First Power Ballad

[Rockindeano]

Well say it then! You're being as coy as some girl on her first date....

You have a picture of that tiger Jon Cain, and you are calling me a girl?

[styxman]

Seven, no way was that written after the wall came down, no way....google it dude

The wall came down in 1989. The song came out in 1990.

I'm looking in to this now, I must have the wrong fuckin' song, sure it's not the re issue? I remember this in School and there's no way I was there in 1990, no way. I counting the beer bottles as I google

[ohsherrie]

[2) What about "Unchained Melody" as the first power ballad? And that song was Top 5 over 30 years apart. BTW, it blows away BOTH Open Arms and Everything I Do.

Holy fuck, SJ - Your post was EXACTLY what I was thinking. Bobby Hatfield's version of "Unchained Melody" was without a doubt, the first power ballad. Period.

Then in 1976 Nazareth released "Love Hurts."

Ok, that does it for me. I'm shut down. You guys are right.

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

[Deb]

[2) What about "Unchained Melody" as the first power ballad? And that song was Top 5 over 30 years apart. BTW, it blows away BOTH Open Arms and Everything I Do.

Holy fuck, SJ - Your post was EXACTLY what I was thinking. Bobby Hatfield's version of "Unchained Melody" was without a doubt, the first power ballad. Period.

Then in 1976 Nazareth released "Love Hurts."

Agreed. Gawd is there a person in the 70s that didn't either make up or break up to this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZx4sWLKun8

[Rockindeano]

How about Benny Maldrones(sp?), If I could Fly?

[NealIsGod]

Benny Mardones Into the Night should be considered, too.

[Rick]

Benny Mardones Into the Night should be considered, too.

Great voice.

[Rockindeano]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

[Moon Beam]

Only Women Bleed - Alice Cooper 1975

Back to my silence.

Great tune AR.
Why you be silent like?, you never be this way.

[donnaplease]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

So, should he be trashed or praised for his insistence? Without a doubt, whether they invented it or not, Journey sent the power ballad concept to a whole new plain.

[styxman]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

[ohsherrie]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Yeah, but if rock ballads had been done before why was it such an issue with Journey's creds? I have no problem with the song. It was a huge success for them with everyone but the rock police .

[Rick]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Yeah, but if rock ballads had been done before why was it such an issue with Journey's creds? I have no problem with the song. It was a huge success for them with everyone but the rock police .

They nearly doubled their fan base by adding ballads. Good business decision. I'm not a ballad guy, but they serve their purpose.

[heardonthestreet]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Bullshit!

As AR would say, " It is what it is." that's why it is still heard more often than not, on the radio, to this day.

[Jeremey]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

Other instruments have power besides the guitar - It's all about the structure of the song, and the feeling that the performance pulls out of you. The last verse after the bridge set up everything that ever came after...Plus, there is guitar in the song, just no power chords.

[styxman]

We could include this jem but still OA is No 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPg3_3avju8

[Rockindeano]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Bullshit!

As Av would say, " It is what it is." that's why it is still heard more often than not, on the radio, to this day.

Oh Hottsie, please give me a reason why what I said is incorrect in your eyes.

Steve wanted Open Arms on the record. Can you dispute this?

[styxman]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

Other instruments have power besides the guitar - It's all about the structure of the song, and the feeling that the performance pulls out of you. The last verse after the bridge set up everything that ever came after...Plus, there is guitar in the song, just no power chords.

So it's not a power ballad just a structured ballad

[ohsherrie]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

Other instruments have power besides the guitar - It's all about the structure of the song, and the feeling that the performance pulls out of you. The last verse after the bridge set up everything that ever came after...Plus, there is guitar in the song, just no power chords.

And there you have the definitive answer. Thanks Jeremey.

[Rockindeano]

Yeah, but if rock ballads had been done before why was it such an issue with Journey's creds? I have no problem with the song. It was a huge success for them with everyone but the rock police .

Possibly because the "earlier" ballads were done by solo artists and not mainstream huge arena rock bands. Benny Mardones, Nazureth et al, didn't play hockey arenas and weren't on the radio every 30 minutes. Journey did and was.

[Jeremey]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Yeah, but if rock ballads had been done before why was it such an issue with Journey's creds? I have no problem with the song. It was a huge success for them with everyone but the rock police .

To paraphrase Neal, if it's a "pussy song" so what, Perry sings the hell out of it, and it certainly wasn't the first time a rock band put out a slower tune. I think the issue the "critics" had with the song had to do with Journey themselves coming from such a progressive background. If the band could get away with "I'm Cryin'" it was because of it's bluesy roots, even though it's not even half the song that Open Arms is. Open Arms is an unabashed proclamation of LOVE and NEED, which isn't something progressive, manly rockers are supposed to sing about.

[ohsherrie]

Yeah, but if rock ballads had been done before why was it such an issue with Journey's creds? I have no problem with the song. It was a huge success for them with everyone but the rock police .

Possibly because the "earlier" ballads were done by solo artists and not mainstream huge arena rock bands. Benny Mardones, Nazureth et al, didn't play hockey arenas and weren't on the radio every 30 minutes. Journey did and was.

And there you have it.

[Jeremey]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

Other instruments have power besides the guitar - It's all about the structure of the song, and the feeling that the performance pulls out of you. The last verse after the bridge set up everything that ever came after...Plus, there is guitar in the song, just no power chords.

So it's not a power ballad just a structured ballad

No...."Babe" is a ballad...."Unchained Melody" is a Power Ballad...

[ohsherrie]

To paraphrase Neal, if it's a "pussy song" so what, Perry sings the hell out of it, and it certainly wasn't the first time a rock band put out a slower tune. I think the issue the "critics" had with the song had to do with Journey themselves coming from such a progressive background. If the band could get away with "I'm Cryin'" it was because of it's bluesy roots, even though it's not even half the song that Open Arms is. Open Arms is an unabashed proclamation of LOVE and NEED, which isn't something progressive, manly rockers are supposed to sing about.

You're right Jeremey and it goes hand in hand with what Dean said. OA was a love song at a time when rock music wasn't about love songs. The biggest up and coming rock band in the country with a love song that climbs up the charts. Go figure. Maybe the critics were wrong, but rather than admit it they'd just pan Journey more.

[styxman]

I'm totally mixed up with winds of change..1990....could have sworn it was 1980ish..sorry 7 I stand corrected. Open Arms is number one not unchained melody, where's the fuckin' guitar blast in that song.....nowhere!

Other instruments have power besides the guitar - It's all about the structure of the song, and the feeling that the performance pulls out of you. The last verse after the bridge set up everything that ever came after...Plus, there is guitar in the song, just no power chords.

So it's not a power ballad just a structured ballad

No...."Babe" is a ballad...."Unchained Melody" is a Power Ballad...

Listen to this J, it classed as a PB and guess what the Guitar kicks in. BTW babe ain't a ballad it's a bad mistake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no-RAMGKVtw

[Jeremey]

Listen to this J, it classed as a PB and guess what the Guitar kicks in. BTW babe ain't a ballad it's a bad mistake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no-RAMGKVtw

Man, I could see the Canada on those guys from a mile a way! (No offense MB, I just mean with respect to that style of music)!

[conversationpc]

Read an article in Rock Magazine yesterday, the journalist said to the Night Ranger members that Sister Christian was the start of the Power Ballad but to their credit both Keagy and Blades stated Journey were the first to introduce this...discuss

I think Journey's first "power ballad" was Faithfully. Open Arms didn't have "power" it was just a ballad. You need more drums and guitar....hence the "power" part.

Wrong.

If you listen to Open Arms, it does have some chops, and a omni guitar chord. OA live sounded really powerful when Perry sang it, and then again with Deen.

Journey pioneered it, then Dennis DeYoung heard it, pulled down his pants and started to feed the geese....and fed em until he wrote Babe....Then Kevin Cronin, also heard and he already had his cock in his femenine hands and he shot a ballads load worth all over the music sheet and you had Can't Fight this Feeling. Then of course BA got into the act and wrote the biggest song ever, Everything I Do, I do it for You.

Journey not only pioneered it, but perfected it. It haunts them to this day.

REO came out with Keep On Lovin' You well before Open Arms came out, didn't they?

"Open Arms" came out in '81 of course. "Keep on Lovin' You" came out in 1980 and "Babe" was out in '79, so they both predate OA.

[heardonthestreet]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Bullshit!

As Av would say, " It is what it is." that's why it is still heard more often than not, on the radio, to this day.

Oh Hottsie, please give me a reason why what I said is incorrect in your eyes.

Steve wanted Open Arms on the record. Can you dispute this?

It had nothing to do with what steve Perry wanted. It was Steve Perry 's voice singing that great song and that's all that was necessary. It is what it is. It has a fresh new sound, every time you hear it on the radio. You take time out to listen, even though you have listened to it a thousand times before. Tell me this isn't so?

[Rick]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Bullshit!

As Av would say, " It is what it is." that's why it is still heard more often than not, on the radio, to this day.

Oh Hottsie, please give me a reason why what I said is incorrect in your eyes.

Steve wanted Open Arms on the record. Can you dispute this?

It had nothing to do with what steve Perry wanted. It was Steve Perry 's voice singing that great song and that's all that was necessary. It is what it is. It has a fresh new sound, every time you hear it on the radio. You take time out to listen, even though you have listened to it a thousand times before. Tell me this isn't so?

Negative. If I may. It's been overplayed to the ends of the earth. It and DSB are the tiredest Journey songs there are. It was 'good' when it came out, but damn. Radio stations wore out a case of turntable needles on just that one song. I skip over that one. If I have to listen to a ballad, I'd rather hear Faitfully.

[heardonthestreet]

So why did Journey take such a hit to their rock credentials over Open Arms? It makes no sense.

That was Steve and all Steve. He insisted on that song getting on the record.

Bullshit!

As Av would say, " It is what it is." that's why it is still heard more often than not, on the radio, to this day.

Oh Hottsie, please give me a reason why what I said is incorrect in your eyes.

Steve wanted Open Arms on the record. Can you dispute this?

It had nothing to do with what steve Perry wanted. It was Steve Perry 's voice singing that great song and that's all that was necessary. It is what it is. It has a fresh new sound, every time you hear it on the radio. You take time out to listen, even though you have listened to it a thousand times before. Tell me this isn't so?

Negative. If I may. It's been overplayed to the ends of the earth. It and DSB are the tiredest Journey songs there are. It was 'good' when it came out, but damn. Radio stations wore out a case of turntable needles on just that one song. I skip over that one. If I have to listen to a ballad, I'd rather hear Faitfully.

Bullshit and you know it!