The best rock ballads: foreign and domestic

Rock ballad is a beautiful slow melodic song. Often such compositions are loved not only by true fans of the genre, but also by those who prefer usually lighter music. Let’s remember the best rock ballads, but first we’ll figure out what is the difference between such songs and ordinary “lingers”.

The hallmarks of rock ballads

The sound of these songs is pure and melodic. The thing is that they are usually recorded using acoustic guitars and keyboards. Perhaps this also plays a role in the fact that the number of cover versions specifically for rock ballads is so great.

Sometimes at the end of a song, electric guitars come in with a powerful loss. This gives the composition a special drive, charges it with crazy energy, which is so appreciated by people in love with rock music. And very often the best rock ballads are just such piercing, soul-taking songs.

Sometimes such compositions are recorded by musicians in acoustic or orchestral arrangements. There are frequent cases when rock bands then perform them at concerts in conjunction with a symphony orchestra. However, such performances are practiced, of course, only by well-known bands, in the performance of which the best rock ballads sound.

About musicians performing such songs

Traditionally, the leader in the number of rock ballads remains the German group Scorpions. In 2000, an entire album of lyric songs was released, recorded by the team members together with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. And the compositions “Still Loving You”, “Wind of Change” and “Send Me An Angel” are known to everyone.

Many songs of The Beatles can also be safely attributed to rock ballads. This is Yesterday, and Something, and the beloved by many Let It Be. And the song “Hey Jude”, the longest track ever recorded by the group, is considered one of the best rock ballads of its time.

Led Zeppelin is another collective that has enriched the world musical heritage with a large number of lyrical melodies. At the same time, the composition “Stairway to Heaven” is considered classical and is recognized as one of the most soulful in the history of rock music.

In addition, the best rock ballads were given to the world by Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Chris de Burgh. But not only foreign performers contribute to the creation of the most romantic songs on the planet.

Russian rock ballads

These songs are probably known to every Russian person. They are able to tune in to a wave of thoughts, become the best company, if they suddenly have a chance to grieve, or they can give real reassurance. They know their texts by heart, they listen to them and put them on repeat, they are loved.

Famous lyrics are considered to be the musicians of the group "Aria". “Take my heart”, “Paradise Lost”, “Ice Shard”, “Carefree Angel” - these songs are not only loved by Valery Kipelov's admirers. They like many.

Rock ballads performed by the Nautilus Pompilius band are no less famous. This is “Walking on water”, “Casanova”, “Breath” and, perhaps, the most soulful song of the collective “I want to be with you”.

Favorite by many are the songs “Wind”, “Rain”, “Last Fall” of the groups “DDT”, “Black Moon”, “Eternal Love”, “Opium for Nobody”, “Agatha Christie”, as well as “No One Will Hear” and “ Not with me ”of the“ Chayf ”group. The song “City of Gold” by Boris Grebenshchikov and the famous “Crossroads” by Andrei Makarevich are considered rock ballads.

No less famous are the rock ballads “Spleen”: “Romance”, “There is no way out”, “Sing to me again”. Some compositions "Bi-2" and Zemfira can also be attributed to ballads. This is Silver, My Rock and Roll, which Shura and Leva performed with Chicherina, as well as the very famous songs “Want”, “London” and “We're Crashing”.

The best romantic rock compositions according to Rolling Stone magazine

The famous American magazine "Rolling Stone" has compiled its rating of rock ballads. There were so many applicants for the title of the best that instead of the usual top 10, a list of twelve songs was announced.

So, the twelfth place in this rating was taken by the U2 song “With or Without You”. In eleventh place is the Hey Jude already mentioned by us. The top ten song “Free Bird” was opened by the tragically well-known collective Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tragically, because fans still remember the terrible plane crash of 1977, which claimed the lives of three of its members.

In ninth place is the Pearl Jam with the song “Black”, in eighth - Marvin Gay and “Let's Get It On”. The song “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd rose one line above. Sixth place goes to the song “Purple Rain” by Prince, a blues artist.

The Beatles are on the fifth line of the rating again, but this time with the song “Let It Be”. Fourth place - Guns N'Roses and their famous “November rain”.

The best foreign rock ballads - according to the version of "Rolling Stone" - are located in the ranking as follows:

• honorable third place - the song "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones ;
• “Silver” in the composition “Something” (and again the Beatles);
• Best Rock Ballad - Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.