Power Ballads 2

The power ballad is an equal opportunity employer, as evidenced by the inclusion of Heart and Pat Benatar on the list with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve Perry. And, of course, no one was ever quite sure which side of the line Poison was on. Meat Loaf’s classic homage to the 40-year-old virgin, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” isn’t about what you think it is; it’s a must-have.

Whitesnake. White Lion. Great White. See any common denominators here? Kiss’ “Forever” is an archetype of the genre, complete with drums that sound like they were recorded in the Grand Canyon and lead guitar doubling on the vocal line, guiding the tune back into the ubiquitous acoustic guitar — just spot-on perfect. Toto, past masters of the power ballad, also shine on “I Won’t Hold You Back.”

Remember Stryper? Or Saigon Kick? Or Giant? Or Steelheart? Ah, time might have passed these bands by, but their power ballads have been held pristine, the same way a big glob of mousse will hold the most archaic hairdo. Headbangers Ball may have gone the way of the AMC Pacer and Space Food Sticks, but its music lives on!

Spandex is not required apparel (in the case of Meat Loaf, it’s not even possible) as a power ballad delivery-assistance device, but it’s shown up on more than a few of these artists over the years. Your basic power ballad follows the general recipe for the brontosaurus: starts off very small at one end, gets VERY BIG in the middle, and becomes small again at the other end. And, like the brontosaurus in its heyday, there are a lot of them out there, hence our second collection of power ballads. Can you feel the magic?