Your absolute favourite ONE ballad ever, and I mean EVER!.... what is it?

ICBM

equalsql said:

Great song but hardly a ballad @ICBM ;...even though it's called one.

I know. I was being flippant because defining a ‘ballad’ is not that easy unless you go by the title .

Brio

ICBM

Devil#20 said:

This song is absolutely brilliant and is typical of the brilliance and the connection that Neil has with music, life and history.

"Cortez the Killer"

Despite being a big Neil Young fan I’ve always disliked that song because the lyrics are total bollocks historically - the Aztecs were not a peaceful society at all.

If I had to pick Neil’s best ballad it would probably be Powderfinger.

Philly_Q

Thea Gilmore - The Things We Never Said

But honestly there are about half a dozen absolute killers on that same album.

Paul_C

Kalimna

Skid Row's "I Remember You". Straightforward intro/verse/chorus with possibly my favourite solo of *any* song, and a return drumbeat just off the beat. Big hair ballad it may be, but songwriting perfection too.

richardhomer

The Downtown Lights - The Blue Nile

CoffeeAndTV

For me, ‘Round Midnight the Wes Montgomery organ trio version. 

EricTheWeary

ICBM said:

Devil#20 said:

This song is absolutely brilliant and is typical of the brilliance and the connection that Neil has with music, life and history.

"Cortez the Killer"

Despite being a big Neil Young fan I’ve always disliked that song because the lyrics are total bollocks historically - the Aztecs were not a peaceful society at all.

If I had to pick Neil’s best ballad it would probably be Powderfinger.

When I was about 19 I had a bad day at the end of which I was playing some records. I remember NY’s Out on the Weekend coming on and it reducing me to tears. So that would be my choice of his (I think it’s just about a ballad). 

 Anyway, I’ll plump for If You Go Away by Scott Walker. A song of which there are many versions including by Shirley Bassey and of course the original Ne me quitte pas by Jacques Brel (which in turn was partly based on a Franz Liszt pièce). But Scott had the best male singing voice in the history of popular music so it’s got to be him. 

Or No Regrets by The Walker Brothers which even has a great guitar solo. No, dammit If You Go Away it is. 

Timcito

"Just Like a Woman" - it shares something with "Nothing Compares 2 U" in that the 'speaker' seems barely able to contain the despair of loss. It's a beautiful song which managed to be beautiful even at a time when gay relationships were not seen as beautiful at all. Doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, it's heartbreakingly human and vulnerable. 

LionAquaLooper

"Everybody Here wants you" by Jeff Buckley

Cranky

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/ballad

I didn’t really know what a ballad was, I guess.  I just remember hearing “monster ballads” from the 80s and assumed they were weird love songs.  Now I can’t think of anything.

How about “Rocket Man” by Elton John.  Does that count?

Tannin

The Piano Man (if that counts as a ballad). If not, American Pie.

BillDL

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Tuesday's Gone

Offset

I have to add one more - Nick Lowe's 'Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart'.

rustneversleeps

“Little Wing”    Neil Young.

stickyfiddle

Meatloaf’s I Would Do Anything For Love is unbeatable imo  

guitars4you

BertMassive said:

These arms of mine - Otis Redding.

Not made my choice yet - Looking to be inspired by other recommendations and yours is the first that I'd agree with - Try a little tenderness is on the radar 

guitars4you

We have all the time in the world - Louis Armstrong - That voice and one of the last records he recorded

Just pipped Herb Alpert 'This guy's in love with you' to that #1 spot

thecolourbox

I suppose I'd have to say Buckley's version of Hallelujah