Give me MEGA POP BALLADS and give me them NOW!

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Inspired by on another thread, and the boundless (and quite rightly) love for "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", I have developed a hankering for big pop ballads, the more emotionally overwrought the better.

Aside from Tim's list, I'd say Shakespeare's Sister's "Stay", Atomic Kitten's "Cradle", and Steps' "You're Everything That Matters To Me" would be reasonable examples. Surely there must be dozens of others that I could be downloading right now... particularly ones from the 80s and early 90s..

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Shit. MUST CLOSE TAGS.

Inspired by Tim Finney's glorious mix of 'drippy ballady pop songs' on another thread, and the boundless (and quite rightly) love for "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", I have developed a hankering for big pop ballads, the more emotionally overwrought the better.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - The Power of Love.

― MikeB, Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

mercury rev's "dark is rising" has pretensions to this but the voice isn't soaring enough

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"Careless Whisper" and "True" have the pop soulboy angle covered.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

everything on the Bonnie Tyler thread plus:
Bryan Adams - Heaven
Alphaville - Forever Young
Whitesnake - Is This Love
Def Leppard - Bringin' On The Heartbreak OR Love Bites
anything by Peter Cetera...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Scarlet - Independent Love Song

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:00 (twenty-two years ago)

TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOWWW! WHERE THERE'S JUST AN EMPTY SPACE!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Heart's Alone

― Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

DONT PUSH TO FAR YOUR DREAMS ARE CHINA IN YOUR HAAAAND

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:06 (twenty-two years ago)

OH I JUST DIED IN YOUR ARMS TONIGHT

― Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The only example of a rubbish megaballad I can think of at the moment is "Broken Wings".

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:13 (twenty-two years ago)

SINCE YOU'VE GONE I'VE BEEN LOST WITHOUUUUT A TRACE
I DREAM AT NIGHT I CAN ONLY SEE YOUR FACE

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

That Heart song is good, but "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You" is better.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

grits teeth: I! AIN'T! MISSING! YOU! I AIN'T MISSING YOU! I AIN'T MISSING YOU I'VE BEEN LYING TO MYSELF!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

has Foreigner been mentioned yet?

― Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Bangles, "Eternal Flame"
Bette Midler, "The Rose"
Dan Hartman, "I Can Dream About You"
Debbie Gibson, "Foolish Beat"

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

deltra goodrem's innocent eyes is fantastico.

lisa loeb's Stay. natalie imbruglia's torn. girls aloud's life got cold.

― lid, Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

PET SHOP BOYS 'JEALOUSY'

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:48 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck, i think i like most of these songs

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The Carpenters 'Close To You'
Madonna 'Crazy For You'
Tiffany 'Could've Been'

i seem to vastly prefer female ballads to male ones

if Zero 7's 'Distractions' counts then whack that in cos it's bloody luvly

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush 'Don't Give Up'

i'm not sure i like 'Take My Breath Away' or 'Without You' and i DEFINITELY don't like 'Show Me Heaven' - but i'm sure y'all do

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 12:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to have Tiffany's "Could've Been" on 45. There was a radio competition on - 1996 I think - where you had to name the crappiest record in your collection and smash it audibly over the phone to win tickets to see Smashing Pumpkins. So I sacrificed Tiffany for Billy. I regret nothing! (now if I'd smashed I Think We're Alone Now, which I also have, that would have been bad)

Distractions is great, but it's a bit too background.. it dosn't demand "FEEL MY EMOTION" as loudly as it could.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

perhaps not but i probably like that emotional distance/detachment in a way - this in turn is part of the reason why i am generally not a fan of overblown ballads

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the full power of Delta Goodrem is only released on "Lost Without You".

― Nick H, Tuesday, 28 October 2003 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" surely trounces all others.
Sinead O'Connor's cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U"
Wham's "Careless Whisper" (or was that George solo?)
Duran Duran's "Save A Prayer"
The Cure's "A Night Like This" (despite cool alt.goth cache) might also handily suffice.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"Careless Whispers" is definitely Wham!

Does "Shattered Dreams" count or is it not bombastic enough?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

It was released as Wham! in the States and George in the UK I think.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

There's not a track mentioned on here that I dislike. Possibly this slightly premature but I think the one thing the new Sugababes album does really well is megaballad, "Caught In A Moment" and "Too Lost In You" both fit snugly here.

"Stay" by Shakespears Sister is absolutely one of the greatest records in living memory. Also certainly "Winter" by Tori Amos and "Put Yourself In My Place" by Kylie and dozens of others that don't immediately spring to mind, but I eagerly anticipate further contributions here.

― Alex in Leeds (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

In terms of melodramatic, histrionic bombast, I quite like "Wake" by the Mission, but that's a bit more gothy than poppy, now isn't it.

"For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton!

"Stay" by Shakespeare's Sister is a brilliant choice.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like the tempo change in Stay, it's gimmicky, I like my megaballads to be unstoppable one-paced steamrollers.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

WAITWAITWAIT!

"Nobody's Fool" - Cinderella

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Loooove...soft as an easy chair.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Caught In A Moment is very awesome indeed. And I think it was proven (almost) by science that Put Yourself In My Place was Kylie's best single on a thread here some time back.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Obviously this is obvious but BOOM! AND IIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEIIIIIIIII...

Also WUTHERING WUTHERING WUTHERING HEIGHTS

― Michelle, Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Tesla - Lovesong. Does this count?

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Extreme - More Than Words
ASia - Heat of the Moment

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Asia - "Only Time Will Tell"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul McCartney to thread

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

No, Paul McCartney can sod off this thread.

Ooh, thought of some more. Michelle Branch - "Goodbye To You", Sinead Quinn's "I Can't Break Down" and Britney's "I Run Away".

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

En Vogue - Don't Let Go
Alanis -"Uninvited"
and of course, the Toni Braxton i mentioned

― Vic (Vic), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Skimming this... pleez don't tell me nobody's mentioned Abba's "Fernando" yet?

― Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh hell, as long as we're going whole hog, why not "Could it Be Magic?" by Barry Manilow?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

or Mandy.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

remind me once again who did that "you can thank your lucky stars that we're not as smart as we'd like to think we arrrrrrre" one?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Man in the Mirror"! It's great even when coffeehouse folk dudes cover it!

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

AVRIL LAVIGNE! "IM WITH YOU"!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm surprised no one's mentioned the insufferably odious Whi(t)ney Houston cover of "I Will Always Love You."

does Oasis' "Wonderwall" count? or maybe "Talk Tonight," although i dunno how much that would've got played on the radio.

and what about Xtina's "Beautiful"?

and the whole of most of Shirley Bassey's career? ;)

― janni (janni), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooh, Cher's "Just Like Jesse James". Oh, and Meatloaf to thread, obv.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

oh oh oh! Belinda Carlisle (inevitably) - "Half The World"
TLC - "Dear Lie"
Betty Boo - "Hangover" (not 'pop' in the sense that any noticed/cared that it existed but criminey jiffers it is fantastic)
and another Tori mention for "Silent All These Years" maybe.

Possibly I am veering into different territory now but is this a thread that permits yet another mention of "Stars" by Dubstar? "Hobart Paving"?

x-post: that Cher track is MAGNIFICENT, I completely forgot it existed. I download immediately.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 28 October 2003 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 21 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Everyone knows about Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" but they had another good power ballad (off that same album) called "When You Close Your Eyes".

It's not up to "Sister Christian" levels, but it was also a hit and it isn't bad if you want to pretend like you're in middle school in 1984.

― Hildy, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and in addition to lid's Corrs choice, I'd have to suggest "No Good For Me" is another fine Corrs power-ballad.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Unchained Melody," bitches.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

One track I regretted not putting on my comp was Spice Girls' "Goodbye".

Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" is brilliant! I actually started warming to Delta Goodrem when I mentally cast her stuff in this mould. Actually in retrospect I wish I'd put some Delta on my CD as well. Any of the four singles would have been fine.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 05:20 (twenty-two years ago)

'Sleeping Satellite' isn't really a ballad is it? nor are some other songs here but oh well

so what say you to Martine McCutcheon's 'Perfect Moment'? i liked to think it was about the time Gwant pushed her down the stairs.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"the winner takes it all"

― k (blue), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 10:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha why no love for LADY IN RED! Or at least A Spaceman Came Travelling, it being Christmas soon.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, the best ever MegaBallad has a full orchestra and three - yes, three - guitar solos.

Can you guess what it is yet?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll give you "I Believe In Father Christmas" Matt but I draw the line at Spaceman.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

matt: "music was my first love"?

― k (blue), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:25 (twenty-two years ago)

There's ANOTHER power ballad with three guitar solos and a full orchestra? *Runs to download*

It's November Rain, obviously.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"Civil War"! I think that has non-ballad bits in though.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm inclined to agree that 'November Rain' is the best (rock)ballad ever

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Power Ballads are a very specific sort of ballad really, and to be honest, half of these suggestions don't really cut the mustard.
though there are some utter crackers.

and yes, November Rain is the best rock ballad ever.

but there are so many more - where's Without You by Neilson? SHOCKER!

― Gareth, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

and christ! where's Every Rose (has it's thorn) by Poison?

...like every cowboy sings a sad sad song...

and kudos for that 100 best powerballads ever link.

and we need more meatloaf.

― Gareth, Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

it is impossible to have 'more Meatloaf'

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 11:42 (twenty-two years ago)

ALL BY MYSELF! Don't wanna be ALL BY MYSEEeeeEEEEeELF. etc

― Alan (Alan), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't mind that one, the Dion cover sucks monstrous balls tho natch

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

OK time to admit it. I like "Think Twice". A bit anyway.

(NB ruler of all christmas ballads = "Last Christmas" surely!)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm not sure if it's Grand enough, but I've always loved Richard Marx's 'Hazard'

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

elton john has some GREAT Mega Pop Ballads. like 'rocket man' and 'sacrifice'.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

i like Elton's 'Your Song' except for that 'if i was a sculptor, but then again nooooo' line - i REALLY hate that line tho i'm not quite sure why/how

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

THIS MEANS NOTHING TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe the mega-est of megaballads: Steelheart's "I'll Never Let You Go."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah! Shania Twain's "From This Moment On", Kim Wilde's "You Keep Me Hanging On", and shit! I can't believe I hadn't thought of this yet as it used to be my favourite song ever...

BELINDA CARLISLE! SUMMER RAIN! Owns this thread!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

More or less all Neko Case's solo records...

Oh, and Bring Me To Life, shurely...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, Bring meeeeeeeeeeeee! Actually "My Last Breath" by Evanescence is another good one in the ridiculously-over-the-top stakes.

Neko Case, well I won't deny that "I Wish I Was The Moon" is utterly gorgeous.. it's not really overwrought enough to fit. Hmm. But I might put it on now anyway because I haven't heard it in a while and it's lovely.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

November Rain: Classic Or Dud?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

'Bring Me To Life' not strictly a ballad surely (less than 'Nov Rain' at any rate)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Shania's "From This Moment On" is godly.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

not so mega but i think i will mention Chicane's 'No Ordinary Morning' now (it sounds like BOC!)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Hello...is it me you're looking for? Did you call to say you love me?

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

R Kelly to thread.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't fight this feeling any lon-geeer
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flooo-ow
What started out as friendship has grown stro-O-O-O-nge-E-er
I only wish I had the strength to let it sho-ow...

― Miggie (Miggie), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

ah. "Wind Beneath My Wings."

also, which version of "All By Myself?" there are so many to choose from. i bet you mean the Babes in Toyland cover, don't you? ;)

― janni (janni), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"Rocket Man" absolutely OTM, but only Kate Bush's versh.

I feel a little duty-bound to mention Celine's "Think Twice", but I hate it SO FUCKING MUCH instead I'm gonna nominate its far superior copy:

Kate Winslet - "What If"

Oh, the key change! Ohhhhh........

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 29 October 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

People, people, have we all forgotten...

"Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS?
"Kayleigh" by Marillion?
"The First Time" by Robin Beck?
"I Know Him So Well" by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson?
"I Should Have Known Better" by Jim Diamond.
"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" by Glenn Medeiros.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 30 October 2003 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Should Have Known Better" is a fantastic song to sing along to while in a drunken stupor. Especially the "iyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi" part.

― Miggie (Miggie), Thursday, 30 October 2003 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Paula Abdul - Rush Rush
Alias - More Than Words Can Say
Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love
(because this thread hasn't yet run its natural course)

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 3 November 2003 06:08 (twenty-two years ago)

The Walker Brothers to thread, obv.

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 3 November 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Definitely getting weaker as it goes on..

Does Whitesnake "Here I go again on my own" count?

― Jacob (Jacob), Monday, 3 November 2003 09:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Shit, I like pretty much all of the songs mentioned so far. Especially 'Stay', 'Jealousy', '2 Become 1' and 'Never Ever'.

Backstreet Boys - Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
Girls Aloud - Forever And A Night
Destiny's Child - Emotions
Madonna - Live To Tell

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 3 November 2003 11:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooh, a squishy drippy one that should have been a bigger hit: Natural - Put Your Arms Around Me.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 3 November 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Blur are quite good at this, now I think of it: "The Universal", "This Is A Low", "To The End" etc. I'd add Pulp's "Sunrise" (and indeed The Divine Comedy's "Sunrise") if I didn't think the pop police would track me down and string me up.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 3 November 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Is A Low" was a REVELATION to me when I finally heard it! What a fantastic song!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 November 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Not really a ballad, but Andrew WK - "She Is Beautiful", if only for the opening salvo of;

"I NEVER KNEW GIRLS EXISTED LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!"

― Nick H, Monday, 3 November 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

what about journeys "open arms"

― Knick M, Friday, 2 April 2004 03:42 (twenty-one years ago)

"When You Say Nothing at All" -- Alison Krauss

And how 'bout some old-school mega pop balladry?
"Crying" -- Roy Orbison
"Let It Be Me" -- Everly Brothers
"Dedicated to the One I Love" -- Shirelles
"Love Me Tender" -- Elvis fucking Presley!

― spittle (spittle), Friday, 2 April 2004 08:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The Pasadenas - Riding On A Train

― eleki-san (eleki-san), Friday, 2 April 2004 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

beverly craven - promise me
and another richard marx one - right here waiting...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Friday, 2 April 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

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