20 Greatest Power Ballads of All Time
80
Is My Mascara Running?
I enjoyed doing the 10 Greatest Hair Metal Song list so much that I doubled this one to include 20 songs. Yea! I know you aren't as excited about that as I am, but you really should be. Not so many ground rules here. These are tear jerking somewhat sappy songs done by predominantly hard rock bands. Clear enough? Cool, then grab your hankie and throw your arm around your favorite guy or girl ‘cause here we go:
20. "Beth" by Kiss: You're probably expecting this list to be comprised almost entirely of bands from the 80s, and for the most part you're correct, but I couldn't in good conscience leave this one off the list. While I personally think "Hard Luck Woman" is a much better slow song by Kiss, this is potentially the forerunner of all power ballads to come. If kabuki wearing demons and spacemen could show their soft side, what's to stop men who look like transvestites?
19. "Fly to the Angels" by Slaughter: Speaking of transvestites, when the Vinnie Vincent Invasion broke up, fragments of the band became Slaughter. While it's debatable which band was actually better, there's no debating that Slaughter actually made this list. Does that really mean anything? I don't know.
18. "High Enough" by Damn Yankees: Are super-groups ever a good idea? Probably not, but when in doubt Ted Nugent and company made us whip out our lighters for this little love ditty.
17. "To Be With You" by Mr. Big: Are super-groups ever a good... Whoa, wait. Maybe they are. Super-groups did manage to score back to back songs on this list.
16. "Don't Close Your Eyes" by Kix: I couldn't include "Cold Blood" on my previous list, but I managed to get Kix on this list. While some people might be put off by Steve Whiteman's nasally vocals, this song has a certain "making out in your Trans-Am" appeal to it. It could also work for Camaros.
15. "Two Steps Behind" by Def Leppard: I'm a hockey fan, and I really wanted to leave this song off the list because of Joe Elliot's faux pas with the Stanley Cup, but I convinced myself that he was really drunk and didn't know what he was doing. You can't penalize a rock star for drunken idiocy. You also can't penalize them for making a darn good ballad.
14. "Carrie" by Europe: Here again is that band that everyone but me hates. Can you hear the "Final Countdown" keyboard intro? Let that get stuck in your head. Sure "Carrie" is a really sappy song, but isn't that the point? And do I have to mention Joey Tempest's pout again?
13. "Alone Again" by Dokken: Between Don Dokken's voice and George Lynch's guitar playing, Dokken should have been a more successful band than they were. Oh well. At least this love lost lament should stir some pity in even the most jaded of listeners.
12. "House of Pain" by Faster Pussycat: I love Faster Pussycat. As a matter of fact, this is probably one of my least favorite songs by them, but I couldn't go putting "Bathroom Wall" on the list. This song also wins points because of its serious subject matter and autobiographical nature.
11. "Wait" by White Lion: I almost didn't include this song because I'm still not positive it's a true ballad because of the way it alternates between slow parts and heavy parts, but I just love this song way too much to ignore it. My admiration is mostly due to Vito Bratta's wonderful guitar work. Props also have to be paid to Mike Tramp's flowing mane, though.
10. "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" by Poison: I personally like "I Won't Forget You" more, but I think I'm in the minority there, so the list contains this Brett Michaels' overly emotional ode to lost love.
9. "More Than Words" by Extreme: Most people do or do not remember Gary Cherone as the lead singer on the only Van Halen album none of us ever bought or heard. Seriously, can you name a single song Gary Cherone sang for Van Halen? I can't. Before we refused to forgive Eddie Van Halen for firing his second frontman Sammy Hagar, Gary Cherone was singing for the just as unforgivable and equally forgettable band Extreme. At least Gary did do this one okay song.
8. "Is This Love" by Whitesnake: This is such a sweet little song, even if David Coverdale is singing it to Tawny Kitaen. Yuk. Let's try to forget that part and focus on John Sykes guitar playing even though Adrian Vandenberg appears in the video playing air guitar because David Coverdale fired everyone during the recording of the album... On second thought let's just appreciate the love Mr. Coverdale and his ex-wife Tawny had for each other. Swallowing the vomit.
7. "Don't Know What You Got ‘til It's Gone" by Cinderella: You wouldn't think Tom Keifer's screeching style of vocals would work well for a love song, but you would be wrong. I believe it's actually Tom's vocals that turn what might have been just a run of the mill power ballad into one of the best power ballads of all time. Too bad that same style of singing has not been very kind to Mr. Keifer's vocal chords over the years.
6. "Love is on the Way" by Saigon Kick: I really like this song, but please don't make me watch the video ever again. What the heck is lead singer Matt Kramer doing with his hands? Is he a genie? Is he blind? I'm confused.
5. "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse: Nothing like showing up on the scene just as your genre of music is dying a painful death, but Firehouse did manage to sneak in this head swaying ballad just in time. It's always been one of my favorites.
4. "Heaven" by Warrant: Sure, "Cherry Pie" may have been responsible for bringing down the entire hair metal genre, but at least Warrant made one really good song. No? Oh well, I truly believe "Heaven" is one of the greatest power ballads of all time. Let the debate begin.
3. "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue: Ah yes, the much maligned "Theater of Pain" album. No matter what your opinion is of the bad boys of "Shout at the Devil" trading in their leather for lace, you can't deny that this song is one of the greatest ballads of all time. Sure it was kind of simple, but I think it was that simplicity that made it sound more real than the scores of other ballads that tried a little too hard to stir our emotions.
2. "Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns -n- Roses: While Axl Rose has proven to potentially be the biggest douchebag in the history of rock and roll by taking potentially the greatest band of the last twenty years and completely flushing it down the toilet, there is no denying how great the album Appetite For Destruction was. It's one of the few albums without a bad song on it, and, more impressively, it contains the second greatest power ballad of all time. Do you think they feel honored?
And now it's time to wipe your eyes and blow your nose for...
1. "I Remember You" by Skid Row: Reality television has made Sebastian Bach look less than flattering, but in my mind he still has one of the most powerful voices in the history of rock. While many a metal singer has had to rely on screeching falsetto to reach certain heights, Mr. Bach's vocal range is pure and strong. And no song exemplifies that vocal range quite as well as the greatest power ballad of all time. What makes this one stand out above the crowd is that it doesn't come across as a gimmick or an attempt to cash in on the "let's crack the top ten with a ballad" trend of the 80s. It actually feels real. For that, "I Remember You" will always be a wedding couple's first dance for those of us from the 80s who can still find someone to marry them... and can still dance without the aid of a walker.
Well there you have it. And you can't say I didn't include Warrant this time.
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That one is a great song. Might have actually been an oversight on my part.
I think Sweet Child O' Mine is too fast to be a power ballad. I'd go for Iron Maiden's Children of the Damned as best power ballad ever.
While I see your point and do somewhat agree about Sweet Child O' Mine, there is no way I could put Iron Maiden, who I am a huge fan of (The Trooper poster is on the wall behind me as I type) on a power ballad list. Somebody would end up punching me right in the face.
A power ballad doesn't have to be a love song by a poodle metal band. I'd define it as a slow song dominated by the vocals where the choruses are significantly louder than the verses. Might I recommend "Heart of Steel" by Manowar, the Kings of Metal themselves?
you have here a nice list of songs.
i think patience or november rain is much better than sweet child o mine, but good list anyway :D
Patience and November Rain are both good songs. I do give more credit to the songs from Appetite for Destruction because it's where it all started. Whether that's right or wrong will always be open to debate.
No Bon Jovi??? You can take our pick with them, Always, Never Say Good Bye, I'll Be There For You, Bed of Roses.
Here's my list
20. To Be With You
19. Alone
18. If I Close My Eyes Forever
17. More Than Words
16. When the Children Cry
15. Don't Cry
14. Angel
13. Fly to the Angels
12. High Enough
11. Don't Know What You Got
10. Is This Love
9. I Want to Know What Love Is
8. Love of a Lifetime
7. Faithfully
6. Home Sweet Home
5. Love Bites
4. I Will Remember You
3. Heaven
2. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
1. Always
Great post.
So many great ballads to chose from, but I agree with your number 1. I still get chills when I hear that song. Sebastion Bach's voice is awesome in the song. I saw Skid Row open up for G-n-R a long time ago and they totally blew G-n-R off the stage. G-n-R was lame compared to Skid Row!
Are you guys kidding When the Children Cry by White Lion is the best and most moving power ballad of all time. Sweat child of mine is to fast ti be one. But i do like Skid Row at number 1 (except for white lion.)
Im wondering how come I don't see a Steel Heart on this list. We're talking about Power Ballads here right? "Angela" and/or "She's Gone" should fix this list. And bump off "Sweet Child 'O mine" and/or "Two Steps Behind" out the list for obvious reasons.
Good List. Some of these I had actually forgotten (sigh) Thanks for the walk down memory lane and the tears on my iPod.
I'm huge Skid Row fan... and while reading this list I didn't even think that you could have song by them at no1. I like your list. Not just because of I remember you, but every other song is good. :)
* oh and btw I wasn't even born in the 80s. but I love those hair metal bands. I'm almost 16 years old.. but yeah, glam metal forever!
Where are Journey's song, The band that's called the inventor of power ballads.. Open Arms, Faithfully??
you want power ballads do you.....
In no particular order here are my 10 fav's
Changes Black Sabbath
Love ain't no stranger Whitesnake
Rainbow eyes rainbow
Judas Priest Diamonds and Rust live Japan
Scorpions Here in my heart
Scorpions Still loving you
Coverdale page Take a look at yourself
The Last days of May Blue Oyster Cult
Patience GNR
Nazareth Star How's that..............
Where the hell is Silent Lucidity??
No Angel by Aerosmith?
Greatest power ballad ever
Don't Cry by Guns N' Roses is the greatest power ballad of all time IMO.
You seem to be missing "Phoenix Rising" by Annihilator,
An outstanding power ballad that is gonna be at our wedding...even if its a little late fo the 80s!!
Wow, your list is a tragedy...You need to put at least one song from Steelheart and your list should include; I still think about you from Danger Danger, there's no other power ballad that matches this song. Probably you never heard of them before since they came in late in the glam metal scene but this song is without a doubt the best power ballad ever.
Yes, the list is not good at all. I have more than a 100 on my personal collection from Aerosmith to Whitesnake. I will a the list when I have time. Best. ET
You should try X JAPAN. Say Anything, Tears, Crucify My Love, Endless Rain etc. X JAPAN's ballads are the greatest of all time. Even if you don't understand the language. :-)
Nice list! I love that Saigon Kick song too. Glad to see it so high on the list. Although I do have to agree that Angel Eyes should be here somewhere.
To leave off Scorpions "Still Loving You" is just irresponsible. And while Appitite for Destruction is a superior album, "November Rain" is a far surperior power ballad. On my personal list (somewhere) is Orion's "Dark and Stormy Night," but that's a personal preference.
Yeah, like the list, but in my opinion it is incomplete (subjective as hell of course). I really think Always (Bon Jovi), Dream on (aerosmith) and Don't Cry (Guns n Roses) should join the list. And Inspector Winship is totally right about the Scorpions, although I prever the song You and I above Still loving you.
here's my top 20
20. just take my heart - Mr.Big
19. dont close your eyes - kix
18. forever- kiss
17. because the love - keel
16. sister christian - night ranger
15. only time will tell - nelson
14. miles away - winger
13. angel - aerosmith
12. i still thik about you - danger danger
11. love songs - tesla
10. love bites - def leppard
09. when i see you smile - bad english
08. i'll see you in my dreams - giant
07. the flame - cheap trick
06. high enough - damn yankees
05. the time alone with you - bad english
04. heaven - warrant
03. more than words can say - alias
02. if you needed somebody - bad company
01. she's gone - steelheart
Yeah...
I can't believe Bon Jove didn't make your list. There's something off with that.
Most of your list, I agree with...but I'm with Dave.
Bon Jovi has SO many power ballads perfect for this list. At least one of them should have made it onto your's.
What about "A tale that wasnt right" of Helloween.. thats a very good Power Ballad!!
Ever hear of "Wanted Dead or Alive"? That might friend is #1. Thanks for the list. Waxin nostalgic as I type....... in Silent Lucidity....
Silent Lucidity should be on this list in my opinion, but otherwise this is a fantastic top 20.
Hey guys, no love for The Price by Twisted Sister and Tears of Fire by Keel?
I'm with Christian. You can't have a top 20 power ballads list without Silent Lucidity
Come on people be nice before you slag of a bloody good list all add your own lists so we can compare!! most of you have added great songs but everyones taste is different.
Skid row was great song but i agree I Remember you is a little to fast to be a power love ballad :)
Come on, how does "Love Bites" by Def Leppard not make this list???
for Andrew Hawkley:
1.
a. A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
b. The music for such a poem.
2. A popular song especially of a romantic or sentimental nature.
Faithfully by journey
wowww wth gus lol wheres the great white- house of broken love?? skid row- little wing??and perhaps one of the greatest of all....Wildside-just another night...come on guyss my list goes on and on and im only 16 lmao
wheres the rain song by led zeppelin??
Loudness-So Lonely
black sabbath-children of the sea
steelheart - she's gone
lunatica-farewell my love
budgie-turn to stone
MSG-when i'm gone
UFO-Profession OF the violence
Robin Zander-Surrender to me
MSG-Niightmare
Rainbow-Can't let you go
Gary Moore-Empty rooms
Yngwie malmsteen-save our love
highlord-Moonlight romance
Y&T- This Time
Whitesnake-Now you're gone
WhiteLion-Never let you go
sweet child o' mine is not a power ballad, idiot!!! you should be study a little more or listen what really is a power ballad motherfucker of the year!! jaja. guns n' roses forever
It hasn't earned a place on this list, however how many were surprised when the heard Snuff by slipknot??!?!
Home Sweet Home will always be the greatest in my opinion... Something about gets me
Silent Lucidity lit my path to the power ballad.
What about Metallica's 'Unforgiven" and Scorpion "Send Me An Angel"
House of Lords - Love don't lie
Spellbound - Shot of Love
Baby Tuckoo - Maybe
nobody heard these gems?
guys, u're missing I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith and Still Loving You by Scorpions!
Good list. I think of Power Ballads as being slower songs about girls by bands that usually play faster and sing about different things. So Journey or REO don't work because most of their best songs are slower songs about girls. My only complaint would be the choice of Def Leppard song; I think that Bringing on the Heartache would be a better pick.
Blinding list. 38 and from London UK, so not up to speed like those who were a little older than me and State side. Lots of tracks I don't know, and I've just been through them on youTube and loved the list. Will get em and make a playlist.
If I could go back in time, it would be then.
Can you knock up another list?
'Another 20 Greatest Power Ballads of All Time'
The hub title don't matter, just great stuff.
A lot of you are being rather child-ish saying that his list is bad because he didn't put some of "your" favorite songs, instead he put songs that "he" thinks are the best 20 power ballads. So let's just calm down people, it's still an awesome! list
skid row rules
A list without Def Leppard's Love Bites is not a list!
Hi - Possession by Bad English should be here somewhere.
David Coverdale & Jimmy Page---Take Me For A Little While
What is up with this list what about some of the great songs you missed you said sweet child ol mine instead of November rain and you completely missed I'll be there f
You completely forgot I'll be there for you Bon jovi and my favorite dream on aerosmith dream ons top 3 if not the best ever
this one goes back a ways but how about Just Between You and Me by April Wine?
im sorry but where is meat loaf ????????
Kick Axe: Dreaming About You
Beth top 5 at least. one of the first if not the first pb. Black Sabbath "Changes'' and UFO "LOVE TO LOVE" honorable mentions
no faithfully, open arms, i don't want to miss a thing
all i can say is where is queensryche's silent lucidity, in either the main list or any commented lists, to leave this song out is sacrilegious to the "power ballad" lists
Not one Scorpions power ballad? Ahahaha fool. We'll burn the sky. No One Like You. Wind of Change. Send Me an Angel. STILL LOVING YOU. Always SOmewhere. Holiday. In Your Park. Just pick one
muy buena la lista, pero sweet child o' mine no es power ballad, y beth de kiss en ¿numero 20?, te falto i'll be ther for you de Bon Jovi, y Love Song De Teslal, No One Like You de Scorpions,y algo de Danger Danger, y I Can't Stop Loving you de Van Halen, aqui esta mi top 20:
20. -I Still Think About You (Danger Danger)
19. -Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad? (Def Leppard)
18. -I live my life for you (Firehouse)
17. -I Can't Stop Loving You(Van Halen)
16. -Two Steps Behind (Def Leppard)
15. -I Remember You (Skid Row)
14. -No One Like You (Scorpions)
15. -Hysteria (Def Leppard)
14. -When Love And Hate Collide (Def Leppard)
13. -Reason To Live (KISS)
12. -Love Song (Tesla)
11. -Crazy (Aerosmith)
10. -Angel (Aerosmith)
9. -Always (Bon Jovi)
8. -Every Rose Has It's Thorn (Poison)
7. -Hard Luck Woman (KISS)
6. -Through The Rain (Cinderella)
5. -Don't Cry (Gun's 'n' Roses)
4. -I'll Be There For You (Bon Jovi)
3. -Faithfully (Journey)
2. -Angie (Rolling Stones)
1. -Beth (KISS)
Awesome list, even after three years lol. As a veteran of the 80's, I wouldn't classify GnR as a Hair Metal band really...to me, their sound was more like what would eventually warp into that weird 90's rock. For example, compare a GnR song with Autograph's Turn Up The Radio..a song which embodied the coming sound of the Hair Metal era.
I also agree that Beth doesn't belong on that list. Kiss was not really a Hair Metal band either. They were more of a leftover from the theatrical 70s arena rock era.
"Not one Scorpions power ballad?"
The thing is, the author, in the beginning, made reference to Hair Metal bands. The Scorpions, while certainly masters of the art of rock (There's No One Like You, Big City Nights, etc.) they weren't really an 80's Hair band per se.
Their rock was more hard driving and was not conventional by the standards of Hair Metal. The Scorps used the open E chord for sure, but they didn't live solely by it.
Here's my top 20
20- forever free- W.A.S.P.
19- wind of change- scorpions
18- fly to the angels- slaughter
17- alone again- dokken
16- carrie- europe
15- amanda- boston
14- high enough- damn yankees
13- wanted dead or alive- bon jovi
12- i will see you in my dreams- giant
11- beth- kiss
10- angel- aerosmith
9- i still think about you- danger danger
8- don't cry- guns n roses
7- is this love- whitesnake
6- heaven- warrant
5- love bites- def leppard
4- home sweet home- motley crue
3- she's gone- steelheart
2- every rose has its thorn- poison
1- i remember you- skid row
tha ballad of jayne by LA GUNS its not there ?
I've seen some good selections however I'm curious about the fact that there are bands mentioned that are hair metal not power metal. I hear Power Metal, I expect to see bands like Manowar, Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Rhapsody, Kamelot, Hammerfall, etc. I could mention some obvious others but they've already been mentioned. I was going to put up a top ten, but really only two songs came to mind so here they are;
Before the Dawn - Judas Priest
Blood Brothers - Manowar
well i wasnt even alive in the 80's and you guys missed "Your Love" by the outfield.
pretty much a fail, maybe your memory IS getting bad :P
Few changes, Def Leppard needs to be moved way up and switched to "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad", GnR should be "Don't Cry" and "Beth" should be taken off and replaced by Tesla "Love Song". Other than that, love it! So glad to see Cinderella on there and Skid Row as #1 just made my day!
what about always somewhere by the scorps?
anyone remember tryumph?
or tesla?
@Adam A.
Your Love by the outfield is not a ballad...
ALWAYS BON JOVI
cool yeah
I got a few -
Love Hurts - Nazareth
Holiday - Scorpions
Lady Starlight - Scorpions
Kaliegh - Marillion
Great list. I also love "Kingdom Dome - What Love Can be" from 1988. In 00's Fuel have great power ballads.
Check Falls on Me(2003), Hemorrhage (2000),
Innocent (2000), Milion Miles (2003), Sunburn (1998)
Sorry, my mistake. The right name is "Kingdom Come" and the song is "What Love Can Be"
Aerosmith - I don't want to miss a thing.
MANY great tunes listed by several people. Rock On!
What no Bon Jovi? What's goin on there?
allen lande - reach a little longer
angra - bleeding heart
blind guardian - the bard's song
firehouse - no one at all
hammerfall - the fallen one
helloween - i don't wanna cry no more
iced earth - i died for you
loudness - lost without your love
loverboy - this could be the night
Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Never Dreamed
opeth - to bid you farewell
quiet riot - dont wanna be your fool
savatage - if i go away
sonata arctica - last drop falls
Reo Speedwagon - In your letter
thin lizzy - the sun goes down
thunder - a lover, not a friend
Warrant - Bed Of Roses
Winger - Miles Away
X Japan - Endless Rain
zakk - cry me a river
talking about power ballads nothing beats bonnie tyler's "Making love out of nothing at all" and "Total eclipse of the heart"
WHY NO SCORPIONS OR BON JOVI HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol, you could've atleast put airsupply
why hasn't anyone mentioned poison's "something to believe in"?
1)rainbow- temple of the king
2)Rainbow - Rainbow Eyes
3)rainbow- catch the rainbow
4)Ten - After The Love Has Gone
5)Sturm und Drang - Indian
6)blind guardian bard's song
7)Salamandra- Homage to the Great
8)Bonfire - You Make Me Feel
9)U.F.O. - BeLLaDoNNa
10)Sonata arctica- shy
11)sonata_arctica- mary lou
12)Royal hunt- Age Gone Wild
13)Royal hunt- Stranded
14)axel rudi pell - the clown is dead
15)axel rudi pell- the eyes of the lost
16)Stratovarius -The Land Of Ice And Snow
17)Excalion - Heart & Home
18)gorky park - two candles
19)Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
20)OUTLOUD - Waiting For Your Love
Alice Cooper's Might as well be on Mars...just slow & fast enough.
Silent Lucidity?
WTF WINDS OF CHANGE-SCORPIONS IS NOT IN THE LIST OMFG!!
Is not Easy to choose the best 20 ballads of ever. I will try to make a list of some of my favorite ballads but im sure that i will not include some good songs that other people, for exemple would choose:
1- Simple Plan - Untitled
2- 3 Doors Down - Here Without you
3- evanescence - my immortal
4- within temptation - memories
5- hoobastank - the reason
6- Scorpions - Wind of change
7- Bon Jovi - Always
8- Aerosmith - Fly Away From Here
9- Guns n Roses - November Rain
10- Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
11- Saints And Sinners -Takin`my chances
12- Sarah Brightman & Manowar Where Eagles Fly
13- Firehouse - When I Look In to your Eyes
14- Arcaide - Cry no more
15- Danger Danger - I still Think About You
16- Mr Big - To Be With You
17- Annihilator phoenix rising
18- White Lion - When The Children Cry
19- Ozzy Osbourne - Mama, I'm Coming Home
20- Stratovarious - Forever
all the ballads are good but i would like to include other fantastic ballads:
1- Charles & Eddie - Would I Lie To You
2- double - captain of her heart
3- Metallica - The unforgiven ll
4- aerosmith- dream on
5- scorpions- still loving you
6- Anne Murray - You needed me
7- Bruce Dickinson - Tears Of the Dragon
8- brian mcfadden - real to me
9- rollins stones - tears go by
10- manowar- courage
11-zz top- rough boy
12- Wet Wet Wet- Love Is All Around
13- Body Count - The Winner Loses
14- Bush - Letting The Cables Sleep
15- Dream Theater - The Spirit Carries On
16- Therion-seawinds
17-Megadeth - A Tout Le Monde
18- Direct - Don't kill me tonight
19- Oratory- Story of all Times
20- Xutos e Pontapés - Para Sempre
Love that you included Skid Row and Kix, really like your list - bravo to them all!
Miles away by winger is a classic too. Deserves an honorable mention
love bites by def lappard isn't on the list??? I've never seen a list like this without that song being in at least the top 4, and rightfully so... I bring it up because it's my personal favorite.
Adam B 3 years ago
Nice list, I may have bumped one of them for Steelheart - Never let You Go (Angel Eyes)