No way! I love a bit of light and dark in my band - as your username attests, The Beatles can rock a classical arrangement just like they can rock guitars.
But…what about when a band works to cultivate a specific image and then do a song that simply doesn’t work within that?
I mean, Zep figured out how to cultivate a rep for both light and dark - but did so from their first album out, ranging from Babe, I’m going leave you (both light and dark) to Communication Breakdown (all big and bombastic) and Black Mountain Side (all finger picky).
But the Crue? Nah…and as for KISS, well, I happened to *be *an 11-year-old boy when they came out and agree with your take. I thought they rocked hard at the time, but was done by the time I was about 12-13…
In my defense, I offer my opinion of Peter Gabriel’s album Us, with ‘Washing of the Water’. This could have been a Dreaded Piano Ballad, except for a couple of things. 1) It’s a good song 2) It’s performed well, on both the studio album and in the live ‘Secret World’ video. 3) It’s produced well, in a style that works with all the other pieces of the album, and the other albums of the artist.
In an alternate universe, where Genesis is still together, some idiot producer allows Phil Collins to sing it as a solo and it becomes a whiny, noodling piece of crap. Thank Og, in this universe it is one other facet of an outstanding album - in my opinion, the finest album PG ever did, (that is to say the finest of many fine albums) with an exquisite balance between his commercial work, his world beat influences and his own personal spirituality and sensuality dichotomy.
The Dreaded Piano Ballad, on the other hand, in an unconvincing foray into something the band or artist should have left alone. Are you really convinced that the band that came up with “I Wanna Rock and Roll all Night” gives a rat ass about “Beth’s” feelings? While I believe it may well have taken them ‘just a few more hours’ to get something right, I’m not convinced they would have taken the time to do so when there was a woman waiting. But perhaps I am being too harsh in my judgement of the musical discipline and priorities of the members of KISS…
And if I were “Beth”, I’d be saying "Right, then, Peter; you think you hear them calling? Lotta help you must be in a recording studio…and what can you do? You’re asking me?
Clearly, this song has far more questions than answers…:: pauses for 1.2 seconds:: Whoa, that’s deep!
Whilst I try and digest the news that Mr. Stanley is gay (and by the way, is he officially out or are we just assuming because he looks like Anne Hathaway?), let me offer the dreck that is Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”, fittingly enough from the disaster movie Armageddon. I hope that asteroid falls right on you, Steven Tyler.
I did not know that. How long has that been common knowledge? Granted, it’s been 30+ years since I was an avid fan but I always thought he was supposed to be some big womanizer.
Okay, sorry for the hijack. Mayhaps someone can start an “Ask the Doper who already knew Paul Stanley is gay” thread:smack:
Eh, Beth sounds like a wife- screw her and her “feelings.” They probably had a bunch of groupies in the studio and THAT’S what was gonna take a “few more hours…”
Aerosmith had already punked out in that regard on *Toys In The Attic *with “You See Me Crying” (Especially after having a Billboard #36 and a #10 with songs that actually rocked, this was especially stupid)…in fact, they feinted towards it with Dream On, but had enough sense to guitarize that song to a suitably non-sucky level. By the time they were power-ballading for movies, they were already so far up the corporate keester that a piano ballad was the least of their transgressions. They basically replaced drugs with feckless capitalism.
Well, if the song was made to “prove” that these hard asses have a soft side (or, as is more likely the case, to make more money by broadening the appeal of the band), then, sure–I would tend to agree with you all.
But I can’t quite get over that these are just (when all is said and done) pop songs. They last about 3 minutes. Maybe the band gets tired of always having to find a way to rock out. Any type of music gets old after a while, no? I tend to judge songs by themselves, not by the “rep” of those who made them. The Beatles were highly varied, as is Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones etc. I like variety I guess (not saying you all don’t).
I can’t even remember the lyrics to Beth, but I don’t recall it as being a horrible song. Now, Mandy by Barry Manilow–there’s a terrible song. But he (IMO) is Liberace’s natural son, so schmaltz is to be expected…
But, dude - it was a *Diane Warren *power ballad, for a *Michael Bay *movie, for *Jerry Bruckheimer *production, and used in what is generally understood to be the worst-acted, least chemistry-inducing love scene featuring animal crackers and the daugher of the lead singer ever known.
All’s I’m saying is…that’s a wicked big transgression.
BTW, FTR - I think Armageddon is a big dumb action flick that can be a real hoot if you are hanging with the right crowd…
I know we’re sounding like ballad = blech, but seriously, it’s not about a band showing their more sensitive side or doing something different. It’s about doing it in an egregously naked attempt at selling out and in the process alienating the fanbase that they earned through their more rocking efforts.
I agree that it was indeed a pathetic song. Their best music was made when they were on drugs and hated each other. All the best rock n roll is, actually.
And yeah, the guitar tones, especially on the first CD and Rocks, are some of the best ever - like Tom Scholz’ perfect Les Paul tone without the in-between Rockman processing (sorry for guitar geeking here, but I know I’m speaking your language, An Arky…)
Changes is a Black Sabbath tune – from Volume 4, ~1972.
Doesn’t keep it from qualifying for the thread, it’s a lot older than the “screechy daughter.” (By that I assume you mean he and his current television-show daughter did a version.)
I know Foreigner wasn’t the hardest-core band to start with, but “I Wanna Know What Love Is” would be my answer to the OP. Of course I love November Rain, Babe, Beth…I’m a sucker for an over-the-top power ballad.
