The 80s and 90s were without doubt the best decades for power ballads and acoustic rock ballads. Hair metal bands and glam metal bands reigned supreme in the years of lipstick and leather. High pitched vocals set to the strains of an acoustic backdrop became hugely popular. Every album released by rock bands in the 80s and 90s featured power ballads and acoustic rock ballads. The tunes from these decades gave an anthem new meaning. This is a showcase of the best power ballads and acoustic rock ballads from the 80s and 90s that give balladry new meaning.

If you’re one amongst the many that love high pitched vocals, you just cannot miss hair bands from the 80s and 90s. A number of rock bands dishing out acoustic rock ballads and power ballads emerged in an era when torn jeans, spandex and long haired rockers ruled. Lyrics about love, heartache, anger and guilt ruled supreme in ballads. Rock ballads became popular in the 80s and 90s because of the lyrical stories interpreted through heart. Gut wrenching vocals smooth as silk and guitar solos that could heal a broken heart formed an integral part of power ballads and acoustic rock ballads.

80s and 90s-The Power ballad and Acoustic Rock Ballad era

As music channels sprung up in the 80s and 90s, several glam metal bands got the needed exposure to propel forward. A number of bands started releasing albums that had power ballads aside from the heavy dose of rock n roll.

AOR (Album Oriented Rock) became a rage in the 80s and 90s. Passionate high pitched voices ruled the decades of lipstick and leather. Acoustic intros formed an integral part of slow rock songs and power ballads. Record companies realized audiences had started taken a liking to rock ballads and this lead to the steady growth of compilations, both power ballads and acoustic rock ballads. Suddenly compilation albums of rock bands started hitting music stores in a big way. Thanks to Music Television channel MTV, glam metal and hair metal bands got significant airplay in the 80s and 90s.

Hair bands began to fade away in the late 90s after other genres of music, grunge and alternative in particular established a firm footing. With the emergence of the alternative and grunge bands in the 90s, several record companies parted ways with glam metal bands and hair metal bands. Only a few hair bands survived the grunge onslaught. While many hair metal purists believed it was the end of the power ballad era, it wasn’t to be. Post 2000 a number of hair bands from the 80s and 90s formed reunions and released albums. Power metal bands became hugely popular in the late 90s and post 2000s. Power metal ballads continue the tradition of acoustic rock ballads and power ballads hair bands from the 80s and 90s brought to life. It’s not ended; this is the beginning, a beginning of a new era of power ballads.

Below is a list of memorable rock ballads. Feel free to be a part of the nostalgia and voice your opinion. Do feel free to add to the list and help it grow.

Greatest slow rock songs of the 80s and 90s

1. Is This Love- Whitesnake
2. Still Loving You- Scorpions
3. Where You Goin’ Now- Damn Yankees
4. I Remember You- Skid Row
5. Without You- Motley Crue
6. Don’t Close your Eyes- Kix
7. Every Rose Has Its Thorn- Poison
8. Love Is On the Way- Saigon Kick
9. Save Your Love- Great White
10. Heaven In Your Eyes- Loverboy
11. To Be With You- Mr Big
12. Headed For a Heartbreak- Winger
13. When I look Into Your Eyes- Firehouse
14. More Than Words- Extreme
15. Heaven- Warrant
16. Miles Away- Winger
17. She’s Gone- Steelheart
18. Mama, I’m coming Home- Ozzy Osbourne
19. When the Children Cry- White Lion
20. Honestly-Stryper
21. Carrie- Europe
22. What Love Can Be- Kingdome Come
23. Silent Lucidity- Queensryche
24. Send Me an Angel- Scorpions
25. High Enough- Damn Yankees
26. Anytime- MSG
27. Don’t Know What You Got- Cinderella
28. Amanda- Boston
29. Sister Christian- Night Ranger
30. I’ll Be There for You- Bon Jovi
31. Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
32. Just Take My Heart- Mr. Big
33. More Than Words Can Say (I Need You Now)- Alias
34. Faithfully- Journey
35. 18 and Life- Skid Row
36. Patience- Guns N Roses
37. Goodbye- Night Ranger
38. Fly High Michelle- Ennuf Z’ Nuff
39. I’ll See You in My Dreams- Giant
40. The Ballad of Jayne- L.A. Guns
41. November Rain- Guns N’ Roses
42. House of Pain- Faster Pussycat
43. Forever Free-W.A.S.P
44. Angel- Aerosmith
45. Love Bites- Def Leppard
46. Africa- Toto
47. Fly To the Angels- Slaughter
48. Winds of Change-Scorpions
49. I Live My Life for You- Firehouse
50. Keep On Loving You- REO Speedwagon
51. Bed of Roses- Bon Jovi
52. The Angel Song- Great White
53. Don’t Walk Away- Danger Danger
54. Wasting Love- Iron Maiden
55. If You Needed Somebody- Bad Compony
56. When I’m With You- Sheriff
57. Heart of Steel- Manowar
58. What Keeps Me Loving You- XYZ
59. Heartbreak Station- Cinderella
60. Days Gone By- Slaughter
61. Waiting for a Girl Like You- Foreigner
62. Sometimes She Cries- Warrant
63. I Still Think About You- Danger Danger
64. Tears Of A Dragon- Bruce Dickenson
65. Alone Again-Dokken
66. In You Arms- Little Ceaser
67. I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)- Steelheart
68. Love of a Lifetime- Firehouse
69. Sweet Child O’ Mine- Guns N’ Roses
70. The Search Is Over- Survivor
71. I Don’t Want To Live Without You- Sleeze Beez
72. Home Sweet Home- Motley Crue
73. The Day That I Met You- Lillian Axe
74. Time-MSG
75. Burning Heart- Vandenberg
76. Surrender- Trixter
77. The Flame- Cheap Trick
78. What’s Forever (For)- House of Lords
79. Always- Bon Jovi
80. Vixen- Love Is a Killer
81. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing- Aerosmith
82. Can’t Live Without Your (Love and Affection) - Nelson
83. Don’t Cry- Guns N’ Roses
84. Dream On- Nazareth
85. In a Darkened Room- Skid Row
86. Forever- Kiss
87. When I See You Smile- Bad English
88. Just Between You and Me- April Vine
89. Open Arms- Journey
90. Standing Alone- Tyketto
91. Save The Weak-Britney Fox
92. Love Song- Tesla
93. When it’s Love- Van Halen
94. Love Kills- Vinnie Vincent Invasion
95. Close My Eyes Forever- Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne
96. Hard To Say I’m Sorry- Chicago
97. Amazing- Aerosmith
98. Givin’ Yourself Away- Ratt
99. I Still Love You- Kiss
100. The Flame- Cheap Trick

realityspeaks

Thank you for visiting my profile. I am a Freelance Content Writer. I like to learn something new every day. When I’m not at the computer, I’m either reading or on vacation. I dwell in peace, I hope you do too. My Favorite Quote “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”- Dalai Lama

Related Articles

0

40.21K

Top 100 Dance Team Names For Dance Competitions

Picking a strong team name is important for a dance group. While members in a dance troupe maybe talented, it’s the name chosen for a dance group that gives identity.

3

3.03K

100 Best Songs Of Sadhana Sargam

Sadhana Sargam was most popular Bollywood singer in 90's and early 2000's who has given us many hit songs. From there, I have highlighted heart touching best 50 melodious songs of Sadhana Sargam which are big hit..

2

20.38K

100 Greatest Bollywood Songs Of The 80s And 90s

The 80s and 90s are considered epic decades in the Hindi film industry. The decades steered Indian cinema, Bollywood in particular in a new direction.