Great ballads/anthems

I don;'t know if this counts, byt ‘ballads/anthems’ is the first descriptor that came to my mind. Any way, I love this song.

Well, the first that came to mind is Robbie Williams’ “Angels”. It was the song that convinced me that Robbie was not just a former boy band member, but really has talent and charisma.

And I thought of another one, a secret favorite of mine, “Pardon My Heart” from Neil Young’s “Zuma”. It’s exquisite.

And in the anthemic ballad business, nobody could beat Queen’s “We Are The Champions”. Yes, it’s been used at sport events ad nauseam, but that’s just what they were going for, you can’t get more pompous and bombastic.

I’ve always liked The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Here’s the first one that came to my mind:

Looking at what I typed in the OP, I can see the tequila. :stuck_out_tongue:

According to my high school band director, a ballad is song that tells a story. “Last Kiss” is a ballad. “Ballad of Jed Clampett” is a ballad. A ballad tells you that this happens, and then that happens. Throw in some refrains.

Anthem? I wondered what the technical definition might be. Sez Wikipedia:

An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries.

I think of anthems as songs that unite a group of people who have a similar goal or ambition or identity. There’s big emotion behind an anthem…the unifying cause is important.

I give you the Who, covered by Pearl Jam…speaking for that generation?

I really like watching the violins get into it.

Well, this anthem has the advantage of being The Greatest and Best Song In The World (or, at least a tribute to TGABSITG).

That’s one meaning (possibly the oldest), but based on the OP’s example (and others), I was thinking more along the lines of power ballads.

It’s a Bob Dylan tune, but I’ve always been partial to Joan’s version:

And then there’s the #1 song from 50 years ago —

And one of my favorites, from Jackson Browne, The Load Out / Stay; this version, its public debut —

Vincint Black Lightning

A big hair blast from the 80s, from a band that was much less heralded than a lot of others, but was probably a better band than most of them. This was their second biggest hit, after their cover of Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs.”

The Ballad of John and Yoko.

Kisses Beth.

Something to Believe in by Poison

There seems to be unbalanced color in these anthem/ballads. Yes, I’m talking about purple.

I am going to allow myself two choices. For a pure rock anthem I go for More Than A Feeling by Boston.

For my second choice I deliberately wanted to avoid rock so will go with indie pop classic Sit Down by James.

TCMF-2L

If we’re talking about rock ballads / arena anthems then my first thought is Livin’ on a Prayer

A great ballad in the traditional sense would be Waltzing Matilda

A great anthem would be La Marseillaise, as sung by the patrons at Rick’s.