Top 100 Songs by Hair Bands

Hair Bands: Top 100 Songs

Ah, the hair bands. This much-maligned genre was a mix of rock and pop wrapped up in big hair and leather pants. The bands – almost all white men – were known for lifestyles filled with debauchery and depravity. It was no wonder teens in the ‘80s flocked to the bands like moths to a flame. Regardless of these bands’ lack of critical acclaim, some of these bands (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard) when on to become some of the biggest rock bands in the world – even after they cut their hair and opted for more sensible jeans. Here – love ‘em or hate ‘em – are the top songs from hair bands as determined by aggregating 21 lists and then ranking those songs featured on 3 or more lists in order of their overall DMDB points. Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 1. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987) 2. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986) 3. Van Halen “Jump” (1984) 4. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987) 5. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987) 6. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991) 7. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987) 8. Kiss “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975) 9. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988) 10. Guns N’ Roses “Paradise City” (1987) 11. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986) 12. Def Leppard “Photograph” (1983) 13. Scorpions “Rock You Like a Hurricane” (1984) 14. Twisted Sister “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984) 15. Europe “The Final Countdown” (1986) 16. Ratt “Round and Round” (1984) 17. Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel the Noize” (1983) 18. Van Halen “Runnin’ with the Devil” (1978) 19. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990) 20. Mötley Crüe “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1987) 21. Whitesnake “Is This Love” (1987) 22. Warrant “Cherry Pie” (1990) 23. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987) 24. Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1986) 25. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991) 26. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984) 27. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988) 28. The Scorpions “No One Like You” (1982) 29. Kiss “Detroit Rock City” (1976) 30. Def Leppard “Rock of Ages” (1983) 31. Van Halen “Panama” (1984) 32. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985) 33. Quiet Riot “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” (1983) 34. Poison “Nothin’ But a Good Time” (1988) 35. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989) 36. Tesla “Love Song” (1989) 37. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984) 38. Whitesnake “Still of the Night” (1987) 39. Mötley Crüe “Dr. Feelgood” (1989) 40. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984) 41. Lita Ford “Kiss Me Deadly” (1988) 42. Skid Row “18 and Life” (1989) 43. Warrant “Heaven” (1988) 44. Cinderella…Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone (1988) 45. Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” (1988) 46. Mötley Crüe “Kickstart My Heart” (1989) 47. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990) 48. Def Leppard “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” (1981) 49. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988) 50. Poison “Talk Dirty to Me” (1986) 51. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989) 52. Bon Jovi “Runaway” (1983) 53. Great White “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (1989) 54. Autograph…Turn Up the Radio (1984) 55. Def Leppard “Foolin’” (1983) 56. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987) 57. Twisted Sister “I Wanna Rock” (1984) 58. Cinderella “Nobody’s Fool” (1986) 59. Mötley Crüe “Shout at the Devil” (1983) 60. Kiss “Lick It Up” (1983) 61. Skid Row “Youth Gone Wild” (1989) 62. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990) 63. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990) 64. White Lion “Wait” (1987) 65. Ozzy Osbourne “Shot in the Dark” (1986) 66. Poison “Fallen Angel” (1988) 67. Dokken “In My Dreams” (1985) 68. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990) 69. Van Halen “I’ll Wait” (1984) 70. Winger “Seventeen” (1988) 71. Kix “Don’t Close Your Eyes” (1988) 72. David Lee Roth “Yankee Rose” (1986) 73. Kiss “Heaven’s on Fire” (1984) 74. Cinderella “Gypsy Road” (1988) 75. Cinderella “Shake Me” (1986) 76. Dokken “Alone Again” (1984) 77. Firehouse “Love of a Lifetime” (1991) 78. Ugly Kid Joe “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1992) 79. Mötley Crüe “Without You” (1989) 80. Winger “Miles Away” (1990) 81. Winger “Headed for a Heartbreak” (1988) 82. Great White “Rock Me” (1987) 83. Kiss “Tears Are Falling” (1985) 84. Warrant “Down Boys” (1988) 85. Tesla “Signs” (live, 1990) 86. Slaughter “Up All Night” (1990) 87. Ratt “You’re in Love” (1985) 88. Mötley Crüe “Looks That Kill” (1983) 89. Firehouse “Don’t Treat Me Bad” (1991) 90. Vixen “Edge of a Broken Heart” (1988) 91. Guns N’ Roses “Nightrain” (1987) 92. Mötley Crüe “Live Wire” (1981) 93. Cinderella “Coming Home” (1988) 94. Warrant “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1990) 95. Mötley Crüe “Too Young to Fall in Love” (1983) 96. Faster Pussycat “House of Pain” (1989) 97. Ratt “Lay It Down” (1985) 98. Mötley Crüe “Wild Side” (1987) 99. Trixter “Give It to Me Good” (1990) 100. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1989) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists First posted 1/23/2018; last updated 5/11/2021.

Top 100 Power Ballads

First posted 6/3/2020.

Power Ballads: Top 100 Songs

Classic rock came about in the 1970s, built on the backs of staples from the ‘60s like Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who. Newer acts like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Rush, and Boston were added to the fold to create a radio format which still maintains presences in major U.S. markets. As rock became more commercialized, some acts like Foreigner, Journey, REO Speedwagon, and Styx were mocked as “corporate rock” for their more pop-friendly songs. One of the trends was for such bands was to produce “power ballads,” which were slower-tempo songs which fit well into adult contemporary radio and attracted female fans in addition to the more male-oriented fans which dominated classic rock. As the ‘80s wore on, the trend extended to more glammed-up “hair bands” (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison, Mötley Crüe) also crooning about love and finding huge success. This list of the top power ballads of all time was created by aggregating more than 25 best-of lists. Click here to see other genre and category specific song lists. 1. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1989) 2. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984) 3. Heart “Alone” (1987) 4. Whitesnake “Is This Love?” (1987) 5. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991) 6. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989) 7. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984) 8. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998) 9. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983) 10. Cinderella “Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone” (1988) 11. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987) 12. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love But I Won’t Do That” (1993) 13. Warrant “Heaven” (1989) 14. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980) 15. Bon Jovi “Always” (1994) 16. Journey “Open Arms” (1981) 17. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985) 18. Journey “Faithfully” (1983) 19. Bad English “When I See You Smile” (1989) 20. Cutting Crew “I Just Died in Your Arms” (1987) 21. Tesla “Love Song” (1989) 22. Cheap Trick “The Flame” (1988) 23. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981) 24. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984) 25. Aerosmith “Dream On” (1973) 26. The Cars “Drive” (1984) 27. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (1990) 28. Bon Jovi “I’ll Be There for You” (1988) 29. REO Speedwagon “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1984) 30. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987) 31. U2 “With Or Without You” (1987) 32. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990) 33. Mr. Mister “Broken Wings” (1985) 34. Starship “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (1987) 35. Nazareth “Love Hurts” (1975) 36. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984) 37. Bryan Adams “Heaven” (1984) 38. Boston “Amanda” (1986) 39. John Waite “Missing You” (1984) 40. Boston “More Than a Feeling” (1976) 41. Bon Jovi “Never Say Goodbye” (1986) 42. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988) 43. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991) 44. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981) 45. Chicago “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982) 46. Kiss “Beth” (1976) 47. Alias “More Than Words Can Say” (1990) 48. Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” (1991) 49. Harry Nisson “Without You” (1971) 50. Phil Collins “Against All Odds” (1984) 51. Eric Carmen “All by Myself” (1975) 52. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988) 53. Aerosmith “Angel” (1988) 54. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998) 55. Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971) 56. The Beatles “Something” (1969) 57. John Farnham “You’re The Voice” (1986) 58. Bangles “Eternal Flame” (1988) 59. Alannah Myles “Black Velvet” (1989) 60. Thunder “Love Walked In” (1990) 61. T’Pau “China in Your Hand” (1987) 62. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989) 63. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) 64. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990) 65. Aerosmith “What It Takes” (1989) 66. Styx “Lady” (1973) 67. Europe “Carrie” (1986) 68. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990) 69. Chad Kroeger with Josey Scott “Hero” (2002) 70. Heart “These Dreams” (1986) 71. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991) 72. Def Leppard “Hysteria” (1987) 73. Roxette “It Must Have Been Love” (1990) 74. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990) 75. Loverboy “Heaven in Your Eyes” (1986) 76. Roxette “Listen to Your Heart” (1989) 77. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1990) 78. Van Halen “When It’s Love” (1988) 79. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987) 80. The Beatles “Let It Be” (1970) 81. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1991) 82. Chicago “You’re the Inspiration” (1984) 83. Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here” (1975) 84. Maria McKee “Show Me Heaven” (1990) 85. Metallica “The Unforgiven” (1991) 86. The Rolling Stones “Angie” (1973) 87. The Beatles “Yesterday” (1965) 88. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (1971) 89. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992) 90. Def Leppard “When Love and Hate Collide” (1995) 91. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990) 92. Pearl Jam “Black” (1991) 93. Kansas “Dust in the Wind” (1978) 94. Tina Turner “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (1985) 95. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990) 96. Styx “Babe” (1979) 97. Van Halen “Love Walks In” (1986) 98. Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight” (1977) 99. Billy Idol “Eyes Without a Face” (1984) 100. Berlin “Take My Breath Away” (1986)

Whitesnake hit #1 with “Here I Go Again”

Here I Go Again Whitesnake

Writer(s): David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden (see lyrics here) Released: July 1987 First Charted: May 30, 1987 Peak: 11 US, 12 CB, 11 HR, 4 AR, 9 UK, 11 CN, 24 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.4 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 6.0 radio, 178.1 video, 389.23 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: After a three-year stint as the lead singer of Deep Purple, David Coverdale formed his own band, Whitesnake, in 1977. The band has undergone multiple incarnations with Coverdale being the only constant. They reached their commercial peak in 1987 – with a song from five years earlier. The band originally recorded the power ballad “Here I Go Again” for their 1982 album, Saints and Sinners. It reached #34 on the UK charts and didn’t go anywhere in the U.S. However, when Coverdale & Co. re-recorded it in 1987, it took off. Coverdale wrote the breakup song after the end of his first marriage. Regarding the recording, Coverdale said, “I was totally disappointed. He said, “the only thing that stands up…is the emotional security of the vocal performance. There’s a very limp performance from some very exceptional musicians.” FB After signing to Geffen Records, Whitesnake made a move from being “essential a blusey hard rock band” SG in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s toward glam metal with their self-titled 1987 album, The company’s John David Kolodner convinced Coverdale to re-record “Here I Go Again.” FB The new version became “a beautifully dumb fist-pumper anthem.” SG It owed a great deal of its success to the iconic video featuring Tawny Kitaen. Claudia Schiffer was set to star in their video for the lead single, “Still of the Night.” When she backed out, director Marty Callner, who’d worked on videos for Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on Prayer,” tapped Kitaen, who was dating Coverdale, as “the Whitesnake woman.” SG She starred in that video as well as “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love.” In “Here I Go Again” “she is a true human spectacle as [she] busts elite-level stripper moves” SG across cars in a “sheer white bathrobe-dress.” SG She “pretty much invented the video-vixen career path.” SG Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Whitesnake FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 678. SG Stereogum (3/17/2021). “The Number Ones” by Tom Breihan WK Wikipedia First posted 12/1/2021; last updated 10/29/2022.