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Power Ballads Are Anthems — Messages That Need To Be Heard

Because of social media and the internet, it would seem that no matter where one goes, music has a prominent role. Whether it is in the foreground by choice or in the background, it may remind one of a particular time in one’s life.

I am no stranger to it as well. I could be in a check-out line, driving in my car, surfing the internet or maybe walking somewhere downtown, and I may hear music.

If it’s a power ballad, I will continue to listen, but with other songs, I may walk on or change the channel.

Power ballads kind of manipulate me more than other songs do. The reason is a power ballad has all of the components of a good song — great melody, strong singer, guitar or keyboard solo, powerful drums, and nice bass guitar underpin. The song moves at a tempo that fits — not too fast and not too slow. From the first note, the song builds until the end.

Some may argue when power ballads came into existence. One may hear the format came into existence in the 1970s. I am in the camp that would have to say the format made its debut in mid 1960s. Although songs may not have been termed power ballads back then, they had the components and moved listeners the same way.

And with technology advances and recording techniques, power ballads became even more — powerful.

I don’t think the length of the song matters, and the songs usually end up on the long side. But when listening to a power ballad, I am not thinking that the song is going to end at 3 minutes and 42 seconds, rather I am lost in the message the artist or band is trying to convey with the song.

Here are some songs that I think that are power ballads. If you disagree or think I omitted some songs, please email me because I would like to know your thoughts.

The songs are not in any order.

Aerosmith: Crazy; Dream On

Alan Parsons Project: Old And Wise

Alanis Morrisette: Uninvited

Alias: More Than Words Can Say

Alicia Keys: New York; Fallin’

Allman Brothers Band: Melissa

Anita Baker: Sweet Love

Ann Wilson (Heart) and Mike Reno (Loverboy): Almost Paradise

April Wine: Just Between You And Me

Asia: The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

Audioslave: Like A Stone

Bad Company: Ready For Love

Backstreet Boys: Quit Playing Games With My Heart

Bangles: Eternal Flame

Bob Seger: Turn The Page

Bon Jovi: I’ll be There For You; Always

Bonnie Tyler: Total Eclipse of the Heart

Boston: More Than A Feeling

Bryan Adams: Heaven

The Cars: Drive

Cheap Trick: The Flame

Chicago: Look Away

Climax Blues Band: I Love You

Don Henley: The Heart OF The Matter

The Eagles: I Can’t Tell You Why

Emerson, Lake And Palmer: Lucky Man

Enya: Only Time

Eric Clapton: Wonderful Tonight

Europe: Carrie

Extreme: More Than Words

Foreigner: I Want To Know What Love Is

Guns N’ Roses: Patience; Don’t Cry

Heart: What About Love

The Hollies: The Air That I Breathe

Journey: Faithfully

KISS: Beth

Led Zeppelin: Stairway To Heaven

Lynrd Skynrd: Free Bird

Little River Band: Cool Change

Moody Blues: Nights in White Satin

Metallica: The Unforgiven

Meatloaf: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Motley Crue: Home Sweet Home

Mr. Big: To Be With You

Nazareth: Love Hurts

Pat Benatar: We Belong

Paul McCartney: Maybe I’m Amazed

Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

Poison: Every Rose Has Its Thorn

The Police: Every Breath You Take

Prince: Purple Rain

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody

REO Speedwagon: Keep On Loving You; Time For Me To Fly I Can’t Fight This Feelin’

Richard Marx: Hold On To The Nights

Rolling Stones: Wild Horses

Rush: Presto

Sade: No Ordinary Love

Scorpions: Still Loving You; No One Like You

Skid Row: I Remember You

Sting: Fields Of Gold

Stone Temple Pilots: Interstate Love Song

The Storm: I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love

Stryper: Honesty

Styx: Babe

Supertramp: Give A Little Bit

Survivor: The Search Is Over

Sweet: Love IS Like Oxygen

Three Dog Night: Old Fashioned Love Song

Tom Petty: Breakdown

Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart

Toto: I Won’t Hold You Back; I’ll Be Over You

Triumph: Magic Power

Van Halen: Love Walks In

U2: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Warrant: Heaven

Wham!: Careless Whisper

To me a power ballad is an anthem — a message that needs to be heard.

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