Favorite Christine Ballad

[Hawkeye]

Why is excluded, because A) I wasn't sure it fits the ballad criteria and B) even if it does it's not allowed becuase it would be a runaway winner, I want people to have to make some decisions.

[tilthefirefades]

I can't decide between Wish You Were Here, Calumny or Northern Star :distress:

[michelej1]

I would actually go with Calumny, but since she didn't write it, I have to discount it. She's written too many songs for me to give the nod to something Dan penned.

Michele

[chiliD]

MY favorite isn't listed:

"The Smile I Live For".:nod:

[Hawkeye]

^^^^^ That song entered my head, but it has a danmed minute long guitar solo at the end, it doesn't belong with this group. Its a slow burning rocker in my mind not a ballad.

[chiliD]

Where the hell do you think the term "Power Ballad" came from? Certainly wasn't Journey, Aerosmith or Poison.

It's a ballad no matter how long Lindsey did his jerk-off solo at the end.

[David]

I voted for Show Me a Smile.

She wrote some great slow blues, too, like When the Train Comes Back.

[TerraRhiannon]

Where the hell do you think the term "Power Ballad" came from? Certainly wasn't Journey, Aerosmith or Poison.

It's a ballad no matter how long Lindsey did his jerk-off solo at the end.

This made me laugh. He always has to insert his guitar solos during inappropriate times. :shrug: lmao

[GypsySorcerer]

I would actually go with Calumny, but since she didn't write it, I have to discount it. She's written too many songs for me to give the nod to something Dan penned.

Michele

"Calumny" is probably my second favorite from that list, after "Songbird." And I agree with chili- "The Smile I Live For" is lovely.

[aleuzzi]

Why is definitely a ballad, as is Smile I live For!

[jbrownsjr]

Wow I love Ask Anybody and the smile I live for...

I voted for Wish you were here.. giving Mirage some love...

[HejiraNYC]

Wow I love Ask Anybody and the smile I live for...

I voted for Wish you were here.. giving Mirage some love...

"Ask Anybody" is the greatest thing Christine Ann Perfect Quintella McVie has ever done. It is flawless- the lyrics, the melody, the vocal, the production, the Steve Winwood synth solo. I always get the chills when she sings the line "...he'll change and we'll try it all over again..." It is one of those songs that definitely sets the mood when it comes on.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Never Make Me Cry


.....I get the images of the Tusk Doc when I hear this. I adore this song.

[HomerMcvie]

Northern Star, and Calumny, are my favorite two songs on ITM.
I went with Northern Star.

I want another Chris album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[louielouie2000]

Never Make Me Cry


.....I get the images of the Tusk Doc when I hear this. I adore this song.

Of her completely hammered playing the song in her yacht? :lol:

I chose Mystified... I'm probably one of two people who just adores that song.

[chiliD]

I chose Mystified... I'm probably one of two people who just adores that song.

That would make me the other.:wavey:

[RickRobert]

Voted All Over Again. My second choice would be As Long As You Follow then Warm Ways but... kind of hard to tell what's a ballad of not with Christine. Unless it's like Sugar Daddy or something.

[jbrownsjr]

Of her completely hammered playing the song in her yacht? :lol:

I chose Mystified... I'm probably one of two people who just adores that song.

I have to be 3.. because I love love love mystifieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed (mystified).. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww mystiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiied..... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.... lol

[jbrownsjr]

"Ask Anybody" is the greatest thing Christine Ann Perfect Quintella McVie has ever done. It is flawless- the lyrics, the melody, the vocal, the production, the Steve Winwood synth solo. I always get the chills when she sings the line "...he'll change and we'll try it all over again..." It is one of those songs that definitely sets the mood when it comes on.

It just has this haunting quality to it... and the way the arrangement is with the electric piano running into the bass line.... ohhhh goose bumps... (intro)

so many layers yet sparse..

[michelej1]

but... kind of hard to tell what's a ballad of not with Christine.

I was thinking that same thing with Nights in Estoril.

Michele

[PenguinHead]

^^^^^ That song entered my head, but it has a danmed minute long guitar solo at the end, it doesn't belong with this group. Its a slow burning rocker in my mind not a ballad.

It's a ballad, no doubt about it! Ballads can have guitar solos - otherwise known as "power ballads." And isn't that slow-burn guitar solo none other than Lindsey Buckingham?

[DavidMn]

Songbird. End of story.:)

[billwebster]

I want another Chris album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So do I. (And my dad, too, btw.)

[ButterCookie]

I voted Songbird. It was tough but it's the only one that makes me cry. That's how powerful it is to me.

This version is my favourite. Chris in the middle of the spotlight at her grand is exactly where she belongs. Being treated like a queen with her Cham. and Roses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5igj0j5HuY

[louielouie2000]

"Ask Anybody" is the greatest thing Christine Ann Perfect Quintella McVie has ever done. It is flawless- the lyrics, the melody, the vocal, the production, the Steve Winwood synth solo. I always get the chills when she sings the line "...he'll change and we'll try it all over again..." It is one of those songs that definitely sets the mood when it comes on.

I adore this song mainly because it's a time machine. It conjures up the score to movies like Romancing The Stone. Just the sound and production of it is so very 'adult' 1980s. I miss music sounding like this... :)

[CreepingDeath]

Northern Star

If it's a good enough title for Sporty Spice, then it's good enough for Christine.

[Conga]

Yeah I'll admit I would've chosen Why if it were on there.

I had to go with Warm Ways. Looks like I was alone, heh.

[jbrownsjr]

I voted Songbird. It was tough but it's the only one that makes me cry. That's how powerful it is to me.

This version is my favourite. Chris in the middle of the spotlight at her grand is exactly where she belongs. Being treated like a queen with her Cham. and Roses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5igj0j5HuY

Love love love it!

[aleuzzi]

I'd have gone with Smile I Live For, but went with Songbird...

[jbrownsjr]

I'd have gone with Smile I Live For, but went with Songbird...

Yeah the Smile I Live for is another tune I can't live without..

[seekerj]

I also would have voted for "The Smile I Live For".

But I also wish I could have voted for "Wait And See".

[Dodfather]

What about Givin' It Back?

[michelej1]

What about Givin' It Back?

Oh, I like that one, but I guess I thought the chorus moved too swiftly for it to be a ballad.

Michele

[Villavic]

Why is excluded, because A) I wasn't sure it fits the ballad criteria and B) even if it does it's not allowed becuase it would be a runaway winner, I want people to have to make some decisions.

I double disagree. First, I think Songbird would be the winner over Why, and after voting I see that's possible, it's the winner here.

Second, I voted for Songbird, but actually my favorite is not here. Over & Over.

[WalkAThinLine.]

I double disagree. First, I think Songbird would be the winner over Why, and after voting I see that's possible, it's the winner here.

Second, I voted for Songbird, but actually my favorite is not here. Over & Over.

"Over & Over" is a terrific song. "Why" could have provided more competition against "Songbird", which still probably would have won the poll, but perhaps by a slightly narrower margin.

[jbrownsjr]

ALAYF might be considered a ballad. It's a beautiful song.

[HomerMcvie]

ALAYF might be considered a ballad. It's a beautiful song.

That ain't no ballad.

I'm going with Never Make Me Cry.

[FuzzyPlum]

Can of worms….what technically makes a ballad a ballad. I’m sure there’s some official definition I can’t be bothered to look up.
Of those on the original list….Wish You Were Here.
Notable mentions: Mystified, Show Me a Smile, Never Make Me Cry

[Macfan4life]

Chris used to introduce Over My Head as the ballad from the White album. As a kid that used to confuse me because I did not view it as a ballad. But I guess it is.
I agree with the consensus of this thread that its a fine line what is a ballad or not. Many of her songs are ballads or skirt the line of one.

[Villavic]

Ballad, according to Oxford English Dictionary

1.a slow sentimental or romantic song.

2. a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next.

I would say ALAYF is slow and sentimental. I don't see Over My Head enough slow.

[Macfan4life]

Ballad, according to Oxford English Dictionary

1.a slow sentimental or romantic song.

2. a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next.

I would say ALAYF is slow and sentimental. I don't see Over My Head enough slow.
Over My Head is slower than ALAYF. The singing is slower too. How could you say Over My Head is not slow and sentimental? That dream you had about Mick really messed up your senses ;)

Over My Head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWia0TWAMM

As Long As You Follow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWia0TWAMM

[WalkAThinLine.]

Over My Head is slower than ALAYF. The singing is slower too. How could you say Over My Head is not slow and sentimental? That dream you had about Mick really messed up your senses ;)

Over My Head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWia0TWAMM

As Long As You Follow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXWia0TWAMM

I have "As Long As You Follow" at a BPM of 104 and Over My Head at a BPM of 99, which both can be classified as midtempo songs. Despite the slightly slower tempo, I view "Over My Head" as a slightly peppier song compared to "As Long As You Follow", which better reflects the production often found in saccharine ballads (lush guitars and synths, drums drenched in reverb).

[Villavic]

How could you say Over My Head is not slow and sentimental? That dream you had about Mick really messed up your senses ;)


Because I've read several times that OMH was about Lindsey (circus wheel, mood changing all the time, wasting my time...). Everything but romantic. And not enough slow, IMHO. Specially the Live album version.

And the dream was about Lindsey. Mick was just an intruder. And the responsible for the outcome of the dream is this guy.

[Macfan4life]

Because I've read several times that OMH was about Lindsey (circus wheel, mood changing all the time, wasting my time...). Everything but romantic. And not enough slow, IMHO. Specially the Live album version.

And the dream was about Lindsey. Mick was just an intruder. And the responsible for the outcome of the dream is this guy.
Those lines are classic Chris with revealing something not quite right in the relationship but in the end "it sure feels nice."
I do agree that pinpointing many of her songs as ballads is like herding cats. Many of them fall into that grey area. I recorded the 1987 Tango show and Chris introduced Over My Head as ballad which confused me too. But I think it fits into your dictionary definition.
But there are far better examples of ballads. But I dare not correct the writer of the song if she called it a "ballad off the white album."

P.S. Mick ruins everything