Let's talk about BALLADS

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The giveaway CD for Thursday's Poptimism will be an ALL-BALLAD special. I'm taking here about the modern usage of the word to mean 'slow song', rather than the older 'story song'.

Ballads seem to get short shrift from Poptimists - criticisms of pop or R&B albums, for instance, often turn on a "too many ballads" claim. The list of NOW poll winners here is short on them too (Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", Portishead's "Glory Box", maybe a couple of others).

What are some of your favourite ballads? Do you have trouble enjoying slow pop songs? Why do you think that is, if so? Do some genres suit 'ballads' better than others? (Some of the people who complain about R&B ballads might be Low or Will Oldham fans, for instance!) When does a song stop being a ballad? And so on - plenty to talk about, I'm sure.

I do want ballad recommendations, however the giveaway CD has already been made and is GREBT, a chronological journey through balladry from the 50s to last week.

Comments

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

My position on ballads is roughly the same as my position on acoustic guitar songs. They're something that most people seem tempted to do at some point, despite being very very difficult to do well and very easy to do incredibly badly. Most obviously fall into the latter category, mostly to do with the songwriters/arrangers just not being good enough and ballads tend to flaunt that inadequacy more harder/faster songs.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

The acoustic ballad, of course, doubles the probability of the record being shit.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Your favourite Paris Hilton song, may I remind you, is her sole ballad.