There’s plenty of debate as to the “original” power ballad — this Wikipedia entry even traces it back to a Carpenters song! — but when it comes to the ultimate power ballad, the apex of the songform, I’m not sure you could do much better than Def Leppard’s “Love Bites” (download). I mean, seriously, you guys. Seriously.

I was never bitten too hard by the Lep bug, but in the summer of ‘88, I still went to see them in concert, and it was, in highfalutin criticspeak, fuckin’ rad. And listen, if you think you’re too good for this band’s incredible late ’80s peak, do yourself a favor and catch an airing of the Classic Albums documentary for Hysteria on VH1 Classic some night. This all reminds me that I’ve been meaning to buy the deluxe Hysteria remaster. I think I’ll go do that now:

For a time, the power ballad was so prevalent that you almost couldn’t be a rock band and get away without recording one. Even the grizzled ass-kickers in ZZ Top got into the act with today’s entry in the series, 1986’s “Rough Boy” (download). And you know what? They did it right. “Rough Boy” is far from the band’s best song, but it’s saved from outright mediocrity by a perfect solo. This one skirts the outer edges of the “power” part of power ballad, but it was about as tender as this trio ever got, so I’m putting it on the list.

Winger - Headed for a Heartbreak

Yesterday’s Power Balladeers were roped into recording material by outside writers, and their career suffered accordingly. At the other end of the spectrum sat the post-rehab Aerosmith, gleefully lapping up the Top 40-ready works of writers such as Glen Ballard, Holly Knight, Jim Vallance, and Desmond Child, who co-wrote today’s honoree, 1987’s “Angel” (download). Many longtime Aerosmith fans thought “Angel” sucked, but it sounded great at high school dances, so everyone was powerless to stop it; in any case, when compared with the seemingly endless sewage pipe of one-word-named power ballads the band would record on future albums, it’s actually kind of cool.

I’m sure that, once upon a time, bands recorded power ballads for, um, artistic reasons. Falling in and out of love can make a man do strange things, like recording “Babe” or “Keep on Lovin’ You.” After a few of them were hits, however, the dudes in suits figured out that power ballads were an excellent way of getting rock bands on pop radio, and before long, groups whose albums had stopped selling found themselves being force-fed songs by outside writers.

Poor Cheap Trick.

Cheap Trick - The Flame

The masses have spoken, and I have listened. Lo and behold, fuckers — every (week)day this month, I’ll be “treating” you to a power ballad!

(For more on why I’m doing this, click here.)

So. What’s a power ballad, you ask? Honestly, that’s a tough question, and I’m not sure there’s really an answer that will satisfy everyone. Hell, people can’t even agree on what to call these songs — some call them “big” ballads, some call them “monster” ballads. I’m not calling anything a monster ballad unless Godzilla is singing it to Mothra, and some of these songs are actually rather small, if you know what I mean:so as long as you’re under my roof, we’re calling them power ballads, and that’s final.

I go into this knowing full well that some of you will have problems with the songs I’ve selected. That’s fine. For one thing, I think the whole genre has enough gray areas that a spirited discussion or two is inevitable; for another, it’s my blog, nyah nyah nyah.

To me, the power ballad is a song that, on its own, might be nothing more than a garden-variety wimpy love song, but it’s given a little extra oomph through production and ostensibly macho delivery. Also, it has a big chorus. (This is why, going in, I’m excluding “More Than Words” and “To Be With You.” Drop your notes in the complaint box.)

Anyway, let’s get down to the balladry, shall we? Our first honoree is sort of obscure, but it comes from a man who’s no stranger to the genre. I’m talking about Steve Lukather, guitarist for Toto, and his 1989 solo album, Lukather. It starts off sort of soft, but get a load of that chorus! Bonus points for being written by (if I’m remembering this right) Diane Warren!

Steve Lukather - Turns To Stone