This 70's Classic Was Voted the Greatest Rock Ballad of All Time
- - This 70's Classic Was Voted the Greatest Rock Ballad of All Time
Jacqueline Burt CoteDecember 21, 2025 at 5:59 AM
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Photo by Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music on Getty Images
While most rock bands are known more for their uptempo tunes, even the hardest rocking albums out there feature at least a ballad or two. And even if audience members can't wave their lighters in the air at concerts anymore, fans still have their favorite rock ballads...but which one is the best?
When Rolling Stone asked readers to vote on the greatest rock ballad of all time in 2011, the answers included some fairly obvious choices: Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" at #10, Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" at #7 — though, as the article explained, "votes were all over the place – from tracks by Pearl Jam to Elvis Presley to Lionel Richie."
The top five included two songs by The Beatles ("Let It Be" at #5 and "Something" at #2), in addition to the Guns N' Roses hit "November Rain" at #4 and the ever-popular "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones at #3.
Coming in at the very top of the list? The answer probably won't be a huge surprise to longtime Led Zeppelin fans. The band's signature tune, "Stairway to Heaven," was voted the #1 greatest rock ballad of all time.
As the Rolling Stone article put it, "if the entire genre of classic rock had to be reduced to one song it would probably be 'Stairway to Heaven.' It's been played a squajillion times on the radio since it came out in 1971, and it doesn't show any signs of going away — much to the chagrin of Robert Plant who has repeatedly said that some of the lyrics make him squirm."
Indeed, Plant has avoided performing "Stairway to Heaven" for the most part throughout his solo career, though he did make an exception for Led Zeppelin's one-night reunion concert in 2007.
Will Robert Plant ever make Led Zeppelin-style music again?
On his most recent tour with Saving Grace, Plant performed a handful of Zeppelin tunes, including "Rain Song," "Ramble On" and "Gallow's Pole." In an interview with Robin Hilton, the host of NPR's Tiny Desk series, Plant opened up about the evolution of his voice over the decades.
“I knew that I got to get out of a mold,” Plant said, adding, “I knew I had to turn some of the expression down because I had to make my own way."
“Do you have any interest in doing another like, full throttle rock album at some point? Guitar rock?” Hilton asked.
“I can’t hear you,” Plant quipped.
Whatever Plant decides to do next, his devoted fans will be there to listen.
Related: Beloved Rock Icon, 77, Brings Fans to Tears With Intimate Performance: 'Heaven in My Ears'
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
