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salmacis View Drop Down
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Points: 3928 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2006 at 16:43
Elvis, imo, was far far better at ballads in the 60s and 70s. His voice gained a power and emotion that could save almost anything. My favourites are the Motown style 'Only The Strong Survive', the country/folk ballad 'I'm Leavin', the pathos laden 'It's Easy For You'. Some are actually painful to listen to, like 'It's Midnight', 'Hurt', 'My Boy' and his heartbreaking version of 'Unchained Melody' that is by far the best version imo. It's from a TV special he did literally months before his death and he looks in a very bad way indeed, but the vocal is so, so powerful and haunting that despite the enormous physical effort it required to pull it off, it remains a triumphant last hurrah nonetheless.


Edited by salmacis - February 07 2009 at 10:55
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Points: 264 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2006 at 16:57
^I think I've got a hairball stuck in my throatOuch...FYI: Sebastian Bach is currently featured in a new reality series over here in the US along with Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham & 2 other (I think) metal guys. Apparently the premise is for these 5 to live in the same house together for a while & record some tunes along the way...Yeah, pretty weird (it's on VH1 I think, only saw a little bit of the premiere episode)...
 
And Bret Michaels was doing some guest judging duty on another reality show called Nashville Star not too long ago (not really sure of his connection to country music)...
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salmacis View Drop Down
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Points: 3928 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2006 at 17:05
Originally posted by wolf0621 wolf0621 wrote:

^I think I've got a hairball stuck in my throat[IMG]height=17 alt=Ouch src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>...FYI: Sebastian Bach is currently featured in a new reality series over here in the US along with Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham & 2 other (I think) metal guys. Apparently the premise is for these 5 to live in the same house together for a while & record some tunes along the way...Yeah, pretty weird (it's on VH1 I think, only saw a little bit of the premiere episode)...
 

And Bret Michaels was doing some guest judging duty on another reality show called Nashville Star not too long ago (not really sure of his connection to country music)...

 

I heard about these shows, yeah.

Edited by salmacis - February 07 2009 at 10:55
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Points: 4202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 03:05
Originally posted by Ghost Rider Ghost Rider wrote:

Rocktopus, Pentangle's "Cruel Sister" (utterly fantastic song Heart) IS actually a ballad in the literary sense of the word - that is, it is a traditional song with a recognizable rythm, rhyme scheme and all, based on a motif which is quite common in folklore (called "the singing bone" by folklore scholar Stith Thompson). So, I found your mention quite intriguing!Thumbs Up


A fantastic song indeed. A favorite among my favorites. It was on top of the list for that Reason. I also kind of knew it was a choice that could qualify as a ballad in the traditional sense.

Ween - Cold Blows the Wind, is the same song as Gryphon's (among others), 17th. century ballad 'The Unquiet Grave'. I guess people wouldn't expect it from Ween, but its very moving, and Its my preferred version (and their album The Mollusk album is Psychedelic Prog).
Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
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Points: 24429 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 03:31
Sorry for the display of knowledge - I try to avoid sounding like a show-off, but literature and language are my main fields of interest and expertise, so it's difficult for me to refrain from direct references when the occasion arises.

BTW, the story told in "Cruel Sister" is also to be found (though with different music) in Loreena McKennitt's "The Bonnie Swans" and Clannad's "Two Sisters". The Pentangle song, however, wins hands down IMHO.
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Points: 4202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 04:03
Originally posted by Ghost Rider Ghost Rider wrote:

Sorry for the display of knowledge - I try to avoid sounding like a show-off, but literature and language are my main fields of interest and expertise, so it's difficult for me to refrain from direct references when the occasion arises.

BTW, the story told in "Cruel Sister" is also to be found (though with different music) in Loreena McKennitt's "The Bonnie Swans" and Clannad's "Two Sisters". The Pentangle song, however, wins hands down IMHO.


No, no. You're reply was very valid, and not showing off at all. And there was information about one of my favorite songs there I didnt know, as well. Keep sharing you're references.
Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
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Points: 1930 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 05:32
Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

  • Sara (Fleetwood Mac)

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"The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa
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Points: 27 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 15:01
     
      And Then Came the  Last Days of May

      written by Buck Dharma on Blue Öyster Cult, the live version on On Your Feet or on Your Knees
      is even better: more emotion and that monstrous echo sound from Buck´s white Gibson SG!
      A truly beautiful song doesn´t need acoustic guitars at all. Sometimes makes me

      Come Away Melinda sung by great late David Byron on Very ´eavy.....Very `umble.

      Ocean Gypsy sung by Annie Haslam on Scheheraze


Edited by Heino - June 06 2006 at 16:01
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Points: 4986 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 15:26
Y & T - I Believe in You.
Thin Lizzy - Still in Love with You
Hydra - Miriam
GG - Think of me with Kindness
 
 
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Points: 940 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 15:39
If a ballad is a slow song then my choice is Life On Mars (David Bowie).
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Points: 3491 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 18:27
I talk to the wind & Refugees, are the 2 best ballads of all time. Thumbs Up
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Points: 10266 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2006 at 19:27
"Been Alone So Long" by Peter Hammill from his album "Nadir's Big Chance".
Since someone was talking about the origin of "ballads": They were originally tunes to be danced to (which is why they were called "ballads", from the Italian "ballare - to dance")!


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imoeng View Drop Down
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Points: 2450 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 07 2006 at 02:31
almost all older Bon Jovi songs

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Soul Dreamer View Drop Down
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Points: 997 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 07 2006 at 20:32
What is a "ballad"? Anyone here who can give a definition (except for the epic/medieval connotation)?
If a slow, lingering rock song with a strong melodic component is meant then I nominate (just some that come to mind):
 
Metallica - Fade To Black
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - 750000 Anni Fa...l'Amore?
Nightwish - Swanheart
 
 
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Points: 7969 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 07 2006 at 20:50
Originally posted by Tuzvihar Tuzvihar wrote:

Omega - Gyöngyhajú lány     
or URIAH HEEP "July Morning", I can't decide.
Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)
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BaldFriede View Drop Down
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Points: 10266 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2006 at 03:07
Originally posted by Soul Dreamer Soul Dreamer wrote:

What is a "ballad"? Anyone here who can give a definition (except for the epic/medieval connotation)?
If a slow, lingering rock song with a strong melodic component is meant then I nominate (just some that come to mind):
 
Metallica - Fade To Black
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - 750000 Anni Fa...l'Amore?
<>Nightwish - Swanheart

bal·lad   Audio pronunciation of "ballad" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (bld)
n.
    1. A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
    2. The music for such a poem.
  2. A popular song especially of a romantic or sentimental nature.
I think definition two is what was meant in the question. If you want a lesson on the history of the ballad, ask Jean, who has a bachelor degree in history and specialized in ancient and mediaeval. Expect a thesis of about twenty pages, because once she gets started on any historical subject, nothing can stop her LOL.


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Soul Dreamer View Drop Down
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Points: 997 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2006 at 20:38
Originally posted by BaldFriede BaldFriede wrote:

Originally posted by Soul Dreamer Soul Dreamer wrote:

What is a "ballad"? Anyone here who can give a definition (except for the epic/medieval connotation)?
If a slow, lingering rock song with a strong melodic component is meant then I nominate (just some that come to mind):
 
Metallica - Fade To Black
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - 750000 Anni Fa...l'Amore?
<>Nightwish - Swanheart

bal·lad   Audio pronunciation of "ballad" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (bld)
n.
    1. A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
    2. The music for such a poem.
  2. A popular song especially of a romantic or sentimental nature.
I think definition two is what was meant in the question. If you want a lesson on the history of the ballad, ask Jean, who has a bachelor degree in history and specialized in ancient and mediaeval. Expect a thesis of about twenty pages, because once she gets started on any historical subject, nothing can stop her LOL.

 
If you take that definition, doesn't it also include Celine Dion and the likes? I think what is meant in this thread also includes the (implicit) assumption that the artist/band is not generally performing these kind of songs, but it's like an extension of their "normal" output.


Edited by Soul Dreamer - June 08 2006 at 20:40
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imoeng View Drop Down
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Points: 2450 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2006 at 20:43
^ well then its classic rock ballad... what bout that?

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Points: 1225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2006 at 21:59
Rock ballads = teh suXX0r
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Points: 7341 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2006 at 22:03
The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
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