About This Quiz
When the monsters of rock are tamed, the masses are delivered the most beautiful rock ballads that have ever made their way to the top of the charts. These ballads tell stories of heartache, loss, love and attempting to understand death. Even the heaviest of metal fans can't turn their ears away from the poetic and symphonic melodies they hear.Â
What makes a rock ballad so important is that it's a chance for the band to show their range. They aren't limited to just screaming into the microphone; they aren't bound to creating loud noises with electronic instruments. They are given the opportunity to prove themselves, and the result defines them as more than just hardcore rockers.
If you're a lover of all things rock, then you definitely know a thing or two about the ballads that have been released over the years. This quiz is going to take you back to the original smooth sounds that people were surprised to hear from their favorite bands. It's also going to take you on a journey through the evolution of rock ballads as a whole. If you're ready to take a step back in time, see if you can name all 35 of these ballads from the lyrics alone.
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith was written for the "Armageddon" soundtrack in 1998. While the song hints toward desperation for love, it also has a true romance undertone throughout.
While Aerosmith has given us nearly 50 years worth of music, there are certain songs that we will never forget from them. "Angel" is at the top of the list of their all-time greatest ballads.
Even REO Speedwagon had a ballad (or two) that hit the charts. This one follows '80s teen dramas pretty nicely, as it's about a man who has fallen in love with a friend and can't help but tell her.
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Though many note the power of this song (especially when Puffy sampled it on "I'll Be Missing You"), when you read through the lyrics, it can be a little creepy. It covers everything from love to obsession.
In a song about pain and loss, we see Pink Floyd give one of the most unexpected ballads a band could produce. This is one of those songs that people often listen to when they want to reminisce about a lost friend or loved one.
Though Elton John may be one of the few who can rock out on a piano, his ballads are what everyone really looks for. He released "Candle in the Wind" in 1973, and it remains one of his most popular songs.
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Motley Crue is notorious for being one of the dirtiest bands to ever go on tour. However, their song lyrics speak to a generation of lower-income rebels who have to fight to survive. That is why "Home Sweet Home" was such a shock to their fans. It's intense but in a different way from the rest of their music.
Brett Michaels noted that this was one of the most difficult songs he ever wrote because it is about the death of his friend and bodyguard, Kimo. Upon hearing about his friend's death, he locked himself in a room and wrote this song.
While Guns N' Roses has a few memorable ballads, it's difficult to deny that "November Rain" as one of the most powerful ballads of the early 1990s. The band had such powerful anti-establishment songs that this ballad shocked audiences (who loved it).
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You may have heard "Only The Lonely" by The Motels in several different movies. However, The Motels are the type of band that worked hard before their stardom, mostly covering the Los Angeles music scene.
Not all rock ballads have to be about love or loss or death. As a matter of fact, "Sister Christian" was about the lead singer's sister growing up too fast. The song ended up being the band's biggest hit.
If you're looking for song lyrics that are pure poetry, you will find it in "Silent Lucidity" (1990). Though the song is about lucid dreaming, listeners who have experienced loss and grief apply the lyrics to the fact that the dead never leave, so long as we remember them.
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"When I See You Smile" is a cross between a love song and a song of appreciation. It's all about gaining confidence through love and understanding while it still delivers the jams that Bad English is known for.
Telling bands to "slow it down" to attract more audiences was a common thing in the 1960s. The Beatles were the type of band that liked to explore music in every way, so they actually have quite a few ballads that are popular.
Though R.E.M. is most well known for its innovative alternative style of the 1990s, the band was actually formed in 1980 and had sounds that most people weren't familiar with at the time. In the 1980s, they were placed in the pop music category, even though their songs were faster and a little more difficult to dance to.
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Led Zeppelin wasn't necessarily known for its simple songs or simple music. This ballad is rather basic when boiled down to the lyrics. However, the method in which it was sung as well as the 12-string guitar play brings it up to Zep level.
Poison has an exceptional and unique sound to their music. They sample from blues, country and rock all at the same time. It wasn't necessarily a new concept, but for some reason, this band brings these three sounds together in a way that audiences can hear them distinctly and seamlessly all at the same time.
Not all love songs have to be about first loves or the perfect, most unattainable person. As a matter of fact, they can simply be about the seamstress for the band. "Tiny Dancer" was written about Elton John's writing partner Bernie Taupin's girlfriend at the time, and the song became a huge hit.
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The 1976 ballad "Love Hurts" by Nazareth doesn't pull any punches. It blatantly destroys the concept of love and how people always talk about how great that concept is. This song gives us the hard truth.
Though Firehouse was considered a hard rock band in the early 1990s, they did produce a couple of very intense ballads that flipped genres and undoubtedly revealed the band's true talent.
The Goo Goo Dolls began as a punk band. When their music went mainstream, they actually lost quite a few fans. The song "Iris" was created for the movie "City of Angels" (1998), making the band skyrocket into popularity.
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Eric Clapton is a well-known rocker in many circles. His work throughout the years has made him an icon in the rock world. However, when his son tragically died, he penned "Tears In Heaven" to help him cope with the grief.
While Journey is often considered one of the best rock bands of all time, they do have quite a few ballads under their belt. Journey's ballads are mostly love songs or songs about love on the rocks.
Foreigner was a rock band that might be considered a little soft for the 1980s, but the music was approachable, and they had several jams that people followed religiously. However, this ballad truly showed their range.
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Any fan of the movie "Top Gun" (1986) knows this song like the back of their hand. It's a true love song that has been given a lot of attention lately, as the second installment of the "Top Gun" series is set to be released in 2020.
Tesla's "Love Song" is not a remake of "Love Song" by The Cure. As a matter of fact, this song is about overcoming love and moving on. It's less about falling in love and more about how to get over the fact that your love has ended.
Cinderella sings "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" in a way that changes the band's entire persona for just a few minutes. The song talks about the loss of love and the terrible regret that follows.
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Sebastian Bach (lead singer of Skid Row) has a unique voice, and when the band's ballads are played, that voice comes through in an even more unique way. He hits notes no one thought he could hit, and he sings of heartache like no other '80s rocker could.
Def Leppard was incredibly popular in the 1980s, and their fame came at a young age (some members weren't even old enough to sign their own contracts when the band formed in 1977). They blew up in popularity with the "Hysteria" album that was released in 1987.
Though many love songs talk about how falling in love isn't always easy, "Never Tear Us Apart" was all about what happens when you find someone and instantly know that you are going to spend the rest of your life with them.
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In the 1990s, music changed quite a bit. However, alternative rock emerged and gave us songs we could jam to and cry to all at the same time. Live was one of those bands that gave us multiple songs that were radio-friendly while being revolutionary at the same time.
In one of the most memorable music videos ever made, Soul Asylum including images of missing persons (especially younger ones) throughout the intense visuals of children being stolen and running away.
"Unforgiven" by Metallica has both a clear surface message as well as underlying hints into the lead singer's life. The song is about being held back as a child, and that loss of freedom seeping into adulthood.
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Though The Rolling Stones have quite a few ballads under their belt (with a five-decade career, it's expected), "Wild Horses" seems to be the one people always go back to. It has been remade by several artists over the years.
Though Bon Jovi is considered an '80s rocker, he has more ballads than the rest of the big metal bands put together. His lyrics focus on everything from star-crossed love to heartache in full.