Late Night Music President's Day Edition Part 192......"More 80's Hair Ballads"
I am seriously feeling it lately- and I have been meaning to do this list for a while. Don’t you love how some genres just get stuck in your head and you can’t get enough of it? Yep, happened to me.
Only power ballads from the 1980’s that were not included on the first list were considered for this list. Also receiving votes in this category were: “Love Bites” by Def Leppard, “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone” by Cinderella, and “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash.
“Something To Believe In”- Poison. I kinda cheated on this one, but we’ll just say 1990 was still the 1980’s because Poison was still big- that makes it the 80’s right? This single from Poison’s last big album Flesh and Blood featured this hit that peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it one of Poison’s biggest and last hits. This song was dedicated to the memory of Bret Michael’s bodyguard and best friend James Kimo Maano. In an interesting move by the video’s director inserted footage of Maano in the video and in view of Michaels provoking the genuine emotional delivery seen near the end of the video. Apparently, Poison had nothing else to believe in as this was their final major hit of a highly successful peak.
“I Want To Know What Love Is”- Foreigner. Now this is how you make a power ballad! When I was 11 years old, I convinced my mom to take me to see these guys at Rapids on the Reservoir (which is torn down now but actually about a mile from my current residence), and I God bless her, we saw an amazing show even though she had had enough towards the end, and we missed this amazing song which is probably their best known of a stellar career catalog. This 1984 smash hit from their album Agent Provocateur became their one and only #1 hit when it shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. This powerful ballad features the New Jersey Mass Choir in both the video and the track adding to the soulfulness that Lou Gramm always brought with him when recording these songs. The background tracks also featured Jennifer Holliday from Broadway fame as well as New Zealand pop group Thompson Twins (I guarantee you that might be the most random fact of all time!). Any how, Foreigner used this song as an exclamation point on a career of a lifetime, as they are one of the best selling bands of all time. Mariah Carey has a pretty solid cover of this song. I smell a bonus video.
“Faithfully”- Journey. One of my all time favorites! I have done this song karaoke many times at many venues, and while I’ll never come close to the passion shown by Steve Perry, this is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the most emotional songs of the 1980’s as evidenced in this “inside look” of behind the scenes of their 1983 tour in support of their smash album Frontiers. Despite this song only peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, it remains easily one of the most recognizable songs of the 1980’s and Journey’s biggest hit behind “Don’t Stop Believing”. Watching this video, you see how this song captures all the arena rock nuances that make the perfect power ballad. Interestingly enough, I have only heard one version of this song that was even in the same ballpark as the original, and it’s in the bonus videos below. I also realize that Arnel Pineda is a very talented lead singer, but no one, and I mean no one sang this song like Steve Perry.
“Amanda”- Boston. The story behind “Amanda” is almost as amazing as the song itself. Being Boston’s only #1 hit, it was oddly released a whole 6 years after it was recorded and a whopping 8 years after their last studio album when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 from the band’s very controversial album Third Stage. Ending a bitter lawsuit with CBS Records, Boston finally returned with a vengeance when this power ballad pinned by lead singer Tom Scholz hit the airwaves. Despite an abbreviated career marred by their very public lawsuit, Boston remains a huge draw with this song always being in the rotation.
“Heaven”- Warrant. In 1989, Jani Lane and Warrant were holding on with all their might to the Glam Rock Era when their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich broke into the mainstream with this power ballad peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, interestingly kept out of #1 by Milli Vanilli’s “Girl, I’m Gonna Miss You”- so, by default, you can call this Warrant’s only #1 hit because Milli Vanilli cheated. This video featuring Scottish Model Tracy Allan made Jani Lane one of the biggest pimps of the universe when he absolutely slayed this power ballad. Warrant would enjoy moderate success for a few more years, but with the death of Lane in 2011, this song will never ever come close to this amazing original rendition.
“These Dreams”- Heart. Here is one that kind of sneaks through the cracks. This 1986 power ballad was a product of the much publicized Bernie Taupin-Elton John hiatus that the two mutually agreed to to “take a break”. Taupin famously wrote this song for Heart’s 1986 album self-titled album with British musician Martin Page who would go on to record one of the most annoying songs ever, “In The House of Stone and Light” (you’ll see below- the dude actually sounds like he’s saying “lop a poop in my eye”). Anyway, this song and album gave Heart a shot in the arm and a career catapult that shot them back into the mainstream after a brief fall from the top after a very successful start in the 70’s and early part of the 80’s. This song would become their first #1 song when it peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. This is still one of my biggest guilty pleasure songs of all time. Heart still plays this song rather regularly live, and it’s still just as good as day one. I smell a bonus video
“The Flame”- Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick was another band that needed a shot in the arm from a dormant career in 1988. This song and the 1988 album Lap of Luxury would provide that when this song became the groups one and only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and their first top 10 in 9 years. Initially resistant to the new sound, lead singer Rick Nielsen apparently took the tape out of the tapedeck and smashed it with his boot the first time he heard this song. Even after recording it, the band was hesitant to play it live as they felt it was a “sellout” move. Thankfully, the band eventually came around and continues to play this power ballad classic still to this day.I’m a Cheap Trick fan, and I still think this is their best song.
“When I See You Smile”- Bad English. This song has the enviable distinction of being the only song on this list to be covered by 1990’s R&B flash in the pan singer Uncle Sam (saw him live!). Much like Warrant, Bad English was riding the end of the Glam Rock era in 1989 when this song shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in support of their self-titled debut album. A super group reunification of the 1970’s group, the Babys, this group brought together John Waite with Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain for a brief but memorable reunion that included this #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. I really like this song, and it’s perfect for this list, but if you see this video, you realize that Bad English was way too old to still be trying to be glam rockers in 1989.
“I Remember You”- Skid Row. Skid Row was yet another band that rode the end of the hair wave in 1989 when their self-titled debut album put them briefly on top of the music world. This power ballad carried into 1990 and shot to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 while being called the “#1 prom song of 1990”. After a much anticipated follow up album, Skid Row faded just as quick as they popped up, giving us a memorable brief hair band. Sebastian Bach is a more than capable singer, but this video just gives me the feeling that he really doesn’t need to be there.
“Sister Christian”- Night Ranger. In 1982, Night Ranger joined the power ballad party with this very eerie video shot at San Rafael High School in California. (seriously, am I the only person creeped out by this???) This single from their album Midnight Madness easily became their biggest hit when it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Drummer Kelly Keagy wrote and sang the song, which he wrote for his sister, Christian. He had just visited his family in Portland, Oregon, and was blown away about his 10 years younger than him sister was growing up so fast. I guess he can thank her forever for making his band relevant again.
“Can’t Fight This Feeling”- REO Speedwagon. I almost didn’t count this one, but I realized that I have never included REO Speedwagon on any of my lists! Wait, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Lead singer Kevin Cronin hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second time with this single from the band’s album Wheels Are Turnin’, with the group’s only other #1 hit being another power ballad “Keep On Lovin’ You”- does that even count? Anyway, this super cheesy song became a high school hit and kept REO Speedwagon relevant for a little while longer than we would have liked.
“Eternal Flame”- The Bangles. Ok, now we can talk about the super sexy Susanna Hoffs! The Bangles had the swan song of all swan songs with this classic single from their 1988 album Everything. This classic power ballad of all power ballad shot to #1 in 1989 becoming the band’s last trip to the top 10 and really their last gasp before breaking up later that year. Ironically enough, this song blocked “Girl You Know It’s True” by Milli Vanilli from reaching the top spot of the charts. How about that for karma? The super sexy Susanna Hoffs absolutely stole the show in this video with her raw emotion she wrote this song with showing through and through. Apparently inspired by the eternal flame on the grave of Elvis at his home in Memphis, and Hoffs called it “The Byrds meet the Beatles”. I can actually see that. The Bangles are still one of the most underrated bands of all time and will forever live on through everyone’s favorite residents of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, The Gilmore Girls.
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”- Starship. I have no idea why I even included this one. Yes, this band used to be Jefferson Airplane. Yikes.
Bonus Videos- “I Want To Know What Love Is”- Mariah Carey.
“These Dreams” (Live)- Heart.
“When I See You Smile”- Uncle Sam.
“Manic Monday”- The Bangles.
“Girl You Know It’s True”- Milli Vanilli.
“Faithfully”- from “Glee” Season 1 Finale.
The Bangles
Cheap Trick
Warrant
Foreigner
Skid Row
posted by General 5A Pigott at 10:06 PM
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