Why do heavy bands do the best ballads?

[Major Bloodnok]

I was introduced to the band "Within Temptation" by the good and esteemed Jinx yesterday, and picked up on a song of theirs called "Forgiven". It set me to thinking (a dangerous occupation, I know) and it seems to me that the best "ballady" songs are often performed by the heaviest, noisiest bands. Off the top of my head, there's

Changes - Black Sabbath
Thank You - Led Zeppelin
Heaven Can Wait - Meat Loaf
That one in Finnish by Nightwish
Several Uriah Heep songs
and quite a few others that my age-raddled brain can't recall at the moment.

Agree? Disagree? More examples?

[gti-ted]

[neilr]

I know ballad is the accepted term for a slow smaltzy tune these days, but in actual fact a ballad is a song that tells a story, whatever it sounds like. Your right though.



....I'll get my coat

[minimatt1967]

I think its because they have such a full-on sound, Metallica's Unforgiven(I, II &III) all send a shiver down my spine every time I listen to it! Of course the Element of surprise.... this one springs to mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_rH9EYWVc That is the lead singer from Slipknot for goodness sake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtmfiHLaaYo Just in case you were doubting the credential's of their heaviness, or you unfamiliar with the might that is Stone Sour (Corey Taylor's side project)

[Graeme_Gman]

minimatt1967 said:

I think its because they have such a full-on sound, Metallica's Unforgiven(I, II &III) all send a shiver down my spine every time I listen to it! Of course the Element of surprise.... this one springs to mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_rH9EYWVc That is the lead singer from Slipknot for goodness sake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtmfiHLaaYo Just in case you were doubting the credential's of their heaviness, or you unfamiliar with the might that is Stone Sour (Corey Taylor's side project)

as well as James Root, the guitarist for both Slipknot and Stone Sour too.

[minimatt1967]

Graeme_Gman said:

minimatt1967 said:

I think its because they have such a full-on sound, Metallica's Unforgiven(I, II &III) all send a shiver down my spine every time I listen to it! Of course the Element of surprise.... this one springs to mind.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_rH9EYWVc[/url] T... Just in case you were doubting the credential's of their heaviness, or you unfamiliar with the might that is Stone Sour (Corey Taylor's side project)

as well as James Root, the guitarist for both Slipknot and Stone Sour too.

I'd forgotten about that cheers

[smiller]

Two reasons, for me:

1. Heavy Metal groups usually have great vocalists and great guitarists. Both will produce good tunes.

2. See (1.)

Examples:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=kIPrJmzG7Ss

OK. Not strictly HM, but still representative

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=YuQXKtJlilk&feat...

[paulmurr]

Love Hurts - Nazareth
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Every Rose has its Thorn - Poison
Alone - Heart
Sweet Child o' Mine/Don't Cry - GnR

The list goes on... It must be the combination of a great singer (Vince Neil being the exception) and a band that can really write songs that mean something personally from experience. The majority of pop songs are written by middle class boring b'stards over a cup of earl grey in their townhouse in Fulham. Not exactly wearing their hearts on their sleeves.

[satchbot]

Helloween - If I knew, Forever and one

Gamma Ray - Lake of tears

Joe Satriani - I believe, Rubina, Cryin'

[onomatopoeia]

22 Acacia Avenue (Iron Maiden)

Might be stretching the point a bit to call it a "ballad", does have a slightly mournful guitar solo though.

[minimatt1967]

onomatopoeia said:

22 Acacia Avenue (Iron Maiden) Might be stretching the point a bit to call it a "ballad", does have a slightly mournful guitar solo though.

Balad about a hoar? Stretching it a little maybe...

[Fittster]

Err, they don't.

Best ballads are produced by Soul bands/artists.

Al Green
Otis Redding
Marvin Gaye
Sam & Dave
Prince

Edited by Fittster on Friday 26th September 14:15

[Jonny671]

3 Doors Down - Here Without You

That's kind of a rock band.

[Major Bloodnok]

paulmurr said:

The majority of pop songs are written by middle class boring b'stards over a cup of earl grey in their townhouse in Fulham. Not exactly wearing their hearts on their sleeves.

I think you may have hit the nail right into the lid, there...

[satchbot]

minimatt1967 said:

onomatopoeia said:

22 Acacia Avenue (Iron Maiden) Might be stretching the point a bit to call it a "ballad", does have a slightly mournful guitar solo though.

Balad about a hoar? Stretching it a little maybe...

Stretching a lot! Now had you said Wasting Love...

[cougargirl]

Fittster said:

Err, they don't.

Best ballads are produced by Soul bands/artists.

Al Green
Otis Redding
Marvin Gaye
Sam & Dave
Prince

Edited by Fittster on Friday 26th September 14:15

Music is personal taste, but the rock tunes just seem a little more passionate for me?

Having said that, I do love all those people in your list!

[hornet]

satchbot said:

minimatt1967 said:

onomatopoeia said:

22 Acacia Avenue (Iron Maiden) Might be stretching the point a bit to call it a "ballad", does have a slightly mournful guitar solo though.

Balad about a hoar? Stretching it a little maybe...

Stretching a lot! Now had you said Wasting Love...

What about Remember Tomorrow?

[minimatt1967]

hornet said:

satchbot said:

minimatt1967 said:

onomatopoeia said:

22 Acacia Avenue (Iron Maiden) Might be stretching the point a bit to call it a "ballad", does have a slightly mournful guitar solo though.

Balad about a hoar? Stretching it a little maybe...

Stretching a lot! Now had you said Wasting Love...

What about Remember Tomorrow?

Oh yes really like that one Di'anno's voice is rather haunting on that track!

[swansea v6]

Europe tomorrow.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ta3Q5_4nhU

[thehawk]

Bed Of Roses - Bon Jovi
Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
More Than Words - Extreme

and possibly the greatest, and one of the original power ballads :

Home Sweet Home - Motely Crue