WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Boomer Ballads: I Would Do Anything for Love by Meatloaf
byVanderleunonOctober 11, 2018
If you’ve forgotten what the word “Performance” means, check out this over the top demonstration by Meatloaf.
[Full screen. Speakers up. BTW… you’ll need stamina — or a double vodka martini — or a bong hit.]
Some days I pray for silence Some days I pray for soul Some days I just pray to the god of sex and drums and rock ‘n’ roll
And I would do anything for love
I’d run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I’d never lie to you and that’s a fact
But I’ll never forget the way you feel right now
Oh no, no way
And I would do anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that
No, I won’t do that
Some days it don’t come easy
Some days it don’t come hard
Some days it don’t come at all, and these are the days that never end
Some nights you’re breathing fire
Some nights you’re carved in ice
Some nights you’re like nothing I’ve ever seen before or will again
Maybe I’m crazy, but it’s crazy and it’s true
I know you can save me, no-one else can save me now but you
As long as the planets are turning
As long as the stars are burning
As long dreams are coming true
You’d better believe it, that I would do
Anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that
No, I won’t do that
I would do anything for love
Anything you’ve been dreaming of, but I just won’t do that
I would do anything for love
Anything you’ve been dreaming of, but I just won’t do
Some days I pray for silence
Some days I pray for soul
Some days I just pray to the god of sex and drums and rock ‘n’ roll
Maybe I’m lonely, that’s all I’m qualified to be
That’s just one and only, the one and only promise I can keep
As long as the wheels are turning
As long as the fires are burning
As long as your prayers are coming true
You’d better believe it, that I would do
Anything for love
And you know it’s true and that’s a fact
I would do anything for love, and there’ll never be no turning back
But I’ll never do it better than I do it with you, so long, so long
I would do anything for love
Oh, I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that
No, no, no, I won’t do that
Will you raise me up? will you help me down?
Will you get me right out of this godforsaken town?
Will you make it all a little less cold?
I can do that
I can do that
Will you cater to every fantasy I got?
Will you hose me down with holy water, if I get too hot?
Will you take me places I’ve never known?
I can do that
Oh no, I can do that
I know the territory, I’ve been around
It’ll all turn to dust and we’ll all fall down
Sooner or later you’ll be screwing around
I won’t do that
No, I won’t do that
Anything for love
But I won’t do that
Now, since you’ve come this far, this is an even more rococo version:
And here is the Original Video Duet (sans Lorraine Crosby):
And finally this, the original (and bizarre) “Beauty and the Beast” themed MTV video.
[DON’T FORGET: Full screen. Speakers up. BTW… you’ll need stamina — or a double vodka martini — or a bong hit.]
My husband and I are long time avid Meatloaf fans; “our” song is “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. I have all of his music on my Iphone, and I suspect most people from my era do as well. Thanks for this!
Dan PattersonOctober 12, 2018, 5:32 AM
Over the top is right.
Unlistenable though, like many inspired and earnest theater productions are unwatchable.
Annie RoseOctober 12, 2018, 6:20 AM
My husband and I became huge Meat Loaf fans while dating in college and have continued to love him and the music of Jim Steinman throughout our marriage and 40 years together. Beautiful lyrics and powerful performances. Thank you for the montage of videos!
ArdisOctober 12, 2018, 8:06 AM
“Full screen. Speakers up. BTW… you’ll need stamina — or a double vodka martini — or a bong hit.” Lol, no kidding. The intro alone was exhausting. Nothing like the passionate vocal stylings of a sweaty fat man, not to be unfair because I only watched the first video. I figured once was enough. My husband, overhearing, said, ” What the hell? ” BTW, isn’t that more of a Gen X ballad?
RichardOctober 12, 2018, 9:14 AM
I’m part of the age cohort and was reasonably plugged in during the time in question, but I had not heard this until now. Don’t feel in any way impoverished for having missed it.
JamesOctober 12, 2018, 10:02 AM
I loved “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” while a kid. Then, I hadn’t heard Meat Loaf for decades until he was on a show I happened to be watching and he decided to sing. It’s was the worst singing I thought I’d ever heard. Couldn’t hold a tune – it was really terrible. Just like this piece. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see Meat Loaf.
They must have sung “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” back in the day a million times to get him to hit the right key enough times to make a song.
Roy LofquistOctober 12, 2018, 11:53 AM
Every time I see something by Ross Douthat (NY Times columnist) this song pops into my head.
My first encounter with Meatloaf was at the “Midnight Movies” somewhere in So Cal. Yes, there was a bong involved.
Put the Meat Loaf back in the oven at 500 deg. and leave until done. A week or so would most likely work fine. One exception. Send the well groomed woman in the black dress my way, please.
For something a music lover would enjoy and without an insane, fat, slobbering, clown as a vocalist go here: https://youtu.be/8Pa9x9fZBtY
Cheers
TerryOctober 12, 2018, 8:35 PM
Some more English crowd pleasing musicians from the not so distant past:
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
My husband and I are long time avid Meatloaf fans; “our” song is “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”. I have all of his music on my Iphone, and I suspect most people from my era do as well. Thanks for this!
Over the top is right.
Unlistenable though, like many inspired and earnest theater productions are unwatchable.
My husband and I became huge Meat Loaf fans while dating in college and have continued to love him and the music of Jim Steinman throughout our marriage and 40 years together. Beautiful lyrics and powerful performances. Thank you for the montage of videos!
“Full screen. Speakers up. BTW… you’ll need stamina — or a double vodka martini — or a bong hit.” Lol, no kidding. The intro alone was exhausting. Nothing like the passionate vocal stylings of a sweaty fat man, not to be unfair because I only watched the first video. I figured once was enough. My husband, overhearing, said, ” What the hell? ” BTW, isn’t that more of a Gen X ballad?
I’m part of the age cohort and was reasonably plugged in during the time in question, but I had not heard this until now. Don’t feel in any way impoverished for having missed it.
I loved “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” while a kid. Then, I hadn’t heard Meat Loaf for decades until he was on a show I happened to be watching and he decided to sing. It’s was the worst singing I thought I’d ever heard. Couldn’t hold a tune – it was really terrible. Just like this piece. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see Meat Loaf.
They must have sung “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” back in the day a million times to get him to hit the right key enough times to make a song.
Every time I see something by Ross Douthat (NY Times columnist) this song pops into my head.
My first encounter with Meatloaf was at the “Midnight Movies” somewhere in So Cal. Yes, there was a bong involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRl55U0eDw
Ya know…sometimes music can just be fun.
Put the Meat Loaf back in the oven at 500 deg. and leave until done. A week or so would most likely work fine. One exception. Send the well groomed woman in the black dress my way, please.
For something a music lover would enjoy and without an insane, fat, slobbering, clown as a vocalist go here: https://youtu.be/8Pa9x9fZBtY
Cheers
Some more English crowd pleasing musicians from the not so distant past:
https://youtu.be/_rSrrgwYGjo