Ballads

Hi Guys,

how do you describe a ballad? My friends and me are in different opinions. We all are Bon Jovi fans, but I think about some songs they would be ballads, but some friends said they wouldn't be ones. Or about some songs they think they would be a ballad and I think they are not???!

If I look at "google" I find a description, but I can't relate the description to Bon Jovi songs. So I still don't know more like before.

Maybe we could get though the albums and write down the ballads of them??? Then we see what you guys think about which song a ballad is and which not??!

Thanks!

here is my definition of a ballad: "Slow song about a blind love". by Blind love, i mean a negative one, like the relationship didnt work out or not everything is allright.

here is a list of bonjovi's ballads in my opinion in each album:

bonjovi: non
7800 fahrenheit: Silent night
SWW: Never say goodbye
NJ: Living in sin - I'll be there for you
KTF: Bed of roses - I want you
Crossroad: Always
These days: This ain't a love song - Lie to me - Letting you go - Hearts breaking even
Crush: Save the world
Bounce: Open all night

I know alot of you will disagree with what my choices for some ballads are but this is my list though. also I don't think a ballad has to be about love to be classified a ballad.

Bon Jovi:Love Lies
Farenheit:Silent Night
Slippery When Whet: Never Say Goodbye
New Jersey: Livin in sin, I'll be there for you
Keep The Faith: Bed of Roses, I want You
Crossroads: Always
These Days: This Ain't a love song, Lie to me, Hard letting you go, Heart's breaking even, Diamond Ring
Crush: Thank You, Save the World, She's a Mystery
Bounce: All about loving you, Right side of Wrong, You had me from hello, Open all night

A ballad is a story in song, usually a narrative song or poem. It is a rhythmic saga of a past affair, which may be heroic, romantic or satirical, almost inevitably catastrophic, which is related in the third person, usually with foreshortened alternating four- and three-stress lines ('ballad meter') and simple repeating rhymes, and often with a refrain. (Ballads should not be confused with the ballade, a 14th and 15th century French verse form.)

The origin of the word suggested something that could be danced to. Ballads are most often folk poetry in a musical format, passed along orally from generation to generation, set to conventional tunes and usually sung by a solo voice, the hearers joining in the refrain. Until written, the content evolves and changes over time, unlike a more literary poem. For further discussion, see Folk music.

Unlike more traditional poetry, ballads do not use a large amount of explanation. The narrative is usually simple, clear and easy to read. Emotion is usually kept to a minimum, and the motives of characters are rarely probed in any great detail. Dialogue is kept to an economical level, but frequently used to empower the language.

Five of the characteristics of a ballad are:

* A ballad tells a story
* A ballad focuses on actions and dialogue rather than characteristics and narration.
* A ballad has a simple metrical structure and sentence structure.
* A ballad is sung to a modal melody.
* A ballad is of oral tradition, passed down by word of mouth. Therefore, it undergoes changes and is of anonymous authorship.

Repetition and refrains are also used in many ballads. This is a strong resemblance to many forms of traditional music. Many traditional ballads have themes related to the supernatural, and occasionally ballads contain a moral dimension to them, usually expressed in a final verse.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad


In short, ballads aren't always about love, they're not always slow, the main thing is they tell a story. Not to be confused with -> Power Ballads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_ballad

Ice

From what i learnt in my English classes I think a ballad is a poem or a song that tells as story of something that has already happened and it's usually sad or sentimental.
Power ballad are not exactly ballads but they are songs about love and loss performed by rock instruments.

my list of Bon Jovi song that i think are ballads/power ballads:
Bon Jovi: Love lies, burning for love and come back (i think they are all power ballads)
7800 Fahrenheit: Not sure, most of the songs on this album are about love and loss but i don't know if they are all power ballads (?).
Slippery when wet: Never say goodbye, wanted dead or alive(?)
New Jersey: Living in sin, blood on blood, I'll be there for you
Keep the faith; bed of roses, dry county, i want you
These days:This ain't a love song, these days(?), bitter wine, hearts breaking even (power ballad?).
Crossroads: Always
Crush:Save the world, she's a mystery
Bounce: right side of wrong, Joey, you had me from hello, open all night, misunderstood(?).

Aloha !

Yay people, now lets all start posting our lists with songs from Bon Jovi that we consider ballads. That really answers the question.

And no, I'm not going to post the answer to this, because Ice already did.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

I think that means she wants us to post our list of Bon Jovi songs that we consider are ballads.

Aloha !

No it says that maybe we could do that. But usually when something like this is said lots of people start posting their list just for the sake of it. It wasn't meant to offend you.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

wow Ice i am impressed .. very detailed post I didn't KNOW what was aballad until today (I knew the french ballade but not the musical defintion of ballad) now that I know what is a ballad I CAN post my list ..I have to think about it

thanks for this post really excellent ....