by Al Reilly

Created on: August 26, 2007

To say that the power ballad destroyed metal music is akin to saying that Stairway to Heaven was the downfall of Led Zeppelin. Those amazing songs didn't destroy the genre, it brought Metal to the forefront. The real kicker is that this is nothing new and it applies the same today in rap, hip hop or country.

For generations this phenomenon has ruffled the feathers of every purest no matter what the music style is. The power ballad was the 80's cross over tune. It was the song that brought a band from the virtually unknown, to the spotlight almost overnight. In the 70's Styx were a veteran band with 4 albums on several labels under their belt when they hit the big time with Pieces of Eight and Crystal Ball. I remember my friend telling me about this great new band as he pulled out one of those albums, then I showed him my Styx II album which was actually their 3rd one that was released 2 years or so earlier. High Infidelity put REO Speedwagon on the map but they had a complete library of records before that.

Almost every act that played at Woodstock enjoyed overnight success from that performance. The influx of rock into country which became more popular with bands like C.C.R. made it possible for acts like Garth Brooks to become household names of the 90's. Many rap artists have now taken to sampling popular tunes or revamping them as their own in an effort to widen their appeal.

Where the problem lies is that many of these acts' original followers were drawn to the music because they were different, unpopular, not mainstream... but as soon as everyone else starts to like their music, and God forbid, their parents like it, they turn their backs on the musicians screaming foul and sell out.

In the end, the power ballad did not destroy Metal, but rather opened it up to the masses and drew in a larger fan base that in turn explored more of the artists' material. Even the Kings of Metal, Metallica, were not blind to this or we would not have had Till it Sleeps, One or Nothing Else Matters and I may never had heard the fabulous Master of Puppets.

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