If there were no ballads, how many less people would there be on this world? How many people wouldn't have that sad song that they can relate with, the song they hear the lyrics and think that it perfectly applies to their life. And sometimes you just want a ballad for the mood you're in. Here are some of my all-time favorite ballads. I thought of amazing ballads I've heard over the years, googled a few websites that have great ballads and also looked a bit through my own iTunes. On some of those lists I googled there were songs that were listed as ballads that I don't think are ballads. While I do love Guns N' Roses "November Rain", in my opinion that's not a ballad. Thus I'll be focusing on posting ballads, not almost ballads.
1) The Carpenters "Superstar":
This is the first song I thought of when I thought of ballads. 2) The Commodores "Still":
3) Bread "Everything I Own":
One of the best ballads over the last several years. 4) John Legend with the spectacular Lindsey Sterling "All of Me":
5) Lady Antebellum "Need You Now":
6) Fergie "Clumsy":
7) Taylor Swift "Love Story":
That mournful sax starting at 4:27 gets me every time. 8) Dan Fogelberg "Auld Lang Syne":
9) Norah Jones "Don't Know Why":
10) Dido "Hunter":
11) Poison "Every Rose Has It's Thorn":
12) Guns N' Roses "Patience":
13) The Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under The Bridge":
There's very few things better than a 80's power ballad, as these next three songs demonstrate. 14) Aerosmith "Angel":
Almost 38 million views, as it should be. 15) Journey "Open Arms":
10) Riley Thompson sang Dolly Pardon's "Jolene". Obviously Riley is attractive, although her Momz is absolutely beautiful, I suspect that's why she's still in this contest. I'm just not overwhelmed by her vocal talent and what would she know about the storyline of a song like "Jolene"? Trending at the same level.
9) Laci Kaye Booth sang a completely slowed down version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me". I know that Luke Bryan liked it, but too many performances like that would have made me fall asleep. She's attractive like Riley, but I think she has a lot more talent. I think that Laci could win the whole competition. But a lot of that will come down to song selection. Please pick better Laci. For now Laci Kaye Booth is trending down.
8) Raquel Trinidad sang The Cardigans "Lovefool", which is an absolutely amazing song. The first thing I want to say is that damn Raquel is skinny. She hasn't got a lot of screen time, but she definitely deserves more. Although I'm not a big fan of her island sounding "Lovefool". Raquel is trending at the same level.
7) Madison Vandenburg sang a head scratching song, Jessie J's "Domino". I've never heard this song- yes I know I'm old. I'm liking her version of this song on a second listen. She's one of the best pure singers in the competition. I expect better from her going forward. And for now, she's also trending down. Although I think she could win the entire competition as well.
6) Ashley Hess, oh Ashley, please don't sing such a bad song selection ever again. She sang John Mayer's "Dreaming With A Broken Heart". I love your vibe Ashley and I think you're a great singer, but this song sucked. Not you, the song. Although I still think you're great, have Bobby Bones help you choose a better song. Sadly Ashley is trending down.
5) Alyssa Raghu sang Paramore's "Ain't It Fun", again not another great choice miss Alyssa Raghu. This is one of Paramore's more mediocre songs. Maybe if you want to sing a rock song, sing one more like "Misery Business" or "CrushCrushCrush". Show off those big vocals girl. Alyssa is trending up, but can we see more performances like this:
4) Bumbly sang Mariah Carey's "Vision of Love". That's a great song and Mariah's version is amazing. It's hard for an amateur singer, even a great singer, to match up with Mariah. As for now Bumbly is trending at the same level.
Maybe if Bumbly gets a chance she should sing this Ed Sheehan song again:
3) Kate Barnette sang Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning". Lionel complimented her on bringing the funk and she did do that. But I wish she would have brought a bit more funk. Kate sorta reminds me a bit of Crystal Bowersox, which is a huge compliment. Kate has a unique look she also has an unique vibe. Realistically I don't think she's going to win the competition. However she's one of my favs. As of now she's trending at the same level.
2) Next up is the unofficial mayor of Nashville, Eddie Island. Welcome to the Island. He sang Lumineers "Ho Hey", I wish he would have stayed with the original arrangement. I get he's an artist and he's trying to make his own way. Trending up.
1) I'm surprised that Laine Hardy is my #1, but he had a one two punch of "Come Together" and Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home". He could win this whole thing. I'm so glad the judges gave him an opportunity to come back for another season. He learned a lot from his first year on "AI". I'm looking for big things from Laine going forward and for now he's trending up.
I freely admit that I have a preference for the ladies on "American Idol". This is after their Top 20 performances on April 1st, 2019. I plan on publishing Part 2 tomorrow.
The please I can't hear their stories any more group, someone save me.
Can we please, please send him home already. Yes, he does have a distinctive voice, but that's all. 20) Wade Cota sang Kodaline's "All I Want". I watched this video and the I wonder how much the video's storyline played into Cota picking this song? Trending: down
Maybe Wade can lose a bunch of weight and be next year's version of Ryan Hammond. This is the song I want Wade to sing as he leaves soon:
19) Ryan Hammond sang Lauren Daigle's "You Say". I love, love, love Lauren Daigle, but I hated Hammond's version of this song. His performance of this song pales in comparison to the original. Trending: down
18) Logan Johnson sang City and Colour's "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". This is a remake of Madonna's much better version, which was a remake of a Rose Royce song. I like Logan Johnson's voice, but this song was a terrible song selection. I expect him to bounce back, but this was a low point for his "AI" journey. And he thankfully doesn't have a sad story that needs to be flogged over and over and over again. Trending at the same level.
Madonna's version:
17) Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon sang Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love". I actually liked his performance of this song. But can we please stop beating his story into the ground? Seriously we don't need an update on whether he's a janitor at his father's church ever again. It's "American Idol" not "American Janitor". Also can we stop the Katy Perry and Jeremiah bonding over being pastor's kids? Trending at the same level.
The five men and one woman group, none of who have overwhelmed me yet. I'm not sure how some of these people got in the Top 20.
16) Dimitrius Graham sang Adele's "Hello". Thankfully we don't have to hear the same sad story with him each week. But that's the best that can be said about him. Trending at the same level.
15) Walker Burroughs sang The Bee Gees "How Deep Is Your Love", his version is nowhere as good as the original. I mean it's not even close. However I do like Walker, he's just got to pick it up if he wants to continue in the competition. Trending at the same level.
14) Alejandro Aranda sang Post Malone's "I Fall Apart". I hate Post Malone's version and I hate Aranda's version, which makes sense as it's not that good of a song. I know that the judges love him, but Aranda leaves me cold. He's a decent singer and very talented musician, but he just leaves me cold. It feels like he was given a gift, but didn't have to work for it. Thus he has no passion or grit for it. I know that we will have to endure him at least a few more weeks. Trending at the same level.
13) Uche sang Jessie Reyez's "Figures". I think Uche is okay, but he needs to gain a lot of humility. He ain't all that. My favorite performance of his was when he sang Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music". Or I should say that one minute where he actually sang the song, the rest was a Uche having a Uche moment. Trending at the same level.
12) Shawn Robinson sang Nick Jonas' "Jealous". The original song and Robinson's cover are the very definition of meh. I like Robinson's voice and some of the notes he hit. However I hope he picks a much better song next time. I don't think he'll finish in the Top Ten, but I believe he'll be around a couple more weeks. Trending: up.
How about the legend Stevie Wonder's "I Wish":
Look its our first female. 11) Evelyn Cormier sang a tortured version of John Denver's "Leaving on A Jet Plane". I mean that's a great song, at least the version I hear in my head. Although I can't find a great version of "Leaving", but Cormier's version might have been the worst version I've ever heard. Trending at the same level.
I was disappointed by the Peter, Paul and Mary and John Denver's version, this is my favorite version. Take it away Chantal:
These are some of the best songs on "American Idol". This isn't the best performances by American Idols, no it's just simply the best songs sung on "Idol". This blog was inspired by Evelyn Cormier singing "Leaving On A Jet Plane". I hated her version, but that's an amazing song.
So many of the comments on this YouTube video are about young men who were on their way to Vietnam. Thanks to all those that served America, especially those that died in that mistake of a war. 1) Peter, Paul and Mary "Leaving On The Jet Plane":
Jordin Sparks amazing version is what alerted me to this amazing songs. 2) Shirley Bassey "I (Who Have Nothing)":
Carrie Underwood tore up this song in one of "American Idol'" best performances.
3) Heart's "Alone":
I have no idea why an amateur singer would even take on a Whitney song, there's only one Whitney. 4) Whitney Houston "I Have Nothing":
5) Phil Collins "Against All Odds (Take It Look At Me Now)":
Oh Bumbly I love, love, love your voice. There were parts of your performance of this song I liked, but overall it wasn't your best performance. Perhaps like Whitney songs, maybe amateur singers shouldn't take on Mariah's songs? 6) Mariah Carey "Vision of Love":
Siobhan Magnus killed her cover of 7) Aretha's "Think":
8) The Queen of Soul's "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman":
I think Jason Castro's version of 9) "Hallelujah" might be my favorite performance ever, but I like Jeff Buckley's version as well:
I loved Megan Joy's rebel soul and her take on 10) KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree":
Any song that Crystal Bowersox chose to sing was a version I loved. #mamasox4eva
11) Gladys Knight and The Pips "Midnight Train To Georgia":
12) "I Say A Little Prayer":
13) "Save The Best For Last":
14) "Stuff Like That There":
I liked, not loved, Eddie Island's cover of 15) The Lumineers "Ho Hey":
Happy April Fool's Day, I hope it wasn't too obnoxious for you.
The first song that came to my mind when I thought of this blog was Def Leppard's "Foolin". I was surprised how many great songs have "fool" or some variation of that word in the title.
1) Def Leppard "Foolin":
2) The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again":
3) Frankie Lyman + The Teenagers "Why Do Fools Fall In Love":
"Anyone else would surely knows he's watching her go." 4) The Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes":
5) Led Zeppelin "Fool In The Rain":
6) Cinderella "Nobody's Fool":
7) The Cardigans "Lovefool":
8) Elvis Presley "Fools Rush In" ( I know it's really "Can't Help Falling In Love", but I had to cheat as this is such an amazing song):
9) Rick Springfield "What Kind of Fool Am I":
10) Shakira "Fool":
11) Robert Plant "Ship of Fools":
12) Barbra Striesand "What Kind of Fool":
13) Whitesnake "Fool For Your Love":
14) Now and Then There's A Fool Such As I":
15) Styx "Fooling Yourself":
16) Steve Perry "Foolish Heart":
17) Ricky Nelson "Poor Little Fool":
18) Connie Francis "Everybody's Somebody's Fool":
19) Barbara Mandrell "Fooled By A Feeling":
20) "One of A Kind Pair of Fools":
21) Dio "All The Fools Sailed Away":
