When you hear the word "ballad", what comes to mind?
A slow, emotional love song? A dramatic rock performance? Or a traditional folk song telling a story about love, betrayal, murder or adventure?
Interestingly, the word has developed two rather different meanings.
Traditionally, a ballad was a song that told a story, often passed between singers and generations.
But in modern popular music, we frequently call slow, romantic or emotional songs ballads, even when they don't tell a complete story.
And then there are songs such as Marty Robbins' El Paso, which follow the storytelling tradition but sound quite different from a modern pop power ballad.
A Few Questions Worth Discussing
- Should a ballad tell a story, or is an emotional song enough?
- What's your favourite ballad, and why?
- Do you prefer traditional folk ballads or modern pop and rock ballads?
- Can a fast song still qualify as a ballad?
- Have you heard traditional storytelling songs from your country or culture?
- Do the words matter more than the melody when deciding whether a song is a ballad?
Read the full article:
What Makes a Song a Ballad? - Songs And Poems
Which song would you nominate as a perfect example of a ballad?
All respectful opinions and examples are welcome.