ballad
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ballad
A longer poem or song that tells a dramatic, historical, or legendary story.
In der Schule mussten wir Schillers Ballade „Der Handschuh“ auswendig lernen.
At school, we had to learn Schiller's ballad 'Der Handschuh' by heart.
ballad
In modern pop and rock music, a slow, emotional, and often romantic song.
Nach mehreren schnellen Songs spielte die Band eine emotionale Ballade am Klavier.
After several fast songs, the band played an emotional ballad on the piano.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If the sentence is about literature, poets (such as Goethe or Schiller), or school, it means the poem. If it is about music, bands, singers, or concerts, it means the slow song.
Wir analysieren im Deutschunterricht eine Ballade von Fontane.
We are analyzing a ballad by Fontane in German class.
In a literary context, a ballad is often 'analysiert' (analyzed), 'interpretiert' (interpreted), 'aufgesagt' (recited), or 'auswendig gelernt' (learned by heart).
Der Schüler musste als Strafarbeit eine Ballade auswendig lernen.
As punishment work, the student had to learn a ballad by heart.
In a musical context, a ballad is often 'gesungen' (sung), 'gespielt' (played), 'komponiert' (composed), or 'gehört' (listened to). It is often a quiet moment in a concert.
Zum Abschluss des Konzerts spielte die Band ihre berühmteste Ballade.
At the end of the concert, the band played their most famous ballad.
song
Lied is the general term for a piece of music with sung lyrics. In modern pop and rock music, a Ballade is a particular type of song: it is slow, emotional, and often romantic. For a piece with these characteristics, Ballade is more precise.
Die Sängerin veröffentlicht eine langsame und gefühlvolle Ballade.
The singer is releasing a slow and emotional ballad.
Die Sängerin veröffentlicht ein schnelles und fröhliches Lied.
The singer is releasing a fast and cheerful song.
