http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwG1×9kxXZs

Does Through the Barricades by Spandau Ballet count if the “power” doesn’t kick in until the last quarter of the song?

Except for the Bon Jovi entry, I guess my picks definitely fall outside of the spandex/hairband genre:

Meatloaf Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad: See, it’s an epic tale, because the things he’s saying to her, was said to him by another girl before, who broke his heart. Dewd, it’s awesome.

Carpenters Goodbye To Love: Yes, the Carpenters. But that fuzz guitar definitely makes this power ballad. In fact, Richard Carpenter claims that he was the guy who invented the entire genre, thanks to this track. Whatever.

Bon Jovi Wanted Dead Or Alive: He’s a cowboy. On a steel horse he rides. Not only that, he’s seen a million faces, and he’s rocked them all.

Raspberries Let’s Pretend: Brian Wilson-styled yearning wedded to Paul McCartney-inspired screaming.

Alice Cooper Only Women Bleed: Jeez, maybe I shoulda listed this on the wknd5 most embarrassing faves. What can I do, expect own my chagrin.

Honorable Mention:

Dennis Wilson End Of The Show: The last track from his first (and only fully-completed) solo album, it’s deep and dark and big, and Dennis’ final whisky-voiced wail “it’s ohhhhhhhh-vuh!” never fails to choke me up. He died six years later, from too much rock ‘n’ roll. But hearing this song, you already knew how it was going to end for Denny.

Fee Waybill, great in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Don’t Want To Wait Anymore