Top 20 or 30 Really Great Ballads of the 00's

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Best ballads of the decade-so-far. If you can come up with a hundred you're really stretching what "great" means.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:01 (twenty-three years ago)

1. Ginuwine - Differences
2. *Nsync - Gone
3. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:03 (twenty-three years ago)

If you put down "Gone" you are stretching what great means!!!! Blimey! I mean I'm going to do as well but still!!

4. Your Love, Kylie Minogue.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked "Gone" a lot! It sounded important, and it was kinda touching. I liked the video. And the bridge.

And Julio, if you post the tracklist to that damn Derek Bailey album, I swear...

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:07 (twenty-three years ago)

5. Usher - U Got It Bad!!

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:09 (twenty-three years ago)

6. "Complicated" (haha)

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Sugababes - New Year
Sugababes - Stronger
The Sick Anchors - Whole Again
Atomic Kitten - Whole Again (spoken word intro version)
N.E.R.D. - Bobby James
Destinys Child - Emotions (not a 00s song, but a great version)

― Wyndham Earl, Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:41 (twenty-three years ago)

If you put down anything from the last three years you're stretching what "great" means. So

7. Bryan/Edwards - "In My Merry Oldmobile"

― B.Rad (Brad), Thursday, 28 November 2002 03:41 (twenty-three years ago)

14. Atomic Kitten - "Maybe I'm Right"
15. S Club Juniors - "You Are The One"
16. Kelly Clarkson - "Before Your Love" (live performance version not the single)

― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 28 November 2002 04:10 (twenty-three years ago)

romance is dead

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 28 November 2002 04:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Excellent selections so far.

Kelis - Little Suzy
R. Kelly - Feelin on Yo Booty
Destiny's Child -- Brown Eyes
Alicia Keys -- Fallin'
Missy Elliot -- P***ycat
Tank -- One Man

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Backstreet Boys -- Shape of My Heart
Britney Spears -- Bombastic Love
Dixie Chicks -- Landslide
Mario -- Braid My Hair

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 28 November 2002 05:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Aaliyah - I Care 4 U

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 28 November 2002 06:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Dixie Chicks--Landslide should be disqualified for obvious reasons...just my opinion.

― B, Thursday, 28 November 2002 06:43 (twenty-three years ago)

If you put down anything from the last three years you're stretching what "great" means.
Qualify this.

These answers are way too popist. I realize I may have got things started on said foot, but...

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 07:00 (twenty-three years ago)

B: Landslide is the closest any of these tracks come to a "ballad" in the strictest sense at all.

Adam: then throw out some other answers to mix things up.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 28 November 2002 07:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Radiohead: Pyramid Song

― Jay K (Jay K), Thursday, 28 November 2002 08:41 (twenty-three years ago)

B: Are you saying "Landslide" should be tossed because it's country, because it's recorded by women, or because it's a Fleetwood Mac cover? Because none of these are good reasons.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 28 November 2002 08:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Beck: Lost Cause

― Jay K (Jay K), Thursday, 28 November 2002 08:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Yikes.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 28 November 2002 08:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Neither. Mostly because it was a strict cover: no changes, no new insights, virtually nothing interesting relative to the original. The title of this thread being what it is, I don't see that song as particularly "belonging" to the 00's.

""Landslide is the closest any of these tracks come to a "ballad" in the strictest sense at all.""

Ironically, and a strike against my argument, I agree, Sterling.

― B, Thursday, 28 November 2002 08:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man: Mysteries

― Jay K (Jay K), Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd disagree, the original played into the melodramatic 'ohmigod I'm thirty' vibe common in seventies AOR (see "Heart of Gold") hence the showstopping emphasis on the "snow covered hills" lyric in the original (and Billy Corgan's remake). The Dixie Chicks remake plays into matrimony - the overarching theme of country music, outlaws regardless - hence the emphasis placed on the "children grow older, I'm growing older too." The protagonist of the Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" is a child grown older (ie. coming to terms with adulthood), the protagonist of the Dixie Chicks "Landslide" is a mother who's children ensuing maturity reminds herself of her own middle age (ie coming to terms with death). It sounds to me like a less rueful cousin to Tim McGraw's "Red Ragtop". I don't think it's quite as strict a cover as you think either - this is a remake classic rock chesnut but when it plays on country radio it sounds more traditional than most of the other fare.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:07 (twenty-three years ago)

I really like track 2 on the Beth Gibbons lp.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Dude, it's still the same song...not to criticise your analysis...well, yes criticising your analysis, but respectfully...I've heard both songs, and the chord progressions are the same, the periods lie in the same order/layout, the time signature is almost the same, and the relative key signature is the same, the song is essentially unchanged. If you're referring to the 'video,' in my opinion that generally has little to do with the content/message of a song. In order for a song to be considered in a 'new light,' for lack of a better term, there should at least be some sort of a 'new light' shed on the song. A part of the foundation of the song must be changed, otherwise it's all just the same.

― B, Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:24 (twenty-three years ago)

It doesn't have the showstopper moment, the presence of which defines the original, the absensce of which defines the cover.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:36 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose I'll give you that, but I stand with my conviction that it's the same song...and even so, speaking of the song in general what show would they be stopping? ( that is to say specifically the song, not concert or a video )

― B, Thursday, 28 November 2002 09:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Yay Pyramid Song.

Daft Punk - "Something About You"

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 28 November 2002 11:03 (twenty-three years ago)

'how does it make you feel ' ? - air
can't *believe* no-one's said that yet.

'soft' - lemon jelly
'lost property' - divine comedy
'stay positive' - the streets

― piscesboy, Thursday, 28 November 2002 13:31 (twenty-three years ago)

'how does it make you feel ' ? - air

i was going to but i thought that maybe it isn't a ballad. you're right, though, i suppose it is.

― michael wells (michael w.), Thursday, 28 November 2002 13:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Daniel Bedingfield-If you're not the one
Florent Pagny-L'air du temps

― Paul R (paul R), Thursday, 28 November 2002 14:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Here's a few more great FrenchPop 00's Ballads:
Natasha st Pier-Tu trouveras
Marc Lavoine-J'ai tout oublie
Mylene farmer& Seal-Les Mots
Jenifer-J'attends l'amour
Jenifer-Au Soleil
Laam& Frank Sherbourne-Un Monde a nous

― Paul R (paul R), Thursday, 28 November 2002 15:34 (twenty-three years ago)

"Do You Realize" was supposed to be my token indie pick. I actually liked the pop answers better, but we need the rock for diversity's sake. I'm anxious to download these French songs.

Clem Snide - Joan Jett of Arc
Life Without Buildings - Sorrow

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 28 November 2002 15:47 (twenty-three years ago)

stuff i love but not sure which ones count as ballads:

Mercury Rev 'The Dark Is Rising'
Kelis 'Get Along With You'
Kelis 'Suspended'
Zero 7 'Distractions' (oh this is definitely a ballad, and bloody great with it)
Zero 7 'This World'
Primal Scream 'Keep Your Dreams'
Ian Brown 'F.E.A.R.'
Webb Brothers 'I Can't Believe You're Gone'
Ben & Jason 'Air Guitar'
Pulp 'The Trees'
Super Furry Animals 'Its Not The End Of The World'
Doves 'Break Me Gently', 'Firesuite', 'Sea Song', 'Satellites'
Missy Elliott 'Step Offf'
Aim 'Sail'
DJ Shadow 'Six Days'
Broadcast 'Echo's Answer'
Chicane 'No Ordinary Morning'
Emiliana Torrini 'To Be Free'
Royksopp 'Sparks'
Goldfrapp 'Pilots'

i'm sure some (if not many) of those aren't really BALLADS...but which ones?

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 28 November 2002 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

A few more...
Will Young -You & I
Natasha St Pier-Nos Rendezvous
Lara Fabian-immortelle
Marlene & Phil Barney-Un enfant de toi
Florent Pagny-Millesime
Mylene Farmer-Pardonne-Moi

― Paul R (paul R), Thursday, 28 November 2002 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

These are all pretty slow (or quiet):
"My Place," Tweet (+ 4 or 5 other songs from the album, easy)
"When I Get There," Dream
"Birthday Boy," Pet Shop Boys
"Bobby James," N.E.R.D.
"Memories Live," Talib Kweli
"Something About You," Daft Punk
"Etoh," Avalanches
"Don't Think Twice,It's Alright," Bryan Ferry
"This Woman's Work," Maxwell
first 30 seconds of "Intro-Introspection"
last 30 seconds of "Intro-Introspection"

― s woods, Thursday, 28 November 2002 17:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Shakira -- Underneath Your Skin: OWNS this thread

― alext (alext), Thursday, 28 November 2002 17:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Faye Tozer/Russell Watson-Someone Like You(not the coolest track in the world but I like it)
Love the Goldfrapp,Broadcast & Zero 7 tracks

― Paul R (paul R), Thursday, 28 November 2002 17:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Aaliyah - "It's Whatever" (!!!)
Kelis - "Scared Money" (more of a slow groover than a ballad, but slow groovers n ballads go well together)

Zero 7 (+ Sia) - "Distractions" absolutely seconded, thirded, etc

― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 28 November 2002 18:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Pulp - Roadkill
Spearmint - Solace
Dot Allison - Lover
Silver Mt Zion - The Triumph Of Our Tired Eyes
The Delgados - American Trilogy

Many kudos for aforementioned stuff by Beth Gibbons, Broadcast, Sugababes, Primal Scream, etc.

― alexfack (alexfack), Thursday, 28 November 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Lina - pretty much anything from her album, but specifically "I'm Not The Enemy"
Backstreet Boys - Shape Of My Heart
Aaliyah - "It's Whatever" and "I Care 4 U"
Blue - If You Come Back
Daniel Bedingfield - If You're Not The One
Tweet - "My Place", "Complain" and "Drunk"
Kelis - Get Along With You
Basement Jaxx - All I Know
Valerie M - Tingles 2000 (Artful Dodger Mix)
Pink - Let Me Let You Know
Brandy - Wow

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 29 November 2002 09:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Ooh yeah and does Britney's "Lucky" count? I think it does.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 29 November 2002 13:07 (twenty-three years ago)

There have been no good ballads yet this decade. One holds out hope, abeit diminishingly.

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 29 November 2002 13:18 (twenty-three years ago)

But J0hn the thread title implies relative worth. You have to answer. Have you heard "Differences" anyway? I think "The Mess Inside" is a great ballad.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Friday, 29 November 2002 14:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Thank you Adam! though technically that's not a ballad. Admittedly the term ballad has suffered lots of abuse and now seems synonymous with "love song." If pressed, I'd say "Jenny & the Ess-Dog" by Malkmus qualifies. So might "Weak Become Heroes" now that I think of it -- I'll be damned.

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 29 November 2002 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

That last track on the Malkmus record is a better ballad than "Jenny & the Ess-Dog". The last track on Stankonia also.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 29 November 2002 21:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I am a total Jenny & the Ess-Dog pimp: M.'s great strength has always been compressed narrative and J&thE-D is a really deft example of that.

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Friday, 29 November 2002 21:41 (twenty-three years ago)

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