Power ballads from rock bands. That phrase can be a complete turn-off for some music lovers. They want the hard rock, the metal sounds, the hefty guitars, and the screaming vocals. They don’t always want to hear a band or singer’s softer side. Corny lyrics and sugary themes somehow don’t cut it.
But they are still incredibly popular. Sure, they can be a bit cheesy at times. Perhaps somewhat formulaic, too, with the rising build to the song, passionate vocals, and always a guitar solo to take the song soaring higher. The guitars can still be heavy, and the drums can still crash, but it is usually a softer sound overall from a band's unusual output.
The 1980s perhaps saw power ballads, especially from rock bands and artists, at a peak. Somehow, the heavier love songs were a great fit for the period. Many artists saw the value and took the opportunity to release power ballads as singles, often bringing more chart success than their harder rock songs. Here are six great examples from the 1980s. There are plenty of other contenders, but I reckon these six are up among the best-ever rock power ballads.
Six super 1980s rock power ballads
Foreigner - "I Want To Know What Love Is"
It’s been contentious at times over the status of Foreigner as a member of the Rock Hall of Fame. Whatever your views on that may be, it’s harder to dispute their claim to have recorded one of the top rock power ballads of all time. Their 1984 single “I Want To Know What Love Is” was released in 1984 as a single from their fifth album.
It’s their biggest hit and scored number one in both the UK and the US, and many other places worldwide. The song has all the elements you need for a rock power ballad. It soars and slows, it builds in intensity, and the band even brought in the New Jersey Mass Choir to add yet another level to it.
REO Speedwagon - “Can't Fight This Feeling"
It’d be a tough call not to include this top song from REO Speedwagon. I’ve extended the selection to six from five songs to make sure it’s in there. It was in their 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin’ before and released as a single that December. A slow rise in the charts saw it reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in March 1985.
It was the band's last ever number one single, but what a way to go out from the top spot. Written by lead singer Kevin Cronin, he brings real passion to the vocals. They sit on top of a perfect musical arrangement to make a classic power ballad. Add in some keyboards and a neat guitar solo with some slightly cheesy and syrupy lyrics, and there it is. A power ballad classic.
Whitesnake - “Is This Love”
Written by lead singer David Coverdale, he brings a typically powerful vocal performance to the song. That’s despite originally starting to write it for Tina Turner rather than Whitesnake. He and guitarist John Sykes adjusted it to suit the band, with Sykes adding a superb guitar solo to it.
Released in 1987, it reached number nine on the UK charts and peaked at the second spot on the US Hot 100. It’s an impressive example of a power ballad with all the key elements. Despite Whitesnake’s harder-hitting glam metal and heavy rock approach, the ballad is a strong fan favorite that also appealed to many others.
The next three songs could include the absolute best power ballad
Journey - “Don’t Stop Believin’”
This is probably the best-known and perhaps most popular of all Journey’s songs. However, that comes with a slight caveat. It may also have become one of those tunes people decide they have just heard played too often and don't want to hear again. That doesn't stop it from being one of the top power ballads of its era.
It’s another song that ticks all the power ballad boxes. And whether people may say it’s overplayed, it’s pretty hard to hold back from singing along if you do hear it. There’s a long build and introduction until you get to that chorus and can belt it out loud. The song is almost over before you reach that stage. Let's just take it for the great success it has had. Released in 1981, the song stormed around the world as a hit and scored 18 times platinum in the US. That’s pretty impressive, for sure.
Bonnie Tyler - “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
The husky and slightly gruff or gravelly sound of Bonnie Tyler’s voice is a bonus on many songs. It works so well on this classic single from 1983. It also benefits from the touch of Jim Steinman. As the man behind Meat Loaf and Bat Out Of Hell, Steinman wrote and produced this for Tyler. Other songs were suggested for her, but this was where they ended up.
It was not a compromise by any means. The song takes the best of both Tyler’s singing and Steinman’s theatrical songwriting and production. It is Tyler's biggest ever hit and a signature tune for her. The song had great success in the singles charts and was a top-rated song in 1983. It was the best-selling UK single that year, and Billboard ranked it sixth in its Songs of the Year for 1983.
Prince - “Purple Rain”
Many would argue this is the best power ballad of the 1980s or even of all time. And it’s a very fair point. It’s, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and popular examples around. As with the Whitesnake song earlier, it started out with different intentions. The plan was to write a country music duet for Prince and Stevie Nicks. But she decided against getting involved, and Prince saw it through alone.
The song became the title track of Prince’s superb 1984 album, which in turn was the soundtrack to the Purple Rain movie. It’s an astounding track when played live, too. The halftime show at the Super Bowl is a prime stage slot, and Prince gave a brilliant live rendition of the song during a downpour at the 2007 game. It has been regarded as one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows ever. That song sure rocks up some amazing best-ever claims, doesn't it?