What is Ballad?

I have read people arguing "Misunderstood" is ballad or not in the other thread and lead me to ask you all "What is Ballad" ?

Ballad is just a slow song in general ? Or slow rock song? Or a song that tell a story ?

Let me hear your opinions? Also what in your opinion is the best ballad of BJ ?

I would generally agree with your definition of a ballad. Bon Jovi seem to do some songs that are kinda in between a ballad and a rock song.

For example:

Ballad = Open All Night, You Had Me From Hello, etc
In Between = Always, Right Of Wrong, etc
Rock Song = Hey God, Bad Name, etc

I would say that a ballad is a slow song, but some can't be put into that bracket. I.E. You can't really have a quiet rock song, and you can't really have a loud, or fast ballad.

Hope you know what I mean.


As for my best ballads, I'd have to say This Ain't a Love Song, Livin' In Sin, and Right Side Of Wrong, if it can be considered a ballad.

To me a ballad is a love song - generally pretty slow (although songs like Livin' in Sin or Bed of Roses can get quite powerful towards the end).

The fact that a song is slow IMO doesn't make it a ballad.

Mike

Right side of wrong is a ballad, too, but it's not a love song. Ballads are slow songs, difficult to describe. Someone said, that Always wouldn't be a ballad. But it is in my eyes.

yours
Christine

Always is a ballad in my eyes too, i'd define a ballad as being a slow song......could be wrong though.

In medieval times a ballad was a storytelling song, that's where the name comes from. I think that RsoW definitely IS a ballad, because it matches the two main characteristics of a ballad (as they are in my eyes): It is a slow but powerful Rocksong and it tells a story. Other examples are Bed of Roses, I'll be there for you, Never say goodbye, These Days ... ah yeah, talking bout ballads: November Rain