The people have spoken! (at least the social media people)... Attuned Events is proud to present the 2023 edition of the top voted power ballads of all time according to our followers (and just in time for Valentine's Day!)
#10 Tesla - Love Song
A great heavy rock band fronted by Texarkana, Arkansas born Jeff Keith (we consider Texarkana, AR to be East Texas by the way). He also spent some time in both Broken Bow and Idabel, Oklahoma.
What to sing along to, lighters in air:
"Love is all around you, yeah
Love is knockin' outside your door.
Waitin' for you is this love made just for two
Keep an open heart and you'll find love again, I know."
#9 Journey - Faithfully
Surprisingly low on the top ten votes (in our opinion) is this 1983 release from the band Journey (who began as Golden Gate Rhythm Section). Faithfully is from the album "Frontiers" released in 1983. It followed another great power ballad "Open Arms" that was a hit from Journey's 1981 album release "Escape". Bryan Adams wrote his hit "Heaven" while on tour with Journey in support of the "Frontiers" tour, a song which features Journey's drummer Steve Smith.
Prince reportedly ran the song "Purple Rain" by Journey's Jonathon Cain (keyboardist) prior to release in 1984 fearing it might be too similar since it used the same four chords.
"And being apart ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
Faithfully..."
#8 Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Another Texas connection in the list. Bret Michaels was reportedly inspired after a late night phone call to his then girlfriend which occurred from a Dallas, TX laundromat. Michael's reportedly heard a male voice in the background. May not be the most romantic of the Valentine's day ballads, but can be a comfort to those who have recently been thru a break-up
"Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn"
#7 REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You
Selling over 20 Million copies, "Hi-Infidelity" has been REO Speedwagon's greatest selling album of all time. Released in 1980 when album purchases were often made based on the cover art, we must say that this one resonated with the teenage boys of that time. One of 2 Billboard number one hits for REO Speedwagon, this ballad (new direction for REO at the time) definitely earns it's spot as one of the greats. By the way, the only other number one hit for REO according to billboard was the ballad "Can't Fight this Feeling" in 1985.
"And I'm gonna keep on lovin' you
'Cause it's the only thing I want to do
I don't want to sleep, I just want to keep on lovin' you"
#6 Steelheart - I'll Never Let You Go
Released in 1990 off of their self titled debut album, this single ranks surprisingly (and we think deservedly) high since it only peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. But after all, our followers have better tastes than most. Who couldn't sing along to the following while swaying back and forth?
"I'll never let you go
You're always on my mind
You're the only one for me
You're all I need
And I'll never, never let you go"
#5 Cheap Trick - The Flame
Hard to believe that "The Flame" was this band's only number one hit. Especially since it was released nine years after the 1979's classic "Live at Budokan" LP which was for all practical purposes a greatest hits compilation. Cheap Trick continues to put on incredible shows to this date but get your lighters (or cell phone flashlights) ready to go on this one:
"Wherever you go, I'll be with you
Whatever you want, I'll give it to you
Whenever you need someone
To lay your heart and head upon
Remember, after the fire, after all the rain
I will be the flame"
#4 Warrant - Heaven
Warrant's most successful single was from their debut album "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich". It spent two weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. A song about how life on Earth can feel like Heaven as long as you are with the one you love. We tend to agree.
"I don't need to be the king of the world As long as I'm the hero of this little girl
Heaven isn't too far away
Closer to it everyday
No matter what your friends might say"
#3 Bryan Adams - Heaven
As mentioned above, Bryan Adams wrote this song while on tour as support for Journey's "Frontier" tour and it is rumored that Journey's "Faithfully" was an influencer. Journey's drummer Steve Smith is featured on the recording. It reached number one in June 1985. (What's up with the 80's and power ballad success?).
"Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see, we're in heaven (heaven)"
Did you know that there was more than one official video release? Here is our favorite:
#2 Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home
Scoring surprisingly high on the list is Motley Crue's release "Home Sweet Home" from 1985's Theater of Pain album. It was easy to again find a Lone Star State connection on this one. Live concert footage in the official video was shot at The Summit in Houston. In fact the band performed the song twice that night in order to acquire enough video footage. The exterior shots in the video are from Reunion Arena in Dallas which would have been the show two nights before.
"Just take this song And you'll never feel left all alone Take me to your heart Feel me in your bones Just one more night And I'm coming off this long and winding road
I'm on my way I'm on my way Home sweet home"
#1 Journey - Open Arms
Journey's incredible guitarist Neil Schon apparently had a dislike for this song (at first) and it almost did not make the cut for the album E5C4E3 (ESCAPE). Brought into the fold by new keyboardist Jonathan Cain (who replaced Greg Rolle), he had begun writing the song while he was a member of the Baby's. He finished writing the song with Journey's Steve Perry with a few tweaks and key changes. Sales data we could find indicate that "Escape" was clearly their biggest selling album and that "Open Arms" was the biggest selling single from that album (even beating out the classic "Don't Stop Believin'" in a tight race). Appearing twice in this year's voting, is Journey the greatest power ballad band of all time?
Texas Connection: Video was filmed in Houston, TX in 1981 before being released in 1982.
Did you know: "Open Arms" was released on the soundtrack to the movie "Heavy Metal" the same month as the album "Escape" was released?
OK kids, Thanks for Playing. We want to do this again next year!
SAY CHEESE!!!
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