Sooty's Top 20 Power Ballads

[Soot and Stars]

When I first got exposed to MTV it was quite an experience. My parents never had cable so the first and for a while only time I got to catch it was at my grandparents. I fell in love with so many bands while seeing video after video and once I started I was the guy who could tell you every single a band/artist had because MTV actually played the singles or videos period at the time and it was a great learning experience for someone who'd fallen in love with music and didn't have a source until then. I remember though how sexual EVERY Video was then so I had it on while my parents/grandparents were congregating in the other room so I didn't get any looks or comments of the "garbage" I was watching! Anyway my first exposure was to the glam/80's metal bands of the day and I still power ballads to this day! Here is my list of ones I grew up with, loved and still love to this day! I will only include bands that I loved when they were actually out and will count only the ones from bands that were started pre-grunge! Also I will only include one song per band so this doesn't turn into a greatest hits by a band thread!

#20

Billy Idol-Cradle of Love


Maybe this isn't technically a power "ballad" (which is the reason I excluded Winger "Can't Get Enuff" as well and the reason it's so low on the list) but it sneaks in for me! First of all it's about love (sexy raunchy love ) which is about as close as Billy Idol gets to me outside of "Eyes Without a Face" which I wasn't exposed to in my young viewing. I love this song from Billy and the video is HOT!!!!!!!! I think Billy jumped the shark after this point BUT I really dug this one! I thought Billy Idol was so frickin' cool after seeing this!

 

[Soot and Stars]

#19

Tesla-Signs


I loved this one when I heard it on the radio. It's one of the best cover songs period during that era of my life! I remember hearing on the radio and it was stick in my head constantly! It was quite a constant to the Hall and Oates I was listening to at the time! A great acoustic jam!

 

[Sunny]

Two good songs so far!! ...................... Keep going Sooty

 

[Soot and Stars]

#18


Saigon Kick-Love Is On The Way


I've grown to like this song more and more as time goes by. I remember liking it before but not as much as I do now. That just means it has a more enduring sound. In fact, it's dark, melodic, contains great harmonies and is drained on any chesse the other tracks may have. What a great vocalist!

 

[Soot and Stars]

Two good songs so far!! ...................... Keep going Sooty

Thanks Sunny!

#17

Damn Yankees-High Enough


I had such a hard time deciding between this and "Where You Going Now" because they are both great! I think this was a great supergroup though at the time I didn't know their was a history withe members in other groups. They definitely had a great roster and that shows why the vocal harmoniews were so great and the guitar as well. It had a cool Southern Rock feel as well! I think I like Nugent better playing against others vocals than as a solo act!

 

[Soot and Stars]

#16

Motley Crue-Home Sweet Home


When I was younger I would have picked "Without You" but now at an older age I feel that one was very generic and this one has more of a classic feel. It has a nice piano intro and it's the first ballad about the road I remember ever hearing which sets it apart. Theirs a reason that this is one of Motley's most enduring songs! Sweet Track!

 

[Soot and Stars]

#15

Warrant-I Saw Red


This group always gets a hard knock but I liked them. Jani was a good singer who could hit song cool notes! There were actually a couple Warrant songs that could've made the list including "Uncle Toms Cabin" and "Heaven" but this is my favorite! I love the song from 2:30 on!

 

[Soot and Stars]

#14


Extreme-Stop The World


I started listening to Extreme like many because of "More Than Words" and that's a great ballad but "Stop The World" packs the power in ballad a little more and is an underrated gem! It's got a great harmony and is part of a much more epic album than Pornograffitti! I like the orchestration and the changes throughout the song!

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

Some great picks so far Sooty. I'm especially happy to see Extreme make the list and it not be with "More Than Words". Gary and Nuno have some of my favorite harmonies in music.

Also, yeah...I don't think "Cradle of Love" is a power ballad either.

 

[Slip'nn2Darkness]

Nice list Sooty.. I think Billy Idols "Flesh For Fantasy" comes closer to a Power Ballad.