Late Night Music July 4th Edition Part 165........"More Power Ballads"
I first did a power ballad entry over 140 blogs ago, so I
figured it was time for #2. I've always been fascinated by power
ballads, because while their usual ploy is gain mainstream popularity,
they always seem to be a band's best known song. It also shows the true
musical talent of some of the hardest acting guys in the industry.
In two rare "Late Night Music" occurrences, all songs receiving votes were included. Also, all artists appearing on the last power ballad list were considered for this one.
"Sister Christian"- Night Ranger. Night Ranger is just one of those bands that is fun to watch. With drummer Kelly Keagy also being the lead singer, they can be confusing to watch too. This single from their 1984 album Midnight Madness reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, easily becoming the band's most well known song. The song was written by Keagy when he visited his hometown of Eugene, Oregon and his teenage sister, Christy was as he said, "growing up too fast". This "coming of age" video got heavy play on MTV and is so stereotypical bad 80's hairdos it is seriously unbelievable. Also, at about 3:40 on the video, we witness what could be the most homosexual moment in the history of rock and roll.......I'll just let you see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z92bmlcmyq0
"Heaven"- Warrant. Warrant must have missed the memo. They came out about 5 year late with their debut album in 1989 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. This second single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this widely popular video featuring Scottish model Tracy Allan. These Hollywood glam rockers only had one more big album before they disappeared off of the mainstream, being crushed by the grunge, boy band, and hip hop booms that were soon to come. That being said, Warrant was a pretty good band, that always reminded me a lot of Poison, just with not quite as good guitar players. This video is pretty good evidence that they could put on a great show. This song was featured in a great mashup with "More Than Words" by Extreme in the Broadway musical/motion picture "Rock of Ages". More on that one in a minute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrSdXtFJG20
"Beth"- Kiss. Talk about an anomaly. This Kiss staple was featured on their 1976 album Destroyer and became their highest charting single ever when it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was sung by drummer Peter Criss. Criss wrote the song while in the band Chelsea in 1971 and originally called the song "Beck" for his wife Becky who kept complaining about him staying in the studio late with the band. The title was changed to "Beth" when it was recorded for Kiss to use a more recognizable female name. Probably the most surprising thing about the song is that it is the only Kiss track ever recorded that includes no musical performance by any band member.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtO_Ayjw0M
"More Than Words"- Extreme. I told you we'd get to this. These Boston rockers hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this stark change in style on this single included on their 1990 album Extreme II: Pornograffitti. The track which only included lead singer Gary Cherone (who would briefly also be the lead singer of Van Halen, which makes me smell a bonus video) and guitar player Nuno Bettancourt, included this very popular video and became easily the band's most recognizable song. Just wondering why Bettancourt wanted to have black fingernail polish on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY
"To Be With You"- Mr. Big. This staple song and closing track of Mr. Big's 1991 album Lean Into It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it easily the band's biggest hit. The cool thing about this song is that knocked off the ever annoying "Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred out of the top spot, thus doing everyone in the world a favor. I've never understood why this video switches from black and white to color inexplicably. Sometimes in the 90's, bands would do way too much in order to get a catchy video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QD5n98R_nk
"These Dreams"- Heart. This super popular single from Heart's 1985 self-titled album became their first #1 hit in 1986 when the band released this track that was unlike anything they had ever recorded. This single was famously the first ever Heart single to have Nancy Wilson rather than Ann Wilson on lead vocals. This single was also famously written by Martin Page (who would go on to have his own share of success with the hit single "In The House of Stone and Light") and long time Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin. This big budget video received heavy airplay on MTV, and helped reboost the band into the mainstream after a short period of being out of it. I laugh that I always thought Heart was a Canadian band, I guess it was their hair. I realize it was the 80's, but seriously?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE
"When I'm With You"- Sheriff. This one always makes me scratch my head. This Canadian rock band released only one album in 1983. It reached the Canadian top 10 that same year, and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100..........in 1989. The band had been disbanded for 4 years and never even thought about making a video for the song, making this one of very few songs ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever having a video to accompany it. This song is also famous for having being confirmed by the Guiness Book of World Records of having the longest note ever held on a recording, which is the last note of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyIGlUoTh9I
"Dream On"- Aerosmith. This 1973 single from Aerosmith's debut self-titled album introduced them to the world with a major splash. Inspired by his father's classical piano chordage, Steven Tyler wrote this song as a way to use the same chords in a rock song. The song initially peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was still widely popular in the band's hometown of Boston. The single was re-issued in 1976 where it went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, thus becoming the band's first major hit. Aerosmith has really done something cool in that they can break up and bring the original line up back together and still be super successful. I guess we should have seen that coming when this song came out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZfZ8uWaOFI
"High Enough"- Damn Yankees. This could quite possibly be the only time a member of Night Ranger appears TWICE on the same list. Wow- who would have thought it? Damn Yankees formed in 1990 as a supergroup composed of Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades, Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw, Amboy Dukes guitarist and solo artist Ted Nugent, and unknown drummer Michael Cartellone who would later join Lynyrd Skynyrd. This debut single from their 1990 self-titled album was the biggest hit for the short lived band, when it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, much to the comedy of several Ted Nugent critics who laughed at the sudden soft image of the "Motor City Bad Boy". This super cheesy video was filmed in River Ridge, Louisiana and makes light of several southern stereotypes, I guess a way of the band making fun of themselves in a way. The band would only record one more album and see moderate success, but like most supergroups, the band was short lived, disbanding for good in 1993.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uh8XjgLTE
"How You Gonna See Me Now?"- Alice Cooper. In 1978, Alice Cooper was fresh out of rehab when his concept album From The Inside was released. The album was unique in the fact that every track on the album was written about a specific person that he came in contact with while he was in the rehab facility. This single that peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 is yet another song on this list written by Bernie Taupin. I have to admit, while I've always liked Alice Cooper as a person and a character, I've never been really a huge fan despite his immense talent. I guess his music just doesn't do it for me. However, I love this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HzVccMscRI
"Amanda"- Boston. In 1986, Boston had taken a six year hiatus highlighted by a battle with Epic Records. In what became one of the most anticipated albums of all time, Third Stage immediately went to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, and included this song which became the band's first and only single to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Third Stage is also famous for being the first ever CD-formatted album to ever go platinum. In something that was relatively unheard of at the time, this single became another example of a very rare occurrence of a single going to #1 without a video ever being made for it, especially by a band that was still active.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpp19QS_SEk
"I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore"- REO Speedwagon. This is just one of those songs that you hate to admit you love. Was there ever a more cheesy band than REO Speedwagon? This 1984 hit from their album Wheels Are Turnin' became the band's biggest hit and second single to go to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The cheesiness of this song is confirmed because of the mere fact that while it's been included in several true love scenes in movies, I can't think of a single song used in a more mocking way in TV/movie history. Kevin Cronin goes crazy in this video that features a huge blown up shot of his head. Why did they do this to us? My all time favorite cover of this song was by Alec Baldwin and the vastly overrated Russel Brand in "Rock of Ages". I smell a bonus video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9De1UXREr0
"November Rain"- Guns N' Roses. I am so glad I get to feature this song again! In fifth grade, you were cool if you had this CD, Use Your Illusion I. This song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is still the longest song in the history of the chart place in the top 10 at any time. For nearly a year, this video was the record holder for the most expensive video ever made until the band beat themselves in 1993 with their video for "Estranged". It was also noted that Stephanie Seymour's dress was a huge expense for the video production. The video also features the same church in rural New Mexico that is used in this movie "Silverado". According to Axl Rose, it was ballads like this that led to the break up of Guns N' Roses, because songs like this always led to musical differences between Slash and Rose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE
"The Flame"- Cheap Trick. In 1988, Cheap Trick had a commercial decline that nearly caused Epic Records to drop them all together. In a last ditch effort to put the band back in the limelight, Epic forced the band to work with outside songwriters for their album Lap of Luxury. The first single from the album was this power ballad, unlike anything the band had ever recorded, and reports were widespread that the band wanted nothing to do with the song initially. However, the song gave the band a much needed shot of life and became their first ever single to climb to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This video also received heavy MTV airplay introducing them to a new younger crowd. I get dizzy watching this video- Robin Zander just doesn't have a face I want to stare at for that long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA
"Who Wants To Live Forever"- Queen. This is easily, without a doubt, Queen's best song that gets not near the credit it deserves. Brian May wrote this song to be included on the original motion picture soundtrack for the movie "Highlander" (yeah, I didn't see it either). It was also included on the band's 1986 album A Kind of Magic. May, in a rare Queen move, actually sings the first verse and chorus before Freddie Mercury takes over for the rest of the song. This single with this very epic video peaked at #24 on the British Singles Chart. This video cuts the song short by about a minute, but I'm actually kind of glad- Mercury looked like Pee Wee Herman in that suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jtpf8N5IDE
"Something To Believe In"- Poison. This song about disillusionment peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in support of Poison's 1990 album Flesh and Blood. Bret Michaels wrote this song for the memory of his security guard James Kimo Maano. Poison would get something to believe when this song was their last major hit and their last song to crack the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100, as their success after this album died with the rest of the glam rock era. Poison still remains, at least to me, one of the most talented rock bands of all time from a pure musician standpoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5uamDMoW4o
"Eternal Flame"- The Bangles. In 1988, The Bangles released their much anticipated follow up album to Different Light, Everything. When this single was released in 1989, it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the Bangles one of only three all girl bands to score more than one #1 hit on the chart (The Supremes and Shirelles). I've always had a thing for Susanna Hoffs, and this video just makes that infatuation that much worse. That woman is another kind of sexy. I also always chuckle when I think about how The Bangles were the favorite band of "Gilmore Girls" main character Lorelai.
BONUS VIDEOS- "I Can't Fight This Feeling"- Alec Baldwin and Russel Brand (from "Rock of Ages")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm5MDenG5QY
"November Rain"- Amos Lee (live in Philadelphia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4917jIhqcuI
"Without You"- Van Halen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM5Rh2KW4Zc
"Barracuda"- Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bt_-R5LInU
"I Want You To Want Me"- Cheap Trick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qgpewMCVjs
"Amazing"- Aerosmith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSmOvYzSeaQ
In two rare "Late Night Music" occurrences, all songs receiving votes were included. Also, all artists appearing on the last power ballad list were considered for this one.
"Sister Christian"- Night Ranger. Night Ranger is just one of those bands that is fun to watch. With drummer Kelly Keagy also being the lead singer, they can be confusing to watch too. This single from their 1984 album Midnight Madness reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, easily becoming the band's most well known song. The song was written by Keagy when he visited his hometown of Eugene, Oregon and his teenage sister, Christy was as he said, "growing up too fast". This "coming of age" video got heavy play on MTV and is so stereotypical bad 80's hairdos it is seriously unbelievable. Also, at about 3:40 on the video, we witness what could be the most homosexual moment in the history of rock and roll.......I'll just let you see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z92bmlcmyq0
"Heaven"- Warrant. Warrant must have missed the memo. They came out about 5 year late with their debut album in 1989 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. This second single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this widely popular video featuring Scottish model Tracy Allan. These Hollywood glam rockers only had one more big album before they disappeared off of the mainstream, being crushed by the grunge, boy band, and hip hop booms that were soon to come. That being said, Warrant was a pretty good band, that always reminded me a lot of Poison, just with not quite as good guitar players. This video is pretty good evidence that they could put on a great show. This song was featured in a great mashup with "More Than Words" by Extreme in the Broadway musical/motion picture "Rock of Ages". More on that one in a minute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrSdXtFJG20
"Beth"- Kiss. Talk about an anomaly. This Kiss staple was featured on their 1976 album Destroyer and became their highest charting single ever when it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was sung by drummer Peter Criss. Criss wrote the song while in the band Chelsea in 1971 and originally called the song "Beck" for his wife Becky who kept complaining about him staying in the studio late with the band. The title was changed to "Beth" when it was recorded for Kiss to use a more recognizable female name. Probably the most surprising thing about the song is that it is the only Kiss track ever recorded that includes no musical performance by any band member.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbtO_Ayjw0M
"More Than Words"- Extreme. I told you we'd get to this. These Boston rockers hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with this stark change in style on this single included on their 1990 album Extreme II: Pornograffitti. The track which only included lead singer Gary Cherone (who would briefly also be the lead singer of Van Halen, which makes me smell a bonus video) and guitar player Nuno Bettancourt, included this very popular video and became easily the band's most recognizable song. Just wondering why Bettancourt wanted to have black fingernail polish on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY
"To Be With You"- Mr. Big. This staple song and closing track of Mr. Big's 1991 album Lean Into It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it easily the band's biggest hit. The cool thing about this song is that knocked off the ever annoying "Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred out of the top spot, thus doing everyone in the world a favor. I've never understood why this video switches from black and white to color inexplicably. Sometimes in the 90's, bands would do way too much in order to get a catchy video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QD5n98R_nk
"These Dreams"- Heart. This super popular single from Heart's 1985 self-titled album became their first #1 hit in 1986 when the band released this track that was unlike anything they had ever recorded. This single was famously the first ever Heart single to have Nancy Wilson rather than Ann Wilson on lead vocals. This single was also famously written by Martin Page (who would go on to have his own share of success with the hit single "In The House of Stone and Light") and long time Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin. This big budget video received heavy airplay on MTV, and helped reboost the band into the mainstream after a short period of being out of it. I laugh that I always thought Heart was a Canadian band, I guess it was their hair. I realize it was the 80's, but seriously?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE
"When I'm With You"- Sheriff. This one always makes me scratch my head. This Canadian rock band released only one album in 1983. It reached the Canadian top 10 that same year, and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100..........in 1989. The band had been disbanded for 4 years and never even thought about making a video for the song, making this one of very few songs ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever having a video to accompany it. This song is also famous for having being confirmed by the Guiness Book of World Records of having the longest note ever held on a recording, which is the last note of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyIGlUoTh9I
"Dream On"- Aerosmith. This 1973 single from Aerosmith's debut self-titled album introduced them to the world with a major splash. Inspired by his father's classical piano chordage, Steven Tyler wrote this song as a way to use the same chords in a rock song. The song initially peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was still widely popular in the band's hometown of Boston. The single was re-issued in 1976 where it went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, thus becoming the band's first major hit. Aerosmith has really done something cool in that they can break up and bring the original line up back together and still be super successful. I guess we should have seen that coming when this song came out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZfZ8uWaOFI
"High Enough"- Damn Yankees. This could quite possibly be the only time a member of Night Ranger appears TWICE on the same list. Wow- who would have thought it? Damn Yankees formed in 1990 as a supergroup composed of Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades, Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw, Amboy Dukes guitarist and solo artist Ted Nugent, and unknown drummer Michael Cartellone who would later join Lynyrd Skynyrd. This debut single from their 1990 self-titled album was the biggest hit for the short lived band, when it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, much to the comedy of several Ted Nugent critics who laughed at the sudden soft image of the "Motor City Bad Boy". This super cheesy video was filmed in River Ridge, Louisiana and makes light of several southern stereotypes, I guess a way of the band making fun of themselves in a way. The band would only record one more album and see moderate success, but like most supergroups, the band was short lived, disbanding for good in 1993.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uh8XjgLTE
"How You Gonna See Me Now?"- Alice Cooper. In 1978, Alice Cooper was fresh out of rehab when his concept album From The Inside was released. The album was unique in the fact that every track on the album was written about a specific person that he came in contact with while he was in the rehab facility. This single that peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 is yet another song on this list written by Bernie Taupin. I have to admit, while I've always liked Alice Cooper as a person and a character, I've never been really a huge fan despite his immense talent. I guess his music just doesn't do it for me. However, I love this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HzVccMscRI
"Amanda"- Boston. In 1986, Boston had taken a six year hiatus highlighted by a battle with Epic Records. In what became one of the most anticipated albums of all time, Third Stage immediately went to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, and included this song which became the band's first and only single to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Third Stage is also famous for being the first ever CD-formatted album to ever go platinum. In something that was relatively unheard of at the time, this single became another example of a very rare occurrence of a single going to #1 without a video ever being made for it, especially by a band that was still active.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpp19QS_SEk
"I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore"- REO Speedwagon. This is just one of those songs that you hate to admit you love. Was there ever a more cheesy band than REO Speedwagon? This 1984 hit from their album Wheels Are Turnin' became the band's biggest hit and second single to go to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The cheesiness of this song is confirmed because of the mere fact that while it's been included in several true love scenes in movies, I can't think of a single song used in a more mocking way in TV/movie history. Kevin Cronin goes crazy in this video that features a huge blown up shot of his head. Why did they do this to us? My all time favorite cover of this song was by Alec Baldwin and the vastly overrated Russel Brand in "Rock of Ages". I smell a bonus video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9De1UXREr0
"November Rain"- Guns N' Roses. I am so glad I get to feature this song again! In fifth grade, you were cool if you had this CD, Use Your Illusion I. This song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is still the longest song in the history of the chart place in the top 10 at any time. For nearly a year, this video was the record holder for the most expensive video ever made until the band beat themselves in 1993 with their video for "Estranged". It was also noted that Stephanie Seymour's dress was a huge expense for the video production. The video also features the same church in rural New Mexico that is used in this movie "Silverado". According to Axl Rose, it was ballads like this that led to the break up of Guns N' Roses, because songs like this always led to musical differences between Slash and Rose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE
"The Flame"- Cheap Trick. In 1988, Cheap Trick had a commercial decline that nearly caused Epic Records to drop them all together. In a last ditch effort to put the band back in the limelight, Epic forced the band to work with outside songwriters for their album Lap of Luxury. The first single from the album was this power ballad, unlike anything the band had ever recorded, and reports were widespread that the band wanted nothing to do with the song initially. However, the song gave the band a much needed shot of life and became their first ever single to climb to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This video also received heavy MTV airplay introducing them to a new younger crowd. I get dizzy watching this video- Robin Zander just doesn't have a face I want to stare at for that long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA
"Who Wants To Live Forever"- Queen. This is easily, without a doubt, Queen's best song that gets not near the credit it deserves. Brian May wrote this song to be included on the original motion picture soundtrack for the movie "Highlander" (yeah, I didn't see it either). It was also included on the band's 1986 album A Kind of Magic. May, in a rare Queen move, actually sings the first verse and chorus before Freddie Mercury takes over for the rest of the song. This single with this very epic video peaked at #24 on the British Singles Chart. This video cuts the song short by about a minute, but I'm actually kind of glad- Mercury looked like Pee Wee Herman in that suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jtpf8N5IDE
"Something To Believe In"- Poison. This song about disillusionment peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in support of Poison's 1990 album Flesh and Blood. Bret Michaels wrote this song for the memory of his security guard James Kimo Maano. Poison would get something to believe when this song was their last major hit and their last song to crack the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100, as their success after this album died with the rest of the glam rock era. Poison still remains, at least to me, one of the most talented rock bands of all time from a pure musician standpoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5uamDMoW4o
"Eternal Flame"- The Bangles. In 1988, The Bangles released their much anticipated follow up album to Different Light, Everything. When this single was released in 1989, it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the Bangles one of only three all girl bands to score more than one #1 hit on the chart (The Supremes and Shirelles). I've always had a thing for Susanna Hoffs, and this video just makes that infatuation that much worse. That woman is another kind of sexy. I also always chuckle when I think about how The Bangles were the favorite band of "Gilmore Girls" main character Lorelai.
BONUS VIDEOS- "I Can't Fight This Feeling"- Alec Baldwin and Russel Brand (from "Rock of Ages")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm5MDenG5QY
"November Rain"- Amos Lee (live in Philadelphia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4917jIhqcuI
"Without You"- Van Halen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM5Rh2KW4Zc
"Barracuda"- Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bt_-R5LInU
"I Want You To Want Me"- Cheap Trick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qgpewMCVjs
"Amazing"- Aerosmith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSmOvYzSeaQ
Aerosmith
Susanna Hoffs!
Night Ranger
Warrant
Heart
posted by General 5A Pigott at 1:50 PM
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