Ballad

Aballadis a form ofverse.It is often a story set tomusic.Ballads were popular inBritishandIrishpoetry and music until the 19th century from the latemedieval period.It was also used inAmericas,AustraliaandNorth Africa.Many ballads were written and sold as single sheetbroadsides.Poetsandcomposersfrom the 18th century used this form. In this way, they produced lyrical ballads. In the later 19th century, ballads were slow form of popular love song. The term is now often used as synonymous with any love song, particularly the pop or rockpower ballad.

Illustration byArthur Rackhamof the balladThe Twa Corbies

Power ballad

To emphasize the emotional aspect of a power ballad, crowds customarily hold up litlighters.

Power balladis a name given tolovesongsthat were predictably included inheavy metalalbums in the1980s.

The power ballad was usually slower intempoand much less aggressive inlyricsthan the other music on the album. The songs were often made in a hope of scoring aTop Fortyhit, and were particularly associated with bands in thehard metalgenre. Examples includePoison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" andBon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive".