Ballads

[Hostile]

I tend to think of ballads as its own musical genre. Others may disagree and that's cool. To me there is not much in the world better than someone who writes their own music and then sings the soul into it.

Do you have a favorite ballad?

For me, this one is the ultimate.

GYKJuDxYr3I

[Arch Stanton]

SJmmaIGiGBg&ob

[daschoo]

My favourite ballad at the minute is in Gaelic
5PjLOcp0RFY

[Yeagermeister]

Not sure if it counts

Ballad of Curtis Lowe - Lynyrd Skynyrd

[Wimbo]

Desperado - Eagles
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
With of Without You - U2
Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
Dream On - Aerosmith

[phillycard]

Ribbon In The Sky by Stevie Wonder is as good as it gets.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Lots of good ones. I don't know, off the top of my head maybe Whiskey Lullaby. Hard to go wrong with He Stopped Loving Her Today if you consider that a Ballad, which I do.

[Signals]

Not sure if these qualify as ballads but I have always been pretty fond of these.

SAcDh0m2BJw

OMOGaugKpzs

[The30YardSlant]

"Wasted Time" and "Desperado" are two of my favorites. Don Henley's voice was made for soft ballads.

[trickblue]

A9A4HRzHz5Y

[Sam I Am]

No one mentions Devil Went Down to Georgia?

Though to me personally, the lyrics themselves never really meant much to me. I mean if they are good and have a lot of meaning, that's great. Though to me, the voice is really just another instrument in the song. This is why I can listen to lyrics that are offending to a lot of people and I just shrug their meaning off.

The lyrics (and physical instrument music) can be awesome, but if the person sing sucks. The entire song sucks.

[Risen Star]

A9A4HRzHz5Y

Great one, trick.

[arglebargle]

A ballad helped ingratiate me with a small town once. ;) I was touring Scotland, and ended up in a tiny town, staying at the one pub, which had a few rooms. It was party night, a ceilidh, I think it's called, and everyone was drinking and taking turns singing songs. At one point someone called me out, 'Hey, you, the guy from Texas, sing us a Texas song!'

Now normally no one is interested in hearing me sing (rightfully so), but they were, ah, liquidly receptive. Not remembering songs particularly well anyway, I felt under the gun. BUT those days when I was a kid, listening to Marty Robbins, came to my rescue. While not as good as his classic Ballad of El Paso, I could at least remember the words to this one. It went over great with the audience, and a fine time was had the rest of the evening (what I could remember of it.)

OntwwcBVe6o


In honor of that, I'll throw in my favorite Brit singer/songwriter, often associated with Scotland, who's got a host of great songs.

Kg_Utj4Aljc

lusPaLec9TE

[daschoo]

A9A4HRzHz5Y

Good shout, have you heard this?
C7UWm5nXXqQ

[Risen Star]

I tend to think of ballads as its own musical genre. Others may disagree and that's cool. To me there is not much in the world better than someone who writes their own music and then sings the soul into it.

Do you have a favorite ballad?

For me, this one is the ultimate.

GYKJuDxYr3I

That is also a great choice. Elvis' version is epic as well.

[Risen Star]

Is this considered a ballad?

xKweZEKPSqw

[daschoo]

not a traditional ballad in terms of subject matter but the emotion in this one is pretty powerful
dt9Iqa79vfU

[Sam I Am]

A ballad is a song that tells a story. If it is just singing about something, it's not a ballad. The song needs an aspect of time to it. (ie, telling the story in chronological order from start to finish.)

[Signals]

A ballad is a song that tells a story. If it is just singing about something, it's not a ballad. The song needs an aspect of time to it. (ie, telling the story in chronological order from start to finish.)
Good call. So Tricks selection is a great example of a true Ballad.

A9A4HRzHz5Y

[trickblue]

Marty Robbins was one of the great balladeers of all time... perhaps his most famous...

GgI5DMVegIk

Kenny Rogers also has some memorable ballads...

BLKDFKRTdlo

8tSo4IICBTY

NEJniCCuqR4

[trickblue]

and of course...

WOHPuY88Ry4

rWHniL8MyMM

[Faerluna]

Sju7osFbV9w

[Future]

Dream On - Aerosmith
Love that song...this video makes me cry :laugh2:
W0sZ_oPBFr8

[poke]

Guy Clark, The Randall Knife. You may not like the voice, or the slowness of the song but I am pretty sure you will love the story. One of my favorite songwriters.

iFwSsqkQiBY


Townes Van Zandt, Pancho and Lefty, considered by many to be the greatest story song ever written.

792IOAy9KLQ

Kris Kristofferson. Sunday Morning Coming Down. Another of my favorite songwriters.

-axr23-WP0E&feature=related


Those to me are Ballads.

[5Stars]

0y5GDvN9_OE

A true ballad...

[Hostile]

A9A4HRzHz5YI love this one. I really like almost all of his music.

[Hostile]

That is also a great choice. Elvis' version is epic as well.I have never heard his version. I'd love to hear it.

[Hostile]

Here are a couple of old Marty Robbins cowboy ballads. Even if you don't like country music, you can appreciate these.

iGmUsJvRv7U

fjZWKLP_fvg

[5Stars]

7-n9h5IZHF8

[Hostile]

Is this considered a ballad?

xKweZEKPSqwYes, and it is one of my all time favorite songs and I think it is way under appreciated. Great message.

[Risen Star]

I have never heard his version. I'd love to hear it.

You must. I've only ever heard a live version but it was excellent.

[Aikmaniac]

xDVP2xrFF8s

[Hostile]

Another of my favorites.

WF53JDphmUI

And this one too...

KUwjNBjqR-c

[Lonestar94]

Anything from Vern Gosdin

[Gibby!]

Marty Robbins is the schizzle bedizzle when it comes to ballads.

This one is a newer one, and maybe not necessarily a true ballad, but its one of my favorite songs, and close enough :).

ZPgtSVXi63I

Video quality on this one isn't the greatest.

[Bigdog]

U2's "Vam Diem Land" I think could be consider a ballard.

[trickblue]

Anything from Vern Gosdin

"The Voice"... pure and simple... nothing left to be said...

[wittenacious]

One of my favorites is the Irish Ballad, WHISKEY IN THE JAR.

I first fell in love w/ Thin Lizzy's cover version — Phil Lynott singing lead and Eric Bell on lead guitar:
-M2jSzLBzK4

Here's a recent live performance by Thin Lizzy guitar greats Gary Moore and Eric Bell (on lead guitar)
from "One Night In Dublin: A Tribute To Phil Lynott"
DgJnqAx5N9Y

I like Metallica's cover, too (Live NYC 1998):
MfgLR8Tt7XA&feature=related

[BrAinPaiNt]

Not sure if it counts

Ballad of Curtis Lowe - Lynyrd Skynyrd

One of the few Lynrd Skynrd songs I like.

[BrAinPaiNt]

zrK5u5W8afc

[Arch Stanton]

yRhq-yO1KN8
9muzyOd4Lh8
9vOW9jBDP7g
F8Wg5nwOs9E

[ABQCOWBOY]

I also Like Garth Brooks - Cowboy Bill and Kieth Whitley's - I wonder do you think of me.

[Zaxor]

0y5GDvN9_OE

A true ballad...


written by my cousin Barry Sadler

[johnny utah]

Love that song...this video makes me cry :laugh2:
W0sZ_oPBFr8

I don't know if that's a ballad or not. But damn it's a great video. I balled my eyes out watching that. My favorite part was at 3:28. Thanks for sharing

[hipfake08]

Goodbye Siagon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjzjhl-QztE

[Lonestar94]

Kieth Whitley's - I wonder do you think of me.

:bow: Biggest keith whitley fan right here!

[MichaelWinicki]

I've always like Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" and "Sink the Bismarck".

Johnny died early in the rock era due to a car wreck via a drunk driver. Johnny Cash supposedly cried his eyes out when told.

I'm too lazy to look it up but I believe Johnny Horton was married to the widow of Hank Williams.

What stories she must of been able to tell.

[MichaelWinicki]

A few more ballads that I've enjoyed...

Jeannie Riley's "Harper Valley PTA"

aOZPBUu7Fro

Wow! Was Jeannie Riley gorgeous or what!


Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billy Joe"

CZt5Q-u4crc

I'd still like to know what she threw off that bridge. ;)


Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John"

KnnHprUGKF0


The Singing Nun's "Dominique"... If you know the lyrics, it is a ballad. :)

UHhyyRByuJ0

This was the #1 song for all of December 1963.

[wittenacious]

Another one of my all time favorite ballads is this one: Keith Urban - "YOU'LL THINK OF ME"

B-oKxpQrRY4&ob=av2e

[Hostile]

:bow: Biggest keith whitley fan right here!
I got a story for you then man. I have a buddy named Kelly. He was on a date with a girl and Keith's song "When You Say Nothing At All," came on the radio.

The girl he was with said something to the effect of how horrible it was that this guy butchered Allison Krause's song.

Kelly pulled over and kicked her out of his truck. True story.

[5Stars]

wv3FTpsa_3I

I guess nobody knows what they threw off of the bridge...any guesses?

[cajuncocoa]

I got a story for you then man. I have a buddy named Kelly. He was on a date with a girl and Keith's song "When You Say Nothing At All," came on the radio.

The girl he was with said something to the effect of how horrible it was that this guy butchered Allison Krause's song.

Kelly pulled over and kicked her out of his truck. True story.

Dang! That's some true blue fan!! :eek:

[Lonestar94]

I got a story for you then man. I have a buddy named Kelly. He was on a date with a girl and Keith's song "When You Say Nothing At All," came on the radio.

The girl he was with said something to the effect of how horrible it was that this guy butchered Allison Krause's song.

Kelly pulled over and kicked her out of his truck. True story.

Thats the way to do it. Allison Krause couldn't hold a candle to Keith Whitley.

Although Keith's best stuff are songs people probably have never heard of.

[trickblue]

Thats the way to do it. Allison Krause couldn't hold a candle to Keith Whitley.

Although Keith's best stuff are songs people probably have never heard of.

I am a HUGE Keith Whitley fan... I had tickets to his performance at Belle Star 2 weeks after he died...

He was a complicated guy but immensely talented, but don't sell Alison Krause short... she is one of the finest musicians alive... and redid the song in honor of Whitley...

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Stan by Eminem

[Hostile]

Thats the way to do it. Allison Krause couldn't hold a candle to Keith Whitley.

Although Keith's best stuff are songs people probably have never heard of.I love Allison, but I love that story more.

I so agree with you on some of his best stuff, but my all time favorite is always going to be "I'm No Stranger to the Rain."

To me, it is pure country genius.

[Lonestar94]

I am a HUGE Keith Whitley fan... I had tickets to his performance at Belle Star 2 weeks after he died...

He was a complicated guy but immensely talented, but don't sell Alison Krause short... she is one of the finest musicians alive... and redid the song in honor of Whitley...

Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.. you got some good taste.

[MichaelWinicki]

It's funny that at one point several country stars like Marty Robbins, Jimmy Dean, Jeannie Riley and Bobby Jo Gentry would cross over and score #1 singles in Billboard's Hot 100, but over the last 25 years or so you simply don't see much of that.

[Lonestar94]

I love Allison, but I love that story more.

I so agree with you on some of his best stuff, but my all time favorite is always going to be "I'm No Stranger to the Rain."

To me, it is pure country genius.

"Tennessee Courage" "Lord it sure is drunk out tonight" "Between an old memory and me" and "Daddy loved trains" are some of my favorites.

Keith's bluegrass stuff with Ricky Skaggs before he got into country is just as great. My favorite album is "My home aint in the hall of fame" which he recorded during his stint with JD Crowe & The New South. Mix between honky tonk and traditional bluegrass. Keith was at his finest. I highly recommend it.

[Hostile]

"Tennessee Courage" "Lord it sure is drunk out tonight" "Between an old memory and me" and "Daddy loved trains" are some of my favorites.

Keith's bluegrass stuff with Ricky Skaggs before he got into country is just as great. My favorite album is "My home aint in the hall of fame" which he recorded during his stint with JD Crowe & The New South. Mix between honky tonk and traditional bluegrass. Keith was at his finest. I highly recommend it.Oh hell yeah on that one. Like the others, but that one I love.

[trickblue]

Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.. you got some good taste.

Yep... I know talent when I see it... Gosdin and Whitley are legends... as is Alison Kraus...

Vern Gosdin was a BIG man with a smooth voice... he would fight you in a minute... by all accounts... you would rather hear him sing than fight him... he was a ******...

On the other hand... he was a gentle soul that helped out people in need... when he wasn't kicking ***...

Musicians are just too complicated...

[Lonestar94]

Yep... I know talent when I see it... Gosdin and Whitley are legends... as is Alison Kraus...

Vern Gosdin was a BIG man with a smooth voice... he would fight you in a minute... by all accounts... you would rather hear him sing than fight him... he was a ******...

On the other hand... he was a gentle soul that helped out people in need... when he wasn't kicking ***...

Musicians are just too complicated...

Completely agree.

Also, I was talking about the song when I said she couldn't hold a candle to Keith's. Allison is a great artist.

[trickblue]

Completely agree.

Also, I was talking about the song when I said she couldn't hold a candle to Keith's. Allison is a great artist.

Heck LS94... just happy to have a Vern Gosdin fan in the fold... we was an AMAZING talent...

I thought I was the only one...

[Hostile]

Heck LS94... just happy to have a Vern Gosdin fan in the fold... we was an AMAZING talent...

I thought I was the only one...Oh no.

My favorite of his is "Set Em Up Joe."

"Yesterday's Gone" was also great.

[NorthTexan95]

What's the definition of a "ballad"? Some of these songs I wouldn't think of as a ballad. However, here's another good one:

Ray Stevens - The Ballad of the Blue Cyclone, Part I and II.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scJKL2D_ZAw

[5Stars]

BWpYQjuJ0u0

;)

[Kristen82]

I'm digging into my dad's old stuff. I've got "Romeo & Juliet" and "Portobello Belle" by Dire Straits and "Song for a Winter's Night" by Gordon Lightfoot in my Ipod's "Romantic" playlist. "I Dream of Chicago" by Parlours and "Nine Million Bicycles" by Katie Melua are in there too.

[5Stars]

QvwDohEEQ1E

For the gantas...that think, "it ain't no thang...!


;)

[MetalHead]

Ira Hayes...Ira Hayes.
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore.
Not a whiskey drinkin' indian
But a Marine who went to war...

Mr.Cash's version,of course.