see it on any lists that I've looked up either.

Love Hurts- true dat (y)

Kid Presentable

12-01-2005, 08:45 PM

Yeah, but I like the "ballad" off the follow up album. I think it's called "Wasted Time."

Was that 'Slave to the Grind'? :D

ericlee

12-01-2005, 08:52 PM

Ugly kid joe ,,, i hate everything about u lol :)

LOL!!! you can seriously fuck a thread up with that shit. That's not even a song. I'm glad those guys still aren't around cause they weren't even in the one hit wonder status.

scotty

12-02-2005, 02:13 AM

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler.

Close this thread right now, because this is not only the greatest power ballad, but the greatest song ever.

Mike, you're in denial. Look deep down inside, you know its true.

mickill

12-02-2005, 10:23 AM

Mike, you're in denial. Look deep down inside, you know its true.
I looked. It only lead me to further conclude just how wrong you are. Next you'll be nominating 'Making Love Out Of Nothing At All', the songs distant Australian cousin, won't you, you Ausi bastard?

Kid Presentable

12-02-2005, 10:35 AM

I still stand by 'Home Sweet Home' as my favourite power ballad.

In the eyes of Mickill's thread it should be a top five contender.

1.) Tommy Lee played the Piano on the intro and outro.

2.) The Nikki Sixx-penned opening line: "You know I'm a dreamer, but my heart's of gold." Cheesier than anything Brian Adams wrote.

3.) Motley Crue still sold records after this single. They did the ballad in the way it was intended: one ridiculous part of a bad rock album.

4.)Mick Mars played the guitar.

5.) They were completely serious when they released it.

6.) They kept writing power-ballads.

7.) Vince Neill can't sing. He also claims to have bedded Pam Anderson before Tommy Lee met her. Bragging rights. :rolleyes:

I can't think of anything other than posting that if my selection is ignored, then mickill is playing pre-school teacher.

mickill

12-02-2005, 10:39 AM

No, I think I'll stick with Keep On Lovin' You (with Journey's Don't Stop Believin' as a very close second).

Ulitimate Ultimate!

Kid Presentable

12-02-2005, 10:45 AM

No, I think I'll stick with Keep On Lovin' You (with Journey's Don't Stop Believin' as a very close second).

Ulitimate Ultimate!

Oh, you got your hands on Mooney's shit?

mickill

12-02-2005, 10:56 AM

Who's Mooney?

Kid Presentable

12-02-2005, 11:07 AM

Who's Mooney?

Well, right before they threw him out, the nigga said "Word?".

mickill

12-02-2005, 11:09 AM

No, not Starks, man. I was thinking Ultramagnetic.

Kid Presentable

12-02-2005, 11:15 AM

No, not Starks, man. I was thinking Ultramagnetic.

Ultimate, Ultimate!

CrankItUp!

12-02-2005, 06:54 PM

Forever - KISS

Heaven - Warrant

You Are All That I Need - Twisted Sister

Hold On To My Heart - W.A.S.P.

I Remember You - Skid Row

Two Steps Behind - Def Leppard

It's Over Now - Frehley's Comets

Close My Eyes Forever - Lita Ford w/ Ozzy Osbourne

Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison

Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) - Cinderella

Love Hurts - Nazareth

Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

When The Children Cry - White Lion

CrankItUp!

12-02-2005, 07:00 PM

Alone Again - Dokken

CrankItUp!

12-02-2005, 08:13 PM

The Jack - AC/DC :D

The Notorious LOL

12-03-2005, 04:47 PM

this crap made it to three pages?

yeahwho

12-03-2005, 05:43 PM

this crap made it to three pages?

Almost four, anybody got more?

CrankItUp!

12-03-2005, 07:43 PM

Almost four, anybody got more?
Fuck yeah :

Givin' Yourself Away - Ratt

Don't Close Your Eyes - Kix

Don't Wanna Let You Go - Quiet Riot

I Still Think About You - Danger Danger

Love Is On The Way - Saigon Kick

Fly To The Angels - Slaughter