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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