A CHSIB Story...

MBrevard · 21 Oct 2003, 09:33

Hi, friends. With the building excitement over the upcoming concerts, I thought it might be a good time to share something with you, something I've wanted to share with you for a while now, but I just managed to put it all together. Hope you don't mind. As always, if you have a problem with longer posts, please skip this or move onto another thread of the forum.

About ten days ago, I had the good fortune to be able to see some of Meat's second concert in Mexico--you know, the one outside, which he performed for free, the night after the concert now showing on our DirecTV and cable stations.

You've all probably seen audience recordings at one time or another. This one was fairly typical--bad lighting so the faces are washed out; bad sound which is lower then louder, then lower again; lots of audience noises. The person who copied the tape must have left the display menu on, so you have 'Play' in one corner of the screen and the time right beneath it.

So, I was sitting there and watching the tape. Meat and the band began to perform "Couldn't Have Said It Better." I'm enjoying it, as I love watching this song done live. But all of a sudden, I found myself focused on the audience and as I listened to them, I felt gooseflesh rising on my arms and the back of my neck. Tears began welling up in my eyes until they overflowed down my cheeks. And I said to myself, "WHOA!!" and stopped the tape!! I was completely taken aback by how powerful the reaction was and the amount of emotion I was feeling.

I sat quietly for a moment or two, while I calmed down and tried to figure out why this had happened.

You know, I was fortunate to have gotten to hear CHSIB 4 times during the summer leg of the tour. And I've also been fortunate now to have watched it on the DirecTV special. But at none of those times, had I had that reaction. What was going on??

I rewound the tape to the beginning of the song and began to watch it again, trying to figure out what was different here. And it didn't take me long--there was something VERY different happening here for me.

You see, my concerts were very early on in the tour. The album and single hadn't been released. Actually, I think during the first couple, there wasn't even a contract signed yet! And in the particular sections where we were sitting (often with the Cyndi fans, for some reason), I was usually the only one singing the new songs along with the band. In fact, at the end of one of the shows, as we were getting ourselves together to leave, someone in the row behind me, tapped me hard on the shoulder and asked me, "How in the world do you know all the words to those songs??!!" I was more than happy to tell him--and to let him know how great the new album is, of course.

But I saw little reaction to the new songs--people weren't singing along. They'd either be polite and listen or they'd be rude and talk amongst themselves (which drove me crazy). The audience seemed to come alive again when the old and more familiar songs were played.

I have read some wonderful reviews here and around the net--where people had different experiences at their venues. Audiences were receptive and some were actually singing along with the new songs. After reading those, I felt a sadness inside from not having had that experience, not in any of the venues I attended, from first to last.

So, as I was sitting alone in my room, watching this tape of a concert in Mexico City, done just seven days after the last of my concerts, I began to focus on the audience, and suddenly realized that they were singing along with the song. And they were cheering and yelling during the instrumental sections and at the key parts of CHSIB. And it moved me deeply!! Even on the second viewing, I cried--and quite frankly, I feel the tears there now, as I'm writing this and reliving it--that's how strong a reaction it was!

And I began to realize that something else was working here. There was something else going on beyond the fact that this audience knew this song well enough to sing along.

I know that many of you are new here at the forum. But lots of you are not. Lots of you, like myself, have been here way before the first single, Did I Say That?, was released in Germany. I don't know about you, but I loved that song the very first time I heard it and I took it to my heart. And so many of us here have waited for this album and the various singles and have fought together for them to be successful!! And for some of us, that fight continues!!

This is an album I listen to every day, with great pleasure. But I guess, after a while, as with all things, no matter how much you love something, it just becomes a part of your life. You don't need stop and think about it. You don't need to ponder its importance. It simply is. Does that make sense?

What I had lost sight of was just how MUCH I love this album and the songs on it. How much they have come to mean to me, how much they have brightened my world, lifted my life, and touched my heart. And it wasn't until I sat here, being 'a part' of this Mexican audience and listening to THEM sing along, with the same joy and pleasure and excitement I feel, that all this came flooding back to me!

Now I know that some of you don't feel this way about the album. But I also know that a lot of you DO!! So, I think that YOU are the ones who will truly understand what I am trying so hard to find the words to express.

A good number of you are about to have this experience in person very soon. Others of you will have to wait a while before your chance comes. And then, there are people like myself, who are praying, hoping that Meat will come to their area--for me, that he will come back to California to make up some of those concerts we lost during the first leg. And then, we can have this experience for ourselves.

So, having said this, I began thinking that perhaps, this clip might also be meaningful to many of you. I know that each of us reacts differently to things. I don't expect anyone to react, necessarily, the way I did. But just for a few moments, allow yourself to be in this audience in Mexico and listen to how these people LOVE this song, even before the album was there!

Again a small warning: The sound and picture are bad. The display is on all the time. This was the second big concert for Meat and the band in two days and he had just recently suffered the damage to his throat. If

a certain someone here

has an objection to this being shown, just let me know and it'll be removed.

But for the meantime, I hope watching this will, in some way, bring you the great pleasure it did to me!!

Here it is...

Thanks for allowing me to go on a bit today, friends!

Much love to you all,
MB
xxx

heat · 21 Oct 2003, 09:47

MB,

That clip has just given me goosebumps!!!!

You can feel the love for Meat that the audience has, god it was beautiful. Thank you so so much for sharing it with us.

Heat
xxx

Jayd · 21 Oct 2003, 10:04

If that's what it's gonna be like when Meat sings CHSIB, when I see him, I wanna be there now, so much passion from the crowd. I think I felt the same as you MB, what a feeling

White of High · 21 Oct 2003, 12:56

MBrevard!
Why can't I use this site? I can't see the videos!

MBrevard · 21 Oct 2003, 13:07

Hi! Thank you, Heat and Jayd!! Glad you enjoyed it! And glad I was not alone in having the reaction I did to it!!

WOH! Did you click on the bottom links on the Index page? If you have a 56k modem, there's a link for you. And if you have a cable modem, there's another link. Pick whichever is right for you.

They both lead to another page where you should see a Real Player box in the middle. I believe, you will need the latest version of Real One Player to play the clips. That's the way the video has been streamed for everyone.

I hope that information helps! If not, WOH, PM me, and perhaps, we can find the solution to your problem. Okay?

Hope everyone else is enjoying the short clip.

Love to all,
MB
xxx

Bart · 21 Oct 2003, 13:15

I'm gonna watch it tonite. Ad i never read long posts but this post was really somehting. It is nice to know that there are fans like I am out there and that i am not the only one anymore like i felt back in the eighties.

sherrie87 · 21 Oct 2003, 15:08

Thanks for the clip MB, I look forward to watching it this evening when I am off of work and have my son in bed for the night. I can understand your reaction, even before I've seen the video. I sometimes have very strong reactions to songs, both at the actual concert and on video. I think that many of us want CHSIB to be successful so badly that when we see an audience react well to it we are quite moved. Woo, in a scant 11 hours I'll be able to watch the clip!

Sherrie

shadow1000001 · 21 Oct 2003, 16:25

That was a wonderful way to start the day MB, goosebumps and all

I love hearing the passion from the crowd like that. I'll be smiling all day

Maria

Eva · 21 Oct 2003, 17:55

OMG the clip is SO wonderful!
Thank you very much for sharing this great thing and the story with us, MB!

I'm going on real player and hear it again now..... :P :P :P

Love to you!
Eva

Only four days... :P

dottie · 21 Oct 2003, 18:00

Some passion MB, I just love to hear the audience joining in like that, atmostphere so important :) thanks for the clip MB

love dottie
xxx

mariella · 21 Oct 2003, 18:09

Hi MB,

Thank you for sharing this with us! CHSIB-live does sound Fantastic!!!

What can I say, amazing experience when the audience sings along. Amsterdam was amazing!

Even I sometimes 'forget' just how much I love this album...and it is on my mind daily.

I really hope you will, one day soon, be part of an audience that does sing along to the songs...

Think the German-audience is fantastic (my personal experience anyway)
this makes me look forward to these concerts Even More!
Oh boy, and after that, there is the UK-tour (very different audience, but great too, I think).
I have said it time and time again 'This is a Great year'

...as, I am sure, next year will be too!

xxx

Mariella

krolok · 21 Oct 2003, 18:45

Hi MB,

I have to thank you too, for this great clips.
They are fantastic !

Thanks again !

Marianne · 21 Oct 2003, 18:46

Thank you MB for the clip. It's almost like you are yourself in the audience . I'm sure we are going to see some great shows.
Can't wait until it's time.

Marianne.

Kathy · 21 Oct 2003, 19:02

Thank you for the clip, MB, and your long, eloquent post. They both made me emotional - I understand what you're saying - like you, I have such a profound personal reaction to Meat and his music that I want everyone to feel that way. It makes me crazy when they don't, and I feel absolutely joyous when they do.
Love, Kathy

little_dancer · 21 Oct 2003, 20:30

Thanks again for the clip MBrevard!

You're an excellent writer- you should write some articles about the album/tour/Meat Loaf live experience for some magazines maybe? Do you have any interest in that- I think you'd make a great independant contributor!

Cheers!
L.

MBrevard · 21 Oct 2003, 22:07

Hi! Just checked in to see what everyone has had to say so far!

Thank YOU!! I'm SO glad you're all enjoying the clip! Glad to see that no one else is having problems with it. And I thank you for the wonderful comments and for sharing your reactions to it.

Now I don't feel quite so strange about how I reacted!!

:P

Hope more of you come to see it as the day goes on!!

Take care and stay well!!

Love,
MB
xxx

sherrie87 · 22 Oct 2003, 02:11

Finally got to watch the clip (almost exactly 11 hours after my last post, I made a good guess!). Wow, yes I can definately see how that could give you goosebumps, it sure did for me. What amazed me most is that this is an audience that does not have English as a first language, yet they knew every word of CHSIB. I love the new wallpaper that you have up there, MB- did you build it or is it a premade thing? Very cool, either way. It would make a heck of a screensaver.

Sherrie

MBrevard · 22 Oct 2003, 17:55

Hi, Sherrie! Glad you finally got to watch the clip!! Hope all went well yesterday!!

And thank you for your comments about the page background. I created it especially for those pages. All the photos threads here got me going!!

Love,
MB
xxx

shadow1000001 · 22 Oct 2003, 19:21

You did an excellent job MB

Maria

Feleena · 22 Oct 2003, 19:29

Thanks for sharing its wonderful!!

My daughter age 6 even danced and sang along to this!!!

Feleena x

sherrie87 · 22 Oct 2003, 21:08

Feleena,

Too bad we are seperated by an ocean, it sounds like our children would make quite a pair. My son is 6, and CHSIB is his favoritie song as well.

Sherrie

sherrie87 · 22 Oct 2003, 21:09

Feleena,

Too bad we are seperated by an ocean, it sounds like our children would make quite a pair. My son is 6, and CHSIB is his favoritie song as well.

Sherrie

shadow1000001 · 22 Oct 2003, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherrie87

Feleena,

Too bad we are seperated by an ocean, it sounds like our children would make quite a pair. My son is 6, and CHSIB is his favoritie song as well.

Sherrie

My daughter would fit in quite well. She makes me play it all the time

Maria

MBrevard · 23 Oct 2003, 07:23

Hi! Thanks, Feleena!!

This is wonderful! You guys are all raising the next generation of Meat fans!!!

I love it!!

Love,
MB
xxx

jam · 23 Oct 2003, 20:21

A brilliant clip
thankyou for sharing

21 Oct 2003, 09:33	#1
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	A CHSIB Story... Hi, friends. With the building excitement over the upcoming concerts, I thought it might be a good time to share something with you, something I've wanted to share with you for a while now, but I just managed to put it all together. Hope you don't mind. As always, if you have a problem with longer posts, please skip this or move onto another thread of the forum. About ten days ago, I had the good fortune to be able to see some of Meat's second concert in Mexico--you know, the one outside, which he performed for free, the night after the concert now showing on our DirecTV and cable stations. You've all probably seen audience recordings at one time or another. This one was fairly typical--bad lighting so the faces are washed out; bad sound which is lower then louder, then lower again; lots of audience noises. The person who copied the tape must have left the display menu on, so you have 'Play' in one corner of the screen and the time right beneath it. So, I was sitting there and watching the tape. Meat and the band began to perform "Couldn't Have Said It Better." I'm enjoying it, as I love watching this song done live. But all of a sudden, I found myself focused on the audience and as I listened to them, I felt gooseflesh rising on my arms and the back of my neck. Tears began welling up in my eyes until they overflowed down my cheeks. And I said to myself, "WHOA!!" and stopped the tape!! I was completely taken aback by how powerful the reaction was and the amount of emotion I was feeling. I sat quietly for a moment or two, while I calmed down and tried to figure out why this had happened. You know, I was fortunate to have gotten to hear CHSIB 4 times during the summer leg of the tour. And I've also been fortunate now to have watched it on the DirecTV special. But at none of those times, had I had that reaction. What was going on?? I rewound the tape to the beginning of the song and began to watch it again, trying to figure out what was different here. And it didn't take me long--there was something VERY different happening here for me. You see, my concerts were very early on in the tour. The album and single hadn't been released. Actually, I think during the first couple, there wasn't even a contract signed yet! And in the particular sections where we were sitting (often with the Cyndi fans, for some reason), I was usually the only one singing the new songs along with the band. In fact, at the end of one of the shows, as we were getting ourselves together to leave, someone in the row behind me, tapped me hard on the shoulder and asked me, "How in the world do you know all the words to those songs??!!" I was more than happy to tell him--and to let him know how great the new album is, of course. But I saw little reaction to the new songs--people weren't singing along. They'd either be polite and listen or they'd be rude and talk amongst themselves (which drove me crazy). The audience seemed to come alive again when the old and more familiar songs were played. I have read some wonderful reviews here and around the net--where people had different experiences at their venues. Audiences were receptive and some were actually singing along with the new songs. After reading those, I felt a sadness inside from not having had that experience, not in any of the venues I attended, from first to last. So, as I was sitting alone in my room, watching this tape of a concert in Mexico City, done just seven days after the last of my concerts, I began to focus on the audience, and suddenly realized that they were singing along with the song. And they were cheering and yelling during the instrumental sections and at the key parts of CHSIB. And it moved me deeply!! Even on the second viewing, I cried--and quite frankly, I feel the tears there now, as I'm writing this and reliving it--that's how strong a reaction it was! And I began to realize that something else was working here. There was something else going on beyond the fact that this audience knew this song well enough to sing along. I know that many of you are new here at the forum. But lots of you are not. Lots of you, like myself, have been here way before the first single, Did I Say That?, was released in Germany. I don't know about you, but I loved that song the very first time I heard it and I took it to my heart. And so many of us here have waited for this album and the various singles and have fought together for them to be successful!! And for some of us, that fight continues!! This is an album I listen to every day, with great pleasure. But I guess, after a while, as with all things, no matter how much you love something, it just becomes a part of your life. You don't need stop and think about it. You don't need to ponder its importance. It simply is. Does that make sense? What I had lost sight of was just how MUCH I love this album and the songs on it. How much they have come to mean to me, how much they have brightened my world, lifted my life, and touched my heart. And it wasn't until I sat here, being 'a part' of this Mexican audience and listening to THEM sing along, with the same joy and pleasure and excitement I feel, that all this came flooding back to me! Now I know that some of you don't feel this way about the album. But I also know that a lot of you DO!! So, I think that YOU are the ones who will truly understand what I am trying so hard to find the words to express. A good number of you are about to have this experience in person very soon. Others of you will have to wait a while before your chance comes. And then, there are people like myself, who are praying, hoping that Meat will come to their area--for me, that he will come back to California to make up some of those concerts we lost during the first leg. And then, we can have this experience for ourselves. So, having said this, I began thinking that perhaps, this clip might also be meaningful to many of you. I know that each of us reacts differently to things. I don't expect anyone to react, necessarily, the way I did. But just for a few moments, allow yourself to be in this audience in Mexico and listen to how these people LOVE this song, even before the album was there! Again a small warning: The sound and picture are bad. The display is on all the time. This was the second big concert for Meat and the band in two days and he had just recently suffered the damage to his throat. If a certain someone here has an objection to this being shown, just let me know and it'll be removed. But for the meantime, I hope watching this will, in some way, bring you the great pleasure it did to me!! Here it is... Thanks for allowing me to go on a bit today, friends! Much love to you all, MB xxx

21 Oct 2003, 09:47	#2
heat Rampant Loafer... Join Date: 29.07.2002 Location: welshy wales Posts: 5,706	MB, That clip has just given me goosebumps!!!! You can feel the love for Meat that the audience has, god it was beautiful. Thank you so so much for sharing it with us. Heat xxx

21 Oct 2003, 10:04	#3
Jayd If I could bust into hell....... I would Join Date: 13.06.2003 Location: Montclair, New Jersey Posts: 1,312	If that's what it's gonna be like when Meat sings CHSIB, when I see him, I wanna be there now, so much passion from the crowd. I think I felt the same as you MB, what a feeling

21 Oct 2003, 12:56	#4
White of High Nature's Siegfried Join Date: 27.05.2002 Location: Budapest, Hungary Posts: 2,930	MBrevard! Why can't I use this site? I can't see the videos!

21 Oct 2003, 13:07	#5
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi! Thank you, Heat and Jayd!! Glad you enjoyed it! And glad I was not alone in having the reaction I did to it!! WOH! Did you click on the bottom links on the Index page? If you have a 56k modem, there's a link for you. And if you have a cable modem, there's another link. Pick whichever is right for you. They both lead to another page where you should see a Real Player box in the middle. I believe, you will need the latest version of Real One Player to play the clips. That's the way the video has been streamed for everyone. I hope that information helps! If not, WOH, PM me, and perhaps, we can find the solution to your problem. Okay? Hope everyone else is enjoying the short clip. Love to all, MB xxx

21 Oct 2003, 13:15	#6
Bart Bald Mega Loafer Join Date: 06.03.2003 Location: Holland, but I prefer Greece Posts: 2,243	I'm gonna watch it tonite. Ad i never read long posts but this post was really somehting. It is nice to know that there are fans like I am out there and that i am not the only one anymore like i felt back in the eighties.

21 Oct 2003, 15:08	#7
sherrie87 Mega Loafer Join Date: 20.02.2003 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,262	Thanks for the clip MB, I look forward to watching it this evening when I am off of work and have my son in bed for the night. I can understand your reaction, even before I've seen the video. I sometimes have very strong reactions to songs, both at the actual concert and on video. I think that many of us want CHSIB to be successful so badly that when we see an audience react well to it we are quite moved. Woo, in a scant 11 hours I'll be able to watch the clip! Sherrie

21 Oct 2003, 16:25	#8
shadow1000001 Mega Loafer Join Date: 10.07.2003 Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,580	That was a wonderful way to start the day MB, goosebumps and all I love hearing the passion from the crowd like that. I'll be smiling all day Maria

21 Oct 2003, 17:55	#9
Eva friend Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Posts: 1,788	OMG the clip is SO wonderful! Thank you very much for sharing this great thing and the story with us, MB! I'm going on real player and hear it again now..... :P :P :P Love to you! Eva Only four days... :P

21 Oct 2003, 18:00	#10
dottie queen post- whore extraordinaire Join Date: 29.01.2003 Location: Still Rockin' at "72" Posts: 13,181	Some passion MB, I just love to hear the audience joining in like that, atmostphere so important :) thanks for the clip MB love dottie xxx

21 Oct 2003, 18:09	#11
mariella Mega Loafer Join Date: 04.02.2003 Location: Holland Posts: 4,063	Hi MB, Thank you for sharing this with us! CHSIB-live does sound Fantastic!!! What can I say, amazing experience when the audience sings along. Amsterdam was amazing! Even I sometimes 'forget' just how much I love this album...and it is on my mind daily. I really hope you will, one day soon, be part of an audience that does sing along to the songs... Think the German-audience is fantastic (my personal experience anyway) this makes me look forward to these concerts Even More! Oh boy, and after that, there is the UK-tour (very different audience, but great too, I think). I have said it time and time again 'This is a Great year' ...as, I am sure, next year will be too! xxx Mariella

21 Oct 2003, 18:45	#12
krolok Senior Loafer Join Date: 28.03.2003 Location: Bielefeld / Germany Posts: 100	Hi MB, I have to thank you too, for this great clips. They are fantastic ! Thanks again !

21 Oct 2003, 18:46	#13
Marianne Super Loafer Join Date: 27.04.2002 Posts: 789	Thank you MB for the clip. It's almost like you are yourself in the audience . I'm sure we are going to see some great shows. Can't wait until it's time. Marianne.

21 Oct 2003, 19:02	#14
Kathy Super Loafer Join Date: 02.10.2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA Posts: 610	Thank you for the clip, MB, and your long, eloquent post. They both made me emotional - I understand what you're saying - like you, I have such a profound personal reaction to Meat and his music that I want everyone to feel that way. It makes me crazy when they don't, and I feel absolutely joyous when they do. Love, Kathy

21 Oct 2003, 20:30	#15
little_dancer Super Loafer Join Date: 23.06.2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 363	Thanks again for the clip MBrevard! You're an excellent writer- you should write some articles about the album/tour/Meat Loaf live experience for some magazines maybe? Do you have any interest in that- I think you'd make a great independant contributor! Cheers! L.

21 Oct 2003, 22:07	#16
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi! Just checked in to see what everyone has had to say so far! Thank YOU!! I'm SO glad you're all enjoying the clip! Glad to see that no one else is having problems with it. And I thank you for the wonderful comments and for sharing your reactions to it. Now I don't feel quite so strange about how I reacted!! :P Hope more of you come to see it as the day goes on!! Take care and stay well!! Love, MB xxx

22 Oct 2003, 02:11	#17
sherrie87 Mega Loafer Join Date: 20.02.2003 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,262	Finally got to watch the clip (almost exactly 11 hours after my last post, I made a good guess!). Wow, yes I can definately see how that could give you goosebumps, it sure did for me. What amazed me most is that this is an audience that does not have English as a first language, yet they knew every word of CHSIB. I love the new wallpaper that you have up there, MB- did you build it or is it a premade thing? Very cool, either way. It would make a heck of a screensaver. Sherrie

22 Oct 2003, 17:55	#18
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi, Sherrie! Glad you finally got to watch the clip!! Hope all went well yesterday!! And thank you for your comments about the page background. I created it especially for those pages. All the photos threads here got me going!! Love, MB xxx

22 Oct 2003, 19:21	#19
shadow1000001 Mega Loafer Join Date: 10.07.2003 Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,580	You did an excellent job MB Maria

22 Oct 2003, 19:29	#20
Feleena Super Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Bedford UK Posts: 562	Thanks for sharing its wonderful!! My daughter age 6 even danced and sang along to this!!! Feleena x

22 Oct 2003, 21:08	#21
sherrie87 Mega Loafer Join Date: 20.02.2003 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,262	Feleena, Too bad we are seperated by an ocean, it sounds like our children would make quite a pair. My son is 6, and CHSIB is his favoritie song as well. Sherrie

22 Oct 2003, 21:09	#22
sherrie87 Mega Loafer Join Date: 20.02.2003 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,262	Feleena, Too bad we are seperated by an ocean, it sounds like our children would make quite a pair. My son is 6, and CHSIB is his favoritie song as well. Sherrie

23 Oct 2003, 07:23	#24
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi! Thanks, Feleena!! This is wonderful! You guys are all raising the next generation of Meat fans!!! I love it!! Love, MB xxx

23 Oct 2003, 20:21	#25
jam Rookie Join Date: 19.10.2003 Location: UK Posts: 22	A brilliant clip thankyou for sharing