In my experience there are two kinds of ballads: The kind done by loud rock & rollers who want to slow it down for a song or two and then there’s everyone else.
Spoiler alert! I prefer the metal “power” ballads! But of course there are some really good ones not done by my favorite guys in leather.
Another point I want to make is that a ballad does not necessarily indicate a slow song or a love song. To me, a ballad is a slower song that still packs the punch of the louder and faster songs done by the band or artist in question.
So, here’s the list I came up with to kick off 2012 – there are 10 songs in each category with no band or artist repeats.
*Disclaimer: This list purposefully does not include “Stairway,” “Free Bird,” “We Are The Champions,” “Hotel California,” Journey, the Beatles, divas such as Mariah or Whitney or any songs done by a male/female pair. For the best songs by male/female pairs see my August 31 post entitled “Coed Collaborations.”
Ok here we go with the list:
80s Metal Ballads:
Aerosmith – “Dream On”
Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive”
Guns N Roses – “Patience”
L.A. Guns – “The Ballad Of Jayne”
Motley Crue- “Home Sweet Home”
Mr. Big – “To Be With You”
Ozzy Osbourne – “Mama, I’m Coming Home”
Poison – “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”
Skid Row – “18 and Life”
White Snake – “Here I Go Again”
Other:
Adele – “Someone Like You”
Kelly Clarkson – “Because of You”
Black Crowes – “Remedy”
Foo Fighters – “Everlong”
Billy Joel – “Piano Man”
Elton John – “Your Song”
Lady Gaga – “You and I”
No Doubt – “Don’t Speak”
Prince – “Purple Rain”
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”
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