First Power Ballad

[Rockindeano]

Great hard hitting informative posts by HOTS tonight. I come away with a wealth of information everytime I read her eloquent posts. Keep em coming.


Sincerely,
-LOSER

[Rick]

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!

I'm serious. I loved DSB when it came out, but it was so overplayed. Ruined it for me. What great hooks that song has though. Open Arms. Well, like I said, I'm not much for ballads.

[Saint John]

Open Arms is garbage. The band is so left out on that song that they seemed detached from the vocals. Furthermore, the song seems like a vein attempt from Perry to make the song sound sincere. It isn't. He's trying to hold notes that you can feel aren't even sincere. It's formatted shit. Faithfully is exponentially better on all counts.

[PROPERRY]

Well I understand what Hots is saying about hearing the "voice" on the radio, that no matter how many times you hear ONE of Perry/Journey 's songs, or even his solo's songs, (doesn't matter what song it is), just hearing HIS voice immediately GRABS your attention and "pulls you" right into the song.

While in the car with my daughter today , she was pushing the buttons on the radio trying to find a good song( her words) , when she came across "Lights" playing , she immediately stopped and turned up the volume knob on the radio, saying "Steve Perry is singing!"

She and I have heard that song SO MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, it is hearing HIS VOICE coming over the radio that made us immediately take notice and mades us WANT to hear more of the song!!!

[Wheels Of Fyre]

Open Arms is garbage. The band is so left out on that song that they seemed detached from the vocals. Furthermore, the song seems like a vein attempt from Perry to make the song sound sincere. It isn't. He's trying to hold notes that you can feel aren't even sincere. It's formatted shit. Faithfully is exponentially better on all counts.

100% on the mark. I also saw your comment about Unchained Melody. OH - how we've forgotten the 50's and 60's rock songs! I've ALWAYS considered UM one of the greatest songs ever. Open Arms is fine but if I had to choose one or the other it would EASILY be UM.

I haven't read this entire thread so I don't know if it was discussed but it seems to me that there's no clear definition for "power ballad". I suppose the fundamental sense is that it's a ballad performed by a "heavy" or "hard" rock band. I don't know that JOURNEY is either of those (their typically considered pop/rock/melodic) so I can't see how OA is at all a power ballad. Same is true with Styx and REO.

I think NIG mentioned Beth which I had always thought as a power ballad even before the term was contrived. I remember when OA came out. Yeah - nice song but I also thought it was way sappy/wimpy in comparison to Beth. Where's the "power" in crooning "So now I come to you with open arms..." What kind of a mamby pamby sissy pants says that?

Then there's Beth: "Beth I hear you callin' but I can't come home right now - me and the boys are playin' but we just can't find the sound - just a few more hours and I'll be right home to you..." in other words, I've got stuff to take care of and things are going to have to wait - maybe even all night. And when he's done taking care of business he's got nothing to apologize for! He doesn't need to crawl home like a loser and stand with open arms begging for forgiveness. The man had priorities and was taking care of business.

THAT is a power ballad!

[Wheels Of Fyre]

Well I understand what Hots is saying about hearing the "voice" on the radio, that no matter how many times you hear ONE of Perry/Journey 's songs or even his solo's songs, (doesn't matter what song it is) Just hearing HIS voice immediately GRABS our attention and "pulls us" right into the song.

It happened today while in the car with my daughter, she was pushing the buttons on the radio trying to find a good song( her words) , when she came across "Lights" playing , she immediately stopped and turned up the volume knob on the radio.

She and I have heard that song SO MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, it is hearing HIS VOICE coming over the radio that makes us immediately take notice and makes us WANT to hear more of him!!!

I am so bored out of my skull with the greatest hits that whenever I hear JOURNEY on the radio I literally can't follow it.

We're all aware of Neal Schon's Beyond The Thunder. Well, JOURNEY's greatest hits to me are beyond elevator music.

[Rick]

Well I understand what Hots is saying about hearing the "voice" on the radio, that no matter how many times you hear ONE of Perry/Journey 's songs or even his solo's songs, (doesn't matter what song it is) Just hearing HIS voice immediately GRABS our attention and "pulls us" right into the song.

It happened today while in the car with my daughter, she was pushing the buttons on the radio trying to find a good song( her words) , when she came across "Lights" playing , she immediately stopped and turned up the volume knob on the radio.

She and I have heard that song SO MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, it is hearing HIS VOICE coming over the radio that makes us immediately take notice and makes us WANT to hear more of him!!!

Agreed. There aren't too many Journey songs that I can skip over on the radio.

[Rick]

Well I understand what Hots is saying about hearing the "voice" on the radio, that no matter how many times you hear ONE of Perry/Journey 's songs or even his solo's songs, (doesn't matter what song it is) Just hearing HIS voice immediately GRABS our attention and "pulls us" right into the song.

It happened today while in the car with my daughter, she was pushing the buttons on the radio trying to find a good song( her words) , when she came across "Lights" playing , she immediately stopped and turned up the volume knob on the radio.

She and I have heard that song SO MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, it is hearing HIS VOICE coming over the radio that makes us immediately take notice and makes us WANT to hear more of him!!!

I am so bored out of my skull with the greatest hits that whenever I hear JOURNEY on the radio I literally can't follow it.

We're all aware of Neal Schon's Beyond The Thunder. Well, JOURNEY's greatest hits to me are beyond elevator music.

Pop Captured into the CD player. That's never boring.

[ohsherrie]

Well it was a nice thread while it lasted.

[Deb]

Pop Captured into the CD player. That's never boring.

Ahhhhh listening right now.

[squirt1]

Someone mentioned Unchained Melody as the 1st Power Ballad. Was that you SJ? I remember old sheet music with Perry Como on the cover. That song was from mid 50's and many singers covered it. It was Bobby Hatfield's voice in the 60's that made it sound like a power ballad. I think the tempo may have been changed,but his voice control was everything. I saw on You Tube that he changed up the song. He is wearing a pink sportcoat. Check it out . Never will another version of that song be as big in our lifetime as he made it. I think the 1st time I ever heard the term power ballad used was on MTV in the 80's and in ref to Journey OA.

[Rockindeano]

Someone mentioned Unchained Melody as the 1st Power Ballad. Was that you SJ? I remember old sheet music with Perry Como on the cover. That song was from mid 50's and many singers covered it. It was Bobby Hatfield's voice in the 60's that made it sound like a power ballad. I think the tempo may have been changed,but his voice control was everything. I saw on You Tube that he changed up the song. He is wearing a pink sportcoat. Check it out . Never will another version of that song be as big in our lifetime as he made it. I think the 1st time I ever heard the term power ballad used was on MTV in the 80's and in ref to Journey OA.

Ever hear Leanne Rimes do it? 15 yrs old, all by herself. The finest vocal I have ever heard, bar none.

[Rick]

Someone mentioned Unchained Melody as the 1st Power Ballad. Was that you SJ? I remember old sheet music with Perry Como on the cover. That song was from mid 50's and many singers covered it. It was Bobby Hatfield's voice in the 60's that made it sound like a power ballad. I think the tempo may have been changed,but his voice control was everything. I saw on You Tube that he changed up the song. He is wearing a pink sportcoat. Check it out . Never will another version of that song be as big in our lifetime as he made it. I think the 1st time I ever heard the term power ballad used was on MTV in the 80's and in ref to Journey OA.

Ever hear Leanne Rimes do it? 15 yrs old, all by herself. The finest vocal I have ever heard, bar none.

Damn dude, eclectic. Is that how you spell it? You surprise me.

[Rockindeano]

Damn dude, eclectic. Is that how you spell it? You surprise me.

How so?

[Perrylover]

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.

AMEN!!! And if you think Jeremey channels Perry well, you should hear him sing this one! Makes me cry every time.

Deb

[Blueskies]

would love to hear Jeremey sing that. Does he have it on youtube or recorded?

[squirt1]

Deano- No, I never heard her do UC Melody. Where could I find it? I cked YT but nothing. She is going to be here at Kings Island with Hannity and some other country singers raising money for a college fund for children of deceased soldiers. I hope to go.They will be doing many other cities. I remember reading yrs back that Elton was helping her with her career. That tells you how good she is.

[Rockindeano]

Deano- No, I never heard her do UC Melody. Where could I find it? I cked YT but nothing. She is going to be here at Kings Island with Hannity and some other country singers raising money for a college fund for children of deceased soldiers. I hope to go.They will be doing many other cities. I remember reading yrs back that Elton was helping her with her career. That tells you how good she is.

Hannity? If I wire you 20 dollars, will you go buy eggs and throw them at him? Please?

Kings island? Awesome. I was there and rode the Beast. Got booted out for getting in a yelling match with the log ride dude. He was such a dick. I splashed a bunch of water on him while leaving.

[Perrylover]

would love to hear Jeremey sing that. Does he have it on youtube or recorded?

I'm sure he has it somewhere, I have a copy of it, but don't know how to share it (plus I wouldn't without his permission). If he doesn't have it and doesn't mind me sharing, I would be happy to try to figure out how to get it on here.

Deb

[Blueskies]

Cool! Jeremey were ya at? Got a request!

[squirt1]

You do know eggs are 1.69 a doz today? Did you hear Lee Ann sing it live or is there maybe somewhere it was recorded? Make it $40.00 and that will leave a fair & blanced amount for Alan.

[Rockindeano]

You do know eggs are 1.69 a doz today? Did you hear Lee Ann sing it live or is there maybe somewhere it was recorded? Make it $40.00 and that will leave a fair & blanced amount for Alan.

Alan is so pathetic, spare that skeleton lookin motherfucker. He is on there to get his ass kicked.

[Jeremey]

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.

AMEN!!! And if you think Jeremey channels Perry well, you should hear him sing this one! Makes me cry every time.

Deb

Hey Deb! I owe you a phone call!! Miss you guys, hope all is well....Here's this one for you all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnEDr_mmE9U

Don't laugh at the threads!

[Blueskies]

That was awesome, Jeremey! Thanks for posting the link!

[Rick]

Damn dude, eclectic. Is that how you spell it? You surprise me.

How so?

Just didn't expect you to have knowledge of a country musician. I don't follow country, but my wife is a big fan of hers.

[Rick]

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.

AMEN!!! And if you think Jeremey channels Perry well, you should hear him sing this one! Makes me cry every time.

Deb

Hey Deb! I owe you a phone call!! Miss you guys, hope all is well....Here's this one for you all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnEDr_mmE9U

Don't laugh at the threads!

That was off the charts Jeremey. Wow!

[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.

AMEN!!! And if you think Jeremey channels Perry well, you should hear him sing this one! Makes me cry every time.

Deb

Hey Deb! I owe you a phone call!! Miss you guys, hope all is well....Here's this one for you all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnEDr_mmE9U

Don't laugh at the threads!

Damnnn! Great job Jeremey. LOL, this Deb likes it too.

[nikki]

I love Styx but Babe wasn't a song just a waste of space...period. When did the word Power Ballad first come in to circulation?

I hear ya. What about Lady? That song came out in '72. Wouldn't that be classified as a power ballad? Maybe not the first, though. As for Unchained Melody, I would say that was the first pop ballad, but not really a rock power ballad. Not sure what the 'first' would be at all.

[Saint John]

I love Styx but Babe wasn't a song just a waste of space...period. When did the word Power Ballad first come in to circulation?

I hear ya. What about Lady? That song came out in '72. Wouldn't that be classified as a power ballad? Maybe not the first, though. As for Unchained Melody, I would say that was the first pop ballad, but not really a rock power ballad. Not sure what the 'first' would be at all.

Rewind the thread. Unchained Melody was easily the first power ballad ever.

[ohsherrie]

Jeremey that was awesome. Your voice is amazing.