While reading this thread, it struck me that there are actually some really fantastic ballads out there. Just because a band releases a ballad doesn’t autmatically doom them to a sub-par Mannilow-esque existance.
So what are some of your favorite ballads?
Some of mine:
Mazzy Starr - Fade Into You
Crowded House - Into Temptation and Four Seasons In One Day
Veruca Salt - Fly
Alice in Chains - Heaven Beside You
Patience, Don’t Cry - Guns N’ Roses
Tangerine, Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
Ballad in Urgency, Descending, Girl from a Pawnshop - Black Crowes
What are the standards for a ballad? When you read the lyrics for Heaven Beside You, it’s pretty clear that it’s not a romantic song, even though lots of people seem to think it is. Are we just looking for music in that style, or does it have to fit the standard theme as well?
Regardless, Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters should be mentioned, as well as Queensryche’s Silent Lucidity.
I hate to say it… but…
Always by Bon Jovi is a kick ass ballad.
Poison-Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
Scorpions-Still Lovin’ You
Poison-Something To Believe In
Warrent-Heaven
Van Halen-When It’s Love
Chicago-Hard Habit To Break
Prince-Purple Rain
Skid Row-I Remember You
Scorpions-Wind Of Change
Aerosmith-Angel
Ozzy Osbourne-Mama, I’m Coming Home
The Who-Love Reign O’er Me
The Who-Behind Blue Eyes
Bon Jovi-I’ll Be There For You
Journey-Don’t Stop Believing
Journey-Open Arms
More Journey— Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’
Meat Loaf’s-- Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad (does this count as a ballad?)
I’m not sure that I could come up with criteria for a ballad, but I don’t think it has to be romantic. A few of the ones I listed aren’t love songs at all, just slow and lyrical.
OK, fair enough.
Whitesnake: Sailing Ships
Kansas: Dust in the Wind
Yes: Wonderous Journeys
Genesis: Like It or Not (personal preference over Misunderstanding, Follow You Follow Me and You’re Own Special Way)
Eric Clapton: Wonderful Tonight
The Blessing: Delta Rain
Other than that (off the top of my head) I agree with most of WSLers’s list and Silent Lucidity.
possible hijack - but before it’s too late and we’re debating the number of ballads on Zeppelin’s untitled album -
the word ballad should be ejected from the english language. It means too many different things and its usage seems to be very inconsistent between people. Check it out in Webster’s and you’ll see why…
Instead, perhaps the different definitions of ballads should each get their own names - like the sentimental schlock tunes, the token slow song on the album, lyrical…
More Journey “Send Her My Love”
Tesla - Love Song
Damn Yankees - High Enough
Winger - Miles Away
Styx - Babe
Maybe this is not what you had in mind, but when I think of ballads, I think of Dylan songs, i.e. “The Ballad of Hollis Brown”. On that note, I happened upon “In the Heat of the Night” on tv the other day, the tv show, not the movie, and Bobby Short was a guest star, and sang a song that is probably known as, “The Ballad of Louis Sweet”. It was incredible. I know what you’re thinking: “An incredible song on a tv show”. But it really was. Incredible, that is. Does anyone out there know where I can get a recording of this song?
Guns and Roses-Sweet Child o’ Mine
Steelheart-Angel Eyes
Led Zepplin-Thank You and All of My Love
Bad Company-Ready for Love
White Lion When the Children Cry
sorry but
Barry Manilow Weekend in New England.
Probably the best pop ballad IMO