I feel Celine Dion should have a song here. I have a clear vision of her beating her chest with her fist and then dramatically flinging her arm skyward-- a standard move when singing this type of song, only I can’t think of the particular song this comes from. Also, I can’t, off the top of my head, think of any men who belong here.
Also, let it be known I love these types of songs. I sing them very loudly in the shower and really appreciate the vocal tour de force these ladies put on.
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler is certainly up there as one of the most bombastic songs ever written, not to mention performed – and accompanied by one of the most over-the-top videos of all time as well.
Sample lyric: “We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks.”
But there are no heartfelt tears or chest beating. No overarching personal drama. i think if we’re to get a group song on here it may be something by Journey. Or even better, Air Supply. How 'bout Out Of Nothing At All.
That was My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic. But not from the movie video. She later did a live video, with a young Asian girl violinist. Celine became incredibly weepy, and over invested in the performance.
This gets extra points for being so over-dramatic while making as little sense as possible. This song also proves how better women are at this type of thing.
I can’t think of this song without thinking of the SNL skit of the goth high schoolers with their dark song: Near. . . Far. . .. Does anyone else remember this skit. It may or may not have featured Buck Henry.
For really over-the-top, you want heavy metal. Especially thrash, death metal, and black metal.
I’m afraid I’m not familiar enough with it know any good examples. All I could think of was Hall of the Mountain King by Savatage.
I agree about Steinman, but you really have to look at his work as the show tunes they are (whether or not they actually go with a real show or musical). Take a look at popular songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Phantom, Les Miserables, and so forth. They’re all pretty darn bombastic. It’s the nature of the beast.
Well, in all fairness, that song is from a musical (Dreamgirls), it’s not a pop song. So by nature it’s supposed to be somewhat dramatic, and brings the house down when it’s live on stage.
But yes, when I saw the thread title my first instinct was anything by Jim Steinman.
A lot of 70s and 80s Styx would fall into this category, I think. Songs like “Lady,” “The Grand Illusion,” and “The Best of Times” seem to fit the requirement of “beating one’s chest with a fist and then dramatically flinging an arm skyward.”
