Power Ballad Dust-Up Round II! X-Tians don't Cry!

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Round 1*

REO Speedwagon's "Keep on Loving You"

vs.

Journey's "Don't Stop Believin(g)"**

Personally, I gotta go with "Keep on Loving You", if only for the soaring bombastic cheese of the chorus...which isn't to say that Steve Perry doesn't scrunch his balls into a tight vise on his high pitched "niiiiiight" yelp, and while "Don't Stop Believin(g)" is 'prolly the better track, "Keep on Loving You" brings out the inner air guitar nerd in me everytime I hear it...

*and please, feel free to either post in the thread other matchups you would like to see, ruminate on your favorite power ballads, and/or laugh scoff at the genre!

**yeah, I'm not sure if "Don't Stop Believing" really falls into the Power Ballad genre, but ever since the Soprano's finale, I've been kinda obsessing over that track. Since you didn't ask, "Keep on Loving You" was used to Hi-larious affect in Greg Araki's otherwise kinda disappointing (give or take your love of Anna Farris, at any rate) SMILEY FACE...and I've been pumping that track quite a bit lately as well.
Ironically, of course.

ETA: Round 1 results, which may be expunged from the records based on the fact that "Don't Stop Believing" isn't very power ballad-esque...

Don't Stop Believing - 20
Keep on Loving You - 9

[stereosforgeeks]

I am going with Don't Stop Believin' because of it's ability to make every stop mid sentence and sing.

[DennisMM]

"Don't Stop Believin'," because a man sounding like a girl trying to sound like a man never sounded better. (I think he was trying to sound like Grace Slick, but higher. Could you get higher than Grace Slick? Wait ...)*

Okay, once it sounded better. "Strung Out," from Perry's first solo album. Not a ballad, though.

*Vicar imitation by express permission of the Vicar. All rights reserved.

[minstrel]

I think the current all time champ has got to be Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)".

Only because about six of the American Idol male contestants sang it on the show.

[Nachokoolaid]

"Don't Stop" for me. It's just more singable.

[burlivesleftnut]

I think the current all time champ has got to be Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)".

Only because about six of the American Idol male contestants sang it on the show.

Unfortunately, that's not a POWER ballad... just a ballad. And while I don't think Don't Stop is either, I still voted for it.

[Vegeta]

Both stellar cheese! Brings me back, I tell's ya!

Hard to pick, but I think I'll have to go with Journey on this one.

[DennisMM]

I'm not sure I'd call "Keep on Loving You" a power ballad, either. It's got a big mix, but does that make for a power ballad? REO wasn't exactly a hard rockin' band.

How 'bout "Don't Cry" by Guns N' Roses? The instrumentation is harder than the average power ballad, but in every other respect I think it meets the requirements. If not that, certainly "November Rain."

[stereosforgeeks]

Every Rose has it's thorn?

[Keepcoolbutcare]

I'm not sure I'd call "Keep on Loving You" a power ballad, either. It's got a big mix, but does that make for a power ballad? REO wasn't exactly a hard rockin' band.

MOD EDIT: Link fixed a 'cos of a the goddamn side-scroll, eh?

KoLY is soooo a power ballad...

How 'bout "Don't Cry" by Guns N' Roses? The instrumentation is harder than the average power ballad, but in every other respect I think it meets the requirements. If not that, certainly "November Rain."

coitanly - and we'll be getting to them later...

[Lady Sheridan]

No power ballad debate is complete without one from Queen AND Highlander:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYOE_b4aYD0

I think "I'll See You in My Dreams" is a close second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iug0X6cJDDM

[Fried Gold]

But what about Starship?!?!?!?!

[burlivesleftnut]

From my oft played Power Ballad playlist:

Stone in Love - Journey
Amanda - Boston
High Enough - Damn Yankees
I Remember You - Skid Row
Cryin' - Aerosmith
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
I'll Be There for You - Bon Jovi
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovie
Knockin's on Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses
Alone - Heart
Open Arms - Journey
Wasted Time - Skid Row
The Best of Times - Styx
Heaven - Warrant
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Miles Away - Winger
Don't Cry - Guns N' Roses
House of Pain - Faster Pussycat

[Cha-Ka Khan]

I had my first real kiss to "Keep On Lovin' You." It was at my 8th-Grade Night Dance, and this chick named Ruth, who had liked me since 6th-grade, but I kept putting off, asked me to dance. Ruth had "developed" early... in 5th grade she was a 36B, and her Amazon-like size scared me off, seeing as how she was taller than I was.

But now, it was 8th grade, and I was finally taller than she was. As we were dancing, she kept telling me how much she had always liked me, and as Kevin Cronin belted out "Baby I'm gonna keeeeeeep on lovin' yoooouuuuu! 'Cos it's the only thing I wanna doooooooo!!" she looked up into my eyes and said "Kiss me."

This was it! This was my moment! So I did what any other red-blooded 13-year-old boy would do and I jammed my tongue down her thoat, trying my best to suck out her adenoids, uvula, tonsils... the works. A la francais!

So romantic.

[Bayouwolf]

This is just round one fella's. (I am reading that right, right)

I voted Journey, for obvious reasons.

Next up should be "Lady" by STYX and "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera

[thebostonlocksmith]

I don't know if it can be counted but i've always had a special place in my heart for 'I was made for loving you' by Kiss, although it can't really be described as a ballad, it certainly is cheesey...

'since you've been gone' - Rainbow

I'm forgetting a really great whitesnake song that is a ballad though, and that one by foreigner 'I wanna know what love is'... Hopefully this will be the Ballad section, and the one that wins can face off against another seminal cheesey rock song... to take the crown of cheesiest rock song of all time....

[Bayouwolf]

I don't know if it can be counted but i've always had a special place in my heart for 'I was made for loving you' by Kiss, although it can't really be described as a ballad, it certainly is cheesey...

'since you've been gone' - Rainbow

I'm forgetting a really great whitesnake song that is a ballad though, and that one by foreigner 'I wanna know what love is'... Hopefully this will be the Ballad section, and the one that wins can face off against another seminal cheesey rock song... to take the crown of cheesiest rock song of all time....

"Mickey" by Tony Basil?

[thebostonlocksmith]

That's not a bad shout Bayou... I can think of the cheesiest country song of all time...

It was called 'teddy bear' not sure who it was by but it was something to do with the movie 'convoy'.... give that a listen and there won't be a dry eye in the place....

[Fawst]

I think Separate Ways would be a better example of a "power" ballad from Journey, but whatever, Journey still wins this round.

Oh Sherry might be another good example, but that was a solo hit.

[St. Alphonzo]

I've always been more of an REO guy than Journey.

No lie: I was sitting in "100" section when REO came to my town on their "Wheels Are Turnin'" tour in '84.

Yep. That's right. The only thing I lacked in the 9th grade was a mullet.

[thomasgaffney]

Fuckin' Journey Rules.

[buster00]

This thread is a spectacular embarassment.




I haven't seen "The Best of Times" by Styx mentioned yet.

[Bayouwolf]

This thread is a spectacular embarassment.




I haven't seen "The Best of Times" by Styx mentioned yet.

From my oft played Power Ballad playlist:

Stone in Love - Journey
Amanda - Boston
High Enough - Damn Yankees
I Remember You - Skid Row
Cryin' - Aerosmith
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
I'll Be There for You - Bon Jovi
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovie
Knockin's on Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses
Alone - Heart
Open Arms - Journey
Wasted Time - Skid Row
The Best of Times - Styx
Heaven - Warrant
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Miles Away - Winger
Don't Cry - Guns N' Roses
House of Pain - Faster Pussycat

[burlivesleftnut]

I think alot of you are confusing ballads with POWER ballads.

Peter Cetera, Bryan Adams (or any other POP star) are INCAPABLE of bringing the level of awesomeness required for a Power Ballad.

[Fawst]

Burl is right. Richard Marx is another one I've heard referred to as having power ballads, and... no, no he does not.

[St. Alphonzo]

"Nobody's Fool" by Cinderella is a classic.

I agree with burl... if your fist doesn't fly into the air of its own accord while listening, then it ain't a power ballad.

[Lady Sheridan]

No one's mentioned Def Leppard yet?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1-j9hEPenM

[Fawst]

Please tell me that's Love Bites.

[Lady Sheridan]

Please tell me that's Love Bites.

No--Bringing on the Heartbreak.

I'm thinking Def Leppard and Journey might be the Power Ballad Death Match though.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Peter Cetera, Bryan Adams (or any other POP star) are INCAPABLE of bringing the level of awesomeness required for a Power Ballad.

That Cetera putz, yes... the Dino is inna the agreement.

But a the Adams, he qualifies for a the "Heaven", no?

Anna I alla'ways like a the Queensryche anna the "Silent Lucidity" song, no?

[Lady Sheridan]

Oh, Dino, I see your "Silent Lucidity" and raise Queensryche's "Another Rainy Night." I heard that one in the car once and my fist indeed rose of its own accord.

This thread makes me want to feather my hair and put on some leather.

[so sorry]

I can't believe that REO is losing this battle.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

I don't know if it can be counted but i've always had a special place in my heart for 'I was made for loving you' by Kiss

Bah! The Dino, he PWNS alla you putzes with a the granddaddy of alla the power ballads...

Ladies anna Gentlemen (heheheh)...

...the Dino, he give a you a the...




"Beth" by a the Kiss, eh?

[St. Alphonzo]

Anna I alla'ways like a the Queensryche anna the "Silent Lucidity" song, no?

I heard this for the first time in years the other day. They sure were trying hard to be Pink Floyd.



C'mon people... rally 'round the Speedwagon!!!!

[Lady Sheridan]

I don't know if it can be counted but i've always had a special place in my heart for 'I was made for loving you' by Kiss

Bah! The Dino, he PWNS alla you putzes with a the granddaddy of alla the power ballads...

Ladies anna Gentlemen (heheheh)...

...the Dino, he give a you a the...




"Beth" by a the Kiss, eh?

Hahahahahahahaha...you don't know how many guys have come up to me, heard my name and went "So, heard the KISS song?" It's then usually followed up by "Ha, I bet guys sing that to you all the time."

Not one ever has. Not one.

I wish one would have the cajones.

[Fawst]

Oh, how I love Queensryche.

If Silent Lucidity had been recorded by Pink Floyd for Division Bell, it wouldn't have seemed out of place in the least.

[Lord Voldemoo]

Oh, how I love Queensryche.

If Silent Lucidity had been recorded by Pink Floyd for Division Bell, it wouldn't have seemed out of place in the least.

co-sign!!

I've never really thought of Silent Lucidity as a "Power Ballad" tho...

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Forget a the goddamn Queensryche, eh?

It's alla 'bout a the goddamn Kiss anna "Beth", no?

[minstrel]

I went with Journey because Neal Schon is a better guitar player than Gary Richrath and besides, Kevin Cronin has always sounded like he's fourteen years old and trying really, really hard.

Steve Perry, on the other hand, has this barely-under-control wail that sounds like he's been released too early from the mental hospital.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Steve Perry, on the other hand, has this barely-under-control wail that sounds like he's been released too early from the mental hospital.

Iffa that's a the case, then a the putz, he was definitely off a his a meds onna the "Donna Stop a Believin'", no?

[Fawst]

I'm telling you, Separate Ways...

[minstrel]

Steve Perry, on the other hand, has this barely-under-control wail that sounds like he's been released too early from the mental hospital.

Iffa that's a the case, then a the putz, he was definitely off a his a meds onna the "Donna Stop a Believin'", no?

Yes. He was off his meds. Guys who are on their meds don't sound like that. Unless they are very strange meds.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Nah... "Separate Ways", she's a too late inna the Journey life-cycle, no? Anna too hard onna the ears a to boot, no?

You gotta to go with a the "Donna Stop" or a the "Open Arms" or a the "Faithfully", no?

[Fawst]

*ahem*

I was MAYBE 3 years old when Separate Ways came out...

[buster00]

The Best of Times - Styx

x 2.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

This one, she goes out a to a my second wife, eh?

A the highway, she run
Inna'to a the midnight sun, eh?
Anna the wheels, they go round anna round
You're onna my mind
Restless hearts,
They sleep alla alone a tonight,
The Dino, he's a sendin alla his a love
Along a the wire, no?

Alla the putzes, they say that a the road,
She is a not a the place a to start a the goddamn family, eh?
Right down a the line
It's alla been you anna me anna such,
Anna lovin' a the music man,
She's a not alla'ways what its s'posed a to be, no?
Holy crappa girl, you stand by a the Dino, eh?
A 'cos I'm a forever yours...
...faithfully, eh?

Circus life, eh?
Under a the big-a-top world
We alla need a those clowns putzes
To make us alla smile anna such, no?
Through space anna time,
Alla'ways another show, goddamn...
Wondering where inna the hell I am, eh?
Alla lost without you anna such...

Anna being apart, she is a not easy
Onna this a love affair, eh?
Two strangers, they learn a to fall inna the love again,
The Old Man, he gets a the joy
Of a rediscovering you, no?
Holy crappa girl, you stand by a the Dino, eh?
A 'cos I'm a forever yours...
...faithfully, eh?

Woah-oh, oh, oh, oh
Woah-oh, oh, oh, oh
Woah-oh, >kaff! kaff!< oh, oh, oh
Woah-oh, oh, oh, oh

Faaaaaiiiiithfully!!

The Dino, he's a still a yours, eh?

The Old Man, he's a forever yours...
Forever yours...
...faithfully, eh?

[buster00]

*ahem*

I was MAYBE 3 years old when Separate Ways came out...

But even if you were 11 (*ahem*) when it came out, it's not exactly conducive to awkward, clumsy junior high slow dancing.

[DennisMM]

I don't know if it can be counted but i've always had a special place in my heart for 'I was made for loving you' by Kiss

Bah! The Dino, he PWNS alla you putzes with a the granddaddy of alla the power ballads...

Ladies anna Gentlemen (heheheh)...

...the Dino, he give a you a the...




"Beth" by a the Kiss, eh?

Hahahahahahahaha...you don't know how many guys have come up to me, heard my name and went "So, heard the KISS song?" It's then usually followed up by "Ha, I bet guys sing that to you all the time."

Not one ever has. Not one.

I wish one would have the cajones.

Can I send it as an attachment to an email?

I love to sing for women if they'll listen to me. That's one of the few things about TCCfR I don't regret - singing for her.

[DennisMM]

Nah... "Separate Ways", she's a too late inna the Journey life-cycle, no? Anna too hard onna the ears a to boot, no?

You gotta to go with a the "Donna Stop" or a the "Open Arms" or a the "Faithfully", no?

Dammit, listen to Fawst and go Steve Perry solo! Give us "Oh, Sherrie"! The Street Talk album deserves some love! If he'd slowed down "Strung Out," Perry would have had another classic power ballad!

[thomasgaffney]

I can't believe that REO is losing this battle.

Fuckin' Journey Rules.