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top 50 punk rock ballads

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1. You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory - Johnny Thunders

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 13:28 (twenty years ago)

2. I Want You Around - The Ramones

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 13:29 (twenty years ago)

3. gimme danger - the stooges

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 13:53 (twenty years ago)

4. Submission - Sex Pistols

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 13:58 (twenty years ago)

5. Pissing In A River - Patti Smith Group

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:10 (twenty years ago)

6. Sattelite - Sex Pistols

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:11 (twenty years ago)

7. 1985 - Bowling For Soup

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:15 (twenty years ago)

8. Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl"

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:19 (twenty years ago)

9. Hole - "Miss World"

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:19 (twenty years ago)

10. Girlfren - The Modern Lovers

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:22 (twenty years ago)

11. Ooh! Ooh! I Love You - The Lurkers

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:26 (twenty years ago)

12. Generation X, "Kiss Me Deadly" (well, *I* like it, so there)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:27 (twenty years ago)

13. Baby Baby Baby - The Vibrators

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

14. The Saints - Messing With The Kid
15. The Ramones - I Don't Wanna Live This Life Anymore

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

16. crass 'our wedding'

― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:33 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:34 (twenty years ago)

17. Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:34 (twenty years ago)

17. You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory - Johnny Thunders

― sonofstan (sonofstan), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:35 (twenty years ago)

18. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:38 (twenty years ago)

Number one And joint number 17! Whaddarecord!

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:40 (twenty years ago)

19. The Dwarves - "Dairy Queen"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:43 (twenty years ago)

joint number 17 could have at least been the gnr cover

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:43 (twenty years ago)

20. You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory - Johnny Thunders

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:44 (twenty years ago)

21. Rari - The Standells
22. You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory - Ronnie Spector

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:46 (twenty years ago)

23. You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Spector - Ronnie Memory

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:48 (twenty years ago)

24. You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - Orange Juice

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 14:53 (twenty years ago)

25. you can't hurry love - the supremes

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

26. just in case there was a demand for an acoustic cover of "I Kill Everything I Fuck"

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

27. Ain't It Fun - Dead Boys/RFTT
28. Stay Free - The Clash
29. Surveillance Camera - A Frames

― bendy (bendy), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:07 (twenty years ago)

30. Fragile--Wire

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:38 (twenty years ago)

31. i get weak - belinda carlisle

― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:49 (twenty years ago)

NO MENTION OF NEEDLES & PINS YET = LIST IS BULLSHIT

― disappointing goth fest line-up (orion), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 15:50 (twenty years ago)

"You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - Orange Juice "

This isn't even a song, let alone a ballad. If it was a song it wouldn't be punk.

― everything (everything), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

32. "It's Not Enough" - Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers
33. "Skulls" - The Misfits

― Edward III (edward iii), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:54 (twenty years ago)

34. "Salad Days" - Minor Threat (ode to ye olde HC scene -- that's a ballad, right?)

― yetimike (McGonigal), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 16:58 (twenty years ago)

35. Buzzcocks - Ever fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)

― pinder (pinder), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

aw, maan.....
And I meant to nominate 'It's Not Enough' anyway ...that's what thinking about Johnny does to your brain. Saw- ree....

― sonofstan (sonofstan), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:13 (twenty years ago)

better Green Day ballad: "Church on Sunday"

36. Husker Du, "Pink Turns To Blue"

― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:32 (twenty years ago)

37. Fugazi - Shut the Door
38. The Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
39. The Ramones - I Remember You
40. X - The Unheard Music

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:33 (twenty years ago)

41. Descendents, "Bikeage" (or "Hope," pick 'em)

― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:34 (twenty years ago)

42. Jawbreaker, "Do You Still Hate Me"

― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:36 (twenty years ago)

43. Johnny's Gonna Die - the Replacements

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:43 (twenty years ago)

44. The Minutemen, "History Lesson - Part II"

― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:44 (twenty years ago)

45. Train From Kansas City - Shangri-La's

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 17:45 (twenty years ago)

46. Buzzcocks - Love is Lies

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:04 (twenty years ago)

47. Betrayal Takes Two - The Voidoids
48. Cheree - Suicide

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:11 (twenty years ago)

49. OP IVY "BOMBSHELL"

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:12 (twenty years ago)

50. Commons At Noon - The Real Kids

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:13 (twenty years ago)

Nobody has mentioned the greatest punk rock ballad EVER!!!!:

49. Ramones, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"

Also,

50. Husker Du, "No Promise Have I Made"

― Charles A. Hohman (Loquacity83), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:16 (twenty years ago)

51. Social Distortion, "Another State of Mind"

― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 18:21 (twenty years ago)

Hardcore Pride by Ten Yard Fight...and ode to being hardcore...a ballad for the perpetually pissed off.

― Pop Ryan (Rebelwordsmith), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 19:51 (twenty years ago)

52. Black Halos - 50 Bourbon St.

― Johnathan Redgers (Pearl Hooch), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 20:01 (twenty years ago)

"It's Kinda Funny" by Josef K. But that's post-punk isn't it?

― Ice Cream Electric (Ice Cream Electric), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 20:39 (twenty years ago)

I'd be hard pressed to consider most of the mentioned ones ballads, but I guess "Alison", "That's Entertainment" or "The Bitterest Pill" cannot be considered "punk".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 20:41 (twenty years ago)

Numero Uno!
Sex Bomb Baby by Flipper

― Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Dog (Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountai), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 20:52 (twenty years ago)

polaroid boy
polaroid girl
you're so white and you're so cute
polaroid girl
polaroid boy
you're so white and you're so cute
burn to the fucking ground LA
whiteys gonna pay
whiteys gonna pay
burn to the fucking ground LA
whiteys gonna pay
whiteys gonna pay
we dont need no water
we dont need to water
we dont need no water let the mother fucker burn
we dont need no water
we dont need to water
we dont need no water let the mother fucker burn
polaroid baby
polaroid baby
youre so white and youre so cute
polaroid baby
polaroid baby
we're so white and we're so cute,

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 03:04 (twenty years ago)

all the hard-ons songs about girls

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 03:05 (twenty years ago)

"Hurt Me" - the Heartbreakers
"We Three" - Patti Smith Group
"I Got Nothing"-Iggy Pop
"Germ Free Adolescents"-X Ray Spex
"What's Your Game"-Ramones
"Heartbeat"-Runaways

― Arthurgh! A Music War (Arthur), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 03:19 (twenty years ago)

Okay, Arthur, that's one of your best handles yet. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 03:25 (twenty years ago)

Descendents - "One More Day"

― graf cycliz (graf cycliz), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 04:41 (twenty years ago)

Stranglers - "Strange Little Girl"

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 08:10 (twenty years ago)

cock sparrer 'england belongs to me'

― dave q (listerine), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 08:27 (twenty years ago)

Articles Of Faith - "Every Man For Himself"

― todd (todd), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 12:36 (twenty years ago)

Another RFTT/Laughner song — "Amphetamine"

― mark 0 (mark 0), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 12:40 (twenty years ago)

"Darling, Let's Have Another Baby" - Johnny Moped.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 13:15 (twenty years ago)

fourteen years pass...

Useful thread.

A friend died recently, and I need some suggestions for a playlist for his memorial service.

He was more post-punk than punk proper, but what are some great post-punk ballads?

He liked Psychedelic Furs, Joy Division, Killing Joke, Siouxsie...obscure suggestions welcome even if my friend never heard them

I included this one to give you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgt6Rdq6zxQ

― Donald Duck Loved Walt Whitman (I M Losted), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:46 (five years ago)

13. Baby Baby Baby - The Vibrators
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:28 AM (fourteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink

I thought of saying this but decided it wasn't actually a ballad

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:51 (five years ago)

Condolences. Depending on how he died(…), how about “Shivers” by Boys Next Door?

― Malibu Cheer Chants Forensics (morrisp), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:51 (five years ago)

Oh wait the actual answer -- more post-punk than punk to be sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaSV0ymL8jk

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:53 (five years ago)

I'll check it out. He had a heart attack, nothing scandalous so anything is appropriate.

Chris Knox and Tall Dwarfs are great suggestion that I'd forgotten about!

― Donald Duck Loved Walt Whitman (I M Losted), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:55 (five years ago)

Man I haven't listened to that in a long time and it is one of the greatest songs ever made

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 31 July 2021 20:57 (five years ago)

June Tabor and Oyster Band's cover of what is no doubt the GOAT of cryin' in your beer punk ballads should do the trick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwwNXpIXgdY

― Donald Duck Loved Walt Whitman (I M Losted), Saturday, 31 July 2021 21:40 (five years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llQeiAY4wI

― xzanfar, Saturday, 31 July 2021 21:59 (five years ago)

Sorry about your friend. When I opened this thread I was going to jokingly post You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory just because it's been posted several times already, but that song actually does make me want to cry (thinking about people who are gone) so maybe it's not such a bad suggestion.

― bovarism, Saturday, 31 July 2021 22:07 (five years ago)

questioningly - Ramones

― clouds (peanutbuttereverysingleday), Saturday, 31 July 2021 22:15 (five years ago)

The Homosexuals – Jesus

― Malibu Cheer Chants Forensics (morrisp), Saturday, 31 July 2021 22:22 (five years ago)

It’s not postpunk—but depending on how he felt about R.E.M., “Camera” may be a poignant inclusion on a list like this.

― Malibu Cheer Chants Forensics (morrisp), Saturday, 31 July 2021 23:01 (five years ago)

Wouldn't recommend it for a funeral playlist, but Fear's "Getting the Brush" belongs on the master list.

― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 31 July 2021 23:57 (five years ago)

"Seconds to Last" by Colin Newman.

― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 1 August 2021 02:26 (five years ago)

Don't know if you'd credit it as post-punk, but the Jacobites have so many brilliant melancholic ballads. Pretty much anything off Robespierre's Velvet Basement (and elsewhere and Nikki's solo stuff as well).

― bulb after bulb, Sunday, 1 August 2021 03:12 (five years ago)

Does "Unsatisfied" (The Replacements) count?

― ... (Eazy), Sunday, 1 August 2021 04:49 (five years ago)

Post-punk:
Weekend - Nostalgia (demo)
Television Personalities - Diary of a Young Man
The Cure - All Cats Are Grey

― Chris L, Sunday, 1 August 2021 17:57 (five years ago)

Also:
Go-Betweens - Cattle and Cane

― Chris L, Sunday, 1 August 2021 17:58 (five years ago)

Mark Beer - "Pretty"

― sleeve, Sunday, 1 August 2021 18:04 (five years ago)


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