# Melodramatic, over-the-top songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489 "2018-01-12T20:57:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/1 "2018-01-12T20:57:09Z")
What got me thinking about this type of song was finding out the song in that (not) parody perfume commercial is [Sia’s Chandelier.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM) In my opinion the Grandmother of this type of pop song is [Jennifer Holiday/Hudson And I’ Am Telling You,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIDimztxcq8) and epitome is [Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/2 "2018-01-12T21:00:50Z")
Oh wait! I thought of a man over-the-top melodramatic song. [Harry Nilsson’s Without You.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lvLYTC3nAo) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/3 "2018-01-12T21:07:39Z")
“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.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/4 "2018-01-12T21:10:41Z")
> [@don draper](#): > > “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.” _ **i really ned you tonight!!!** _ ETA:Tried all caps forgetting we are not allowed to scream in such a fashion her on the SDMB. Another edit to say-- wow, that filter takes away ALL the capital words! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/5 "2018-01-12T21:16:58Z")
Two great parodies by Flight of The Conchords: [Sellotape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fycGFGSeKpc) [I’m Not Cryin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVT_mvvZLo) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/6 "2018-01-12T21:24:34Z")
What about Europe’s [_The Final Countdown_](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=final+countdown&qpvt=final+countdown&view=detail&mid=91BCA63DB2CB6EFD667391BCA63DB2CB6EFD6673&FORM=VRDGAR)? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/7 "2018-01-12T21:29:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What about Europe’s [_The Final Countdown_](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=final+countdown&qpvt=final+countdown&view=detail&mid=91BCA63DB2CB6EFD667391BCA63DB2CB6EFD6673&FORM=VRDGAR)? 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. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/8 "2018-01-12T21:35:55Z")
You’re all going to hate me for this… [_MacArthur Park._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPMpeNDIGdk) To make up for it. [Literal Video Version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgWUq0fdKk) of \*Total Eclipse Of The Heart \* ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/9 "2018-01-12T21:39:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/10 "2018-01-12T21:43:09Z")
Meatloaf: [I Would Do Anything for Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGalkLRdlOs) (But I Won’t Do That) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/11 "2018-01-12T21:57:47Z")
We could pretty much list every song Jim Steinman’s done and call it day for this thread. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Two great parodies by Flight of The Conchords: > > Sellotape > > I’m Not Cryin’ Along the same lines, here’s “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “[Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSA7kKNu2Y)”. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/12 "2018-01-12T21:58:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You’re all going to hate me for this… > [_MacArthur Park._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPMpeNDIGdk) 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. > [@Arkcon](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/13 "2018-01-12T22:01:23Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Two great parodies by Flight of The Conchords: > > [Sellotape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fycGFGSeKpc) > > [I’m Not Cryin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVT_mvvZLo) This also reminds me of an old, old SNL skit. This one with Dana Carvey Choppin’ Broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/14 "2018-01-12T22:04:42Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > Meatloaf: [I Would Do Anything for Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGalkLRdlOs) (But I Won’t Do That) It pales in comparison to [“Paradise By The Dashboard Light”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/15 "2018-01-12T22:28:14Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > i think if we’re to get a group song on here it may be something by Journey. That would be [Separate Ways](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LatorN4P9aA). 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOKoLiOkWWQ) by Savatage. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/16 "2018-01-12T22:39:01Z")
Oh, the menfolk can do melodrama. It’s a common theme among heavy rockers attempting to do ballads. I present the lyrics of Papa Roach’s “Scars” which are a running gag in this household. I tear my heart open I sew myself shut My weakness is That I care too much Our scars remind us that the past is real I tear my heart open Just to feel YouTube link, for max angst appreciation: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eHbNU9WuVgw/maxresdefault.jpg "Papa Roach - Scars (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHbNU9WuVgw) So many 90s alternative songs apply here, including good ones. I always thought this one by Staind was both good, and ridiculous: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mVQpfoqsY8Q/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgTyhFMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAkd3bbWx6oZEtZTUX4EzQuhLdIhQ "Staind - Outside (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVQpfoqsY8Q) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/17 "2018-01-12T22:39:58Z")
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. _TEotH_ really does carry the blue ribbon, though. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/18 "2018-01-12T22:42:09Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > In my opinion the Grandmother of this type of pop song is [Jennifer Holiday/Hudson And I’ Am Telling You,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIDimztxcq8)… 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. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/19 "2018-01-12T22:43:04Z")
Morris Albert’s _Feelings_ was way overplayed in the day, but it fits this category. I hope to never hear it again. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489/20 "2018-01-12T22:43:33Z")
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.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melodramatic-over-the-top-songs/806489.md?page=2)