i like to pride myself on having pretty decent taste in music. my husband would tend to disagree with me on this because where we fit together so nicely in many ways, we clash a lot in our taste in music.

he thinks the term "singer-songwriter" is a derogatory one, and i hold it in the highest esteem. he tends to think that a song is "good" only when it "has contrast," which I believe means it starts off softly, has a huge climax that is meant to bring you to tears, and either ends on a high note, or ends softly again). i think that is the mark of a cheesy song.

i've been working on him lately to like my most favorite singer-songwriter, Martin Sexton, and he actually does like a large percentage of his music. likewise, i have learend to really appreciate some good musical theatre; Side Show being among my favorites. and i have to admit that i'm extremely partial to music that kenny writes. i think it pretty much rocks and i wish more people could hear it.

speaking of music that rocks (and i mean this in a different way than how i describe kenny's works), i was a big-hair-band junkie in the 80s. and i find, time to time, that i miss the cheesy big hair band ballads. these ballads could bring you to tears in two verses or less. that's brilliant song-writing. or just a really good formula created by someone who made a bunch of money selling it to big-haired rockers.

yesterday, i was in the car and Ozzy Osbourne's "Road to Nowhere" came on the station that happened to be on in the car. i am slightly embarassed to say that it was an enjoyable listen. it brought me back to memories of the nights listening to the the "top 8 at 8" on B94 in junior high and high school and watching MTV's top ten videos where I'd hope that songs like "Home Sweet Home" (Motley Crue), "Never Say Goodbye" (Bon Jovi), or "Love Bites" (Def Leppard) would be in the top two or three.

i am the first to admit that these songs can border on "cheesy." But who can resist a good passionate 80s ballad sung by men with permed mullets that stay in place by a half a can of aqua net?

i can't wait to unpack my "Styx Greatest Hits" cd just so i can listen to "Babe" or the best song, "Don't Let it End." Unfortunately all my real big hair rocker music was in LP format, and we donated our LPs to the Goodwill (the one in Monroeville on Business 22 if you're interested!). So no listening to Stryper, Cinderella, or Ratt anytime soon (I used to draw the Stryper and Ratt logo on papers during school. Oddly enough, they're quite similar).

If you have big hair bands in your past, please share with me titles of your favorite "monster ballad."