Vocal Comments From Meat

[rockfenris2005]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

For me, the vocal sound that I identify with - the one that I listen to and instantly go 'yeah, that's MEAT LOAF - ended around the time of Bat III. I know a lot of people here really DIDN'T like the live show in the streets of NYC (for a TV show whose name I've since forgotten), but I really dug that one. My own golden era falls somewhere between the mid-late 80s and the end of the Bat II touring cycle. Would I want that sound again now? You bet your ass I would!!! But being realistic it isn't going to happen, and I'm not sad about that and I definitely don't BLAME Meat for it, either. What I do like is that Meat is finally talking about his voice - it's really refreshing to hear, and I love how he's letting us in on how it is for him as a vocalist and what he's had/having to do. Maybe it's just me, but that shit's fascinating!

The era that really makes me tick at the moment is the Lost Boys & Golden Girls tour. Oh man... Go and watch "Bad for good" on Wario's channel again. Just that moment where he sings "Let me hold you so... TIGHTTTT!!!" gives me chills. It feels like you are in the presence of the master. I also really like the show from the Bat II Picture Show video, especially "Anything for love". And the "TIIIGHTTT" moment there, haha, is before the first ("And some days it don't come easy") where he sings "But I won't do that, I won't do..." Then you just hear him yell "THATHAAAAAAATTTT!!!!" or something. Sounds so *minor* but that show is epic.

The thing about Meat and Jim, if you think about it, is. I really believe they didn't ever have to make another album again after "Bat out of Hell", or those shows, because it was so brilliant the first time, sort of like Pink Floyd didn't have to make another album after "Dark side". Of course I'm thrilled that they did though.

It's only because of what happened with Bat 3 that I still want a Meat/Jim collaboration, so that they get to end it on a better note.

[tonyloaf]

Someone who takes the time out of their sad little life's to completely run down an artist = complete dick head

[ThatWriterGuy]

Originally Posted by tonyloaf

Someone who takes the time out of their sad little life's to completely run down an artist = complete dick head

Their life's what?

Just kidding But you'd do well to remember the difference between the above and genuine criticism. As an artist, and I'm speaking for myself here most of all, being able to accept (if not always act on) genuine criticism is so completely ~~~~ing important that you owe it to the work - above all else - in order to make it the best that it can be at that time.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Just came across this from late 2010:

YouTube Video

And this:

YouTube Video

And probably the BEST of them all:

YouTube Video

If Meat could pull this off, every song, every night, I'd be there like a shot!! Does he sound the same as he did 15/20/30 years ago? No. But he sounds pretty damn good here.

[Adje]

I have that complete show from Dallas. And it's one of my favorites. Meat was having a ball.

[Adje]

Besides, the entire 2010 tour was fun as far as I remember

[ThatWriterGuy]

Originally Posted by Adje

I have that complete show from Dallas. And it's one of my favorites. Meat was having a ball.

Fantastic! Do the other songs come across as well as BAT?

[AndrewG]

The 2010 shows I saw were excellent as where the LAB ones from 2013. A privilege to have been able to be at each of these. If I'd lived almost anywhere else in the world there's no way to see so many.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Fantastic! Do the other songs come across as well as BAT?

absolutely

[ThatWriterGuy]

I watched the entire Dallas 2010 gig (thanks Adje!) and while it was good, and a lot of the songs that are still in the set list today sounded - to these ears, at least - much better than they have on subsequent tours (Hot Patootie, BAT, Took The Words), I can't help but find that I'm still not a fan of the current style - visual or vocal, and regardless of whether Meat's sounding a little flat or if he's right on for the majority (i.e. Dallas). For me, the last era of vocals I truly enjoyed - looking back in retrospect - were here:

YouTube Video

For me, that's what MEAT LOAF sounds like, and it's instantly recognisable as 'the real mccoy'.

I feel like today's Meat Loaf is almost unrecognisable compared with the clip above, and that's not a slight on Meat, that's just an obvious comparison. I mean, I could PRETEND otherwise, but that would be totally disingenuous. I know that a lot of you really dig Meat's vocal style and live performance these days, but it's just not for me. Not only does Meat sound great in the clip above, but he looks great, too. He looks confident. I see him, sitting there singing that song, and he's a legend again. That storytellers type of vibe really suits his performance, especially if it means that he gets to concentrate on the vocals.

In short: if Meat were to go back to that style of singing/performing, I'd buy a ticket tomorrow!

Hell, I'd take two of 'em!

[ThatWriterGuy]

Hmm, maybe I was a little harsh in that last post, and I probably fell down the rabbit hole for a while. It's easy to get carried away with comparisons when you've got over thirty years worth of material to chew over. I end up contradicting myself...

Well, I wouldn't change anything above, but I'd maybe choose kinder words I think. 'Unrecognisable' was a leap too far. THAT I probably would change.

Also, I see that our Silent Lurker is back with her 'dislike' button again Why use words when you can just passive aggressively hit a button. Fantastic!!

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Hmm, maybe I was a little harsh in that last post, and I probably fell down the rabbit hole for a while. It's easy to get carried away with comparisons when you've got over thirty years worth of material to chew over. I end up contradicting myself...

Well, I wouldn't change anything above, but I'd maybe choose kinder words I think. 'Unrecognisable' was a leap too far. THAT I probably would change.

Also, I see that our Silent Lurker is back with her 'dislike' button again Why use words when you can just passive aggressively hit a button. Fantastic!!

And that's why Facebook didn't implement a dislike button

Honestly I agree with all your points, and for awhile I think I was down the same rabbit hole with the same opinions. But I've realized I don't care that I wanted Meat to sound a certain way, that I want to see him now and I love the man, so I've just accepted what I do have, and stopped caring about what I wish I had or no longer get to witness.

Also from what I've heard, many people said shows were amazing that I had thought sounded bad in the bootleg, so I think whatever they're doing with the live mix it must sound better in person from time to time.

Also, I have full faith Meat's performances will continue to evolve, because that's who he is. So if there's some nuances I don't like right now, that's ok, because there's some he doesn't like either.

I think that is actually a really good point. (if I do say so myself )

Meat's performances since Bat 3 seem to have become more Meat and less Meat Loaf. That is to say, Meat is singing arrangements he likes, and singing even more how he feels in the style that suits his feelings.

I think that's what's bothering a lot of people. We have Meat the artist emerging from Meat Loaf the artist, and some people love it, while others hate it and don't want the individual touch, they just want him to act like 70s, 80s or 90s Meat Loaf. I've noticed that as an artist, Meat has really blossomed since Bat III, and Hang Cool Teddy Bear and Hell In A Handbasket are really HIS albums. They're Meat albums. His vision, his creative and artistic energy, etc.

And I totally get it. I mean he literally is evolving before our eyes. It's bound to upset those who liked how things already were! And I won't deny that it has bothered me immensely in the past - I'm just kind of over it now. I think I've realized that I'm as much a fan of Meat as I am of the Meat Loaf character :) Probably more a fan of Meat actually. Whereas Doode or Ad you guys might feel different, I completely respect that. Nobody is wrong here, and everyone has the right to feel how they do.

And with that, I'm off to make some tea and get to work

[loaferman61]

Is anyone else seeing white boxes where the youtube videos are supposed to be?

[ThatWriterGuy]

Appreciate that post, Stretch Just to clarify though: I'm not averse to Meat changing stylistically, and I'm not hankering for the 70's or the 80's, or even the 90's, but there's a certain point where change - either by design or situation (or necessity) - becomes an obstacle. From my perspective it has nothing to do with nuances or evolution, but the concept as a whole. Does Meat Loaf sound like MEAT LOAF anymore? I guess the only answer to that is YES, because he IS Meat Loaf. Whether it's good or bad on the other hand, well, maybe that's in the eye of the beholder...

[Adje]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

Is anyone else seeing white boxes where the youtube videos are supposed to be?

Yup, I had to post the link manually

[ThatWriterGuy]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

Is anyone else seeing white boxes where the youtube videos are supposed to be?

I'm getting it too, how odd. Any ideas?

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Appreciate that post, Stretch Just to clarify though: I'm not averse to Meat changing stylistically, and I'm not hankering for the 70's or the 80's, or even the 90's, but there's a certain point where change - either by design or situation (or necessity) - becomes an obstacle. From my perspective it has nothing to do with nuances or evolution, but the concept as a whole. Does Meat Loaf sound like MEAT LOAF anymore? I guess the only answer to that is YES, because he IS Meat Loaf. Whether it's good or bad on the other hand, well, maybe that's in the eye of the beholder...

Exactly!

[Monstro]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

Is anyone else seeing white boxes where the youtube videos are supposed to be?

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

I'm getting it too, how odd. Any ideas?

Sorted

[ThatWriterGuy]

This came up today and I thought it was pretty cool:

YouTube Video

And yes, it's a 'pro' recording, so no 'crappy camera phones'.

Meat handles 'Outside' really well on this one, however, I'm still not a fan of songs like RARD with that style of vocal - it sounds quite forced and slurred, which is almost polar opposite to how it was recorded and performed for such a long time.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Also, 2006, I really like this performance (and the shirt and the jacket!):

YouTube Video

[stretch37]

Still doing that weird thing where the video is white for me

[ThatWriterGuy]

Originally Posted by stretch37

Still doing that weird thing where the video is white for me

Met too ... am I posting these up wrong? I'm pasting in the URL and hitting the YT button.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Met too ... am I posting these up wrong? I'm pasting in the URL and hitting the YT button.

Only copy/paste the "V=etcetera" part

Didn't watch but I'm sure the first video is from the Gillford concert in 2010. They (gillford crew) put 7 clips on YouTube from 2007 before Meat had them removed, somewhere in 2010. They also posted the two clips from the Hang Cool show in Gillford. They also got removed rather soon.

The 2007 videos they put up:

01 Out of the Frying Pan
02 Life is a Lemon
03 In the Land of the Pigs
04 Rock and Roll Dreams
05 Bat out of Hell
06 Mercury Blues
07 Gimme Shelter

[Wario]

Originally Posted by ThatWriterGuy

Also, 2006, I really like this performance (and the shirt and the jacket!):

Dude you only copy the thing after the "v="

so this:

[YT]NQ7Bi3tyVSc[/YT]

[ThatWriterGuy]

Thanks both! I'll try and remember that.