Meat's Itunes Celebrity Playlist

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by lorenzoduke

My Way without a doubt did more damage to Sinatra's career than good. People think they know him because of that one song. The majority of people would never give his great albums [...] even a chance because they think they know him through that one signature song

That's the case with many artists. Ask someone what they know about Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Elton John, whoever... If the person you talk to isn't a die-hard music fan, he/she will probably rather associate these artists with songs like Born In The U.S.A., She Loves You, Can You Feel The Love Tonight than with Incident On 57th Street, A Day In The Life or Madman Across The Water. Often an artist's other work is more interesting than the biggest hits but it's the biggest hits that keep the artist in the public eye.

How many people would buy Meat Loaf's albums today if Bat Out Of Hell and his comeback album in 1993 hadn't been such a huge success? What would these albums sound like? Would he still release albums at all? He clearly benefits from his hits but they also make some people think that he has only released one or two hit albums some years ago and hasn't accomplished anything else in the meantime - or make them complain about that his other albums don't sound like Bat Out Of Hell or Bat Out Of Hell II.

[lorenzoduke]

Originally Posted by olblueeyes

There may be some artistic truth in that - Watertown was an incredibly powerful album, and sold very little - but it is one of the Sinatra canon that continues to keep his music relevant in the minds of young people. Only The Lonely was already a successful and widely celebrated album from 10 years earlier. Sinatra did hate the song to begin with but he warmed to it eventually according to comments he made in the 80s. There's no denying that he was great at it though.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

I agree with some of that and you obviously know your stuff - but I wonder for instance, how many people under 30 are put off exploring Sinatra's catalog due to 'that song'.

Originally Posted by Sarge

That's the case with many artists. Ask someone what they know about Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Elton John, whoever... If the person you talk to isn't a die-hard music fan, he/she will probably rather associate these artists with songs like Born In The U.S.A., She Loves You, Can You Feel The Love Tonight than with Incident On 57th Street, A Day In The Life or Madman Across The Water. Often an artist's other work is more interesting than the biggest hits but it's the biggest hits that keep the artist in the public eye.

How many people would buy Meat Loaf's albums today if Bat Out Of Hell and his comeback album in 1993 hadn't been such a huge success? What would these albums sound like? Would he still release albums at all? He clearly benefits from his hits but they also make some people think that he has only released one or two hit albums some years ago and hasn't accomplished anything else in the meantime - or make them complain about that his other albums don't sound like Bat Out Of Hell or Bat Out Of Hell II.

The difference is Bat Out Of Hell is symbolic and representative of the spirit of Meat Loaf's work, even his non-Steinman albums. Triumph over adversity, heart on sleeve, emotional, pushing over the edge. It's a fair bet that if you don't like Bat you won't like Meat Loaf, and if you do, you'll like some of his other stuff. These are things we can apply to the majority if not all of Meat's work. The kind of swaggering, snotty, cocky self-aggrandizing of 'My Way' is not representative of Sinatra's work.

[olblueeyes]

Originally Posted by lorenzoduke

I agree with some of that and you obviously know your stuff - but I wonder for instance, how many people under 30 are put off exploring Sinatra's catalog due to 'that song'.

I hit 30 this year and I got into Sinatra aged 18 knowing little but definitely My Way was among the most prominent songs I'd been aware of. It intrigued me and made me want to know who was behind that. And that was without any parental (or grandparental) influence. I guess it just depends on the listener. I do take your point though and see your logic.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by olblueeyes

For most people karaoke has ruined My Way.

Yet one more reason to avoid karaoke and anywhere it is going on like the plague imo

I can see why Meat would have it on his playlist He's one of a kind who walks to his own drummer on his own road strewn with rocks and rabbit holes. The message of the song is perfect

Caryl

[Evil Ernie]

I wish that he would have included another Steinman song besides one of his own. It would have shown more acknowledgement of his work outside of what he did with him. Perhaps something more obscure that people would like if they knew about it. Such as "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young" or even something from "Bad For Good".

It's sort of bugged me that he never seems complementary of Jims' work away from him. IMO almost all of it is equal to the ML material.

Good list otherwise.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by Sue K

OH ... lol ... Thanks for clearing that up... I read the word as "sex" ! ... Need new glasses or a cleaner mind ... rolling ... xo

There's no violins on the song either:

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3337551897/

[robgomm]

Hey that's a cool playlist! Thanks for sharing. I love that he says For Crying Out Loud is the best love song ever written. Do you think that's his favourite song to perform and Objects is his second?

[chairboys]

Originally Posted by PanicLord

Ouch! Sorry, my jaw just hit the floor! Really?

how's the chin?

Originally Posted by lorenzoduke

People think they know him because of that one song.

Actually, two. The equally horrendous New York New York.

Originally Posted by Sarge

Often an artist's other work is more interesting than the biggest hits but it's the biggest hits that keep the artist in the public eye.

Definitely

Originally Posted by olblueeyes

For most people karaoke has ruined My Way.

Originally Posted by CarylB

Yet one more reason to avoid karaoke and anywhere it is going on like the plague imo

Yes and Yes!

I admit I am not familiar with Sinatra's work bar those two songs ( I probably know more without realising)
However, I did hear a song on the radio the other day and thought it was terrific. Before the DJ revealed the artist I had at least sussed it was olblueseyes due to his very distinctive voice and style. So, there is hope for me yet!

[olblueeyes]

Originally Posted by chairboys

I admit I am not familiar with Sinatra's work bar those two songs ( I probably know more without realising)
However, I did hear a song on the radio the other day and thought it was terrific. Before the DJ revealed the artist I had at least sussed it was olblueseyes due to his very distinctive voice and style. So, there is hope for me yet!

I'd say that most people probably know at least 10 Sinatra songs, but as you say, wouldn't know that they do until they heard them. Sinatra and Meat Loaf are my two favourites - couldn't be without either one's music.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[PanicLord]

Yeah, Fly Me To The Moon, That's Life, Strangers In The Night all brilliant too.

There's one I can't stand though - It Was A Very Good Year.

I offer as evidence:

"It was a very good year for blue blooded girls of independent means"

I mean, really?

[RSG]

With all do respect to Sinatra I don' recall a song he has ever recorded or performed. The Meat Loaf UK forum is the only one I keep coming back to and there are ten bands/artists I always come back to. My cousin says I'm missing out on other opportunities. I know what I enjoy as I hear it and I almost never turn a song off if I don't enjoy it or never heard it before.

[Evil Ernie]

Originally Posted by PanicLord

Yeah, Fly Me To The Moon, That's Life, Strangers In The Night all brilliant too.

There's one I can't stand though - It Was A Very Good Year.

I offer as evidence:

"It was a very good year for blue blooded girls of independent means"

I mean, really?

#1) He didn't write the song.

#2) It's a great song.

#3) Even if you don't like it, it produced a great parody.

YouTube Video

#4) ML has a song where he describes how he can barely fit his dick in his pants, So I find it hard to critique these lyrics.

[Evil Ernie]

Originally Posted by RSG

With all do respect to Sinatra I don' recall a song he has ever recorded or performed.

Not one?

[BostonAngel]

Now I am going to have to take a listen to all of them. And add some of them to MY playlist. I know I already have Pearl, Adele and Bob Seger. Probably a couple of others too. I love that Meat has such diverse taste in music.

[AndrewG]

Interesting list of songs. Have to agree on Bobby McGee. It's a stellar performance by Janis and the perfect song for her to sing.

I wonder if Meat got "Meeting across the river" and "Jungleland" mixed up? "Jungleland" has the sax solo (one of Clarence Clemons' best surely) and in my opinion is a more descriptive song. On many occasions Bruce and the band performed these two back to back.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

I wonder if Meat got "Meeting across the river" and "Jungleland" mixed up? "Jungleland" has the sax solo (one of Clarence Clemons' best surely) and in my opinion is a more descriptive song. On many occasions Bruce and the band performed these two back to back.

Yeah, I wondered that, too, but I think that "Meeting..." does have a better, albeit short, story. "Jungleland" has kind of a "West Side Story" vibe to it, but I wouldn't classify the sax solo (while fantastic) as "haunting"- but that's me. "Meeting..." is more "film noir". I see "Meeting..." as a prelude to "Jungleland"; i.e. the narrator in "Meeting..." is the Magic Rat.

I can't find the SPL database now for some reason, but actually, I don't think they performed them back-to-back all that frequently (as they are on the album) prior to the full album shows last tour. I have been fortunate enough to see the combo a few times, including twice with Richard Davis, who played the upright bass on the original album.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

I can't find the SPL database now for some reason, but actually, I don't think they performed them back-to-back all that frequently (as they are on the album) prior to the full album shows last tour.

See reunion tour setlists, pretty much every time "Meeting" was performed.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

See reunion tour setlists, pretty much every time "Meeting" was performed.

Ah, you're right- it's more than I thought. (I was busy with other things during the reunion tour. lol ) Still, 20 or so times out of 35 years isn't really a lot.