MR

Did Styx invent the power ballad? They were doing it before any other bands of their genre.. "Babe" was before "Open Arms" or "The Search Is Over". Hell, "Lady" was out way before any of them, but I don't know if I would really consider "Lady" a power ballad. If Styx doesn't get that honor, who does?

The origins of the power ballad are very murky. Some will say Let It Be is the first one. Some say Beth by Kiss was the first. Some go with Bohemian Rhapsody. Others still say Journey invented it. Hell, some even say The Eagles invented it with "Desperado." It all depends on who you ask and how you define a power ballad. Sterling, if you're around, what do you think?

Ehwmatt wrote:The origins of the power ballad are very murky. Some will say Let It Be is the first one. Some say Beth by Kiss was the first. Some go with Bohemian Rhapsody. Others still say Journey invented it. Hell, some even say The Eagles invented it with "Desperado." It all depends on who you ask and how you define a power ballad. Sterling, if you're around, what do you think?

I think "Lady" is as good a candidate as any for being the first true power ballad. "Desperado" is really a straight ballad with some dynamic shifts rather than a power ballad, and "Beth" has no power chords either. "Mandy" was out around the same time as "Lady" but isn't a true power ballad if you define that as a ballad that builds to rock chording. So Styx either invented the power ballad, or was one of its earliest progenitors. But I have to add that from a critical perspective, I'm not too sure it's an honor anyone in the band (with the exception of Dennis) would actually care to accept!

I hope all is well.


Sterling

Here's a fun article from 2003 about the power ballad

[url]http://metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=4998[url]

But I've also heard Motley Crue claim that Home Sweet Home was the first power ballad...

Edit to add - Sorry can't seem to post that link correctly

wouldnt stairway to heaven be the first true monster power ballad.

sniper16 wrote:wouldnt stairway to heaven be the first true monster power ballad.

Nope many Beatles tunes out there fit the mold

Yesterday
For No One
Let it Be

Also the Rolling Stones doing As Tears go By, the Left Bank Walk away Ranee...

I think we need to define/distinguish the differences between a ballad and a power ballad. To me, of the 3 Beatle songs listed above, only Let it be fits the mold of what I would consider a Power ballad...based on the solo section of that song.

As tears go by is a great ballad, but where is the power ? I dont know the other song listed.

LordofDaRing wrote:Yesterday
For No One
Let it Be

Hardly power ballads... Ballads, yes. Not power ballads.

BlackWall wrote:Did Styx invent the power ballad? They were doing it before any other bands of their genre.. "Babe" was before "Open Arms" or "The Search Is Over". Hell, "Lady" was out way before any of them, but I don't know if I would really consider "Lady" a power ballad. If Styx doesn't get that honor, who does?

And, hopefully you don't consider "Babe" as one either. Pee break song, yes... power ballad not so much.

MCM wrote:Here's a fun article from 2003 about the power ballad

[url]http://metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=4998[url]

But I've also heard Motley Crue claim that Home Sweet Home was the first power ballad...

Edit to add - Sorry can't seem to post that link correctly

UH, WHATEVER. Home Sweet Home the first power ballad?? Oh jeez.

classicstyxfan wrote:I think we need to define/distinguish the differences between a ballad and a power ballad. To me, of the 3 Beatle songs listed above, only Let it be fits the mold of what I would consider a Power ballad...based on the solo section of that song.

As tears go by is a great ballad, but where is the power ? I dont know the other song listed.

For me, I guess I would define a typical power ballad as a song that has a melodic ballad format in its verses, with a chorus arrangement that goes into guitar power chords. I would also think it would apply mainly to songs that have a romantic slanted lyric, not something like "Stairway To Heaven", or even "Come Sail Away" in my opinion. At least that's what I think of when I think of the term "power ballad". Thereby, I would call "Lady" a power ballad, but not "Babe", for example. "Babe" is a straight ballad.

That's my two cents, anyway.


Sterling