Mount Rushmore: Rock power ballads

[cartman]

Haven't had a Mt. Rushmore in a while. This one will cover power ballads from rock and roll bands. The definition of a power ballad is one of those that is up for widespread discussion, so perfect for a topic like this.

As with previous Mount Rushmores, submit your four, and only four choices to be engraved on the rock face.

To kick things off, here are my four, in no particular order:

Boston - More Than A Feeling
A great example of a power ballad. Starts of a bit slow, then kicks into a high gear most bands don't have. Brad Delp hits some high notes that can only leave the singer of 'Take On Me' in awe.



Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home
Who knew that they had a song like this in them. From Tommy Lee on piano(!) and drums, to Vince Neil's singing after killing a passenger in his car while driving drunk. Nikki Six was lucid enough to keep a bass line, and Mick Mars contributes a solid lead guitar. Quintessential 80's rock.



Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Maybe made a bit of a cliche after the final episode of The Sopranos, this song is still a great piece of power rock.



Nazareth - Love Hurts
A cover song, but one that takes an early 60's pop song and turns it into a great power ballad.

[cartman]

There must be something in the air...

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by cartman

Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Maybe made a bit of a cliche after the final episode of The Sopranos, this song is still a great piece of power rock.

Not even remotely a power ballad.

[stevew]

Neither is more than a Feeling.

[stevew]

I like Home Sweet Home, that's an easy inclusion. Love Hurts, I can go with that.

I'd add High Enough by Damn Yankees.

Heaven by Warrant-

I might be tempted to go with "Without You" by the Crue instead of Home Sweet Home.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by stevew

Neither is more than a Feeling.

I was trying to be nice.

[cartman]

Curious as to why y'all don't think those two are power ballads. The structure of all four I listed are similar.

I didn't edit the Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Stop_Believin'

[Blackadar]

It's not a good sign when 2 of the 4 examples aren't ballads.

I'm not a big fan of power ballads so I can't come up with 4, but there's only really a need for one.

The Cars - Drive (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) - YouTube

Bonus: the video had Paulina, which also made it very watchable.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by cartman

Curious as to why y'all don't think those two are power ballads. The structure of all four I listed are similar.

I didn't edit the Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Stop_Believin'

Too upbeat.

[stevew]

It's clear we have a monster ballads vs power ballads battle looming.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by stevew

I'd add High Enough by Damn Yankees.

1990.

[stevew]

Now we're combining Rushmores

[Scarecrow]

Beth - Kiss
Momma, I'm Coming Home - Ozzy Osborne
Home, Sweet, Home - Motley Crüe
Love Song - Tesla

[jbergey22]

1. Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
2. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
3. Heaven - Warrant
4. Love Bites - Def Leppard

[hoopsguy]

GNR - Patience
Night Ranger - Sister Christian
Extreme - More Than Words
Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn

[cartman]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

GNR - Patience

It was while listening to this song I first gained carnal knowledge. I lasted until the whistling stopped.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by cartman

It was while listening to this song I first gained carnal knowledge. I lasted until the whistling stopped.

...and to this day he has a Pavlovian response to whistling...

[EagleFan]

When The Children Cry - White Lion

The Ballad of Jayne - LA Guns

I can't Fight this Feeling - REO Speedwagon

She Talks to Angels - The Black Crowes

[cartman]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

...and to this day he has a Pavlovian response to whistling...

And hearing "one, two, one two three four"

[Lathum]

Skid Row- I remember you
Warrant- Heaven
Poison- Every Rose has its thorn
Tesla- Love Song

[Marmel]

I wasn't a big fan of these types of songs, so I can't even come up with 4, but my Mt. Rushmore for this category would be just 1 song: The Flame by Cheap Trick

[JonInMiddleGA]

Good question, or at least certainly one where I ought to have some solid opinions

I'll go along with More Than A Feeling ... oddly enough it was playing during my first official carnal knowledge moment, so I'm totally prejudiced here.

Holiday - Scorpions ... just a damned monster of a song afaic

Is This Love - Whitesnake ... I really considered Slow An Easy here but figured that pushed the boundaries too far. This is a weaker second choice but honestly there was a several year period where, if you couldn't get laid when Coverdale was singing then you simply weren't going to get laid period. That HAS to count for something here. Very much akin to the Barry White of the power ballad era.

Every Rose - Poison ... while not nearly as good a song as numerous others I'd consider for a slot (IMO), I think the sheer effectiveness of this one as a panty dropper has to count for something. Chicks apparently dig guys who look more than little bit like chicks when they're on stage & singing, this song worked wonders in that regard (and judging from some behaviors in the crowd I've seen during a couple of revival tour stops in recent years, still holds up pretty well)

[3ric]

"Still loving you" - Scorpions
"More than words" - Extreme
"I'll be there for you" - Bon Jovi
"November Rain" - Guns and Roses