Ultimate Classic Rock Names the 50 Greatest Power Ballads

Ultimate Classic Rock has unveiled its ranking of the 50 Greatest Power Ballads in Rock History, and if you’re already humming synth-heavy melodies and picturing wind machines, you’re probably right on track. The list is a love letter to the genre’s golden era—the 1980s—though a few later entries snuck into the Top 10.

Taking the crown is Prince’s emotional epic “Purple Rain” from 1984. A ballad drenched in guitar solos, gospel vibes, and heartache, it’s a track that transcends genre and generation. Right behind it is Heart’s “Alone” (1987), a vocal powerhouse that helped define power ballads as vehicles for drama and desire.

The top five is rounded out by Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” (1991), a stadium-sized slow burn with an equally iconic video; Journey’s eternal karaoke staple “Don’t Stop Believin'” (1981); and Foreigner’s yearning anthem “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984).

Here’s the complete Top 20:

1. “Purple Rain” – Prince (1984)
2. “Alone” – Heart (1987)
3. “November Rain” – Guns N’ Roses (1991)
4. “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey (1981)
5. “I Want to Know What Love Is” – Foreigner (1984)
6. “Home Sweet Home” – Mötley Crüe (1985)
7. “Dream On” – Aerosmith (1973)
8. “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” – Meat Loaf (1993)
9. “Sister Christian” – Night Ranger (1983)
10. “Heaven” – Bryan Adams (1983)
11. “Keep on Loving You” – REO Speedwagon (1980)
12. “Faithfully” – Journey (1983)
13. “Broken Wings” – Mr. Mister (1985)
14. “Heaven” – Warrant (1989)
15. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler (1983)
16. “More Than a Feeling” – Boston (1976)
17. “Open Arms” – Journey (1981)
18. “Against All Odds” – Phil Collins (1984)
19. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Poison (1988)
20. “Wind of Change” – Scorpions (1990)

While power ballads saw their peak in the late ’80s and early ’90s, their influence lingers. These songs were the emotional reset buttons on hard rock albums, often becoming the biggest hits for bands otherwise known for distortion and swagger.

For a full list of all 50 songs—including the stories behind them—you can visit UltimateClassicRock.com. Just be prepared to fall down a nostalgia rabbit hole of teased hair, power chords, and slow-motion lighters in the air.