Power Ballads #11 Through #15

Power Ballads #11 Through #15 – Episode 109

Recorded: August 13th, 2026

Episode Overview

It’s been more than five years since we last expanded our list of the greatest power ballads of all time, so it was definitely time to break out the lighters again.

In Episode #109 of The 406 Podcast, Pip and Chewie return to one of their favorite musical topics and reveal their Power Ballads #11 through #15.

We originally tackled our Top Five Rock Power Ballads way back in Episode #21 on June 16th, 2020. We returned to the topic for Episode #53 on August 12th, 2021, when we revealed numbers six through ten.

Now we’re going even deeper.

Before getting to the power ballads, we do some catching up after being away from the microphones for a couple of months. We talk about officially joining the 50-year-old club before diving into some movies we’ve watched recently, including The Odyssey, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Obsession and Spider-Man.

We also squeeze in a quick discussion about WWE SummerSlam before finally getting to the main event.

We start by revisiting our original Top 10 lists before revealing a new honorable mention from each of us. Somehow, both honorable mentions come from Warrant, which leads to a discussion about the songwriting of the late Jani Lane and just how many great ballads Warrant produced.

From there, we work backward from #15 to #11.

Our newest additions feature songs from Roxette, Bon Jovi, Peter Cetera, Prince and the Revolution, Cheap Trick, Tesla, Guns N’ Roses, Bryan Adams and Heart.

Along the way we talk about chart success, classic MTV videos, songs that took on entirely new lives when performed acoustically and some incredible live performances — including Prince performing “Purple Rain” during the Super Bowl in the pouring rain, Tesla’s acoustic version of “Love Song,” Bryan Adams letting 70,000 fans sing “Heaven” at Wembley Stadium and Ann Wilson absolutely destroying “Alone” live at Royal Albert Hall.

And despite putting our lists together separately and making it all the way through our previous Top 10s without much crossover, this episode finally gives us an overlap.

We both picked Heart’s “Alone” at #11.

Apparently that means it’s the correct answer.

Topics Discussed

Catching up after a couple months away from the podcast
Turning 50 and joining the “Old Shit Club”
Recent trips and family birthdays
The Odyssey
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Obsession
Spider-Man
WWE SummerSlam
Revisiting Pip and Chewie’s previous Top 10 Power Ballads
Warrant honorable mentions: “Stronger Now” and “Blind Faith”
Jani Lane and Warrant’s strength as a power ballad band
Roxette – “It Must Have Been Love”
Bon Jovi – “Always”
Peter Cetera – “Glory of Love”
Prince and the Revolution – “Purple Rain”
Cheap Trick – “The Flame”
Tesla – “Love Song”
Guns N’ Roses – “November Rain”
Bryan Adams – “Heaven”
Heart – “Alone”
Favorite acoustic and live versions of classic power ballads
The surprise #11 overlap between Pip and Chewie
The idea of creating an ultimate Power Ballads Spotify playlist
A possible new Nightmare on Elm Street
Rumors of another Halloween movie
Possible future spooky-season podcast topics

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:26 – Welcome to Episode #109
03:11 – Welcome to the 50 Club
05:10 – What We’ve Been Watching
05:17 – The Odyssey
09:55 – I Know What You Did Last Summer
11:11 – Obsession
14:37 – Spider-Man
15:46 – WWE SummerSlam
18:22 – Power Ballads #11 Through #15
20:35 – Revisiting Our Top 10 Power Ballads
23:08 – Honorable Mentions: Warrant
29:05 – Pip #15: It Must Have Been Love – Roxette
32:52 – Chewie #15: Always – Bon Jovi
36:19 – Pip #14: Glory of Love – Peter Cetera
39:43 – Chewie #14: Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution
43:22 – Pip #13: The Flame – Cheap Trick
47:14 – Chewie #13: Love Song – Tesla
51:33 – Pip #12: November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
59:09 – Chewie #12: Heaven – Bryan Adams
1:03:30 – Pip #11: Alone – Heart
1:06:32 – Chewie #11: We Have an Overlap
1:11:54 – The Ultimate Power Ballad Playlist
1:12:29 – What’s Next and Nightmare on Elm Street
1:14:22 – Could Halloween Be Coming Back Too?
1:16:05 – Closing

Previous Power Ballad Episodes

Top Five Rock Power Ballads | Episode #21 – June 16th, 2020
https://www.406northlane.com/top-five-rock-power-ballads-episode-21/

Power Ballads Six Through Ten | Episode #53 – August 12th, 2021
https://www.406northlane.com/power-ballads-six-through-ten-episode-53/

So that’s 15 Power Ballads apiece — plus honorable mentions — now officially in the books.

And judging by how many songs we were still discussing after putting these lists together, don’t be shocked if we eventually have to come back for #16 through #20.

What are your Power Ballads #11 through #15? Let us know what we nailed, what we missed and which song should have been much higher on our lists.