Let's talk about BALLADS
Oct. 3rd, 2006 01:17 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
freakytigger.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
poptimistsThe 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.
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.
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11 songs on a "60 grebt singles" list I once posted on ILM that are (arguably) ballads
Date: 2006-10-03 01:52 pm (UTC)Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Ooo Baby Baby
The Shangri-Las - Past Present & Future
David Bowie - Life on Mars?
The Carpenters - Goodbye To Love
Nilsson - Without You
Michael Jackson - Ain't No Sunshine
Elton John - Someone Saved My Life Tonight
The Commodores - Sail On
Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
11 of out 60 is a probably a good measure of my ballad love.
Re: 11 songs on a "60 grebt singles" list I once posted on ILM that are (arguably) ballads
Date: 2006-10-03 04:52 pm (UTC)