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

ToneControl · March 13

Timcito said:

"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.

Do you mean the Bob Dylan song?

ToneControl · March 13

equalsql said:

ToneControl said:

Don't give up

Yep! Great choice @ToneControl, an utter classic.

Cheers
I watched the "Secret world" concert from 1993 the other week. Amazing stuff.
Paula Cole had been flown in mid-tour, with no rehearsals

It was 1993. Peter heard Harbinger and he loved it. He left me a message on my voicemail just asking me point-blank to join the tour. I think Sinéad O’Connor had stepped out. I flew to Mannheim, Germany, and I had a very short soundcheck. We sang “Don’t Give Up” and maybe one other song. So that night I was thrown out in front of 16,000 Germans.

They won a Grammy for that film

CHRISB50 · March 13

Kate Bush - Man With the Child In His Eyes

ToneControl · March 13

btw what's our criteria here?
I'm assuming one that triggers a strong emotional response, and in which the lyrics and melody are a masterpiece

merlin · March 13

Ruby's Arms by Tom Waits.

Dominic · March 13

The Gambler ....Kenny Rogers

Neil · March 13

So many emotive ballads to choose from Nick Drake but I'll plump for Northern Sky.

Jfingers · March 13

At Seventeen - Janis Ian.

EricTheWeary · March 13

Jfingers said:

At Seventeen - Janis Ian.

Definitely on my list, brilliant song and performance.

RandallFlagg · March 13

The live version of The Style Council's 'The Paris Match' recorded on the Respond Possee Tour at the Palace Theatre London in 1983. Broadcast on Radio One's In Concert programme. No other version touches it IMO:

mrkb · March 13

Neilybob said:

November Rain - Guns n Roses

Totally agree - ballad and air guitar in the same song! Winner!

Timcito · March 13

ToneControl said:

Timcito said:

"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.

Do you mean the Bob Dylan song?

Yes.

blobb · March 13

If we define a ballad a story set to music, being into obscure folk stuff there is absolutely loads to choose from. Picking one here is almost impossible. For me at the 'top' level, Ossian would be in with a shout as would Graham & Eileen Pratt. But I've picked one, and it's got to be Vin Garbutt. But which one? Well, there's his versions of traditional stuff for a start - Lovers Ghost is up there. But he also wrote his own, and if I narrow it down to those, again tough choice, but after considering Beggars Bridge and The One Legged Beggar I'm going with Danny Danielle. Why? Because it was sort of his attempt at writing in the classical style, early in his career, it's a bit contrived but it represents what I most like about Vin. To really capture it's brilliance, you need to imagine him sitting in a bookshop in Guisborough, singing it to one man and his dog. Or more accurately one woman and her child.

Fortunately, there is a video of him doing exactly this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE4Ah0cDXlk

DiscoStu · March 13

'The Power of Love' - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

DannyP · March 13

"The Partisan" by Leonard Cohen - going by the traditional definition of ballad.

Offset · March 13

Jfingers said:

At Seventeen - Janis Ian.

Brilliant choice.

25 years ago I was staying in a hotel off the Pacific Coast Highway. My mate and I went for a margarita or two in a small bar within the hotel complex. There was a solo singer/guitarist on a small stage. She was extremely good on both fronts and invited requests from the audience. I asked for At Seventeen - she smiled and said it was one of her all-time favourite songs. As she started singing, the bar fell silent. She absolutely nailed it and remarkably, both my mate and I managed to get something in our eyes before the end.

That memory has stayed with me after all these years - probably more so than many 'big name' artists I've seen since.