-The 8 Most Gut-Wrenching Hard Rock BALLADS! Check out all my lesson vids at: www.the-art-of-... Facebook: / fansoftheartofguitar / theartofguitar Thanks!!!
You guys are making awesome suggestions. Anything outside of Hard Rock (which I may do a Part 2), I'm going to do in other genres like Classic Rock, Alt/Grunge, etc. Keep an eye out for them. :)
Great list. I'd add Life goes on by poison, blind faith by warrant, wasted time by skid row, standing alone by Tyketto. Heck too many great ballads to list. Theres dozens of them from that era.
Those are all great tunes. I was a HUGE fan of Life Goes On, especially. Unfortunately, this was around the time when bands were starting to shoehorn extra power ballads on their albums and these tunes ultimately ended up feeling like second stringers. It's bittersweet to me, because as much as I love these songs, I also clearly remember feeling like the end was near for this era of metal.
Absolutely best list ever! Being from near Hagerstown and 63 years young I grew up near Kix (originally The Shooze, then The Generators). The band was truly underrated. Brian Forsythe and Ronnie Younkins just complimented each other's style. Brian with AC DC style and Ronnie with Bluesy style worked well and Steve's vocals are just a good fit to both styles. Yes I sadly went to their final show in Columbia Maryland in September.
Good video. I worked up the courage to sing “Heaven” to Anna Kemp over the phone when I was in 9th Grade at High School. She was very cool about it, I never got a date with her though. I’d like to suggest “Without You” by Motley Crue for the list. It sounds so thick and epic and ballady, and has a really odd, subtle de-tuned effect that enhances the tear jerkeryness. Great song at the pinnacle of Hair Metal.
I'm going to throw in "We'll meet again" by early Phil era Pantera, great solo by Dime. They had a few, Cemetery Gates, Hollow, This Love, Sui*ide note pt 1. But check out We'll meet again, Dime nailed it and it's a long solo.
Do you remember when the song by Sheriff was re released "When im with you" Oh my Gosh . For one the song was like 5 years old and the band was no longer even together.. The ladies loved that song..
iT WAS VERY COOL. dONT WANNA TAKE UP ALL YOUR TIME BUT.. y&t CAME OUT WITH A SONG AROUND THE SAME TIME ITS NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT BUT MAN THE SOUND OF A LES PAUL... IT WAS CALLED TEMPTATION I REALLY LIKED THAT SONG. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL, WE ARE FROM THE SAME TIME IN MUSIC... @@TheArtofGuitar
Nice, here are some (in no real order) that I'd add: - House of Broken Love - Great White - In a Darkened Room - Skid Row - Hysteria - Def Leppard - Estranged - Gn'R (honestly they have loads that could be on here) - Fly to the Angels - Slaughter - Forever Free - WASP - Janie's Got a Gun - Aeorosmith - I saw Red - Warrant - Forever - Kiss - Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Queensryche's song Bridge off the Promised Land album will damn near make you cry. It's an incredibly personal song written by Chris Degarmo and is argueably the most gut wrenching song I've ever listened to.
The music on that is so not sad that it cancels some of the lyrical content. This is a "you fucked up, deal with it" song. The songs that get me are Lady Jane and Out of Mind
"I'll See You In My Dreams" by Giant is probably the most gut-wrenching power ballad for me. Anyway, I'm a huge Kix fan (being from Maryland, that's almost unavoidable) so seeing them on the list was great.
Number one for me is definitely “I Remember You”. Sebastian’s vocals just scream desperation and it gets me every single time I hear it. Second would be “Love Bites”, and then third is “Still Loving You”. Buts it’s tough because there are just so many great ones!
Kix are *extremely* underrated. Forget literal "hits", they had SO many good songs! I listen to them all the time and can't get enough. (They broke up in 1996 but reformed in 2003 with a new bassist.) Real musical geniuses. Heck, all these bands had tons of great songs. There's a lot of gems. Anyways, nice video. Take care, and God bless!
MSG "Anytime" and Scorps "Still Loving You" will get me in the feels every time just on the intros alone. Such powerful chords. Awesome vid, as usual. I share these with my 17 yo, he's learning to play and LOVES 70's-80's hard rock & metal
"Don't close your eyes" played a large role in keeping me from taking my own life at 21. I was in a very bad place and that song came on the radio at the perfect time.
Nice one Mike. Here's a rough top 10: Scorpions - Still Loving You Def Leppard - Bringing On The Heartbreak Great White - Maybe Someday Firehouse - Don't Walk Away Kiss - I Still Love You Skid Row - Wasted Time Deep Purple - When A Blind Man Cries Cinderella - Nobody's Fool Dokken - Heaven Sent Motorhead - Love Me Forever
I wouldn't consider _Heaven Sent_ a ballad. But it does contain some of George Lynch's very best lead guitar. That phrasing, that tone, the vibrato, that clarity where every note rings like a belll... simply awesome!
One song that always gets me is "Something to Believe In" by Poison. I struggle to cry sometimes, so when I need to let it out, that's the song I go to usually. Something about praying to God when things don't go right gets to me. The second verse is also about Bret Michaels' best friend and bodyguard who died alone on Christmas Eve in 1999, which is just a gut punch when you think about it.
Some of the most comforting words in time of trouble: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27
As a 90 child i have to say soul asylum runaway train, because my best friend lost his order sister to suicide and she was only 14 yo. This song gets me in tears every time.
Vito Bratta is so criminally underappreciated. Also, 1000000 thanks for not mentioning November Rain. Need Firehouse - When I Look Into Your Eyes and Love of a Lifetime in there though.
Everyone made such a big deal about that Suzanne Vega song "My Name Is Luka", saying it was such a wake up call for child abuse. I think if they ever heard the White Lion song "Broken Home", they would throw her record away. 🙂 Vito was a phenomenal player.
This group of tunes falls right into my butter zone perfectly. This is how I learned how to play guitar and I believe an obvious choice was left out. Alone Again by Dokken. It is the quintessential 80s metal power ballad. Emadd9 is even the key! 🤘🏻
Pretty good list 🤘🤘 however one of my favorite ballads is from WASP, hold on to my heart. Blackie is a legend. There are a few others that could have made this list too. But good choices. I'm 48 so i grew up with all these songs. Cinderella was and is my favorite band from the 80s. Cause they ain't the typical 80s band. Tom keifer is so underrated
Dude I was born in 68 which made me a kid in the 70's and a teenager in the 80's. When I was in high school the glam metal scene was HUGE. Every song you played is like part of my life's sound track. One song that I think should have made the list was Motley Crue Home Sweet Home. That has got it ALL. Or maybe some Dokken Alone Again. But none of your choices were wrong, just 8 is too short a list when talking about the best ballads. Still Loving You from the Scorps is also at the top of the food chain (which is what I am working on right now, Mathias's parts)
Love your list, excellent selections! "When the Children Cry" makes me too sad to listen to anymore. "Heaven" akways puts a lump in my throat. And Kix is underrated for sure.
Skid Row punched out 3 unbelievable monster power ballads of the one album - In a darkened room , Wasted time and Quicksand Jesus of Slave to the grind . Thunder had a classic also with A better man and Scorpions - Always somewhere
Great list but I'd definitely add these songs: Hold On To My Heart (W.A.S.P.), Silent Lucidity (Queensrÿche), and Something to Believe In (Poison) - especially the latter always tears me up...
"Tear Down the Walls" by Kix is equally haunting. Man, great job giving them their due... Thier album Blow My Fuse is a masterpiece of 90's rock. Kix & the group Love Hate were my favorite groups back-in-the-day.
Great video. "Sometimes She Cries" by Warrant is superior to "Heaven" imo. "Don't Close Your Eyes" is an awesome song! "Estranged" by GnR and "18 & Life" by Skid Row are also top tier. Also Little Caesar's "In Your Arms" is class.
that "when the children cry" solo is still one of my favorite solos...such an emotional set of notes put together...excellent list man,I know all of these very well,we grew up at basically the same time at the same tender age
8 ballads that shook me to my core back in the day... "For Shame" -- Kix "Mama I'm Coming Home" -- Ozzy Osbourne "All That I Bleed" -- Savatage "Bother" -- Stone Sour "Something To Believe In" -- Poison "Driftaway" -- Motley Crue "Heartbreak Station" -- Cinderella "Before The Dawn" -- Judas Priest
Great choice for #1. Can't wait for the Alternative version. I LOVE the "X" music from '95 -'05..."107.7 The X" was our station in B'ham. Here are a few of my favs: Ozzy Osbourne - Goodbye To Romance Krokus - Screaming In The Night Poison - I Won't Forget You Motley Crue - Without You Scorpions - No One Like You Night Ranger - When You Close Your Eyes Queensryche - Another Rainy Night (Without You) Whitesnake - Crying In The Rain Judas Priest - Fever Slaughter - Fly To The Angels GnR - Patience Def Leppard - Love Bites
Don't think it's good enough to qualify as heart-wrenching but I had the honor of running sound at a close friend's wedding a couple years back and they were also heavy metal people so the bride wanted to walk down the aisle to "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse. Glad to see White Lion on here. Pride is an outstanding album, and I like that in the age of Power ballads that song didn't follow the trend and stayed mellow. Kix is a great choice too, that album is fantastic and the song is so powerful. My #1 would be "I Remember You". For my money it's the best power ballad of all time. I would have added "Sometimes She Cries" by Warrant, and "Alone Again" by Dokken too. Edit: also "I'll See You In My Dreams" by Giant. Amd thanks for the good word about Adrenalize-era Def Leppard. It's their poppiest album but there's a lot of good stuff.
Not sure how “The Price” from Twisted Sister never makes any lists for ballads. Great guitar lick. Great guitar solo. Great chorus that gets you. It’s my #1 ballad.
I'm sure many of us have been where you at mentally, Mike. I randomly get in that mood every so often for whatever reason and I've built a fairly lengthy playlist for those times. Most of the songs you've chosen in this video are on my playlist, but here are my Top 8 songs that weren't on your list, in no specific order: Saigon Kick - Love is on the Way XYZ - When I Find Love Vandenberg - Burning Heart Tesla - Love Song LA Guns - Crystal Eyes Whitesnake - Sailing Ships Mr. Big - Just Take My Heart Enuff Z'Nuff - Fly High Michelle
Wow! Great picks Mike. I was born in '79 and you /nailed/ it, so many of these songs were a big part of my childhood. Miles Away, Winds of Change, Don't Close Your Eyes, Heaven, and When the Children Cry (tho I'd have to pick Wait, esp with it's outrageous/melodic Vito solo which is a top 20 fave solo of all time for me) would be in my top hard rock ballads with no question. I'd need a tune by Def Leppard (prob Hysteria), and perhaps Bon Jovi (I'll be there for you is prob my most nostalgic), though these two bands have less in common with the others. I was so happy to see you throw in the Kix song (underrated is a good descriptor), and accordingly i'd also have to add Giant's I'll see you in my dreams. (Dan Huff -- so great)
Thanks Mike for sharing songs that meant a lot to you back then. Here's mine (not all "gut wrenching", but meaningful to me in various ways): Is This Love - Whitesnake To Be With You - Mr Big Heaven - Warrant Mama, I’m coming Home - Ozzy Osbourne Silent Lucidity - Queensryche High Enough - Damn Yankees Sister Christian - Night Ranger Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon Alone - Heart Patience - Guns N Roses Angel - Aerosmith Love Bites - Def Leppard Winds of Change - Scorpions Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner The Flame - Cheap Trick When I See You Smile - Bad English Dream Come True - Frozen Ghost Love Song - Tesla Something to believe in - Poison Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue Bringing On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard 18 & life - Skid Row (it's a ballad to me)
Shocked Skid Row ‘I remember you’ wasn’t mentioned. To me that’s the pinnacle of that genre or it’s time. Opening lyrics and riff are masterful. Chorus vocal amazing and the solo with its fade out harmonic! Ending is powerful and sometimes shakes me out of the sadness. Like you I’ve made terrible mistakes and never learn. Sad songs help get emotions out and sooth me with booze. Red wine after a couple of beers is good. Avoid spirits. I therapy too and hope Mike gets some. I have started collecting vintage Star Wars again and t-shirts after my recent split. Bought some guitars too. Made some rubbish RUclips videos too so watch me attempt to play guitar to cheer yourself up and have a hood laugh at Andy! Great video too and maybe do another like it 😊
@@TheArtofGuitaroops 🤦♂️😂I thought I must have missed you mention it as it is too good to forget. Can you do a tutorial on I Remember You? Hopefully we can see you play on one of those big RUclips guitar stars videos soon. Thanks mate
Not really hard rock but for me. Nutshell - AIC Benighted - Opeth I am the Highway - Audioslave All Apologies - Nirvana Floods - Pantera A Tout Le Monde - Megadeth Fade to Black - Metallica My Friend of Mysery - Metallica
I know they get a lot of hate (or maybe non-love) but I've been a huge fan of Winger since the first I saw them on MTV and Miles Away is exceptional in this vein. I was in my early 20's at the time so I'd been through a few and Kip nailed it. Still takes me back to the days even though I've been married 30 years now.
Yess I've been hoping for a video featuring your acoustic, it sounds amazing! ❤ love all of these choices and the honourable mentions, the ones I didn't know I heard through you and your videos/ livestreams. Love The Room clip there haha. When you said misery loves company my brain instantly went to Soul Asylums song Misery, it has that very lyric :-) One song that gets me, particularly the intro is W.A.S.P. - Forever Free - it's when he sustains the vocals on the 'leaving you' . I'm listening to it as I write this and I have serious goosebumps. I would love a Grunge version of this list, and a video on what it takes to make a hard rock ballad would Kix ass, hehe, see what I did there? 🙂
The one that always hit me that hardest was Wasted Time from Skid Row's Slave to the Grind. The most powerful closing track in Metal. Along those same lines of feeling was Dokken's Alone Again, and Crue's Time For Change.
Not a full list, but a few additions Walk Away - Dokken Fly To The Angels - Slaughter Don't Turn Away - Whitesnake I'll Never Let You Go - Steelheart Til Death Do Us Part - White Lion All of them being perfect songs
Check out W.A.S.Ps ballad "Hold on to my heart" that song will tear you up. Super sad in my opinion. I think you will enjoy it if you haven't heard it! Great job though by the way! Keep up the good work! And all of you in the comments section God bless you all!
Close My Eyes Forever still crushes me. I have always been a huge hockey fan and the Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh was a huge influence on me. He was tragically killed in a car accident and this song was used on a tribute DVD for him.
Dude, no Dokken? “Alone Again” and “Walk Away”? The solo to “Walk Away” may be Lynch’s most soulful of all. Agree on Great White and Kix (but “Walking Away” is the best ballad from Kix). Mr. Big had some good ones, too.
Vito Bratta is a monster his playing in White Lion was superior it’s a shame he’s so underrated..I also love the solo’s in Save all your love by Great White..This list brings back so many of my greatest memories..Thanks for the trip down memory lane
I enjoyed that. Nice list. I might add Saigon Kick - Love is on the Way Mr. Big - Just Take My Heart Kiss - Forever Damn Yankees - High Enough Night Ranger - Sister Christian Cinderella - Nobody's Fool Bad English - When I See You Smile Van Halen - Love Walks In Lots of great ballads in the 80s.
I think "New Jersey" from Bon Jovi is the ultimate hard-rock ballad album: the combo of Wild is the Wind, I'll Be There for You, Living in Sin and Stick to your Guns is unbeatable!
1. I Remember you:Skid row 2. I still think about you: DangerDanger 3. Last train: Cinderella 4. Love is on the way:Saigon kick 5. All that I need: White Lion 6.Return to serenity:Testament 7.Something to believe in:Poison 8.Real Love: Slaughter. Not necessarily in order. Thank you for making this video, we feel melancholy sometimes and need sort of sound track for that moment.
Love Song by Tesla is my all time favorite ballad. The classical intro by Frank Hanon is timeless and the solo has so much emotion and feelings behind it. I could listen to the song nonstop and it never fails to draw me in.
I know and like/love all the songs you named. At the end l found myself hoping for “Phantom Rider” by the band Tora Tora. I don’t even know if people know who they are but they did have at least one great album, Surprise Attack. Guilty, Amnesia, Walking Shoes….. Phantom Rider is awesome, it will haunt you.
Love Bites, Def Leppard. Killed me back then, reminding me of a specific person. I swear it was written about her. Later, I found it mostly unlistenable because of that. From a purely musicality viewpoint, it has amazing heartwrenching chords and melodies.
All good songs. From your description it sounds like you’re a few years younger than me. These songs were all such a big part of my youth. I’d add to the list heartbreak station by Cinderella (such a powerful song for me), slaughter’s fly to the angels, steelheart I’ll never let you go, and of course GnR’s Patience.
Avenged Sevenfold- So Far Away Alter Bridge- In Loving Memory Alter Bridge- Blackbird The Last of Us (cover)- Future Days I just lost my Dad…just had his service yesterday. Alter Bridge is one of my favorite bands, and I’ve been listening to both of those songs repeatedly.
You explain things very well, Mike. I love how you pinpoint certain techniques to drive the point home. After recently going through a bad period, I listened to "Falling to Pieces" by Velvet Revolver, on repeat. What finally helped is my rescue squad: my Fender Strat and Godin Acoustic. I'm getting a sign made to honor them and will hang it on the wall above them.
Maybe it's because I was so young when I first heard it, but "Beth" by Kiss would top my list. I don't remember a lot of my childhood, but hearing it takes me back to 8 years old, during the brief period I lived in Florida, and all of my friends hanging out at one of their houses and them playing Kiss - Alive II (the first hard rock I had ever heard at that point) on repeat pretty much the entire summer. And then the floodgates of memories come rushing it... Having to take either band or orchestra in elementary school, and learning to play cello because all the cool kids had signed up for band before I had a chance to, and cello was all that was left. Funny how a song can do that to you, even when you were really too young to really understand it when you discovered it. The rest of my list would probably line up with yours, more-or-less.
Don't Close Your Eyes is an awesome song. Technically though, a ballad is a song that tells a story, not necessarily just a slow song with/without an acoustic. Lyrically, "18 and Life" by Skid Row could be a ballad.
Here are my top 8 8. Bang Tango- A Thousand Goodbyes 7. L.A. Guns- It's Over Now 6. Kix- Tear Down The Walls 5. Dokken- Walk Away 4. Skid Row- Breakin Down 3. Tesla- What You Give 2. Warrant- Stronger Now 1. Firehouse- Love Of A Lifetime
The greatest is Still Lovin' You by Scorpions. Sister Christian by Night Ranger Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon Keep On Lovin' You by REO Speedwagon Open Arms by Journey The Search is Over by Survivor When It's Over by Loverboy Babe by Styx Alone Again by Dokken Amanda by Boston I'll Never Let You Go by Steelheart
I'm not a real ballady guy but... 10) Poison I Won't Forget You 9) Black Sabbath Planet Caravan 8) Megadeth A tout Le Monde 7) Bon Jovi Love Lies 6) Metallica Nothing Else Matters 5) Def Leppard To Late for Love 4) Skid Row 18 to Life 3) Saigon Kick Love is on the Way 2) WASP Widowmaker 1) Metallica The Unforgiven
I was lucky enough to be a teenager in early 90s. So I could enjoy 70 80 90s hard rock & metal as well as alternative, grunge and punk rock, even of 90s. I'm pretty sure that 70-90s were golden days for hard rock music even though there were variations, so called genres. Some of my favorite power ballads other than your list are : Wasted Time (Skid Row), Mama don't you cry (Steelheart), Paradise (Tesla), Tonight (Ozzy)
Some great tunes in there. I'm going to chuck in 'In a Darkened Room' (Skid Row), 'I Still Think About You' (Danger Danger) and 'Fly High Michelle' (Enuff Z'Nuff).
I know you’re more into metal but would you ever consider covering Frankie Sullivan from survivor? I think he’s so underrated. If u could do 2 songs “oceans” and “I can’t hold back” by survivor. They both have great guitar melodic and blues sound, thank you either way
Remember Monster Ballads by Razor and Ty?! I got friendzoned to that album way too many times because I was the super fat funny friend. So that album inspired me to lose 160lbs and hit the gym hard. Changed my life forever.
OMG 12 years old lol i was 16 or 17 but these are great songs..i judge everything after 1990, by those songs even though so many people hate Nickelback , the song Photograph makes me think of Heaven, which brings back the teenage wanting to be in a hard rock band everything yo played was my teen years, when i had a band and friends
You guys are making awesome suggestions. Anything outside of Hard Rock (which I may do a Part 2), I'm going to do in other genres like Classic Rock, Alt/Grunge, etc. Keep an eye out for them. :)
Just got done watching this video. Two thumbs up for Kix and LA Guns songs!
Alt/Grunge sounds great
Check out “Shame in You” by Alice In Chains. It hits hard
Oo awesome. Seriously looking forward to all of these! 🤘🏻🔥
If I may make a suggestion, Mayonnaise by Smashing Pumpkins. It sounds like a stupid name for a song, but it's such a good tune.
"18 and Life" very powerful song, powerful vocals and great solo too!!!
Extremely heart wrenching from beginning to end.
The solo in 18 and life...... Oh my lord it's so good and fuckin powerful
GREAT example. Sebastian Bach is incredible in this tune.
Great list. I'd add Life goes on by poison, blind faith by warrant, wasted time by skid row, standing alone by Tyketto. Heck too many great ballads to list. Theres dozens of them from that era.
Damn! I forgot about Wasted Time. One of the best high notes of all time.
@@TheArtofGuitar how about CC's solo in life goes on? You can feel the pain in that solo.
Those are all great tunes. I was a HUGE fan of Life Goes On, especially. Unfortunately, this was around the time when bands were starting to shoehorn extra power ballads on their albums and these tunes ultimately ended up feeling like second stringers. It's bittersweet to me, because as much as I love these songs, I also clearly remember feeling like the end was near for this era of metal.
Tyketto's "Forever Young" is a perfect song.
Absolutely best list ever! Being from near Hagerstown and 63 years young I grew up near Kix (originally The Shooze, then The Generators). The band was truly underrated. Brian Forsythe and Ronnie Younkins just complimented each other's style. Brian with AC DC style and Ronnie with Bluesy style worked well and Steve's vocals are just a good fit to both styles. Yes I sadly went to their final show in Columbia Maryland in September.
18 and life hits home to me, my days in highschool where not a walf in the park
Good video. I worked up the courage to sing “Heaven” to Anna Kemp over the phone when I was in 9th Grade at High School. She was very cool about it, I never got a date with her though. I’d like to suggest “Without You” by Motley Crue for the list. It sounds so thick and epic and ballady, and has a really odd, subtle de-tuned effect that enhances the tear jerkeryness. Great song at the pinnacle of Hair Metal.
my top 2 would be "alone again" by dokken and "still loving you" by scorpions
Every Rose Has its Thorn should’ve been at least an honorable mention.
Slippin’’ Away or Jaded Heart from Dokken also.
I'm going to throw in "We'll meet again" by early Phil era Pantera, great solo by Dime. They had a few, Cemetery Gates, Hollow, This Love, Sui*ide note pt 1. But check out We'll meet again, Dime nailed it and it's a long solo.
Fly to the angels is one of my favorites,as well as Home sweet home.
The funny thing is we all still listen to all of these albums *they've never left the rotation.
Do you remember when the song by Sheriff was re released "When im with you" Oh my Gosh . For one the song was like 5 years old and the band was no longer even together.. The ladies loved that song..
I love that song. Used to sing in here at my studio karaoke style.
iT WAS VERY COOL. dONT WANNA TAKE UP ALL YOUR TIME BUT.. y&t CAME OUT WITH A SONG AROUND THE SAME TIME ITS NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT BUT MAN THE SOUND OF A LES PAUL... IT WAS CALLED TEMPTATION I REALLY LIKED THAT SONG. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL, WE ARE FROM THE SAME TIME IN MUSIC... @@TheArtofGuitar
Have you heard the Song "SELFMADE MAN" ? by UFO 1st song from the Walk On Water album
Nice, here are some (in no real order) that I'd add:
- House of Broken Love - Great White
- In a Darkened Room - Skid Row
- Hysteria - Def Leppard
- Estranged - Gn'R (honestly they have loads that could be on here)
- Fly to the Angels - Slaughter
- Forever Free - WASP
- Janie's Got a Gun - Aeorosmith
- I saw Red - Warrant
- Forever - Kiss
- Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Forever free, so haunting
I saw red is my favorite from that list, brutal.
Recently at an open mic and a guy did I Saw Red acoustically... extremely moving.
@@Daniel189HLL Yeah , I checked it out. Not really feeling it.
Rock without ballads its just like Mike without a guitar.
He’d just be Mike from The-Art.
Perfectly said!
Meh. Tell it to Sabbath.
@@rapid13Sabbath had Sabra Cadbra.
Or, a shoe maker without a toilet seat. 🙄🥴🥴🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Queensryche's song Bridge off the Promised Land album will damn near make you cry. It's an incredibly personal song written by Chris Degarmo and is argueably the most gut wrenching song I've ever listened to.
Great call.Nobody ever mentions that song.
For me it's Silent Lucidity.
Very underrated song
The music on that is so not sad that it cancels some of the lyrical content. This is a "you fucked up, deal with it" song. The songs that get me are Lady Jane and Out of Mind
"I'll See You In My Dreams" by Giant is probably the most gut-wrenching power ballad for me.
Anyway, I'm a huge Kix fan (being from Maryland, that's almost unavoidable) so seeing them on the list was great.
Yeah , I checked it out. Not feeling it.
Number one for me is definitely “I Remember You”. Sebastian’s vocals just scream desperation and it gets me every single time I hear it. Second would be “Love Bites”, and then third is “Still Loving You”. Buts it’s tough because there are just so many great ones!
Kix are *extremely* underrated. Forget literal "hits", they had SO many good songs! I listen to them all the time and can't get enough. (They broke up in 1996 but reformed in 2003 with a new bassist.) Real musical geniuses.
Heck, all these bands had tons of great songs. There's a lot of gems.
Anyways, nice video. Take care, and God bless!
A friend of mine knows the Kix guitarist. We went to his house, and smoked some grade A+++! I didn't even pull mine out...
Midnight Dynamite is one of the greatest rock records of all time.
MSG "Anytime" and Scorps "Still Loving You" will get me in the feels every time just on the intros alone. Such powerful chords. Awesome vid, as usual. I share these with my 17 yo, he's learning to play and LOVES 70's-80's hard rock & metal
MSG "Anytime"....that's a great deep cut man!👌🏻
"Don't close your eyes" played a large role in keeping me from taking my own life at 21. I was in a very bad place and that song came on the radio at the perfect time.
Nice one Mike. Here's a rough top 10:
Scorpions - Still Loving You
Def Leppard - Bringing On The Heartbreak
Great White - Maybe Someday
Firehouse - Don't Walk Away
Kiss - I Still Love You
Skid Row - Wasted Time
Deep Purple - When A Blind Man Cries
Cinderella - Nobody's Fool
Dokken - Heaven Sent
Motorhead - Love Me Forever
I wouldn't consider _Heaven Sent_ a ballad. But it does contain some of George Lynch's very best lead guitar. That phrasing, that tone, the vibrato, that clarity where every note rings like a belll... simply awesome!
@@MrClassicmetal Definitely my favorite on his list. And now that reminds me of Krokus: "Our Love", another brilliant gem.
One song that always gets me is "Something to Believe In" by Poison. I struggle to cry sometimes, so when I need to let it out, that's the song I go to usually. Something about praying to God when things don't go right gets to me. The second verse is also about Bret Michaels' best friend and bodyguard who died alone on Christmas Eve in 1999, which is just a gut punch when you think about it.
I came here to suggest this one.
Song came out late 1980s.
That's a great song.
I SAW RED by Warrant is one of top 80's ballads to me as far a gut wrenching especially. The bridge in that tune is just killer.
Some of the most comforting words in time of trouble: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27
As a 90 child i have to say soul asylum runaway train, because my best friend lost his order sister to suicide and she was only 14 yo. This song gets me in tears every time.
I still love "House Of Broken Love" by Great White.
House of Pain and Don’t Close Your Eyes are so killer! I remember growing up watching those videos back when MTV actually played music .
Nothing like an epic power ballad from the 80’s. Great list, and I’m really glad you included House of Pain and Ballad of Jayne.
One of my favorites has always been Headed For a Heartbreak by Winger. Great composition from all the instruments and a kickass solo by Reb
I🎉almost forgot about Skid Row I remember you,Sebastian Bachs voice just rips my heart out!💘💘💘
Vito Bratta is so criminally underappreciated. Also, 1000000 thanks for not mentioning November Rain. Need Firehouse - When I Look Into Your Eyes and Love of a Lifetime in there though.
Everyone made such a big deal about that Suzanne Vega song "My Name Is Luka", saying it was such a wake up call for child abuse. I think if they ever heard the White Lion song "Broken Home", they would throw her record away. 🙂 Vito was a phenomenal player.
Great list. Kix is a way underrated band
Cheap Trick-The Flame
Dokken- Alone again
"Wasting Love" by Iron Maiden is one of my top power ballads. Great lyrics, great solo, and it even uses that famed Emadd9 chord!
Might make my heavy metal ballads list.
Goodbye by Night Ranger is a great melancholy ballad with a great solo
This group of tunes falls right into my butter zone perfectly. This is how I learned how to play guitar and I believe an obvious choice was left out. Alone Again by Dokken. It is the quintessential 80s metal power ballad. Emadd9 is even the key! 🤘🏻
Pretty good list 🤘🤘 however one of my favorite ballads is from WASP, hold on to my heart. Blackie is a legend. There are a few others that could have made this list too. But good choices. I'm 48 so i grew up with all these songs. Cinderella was and is my favorite band from the 80s. Cause they ain't the typical 80s band. Tom keifer is so underrated
Dude I was born in 68 which made me a kid in the 70's and a teenager in the 80's. When I was in high school the glam metal scene was HUGE. Every song you played is like part of my life's sound track. One song that I think should have made the list was Motley Crue Home Sweet Home. That has got it ALL. Or maybe some Dokken Alone Again. But none of your choices were wrong, just 8 is too short a list when talking about the best ballads. Still Loving You from the Scorps is also at the top of the food chain (which is what I am working on right now, Mathias's parts)
Love your list, excellent selections! "When the Children Cry" makes me too sad to listen to anymore. "Heaven" akways puts a lump in my throat. And Kix is underrated for sure.
Showing my age, used to go see KIX back in their early club days! Great live band!!!
Dude, my 1st rock concert was Whitesnake(w/Vai), and Kix opened up. Changed my life!
Skid Row punched out 3 unbelievable monster power ballads of the one album - In a darkened room , Wasted time and Quicksand Jesus of Slave to the grind .
Thunder had a classic also with A better man and Scorpions - Always somewhere
Great list but I'd definitely add these songs: Hold On To My Heart (W.A.S.P.), Silent Lucidity (Queensrÿche), and Something to Believe In (Poison) - especially the latter always tears me up...
Something to Believe in is great!
Hold on to my heart is perfect, sung so well too.
The Ballad of Jayne is a killer pick - nice job. That one always gets me in the feels too
Saigon Kick's Love Is On The Way did it for me. I haven't thought of that tune in over 25 years and it just crept into my heart again recently.
"Tear Down the Walls" by Kix is equally haunting. Man, great job giving them their due... Thier album Blow My Fuse is a masterpiece of 90's rock. Kix & the group Love Hate were my favorite groups back-in-the-day.
Walking Away for me is there best ballad and the first song by Kix
What about the overplayed “don’t close your eyes” ….i fell for that song hook line and sinker on first hearing .its still in my phone
Ha …I replied before he got to this song lol …I wondered why it wasn’t mentioned before ones mentioned here
Blow My Fuse came out in 1988.
@@mikeb.7183YES! That song is an incredible ballad
Great video. "Sometimes She Cries" by Warrant is superior to "Heaven" imo. "Don't Close Your Eyes" is an awesome song! "Estranged" by GnR and "18 & Life" by Skid Row are also top tier. Also Little Caesar's "In Your Arms" is class.
You nailed them all and I was waiting for "The Ballad of Jayne" "House of Pain" was a killer too. Thanks I still listen to these really often!!
that "when the children cry" solo is still one of my favorite solos...such an emotional set of notes put together...excellent list man,I know all of these very well,we grew up at basically the same time at the same tender age
8 ballads that shook me to my core back in the day...
"For Shame" -- Kix
"Mama I'm Coming Home" -- Ozzy Osbourne
"All That I Bleed" -- Savatage
"Bother" -- Stone Sour
"Something To Believe In" -- Poison
"Driftaway" -- Motley Crue
"Heartbreak Station" -- Cinderella
"Before The Dawn" -- Judas Priest
Heartbreak Station is fantastic, and I agree with Mana I’m Coming Home
motley 94 is so good
Great choice for #1. Can't wait for the Alternative version. I LOVE the "X" music from '95 -'05..."107.7 The X" was our station in B'ham.
Here are a few of my favs:
Ozzy Osbourne - Goodbye To Romance
Krokus - Screaming In The Night
Poison - I Won't Forget You
Motley Crue - Without You
Scorpions - No One Like You
Night Ranger - When You Close Your Eyes
Queensryche - Another Rainy Night (Without You)
Whitesnake - Crying In The Rain
Judas Priest - Fever
Slaughter - Fly To The Angels
GnR - Patience
Def Leppard - Love Bites
Don't think it's good enough to qualify as heart-wrenching but I had the honor of running sound at a close friend's wedding a couple years back and they were also heavy metal people so the bride wanted to walk down the aisle to "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse.
Glad to see White Lion on here. Pride is an outstanding album, and I like that in the age of Power ballads that song didn't follow the trend and stayed mellow.
Kix is a great choice too, that album is fantastic and the song is so powerful.
My #1 would be "I Remember You". For my money it's the best power ballad of all time.
I would have added "Sometimes She Cries" by Warrant, and "Alone Again" by Dokken too.
Edit: also "I'll See You In My Dreams" by Giant.
Amd thanks for the good word about Adrenalize-era Def Leppard. It's their poppiest album but there's a lot of good stuff.
Not sure how “The Price” from Twisted Sister never makes any lists for ballads. Great guitar lick. Great guitar solo. Great chorus that gets you. It’s my #1 ballad.
Best song Twisted Sister ever did.
I'm sure many of us have been where you at mentally, Mike. I randomly get in that mood every so often for whatever reason and I've built a fairly lengthy playlist for those times. Most of the songs you've chosen in this video are on my playlist, but here are my Top 8 songs that weren't on your list, in no specific order:
Saigon Kick - Love is on the Way
XYZ - When I Find Love
Vandenberg - Burning Heart
Tesla - Love Song
LA Guns - Crystal Eyes
Whitesnake - Sailing Ships
Mr. Big - Just Take My Heart
Enuff Z'Nuff - Fly High Michelle
(not necessarily all rock)
Extreme - Hole Hearted
Huey Lewis & News - I Never Walk Alone
Tesla - Hang Tough
Lillian Axe - Mercy
Wow! Great picks Mike. I was born in '79 and you /nailed/ it, so many of these songs were a big part of my childhood. Miles Away, Winds of Change, Don't Close Your Eyes, Heaven, and When the Children Cry (tho I'd have to pick Wait, esp with it's outrageous/melodic Vito solo which is a top 20 fave solo of all time for me) would be in my top hard rock ballads with no question. I'd need a tune by Def Leppard (prob Hysteria), and perhaps Bon Jovi (I'll be there for you is prob my most nostalgic), though these two bands have less in common with the others. I was so happy to see you throw in the Kix song (underrated is a good descriptor), and accordingly i'd also have to add Giant's I'll see you in my dreams. (Dan Huff -- so great)
Thanks Mike for sharing songs that meant a lot to you back then.
Here's mine (not all "gut wrenching", but meaningful to me in various ways):
Is This Love - Whitesnake
To Be With You - Mr Big
Heaven - Warrant
Mama, I’m coming Home - Ozzy Osbourne
Silent Lucidity - Queensryche
High Enough - Damn Yankees
Sister Christian - Night Ranger
Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
Alone - Heart
Patience - Guns N Roses
Angel - Aerosmith
Love Bites - Def Leppard
Winds of Change - Scorpions
Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner
The Flame - Cheap Trick
When I See You Smile - Bad English
Dream Come True - Frozen Ghost
Love Song - Tesla
Something to believe in - Poison
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Bringing On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard
18 & life - Skid Row (it's a ballad to me)
Shocked Skid Row ‘I remember you’ wasn’t mentioned. To me that’s the pinnacle of that genre or it’s time.
Opening lyrics and riff are masterful. Chorus vocal amazing and the solo with its fade out harmonic! Ending is powerful and sometimes shakes me out of the sadness.
Like you I’ve made terrible mistakes and never learn. Sad songs help get emotions out and sooth me with booze. Red wine after a couple of beers is good. Avoid spirits. I therapy too and hope Mike gets some.
I have started collecting vintage Star Wars again and t-shirts after my recent split. Bought some guitars too. Made some rubbish RUclips videos too so watch me attempt to play guitar to cheer yourself up and have a hood laugh at Andy!
Great video too and maybe do another like it 😊
I mention that in the video.
@@TheArtofGuitaroops 🤦♂️😂I thought I must have missed you mention it as it is too good to forget. Can you do a tutorial on I Remember You?
Hopefully we can see you play on one of those big RUclips guitar stars videos soon.
Thanks mate
Not really hard rock but for me.
Nutshell - AIC
Benighted - Opeth
I am the Highway - Audioslave
All Apologies - Nirvana
Floods - Pantera
A Tout Le Monde - Megadeth
Fade to Black - Metallica
My Friend of Mysery - Metallica
I know they get a lot of hate (or maybe non-love) but I've been a huge fan of Winger since the first I saw them on MTV and Miles Away is exceptional in this vein. I was in my early 20's at the time so I'd been through a few and Kip nailed it. Still takes me back to the days even though I've been married 30 years now.
They are very underrated and beyond talented. Tons of hidden gems.
Yess I've been hoping for a video featuring your acoustic, it sounds amazing! ❤ love all of these choices and the honourable mentions, the ones I didn't know I heard through you and your videos/ livestreams. Love The Room clip there haha. When you said misery loves company my brain instantly went to Soul Asylums song Misery, it has that very lyric :-)
One song that gets me, particularly the intro is W.A.S.P. - Forever Free - it's when he sustains the vocals on the 'leaving you' . I'm listening to it as I write this and I have serious goosebumps.
I would love a Grunge version of this list, and a video on what it takes to make a hard rock ballad would Kix ass, hehe, see what I did there? 🙂
Lillian Axe had a killer song called "Misery Loves Company". Excellent vocals.
Come to think of it Dokken have a lot of great ballad type songs... In My Dreams, Alone Again, Heaven Sent, Walk Away, Jaded Heart etc
The one that always hit me that hardest was Wasted Time from Skid Row's Slave to the Grind. The most powerful closing track in Metal. Along those same lines of feeling was Dokken's Alone Again, and Crue's Time For Change.
Not a full list, but a few additions
Walk Away - Dokken
Fly To The Angels - Slaughter
Don't Turn Away - Whitesnake
I'll Never Let You Go - Steelheart
Til Death Do Us Part - White Lion
All of them being perfect songs
“I’ll See You in My Dreams” by Giant
Check out W.A.S.Ps ballad "Hold on to my heart" that song will tear you up. Super sad in my opinion. I think you will enjoy it if you haven't heard it! Great job though by the way! Keep up the good work! And all of you in the comments section God bless you all!
✨😇Thank you James, and to you as well.
God bless us ALL!✨🎶✨🙏✨🎶✨
Close My Eyes Forever still crushes me. I have always been a huge hockey fan and the Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh was a huge influence on me. He was tragically killed in a car accident and this song was used on a tribute DVD for him.
Ballad of Jane is about the tragic death of Jane Mansfield.
Dude, no Dokken? “Alone Again” and “Walk Away”? The solo to “Walk Away” may be Lynch’s most soulful of all.
Agree on Great White and Kix (but “Walking Away” is the best ballad from Kix). Mr. Big had some good ones, too.
Beautiful list❤! In addition to your list : "Open Arms" by Journey and "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger still kick me in the feels 🥰
Sleeze Beez is my favorite underrated band, and they did a cover of Journey's "Faithfully" in 2011.
I had that Kix song on a VHS musicvideo collection tape. Yes, this was a thing back then 🙂 Loved Blow My Fuse, still do.
Vito Bratta is a monster his playing in White Lion was superior it’s a shame he’s so underrated..I also love the solo’s in Save all your love by Great White..This list brings back so many of my greatest memories..Thanks for the trip down memory lane
I enjoyed that. Nice list. I might add
Saigon Kick - Love is on the Way
Mr. Big - Just Take My Heart
Kiss - Forever
Damn Yankees - High Enough
Night Ranger - Sister Christian
Cinderella - Nobody's Fool
Bad English - When I See You Smile
Van Halen - Love Walks In
Lots of great ballads in the 80s.
I think "New Jersey" from Bon Jovi is the ultimate hard-rock ballad album: the combo of Wild is the Wind, I'll Be There for You, Living in Sin and Stick to your Guns is unbeatable!
Check out some of my picks and you may rethink that.
1. I Remember you:Skid row
2. I still think about you: DangerDanger
3. Last train: Cinderella
4. Love is on the way:Saigon kick
5. All that I need: White Lion
6.Return to serenity:Testament
7.Something to believe in:Poison
8.Real Love: Slaughter.
Not necessarily in order.
Thank you for making this video, we feel melancholy sometimes and need sort of sound track for that moment.
Last train...absolutely.
Summerland by Kings X. Great tune, beautiful solo... And a guitar sound for the ages
I was expecting "Silent Lucidity" to be on there somewhere.
Well I would've put money on 'These Dreams' being in here 😁
Love Song by Tesla is my all time favorite ballad. The classical intro by Frank Hanon is timeless and the solo has so much emotion and feelings behind it. I could listen to the song nonstop and it never fails to draw me in.
Love that song. Epic solo.
Any love for Carrie by Europe? Loved that back in the day.
I know and like/love all the songs you named. At the end l found myself hoping for “Phantom Rider” by the band Tora Tora. I don’t even know if people know who they are but they did have at least one great album, Surprise Attack. Guilty, Amnesia, Walking Shoes….. Phantom Rider is awesome, it will haunt you.
Always by Jovi is a good one. Video makes it better. Not too keen on Richie’s choice of tone for his solo.
Love Bites, Def Leppard. Killed me back then, reminding me of a specific person. I swear it was written about her. Later, I found it mostly unlistenable because of that. From a purely musicality viewpoint, it has amazing heartwrenching chords and melodies.
All good songs. From your description it sounds like you’re a few years younger than me. These songs were all such a big part of my youth. I’d add to the list heartbreak station by Cinderella (such a powerful song for me), slaughter’s fly to the angels, steelheart I’ll never let you go, and of course GnR’s Patience.
Avenged Sevenfold- So Far Away
Alter Bridge- In Loving Memory
Alter Bridge- Blackbird
The Last of Us (cover)- Future Days
I just lost my Dad…just had his service yesterday. Alter Bridge is one of my favorite bands, and I’ve been listening to both of those songs repeatedly.
Might make my metal ballads list. Sorry to hear about your dad.
You explain things very well, Mike. I love how you pinpoint certain techniques to drive the point home. After recently going through a bad period, I listened to "Falling to Pieces" by Velvet Revolver, on repeat. What finally helped is my rescue squad: my Fender Strat and Godin Acoustic. I'm getting a sign made to honor them and will hang it on the wall above them.
Maybe it's because I was so young when I first heard it, but "Beth" by Kiss would top my list. I don't remember a lot of my childhood, but hearing it takes me back to 8 years old, during the brief period I lived in Florida, and all of my friends hanging out at one of their houses and them playing Kiss - Alive II (the first hard rock I had ever heard at that point) on repeat pretty much the entire summer. And then the floodgates of memories come rushing it... Having to take either band or orchestra in elementary school, and learning to play cello because all the cool kids had signed up for band before I had a chance to, and cello was all that was left. Funny how a song can do that to you, even when you were really too young to really understand it when you discovered it. The rest of my list would probably line up with yours, more-or-less.
That’ll probably make my classic rock list.
AM I LOSIN -Skynyrd. Listen to it. It’s about Bob Burns leaving the band.
You can probably do an entire video on Ronnie and his Ballads.
"I never dreamed"
Talking of all the feels, Jani Lane's daughter Madison has covered "Heaven".
I hope you get through this period without too much grief. Stay strong brother.
Don't Close Your Eyes is an awesome song. Technically though, a ballad is a song that tells a story, not necessarily just a slow song with/without an acoustic. Lyrically, "18 and Life" by Skid Row could be a ballad.
Here are my top 8
8. Bang Tango- A Thousand Goodbyes
7. L.A. Guns- It's Over Now
6. Kix- Tear Down The Walls
5. Dokken- Walk Away
4. Skid Row- Breakin Down
3. Tesla- What You Give
2. Warrant- Stronger Now
1. Firehouse- Love Of A Lifetime
The greatest is Still Lovin' You by Scorpions.
Sister Christian by Night Ranger
Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon
Keep On Lovin' You by REO Speedwagon
Open Arms by Journey
The Search is Over by Survivor
When It's Over by Loverboy
Babe by Styx
Alone Again by Dokken
Amanda by Boston
I'll Never Let You Go by Steelheart
I'm not a real ballady guy but...
10) Poison I Won't Forget You
9) Black Sabbath Planet Caravan
8) Megadeth A tout Le Monde
7) Bon Jovi Love Lies
6) Metallica Nothing Else Matters
5) Def Leppard To Late for Love
4) Skid Row 18 to Life
3) Saigon Kick Love is on the Way
2) WASP Widowmaker
1) Metallica The Unforgiven
I was lucky enough to be a teenager in early 90s. So I could enjoy 70 80 90s hard rock & metal as well as alternative, grunge and punk rock, even of 90s. I'm pretty sure that 70-90s were golden days for hard rock music even though there were variations, so called genres. Some of my favorite power ballads other than your list are : Wasted Time (Skid Row), Mama don't you cry (Steelheart), Paradise (Tesla), Tonight (Ozzy)
Some great tunes in there. I'm going to chuck in 'In a Darkened Room' (Skid Row), 'I Still Think About You' (Danger Danger) and 'Fly High Michelle' (Enuff Z'Nuff).
I know you’re more into metal but would you ever consider covering Frankie Sullivan from survivor? I think he’s so underrated. If u could do 2 songs “oceans” and “I can’t hold back” by survivor. They both have great guitar melodic and blues sound, thank you either way
The don’t close your eyes song is just a banger. Kix was great and that song is HUGE
Sorry to hear you’re going through it. You’re a good guy Mike, hang in there.
Remember Monster Ballads by Razor and Ty?! I got friendzoned to that album way too many times because I was the super fat funny friend. So that album inspired me to lose 160lbs and hit the gym hard. Changed my life forever.
OMG 12 years old lol i was 16 or 17
but these are great songs..i judge everything after 1990, by those songs
even though so many people hate Nickelback , the song Photograph makes me think of Heaven, which brings back the teenage wanting to be in a hard rock band
everything yo played was my teen years, when i had a band and friends
Nice guitar switch at 1:45.
I'm a bit older, so, "Winds of March" from Journey's Infinity album is one of my favorite sob songs.
Great vid, and whatever you're going through, I sincerely hope it works out for you.
Now, I have three words for you;
Tesla: Love Song 😢