[Western Music] The World of Power Ballads: A Collection of Must-Listen Gems to Start With
Have you ever heard the term “power ballad”? It refers to songs in the ballad style that incorporate emotional guitar solos and solid, heavy drums, often featuring rich backing vocals, beautiful strings, and piano.
In fact, they’ve been around since the 1970s.
For those who know the golden age of Western music in the 1980s, the term is familiar, but many younger music fans may not know it well.
Even bands from heavier genres of the time, like heavy metal and hard rock, usually had at least one classic power ballad on their albums.
This time, we’ll be introducing some of the greatest power ballads in Western music!
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- A Collection of Classic 80s Western Ballads with Male Vocals
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- Ranking of Tear-Jerking Western Songs [2025]
- [2025] A roundup of recommended popular ballads sung by male Western artists
[Western Music] The world of power ballads: A collection of must-hear gems (11–20)
Love SongTesla
Tesla is one of the bands that epitomized the hair metal boom that swept the United States in the 1980s.
Among their songs, the standout power ballad is “Love Song.” It opens with simple guitar accompaniment and a commanding vocal performance.
Jeff Keith’s raspy voice and vocal prowess are utterly captivating.
The song expresses feelings for a loved one—true to its title, “Love Song” is a passionate ode to love.
AmandaBoston
Boston is a quintessential American progressive and hard rock band, led by guitarist Tom Scholz, who attended MIT.
Their signature song “Amanda” is a power ballad notable for its beautiful acoustic guitar tones.
The song portrays the feelings of a protagonist who has fallen for someone they’ve long been close friends with, and is trying to confess those feelings.
It’s a power ballad that poignantly conveys the protagonist’s inner conflict: they don’t want to ruin the relationship, but they can’t stand leaving things as they are.
AngelAerosmith
“Angel,” with its emotionally charged guitar solo in the intro, leaves a strong impression.
This song is a very famous ballad by the American rock legends Aerosmith, included on their 1987 album “Permanent Vacation.” The transition from Joey Kramer’s pre-chorus drum hits into Steven Tyler’s powerful vocals is a textbook example of a power ballad’s beautiful flow—and it’s truly moving!
I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys
A pop ballad about aching love propelled America’s Backstreet Boys to global stardom.
Released in April 1999, the song reached No.
1 on the charts in more than 25 countries and earned an impressive three Grammy nominations.
While the lyrics are ambiguous, its beautiful melody and the group’s exquisite five-part harmonies are sure to soothe anyone struggling with love.
It was featured in a Samsung Electronics commercial in 2021, and even after more than 20 years, its appeal remains undiminished.
Highly recommended for those dealing with heartbreak or long-distance relationships.
After the Love Has GoneEarth, Wind & Fire
A gem of a ballad that sings of sweet, aching love lost.
Known as one of Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature classics, this song’s beautiful melody gently wraps the deep sorrow of a romance that has ended and the lingering attachment that remains, resonating deeply with the heart.
Included on the album I Am, released in June 1979, it won the Grammy the following year for Best R&B Vocal Performance.
Crafted by a trio of songwriters including David Foster, the polished composition became a major hit, reaching No.
2 on the Billboard charts.
As bassist Verdine White has shared, it’s a track born of dedication—recorded seven times in pursuit of perfect performance.
A heartwarming slow ballad, it’s recommended for moments when you want to heal from heartbreak or immerse yourself in memories of someone special.
I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith
A heart-stirring masterpiece of a rock ballad by Aerosmith.
This song, which expresses a powerful desire not to miss a single moment with a loved one, conveys deep affection and passion.
Released in July 1998 as the theme song for the film Armageddon, it became Aerosmith’s first No.
1 in the United States, achieving the remarkable feat of holding the top spot for four consecutive weeks.
Played during the film’s climax, the song also portrays the bond between father and daughter and the spirit of self-sacrifice, giving it meaning beyond a simple love song.
It’s a highly recommended track not only for couples, but for anyone who wants to feel the bonds with someone important.
[Western Music] The World of Power Ballads: A Selection of Must-Listen Gems (21–30)
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
Whitney Houston, who captivated the world with her overwhelming vocal prowess.
This work, sung by the American-born artist, is a grand ballad that vows eternal love.
It portrays a self-sacrificial love that chooses separation for the other person’s happiness—a universal theme that resonates with many.
Released in November 1992, the song was used as the theme for the film The Bodyguard and became a massive hit.
It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and spent 14 consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the U.
S.
Billboard Hot 100 chart.
If you want to feel profound love and the bittersweetness of parting, give it a listen.
In conclusion
As mentioned at the beginning, if you listen to albums released by heavy metal and hard rock bands—especially from the ’80s—you’ll usually find at least one power ballad.
Grunge and alternative rock emerged as a counter to that trend, but even now, well into the 2020s, the appeal of the power ballad has never faded.
Those emotionally stirring melodies that move people’s hearts will continue to be loved forever.