Power Ballads; is there any situation they don’t help with? There’s nothing like belting out your favourite power ballad at the top of your lungs when your driving, showering or just generally vibing.
Below is our picks for best power ballads you can sing your heart out to.
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing | Aerosmith
Starting off the list strong with one of the best Power Ballads of all time. Admit it, you cried when you heard this in Armageddon. It’s hard to hear this song and not picture Bruce Willis doing his spaceman thing. A surprise comeback for Aerosmith when it was released this song really tugs on the heart strings and is helped along by Steven Tyler’s passionate vocals.
Total Eclipse of the Heart | Bonnie Tyler
EVERY NOW AND THEN I FALL APA- sorry where was I? Released in 1983 ‘Total Eclipse of the heart’ soon became a cult classic. It may have only stayed at number one for four weeks but it’s stayed at the top of a lot of people’s playlists for nearly 40 years! Whether you’re going through a break up or just out on the town, screaming these lyrics at the top of your lungs is guaranteed to raise your spirits.
Heaven | Bryan Adams
Written during his time opening for Journey ‘Heaven’ soon became one of Bryan Adam’s classics, a certain singer in our band also says its among his favourite songs of all time. We’ve had this blaring in the van during long trips home at night. Adams’s trademark rough edged vocals give this track an added level of emotion, who do you think of when you hear this song?
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now | Céline Dion
It seems like any one of Céline Dion’s songs could have made this list, however this one is our guilty pleasure. Singing about a lost love and how their memory rushes back like an assault on her heart, this one has some bittersweet undertones but sure here, what Celine Dion song isn’t a wee bit sad?
Purple Rain | Prince
One of if not the best Prince song about, Purple Rain is a timeless classic by any definition. Reflecting his larger than life personality this song is hard to resist when it comes to singing along, even if you don’t sing along you have to appreciate the phenomenal guitar riff that goes along with it.
Fun Fact: Purple Rain was intended to be a collaboration with Stevie Nicks (yes, that Stevie Nicks) but she was scared it was too much for her. If that isn’t a testament to how much of an anthem this is then I don’t know what is.
NB: We included the Super Bowl performance of this song because its that iconic
Alone | Heart
This version of the song came out in 1987 and it still sends a chill up my spine to this day whenever I hear it. Telling the story of a girl madly in love with a boy but she can’t get the chance to tell him it provides a relatable narrative. The friend zone; it’s claimed many a good men and women, but at least they can take solace in knowing this banger is meant for them.
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now | Starship
Probably the most ‘feel good’ song on this list, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ throws us a curveball as it’s not – as far as I can tell anyway – about unrequited love or heartbreak. When I learned Albert Hammond wrote this about his impending marriage to his girlfriend the song took on a whole new meaning for me so keep that in mind next time your singing this as hard as you can.
Fun Fact: Albert Hammond also wrote ‘Good looking Woman’ for Joe Dolan, take from that what you will.