These 10 Hair Band Ballads Have Withstood The Test of Time
In the 1980s, every high school had that one sappy schmuck that loved one woman so much, they just had to make her an awesome mix tape filled with songs that told a story they were too chicken to tell themselves.
That was me — I was the sappy schmuck.
Armed with Poison, Tesla, Slaughter and ninety minutes of Memorex tape, I would make various mixes of love ballads that made my sister sick, my friends scoff yet taught me one valuable lesson: mix tapes take finesse.
Wait…you never watched High Fidelity?
For that soul still dwelling somewhere in 1987, here’s 10 hair band ballads that survived decades of musical change and still rock jukeboxes around the world. Listen to them, and feel inspired.
#10: Kix — “Don’t Close Your Eyes”
Some sour relationships made people suicidal, introverted and quite honestly too sad to attend school. Formed in 1977, Maryland-based Kix threw down this anti-suicide ballad which reminded many that in times of loneliness and uncertainty, taking your life is really never the answer. Not a particularly relevant breakup song, my friends. This 1988 super ballad hit #11 on the Billboards.
#9: Slaughter — “Fly to the Angels”
Many songs have uplifted those we’ve lost throughout time, yet Mark Slaughter nailed every note in this ballad, which still makes me wonder: was Slaughter’s intended target the grieving widowers, or the man who just lost his girlfriend in an unfortunate happenstance? I’ve applied this band’s lyrics to many situations, all which soothed my inner child just fine.
#8: Tesla — “Love Song”
More of a ‘get off your ass, you crying wimp’ song that what many would dub a ‘love song’, This always creative band — named after inventor Nikola Tesla — had many hits off their Great Radio Controversy album, their top one being an awesome reminder to those freshly dumped: pick yourself up, dust yourself off, grab the Aqua Net and hit the arcade again — you’ll find love, my friend. Several really great songs came from Tesla, although their greatest were born in mid-1980.
#7: Giant — “I’ll See You in my Dreams”
When you’ve lost your woman due to circumstances beyond control — like, she decided your brother was better or parents moved you away in high school — you need something to hold onto…like dreams. Mark Spiro and Alan Pasqua collaborated on this (pretty much) one hit wonder while part of Nashville, Tennessee’s Giant. This tune received considerable radio play upon its release in 1990.
#6: L.A. Guns — “Ballad of Jayne”
Tracii Guns. Axl Rose. Then no Axl Rose, and an entirely new lineup without Tracii Guns. The long running sitcom otherwise known as L.A. Guns managed to spit out loads of wonderful rock tunes, their most affluent being The Ballad of Jayne, which seems to make us all dwell on the ‘one that got away’. A founding father of Guns & Roses, Guns hit this hair band ballad out of the park with a simplistic acoustical approach.
#5: Steelheart — “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)”
I’d bet 98% of you 80’s teens slow danced to this Norwalk, Connecticut based hair band ballad. Originally called Red Alert, Steelheart formed quickly, fired off this panty dropping super hit, then sort of faded into the night. Just when you thought you were headed for Splitsville, this song saves your ass while scoring you some of the same.
#4: Boston — “Amanda”
There’s an Amanda in every woman, right? Well, in order for you to apply the lyrical meaning to your own situation, all you need is a quick name change. A rare #1 because no official music video was made, Tom Scholz wrote this power ballad, the late Brad Delp sang it perfectly, and virtually everyone with the means to make mix tapes added this heartfelt song to their arsenal.
#3: Guns & Roses — “Patience”
Off their “Lies” super album, this well-written acoustical hair band ballad is thought to depict somewhat troubling waters between W. Axl Rose and previous wife, Erin Everly. The truth in that statement hasn’t been fully verified, although it’s widely accepted. It sure seems Axl is talking to, or about, someone; we can all exercise premarital patience to avoid drinking excessively. Vilified
#2: Whitesnake — “Is This Love”
Deep Purple defector David Coverdale slammed down two #1 hits off Whitesnake’s self-titled album, this power ballad being the most prevalent even still today. The question purported in the song — one that is often asked in deeply meaningful relationships — established the foundation for the remainder of this Brit band’s illustrious career. Many of us added this killer hair band delight to the front side of mix tapes.
#1: Cinderella — “Heartbreak Station”
Numero uno was, realistically, a runaway. Listen to the song, read the lyrics, and you’ll see why. Hair band power ballads should’ve been formed around Tom Kiefer & Co.’s extremely moving tune. We could’ve put three songs from this Clifton Heights, PA band at #1, yet this tune definitely has the more deeper feelings mixed with background acoustics that make any mix tape aficionado’s final product even sappier than before.
Because I’ve lived through an uncomfortable emotional rollercoaster during this era, I picked and chose these ten mega hits based off emotional metrics, not popularity. Feel free to bitch, complain, agree or suggest another Top 10 with your own 80’s hits.
