Power ballads: quick question.

[IndigoSpritz]

Are these three songs power ballads, or not:

I Should Have Known Better - Jim Diamond

Without You - Nilsson

I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner

No
Sort of
Yes

They're certainly ballads, not 100% on power?
Intrigued by the conversation in your house though?!

A definition of power ballad.
power ballad
An emotional hard rock/heavy metal song, often with a slow tempo, dramatic sung vocals, and many instruments, including acoustic ones and synthesizers. Power ballads usually start soft, then heaviness builds up with drums and heavy electric guitars.

Do those songs do this?

Not familiar.
Yes
Yes

Not quite
Yes
Yes

I'd say:
don't know it / YES / No - too soft

Power ballad i always thought was a love song by a rock band.
Smushy and lovey-dovey tracks by mostly hair metal types.
Otherwise it's just a love song

Total eclipse of the Heart is a good one

I say that it’s a power ballad if you’re able to successfully do the “air grab” move at some point in the song....

Posted too soon

So by that definition I'd say
No
No
Yes

Without you & I wanna know what love is are on power ballad cds but i can't find I should've known better on any of my mums that I've pinched over the years

I’d always thought power ballads were more ‘heavy’ rock so I’d say
No
No
Yes
Also, not familiar you need google, brilliant song!

I think all three are, broadly speaking. 'Without You' was a hit in 1972 so could be regarded as a power pioneer. Perhaps more folk consider certain Scorpions and Aerosmith songs to be PBs. More of a 1980s and 1990s thing.

What about 'Babe' by Styx ? I say, yes.

No
Just about
Yes
And yes to Styx

No
No
Yes

Think..Bon Jovi Dead or Alive, Guns n Roses November Rain etc...Without You doesn't qualify.

So Jim Diamond was not a power balladeer. Fair enough. Still a great song and a number one before Band Aid.

As for Reo Speedwagon and Journey. Or is that stadium rock ? More Bryan Adams perhaps.

Diane Warren is responsible for a handful of PBs. 'If I Could Turn Back Time' and 'Don't Want To Miss A Thing' I believe are two of hers.