| re: NJC: Next Best Thing | |
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Posted by: |
Vin 04:26 am UTC 02/14/11 |
| In reply to: | re: NJC: Next Best Thing - John_Galt 10:50 pm UTC 02/12/11 |
| Shit; I haven't meant to evolve! The first pre-chorus and the chorus have actually been kicking around my head for years in that mental box of songs to flesh out "some day." I just recently got around to this one. Thanks, as usual, for the kind words, J_G; you've long been one of my kindest critics. > I agree with Vin on this. His lyrics don't read like he's > trying to do an imitation of Steinman, which is a good > thing because imitations of Steinman almost always suck. > > Also, Vin's songs are significantly more naturalistic in > theme than Jim's. There's actually something similar > about Vin's writing to Jim's lyrics that I enjoy, but it > would take me awhile to explain it and I'd have to go back > and dig for examples and I'm swamped and it's a Saturday. > At any rate, the part of Jim's approach -- in terms of > going OTT -- that really works doesn't necessarily involve > fantastical metaphorical language, anyway. (Totally valid > to disagree with me on this point, I'm hardly an expert on > such things!) > > I could kind of imagine Vin writing Left in the Dark, but > it'd be substantially different from the Steinman version. > But still, that's where the two seem to come closest in > my mind... at least the recent Vin -- there's been sort of > an evolution in style... > > -=John Galt=- > > > > I don't try to do Steinman. I just do what I do. I'm > > heavily influenced by Jim, of course, but I've only ever > > once set out to write a deliberate Steinman knock-off, and > > that was in 1993 or so. (I also think that I, and > > everybody on this board, share a certain degree of > > artistic sensibility with Jim, that was in place before we > > ever heard Jim's name. There's a reason we're here, you > > know? And not much else accounts for a straight > > 10-year-old boy sitting through "Streets of Fire" and > > being absolutely blown away by Ellen Aim & The Attackers.) > > My lyrics do tend to be more literal, or factual, than > > Jim's, its true. > > > > > > > > > If you are trying to do Steinman try and do a little OTT a > > > bit more often and not so factual otherwise it is Bad > > > Company not Steinman. > > > > > > Example - Sure the shadows are thick and the light in > > > here’s tricky, should be something like > > > You embrace the shadows of my darkest thoughts > > > I sense a need growing from your silent presence > > > ellinminate the night and discover my passion... > > > > > > Should be something like - > > > Instead of Bouncer's calling closing time say call him the > > > Matchfaker's calling closing time > > > > > > You, you’re not as young as you used to be, > > > Should be something like - you're not as pure as virgin > > > snow > > > Instead of - And I refuse to be as old as I feel. > > > but this old stallion needs a refreshing gallop > > > on glissening grounds that cascades and unfolds > > > > > > > > > > Some lyrics I'd like to share. Not intentional, but I > > > > sort of feel like this is a prequel to a song I posted > > > > awhile back, "You Pay for What You Get." For a reason I > > > > can't yet figure out, I write most of my lyrics for female > > > > characters, and they tend to be a little fucked in the > > > > head. > > > > > > > > "Next Best Thing" > > > > > > > > This place is packed tonight > > > > With damned and damaged souls > > > > So many phony brave faces > > > > Hoping hard that nobody will notice > > > > Just how bad > > > > > > > > But you let your heart show > > > > It’s dripping down your sleeve > > > > You’ve got that look about you > > > > Like you don’t know what to believe > > > > Anymore > > > > > > > > So offer me your ear > > > > Maybe later we can get the hell out of here > > > > But for now sit back and let me do the talking > > > > > > > > Oh boy, stop wishing on broken stars, > > > > Quit dreaming recycled dreams. > > > > If the Gods ever cared they’d have answered your prayers, > > > > You wouldn’t be here in the back of this bar, > > > > Crying cold tears on colder shoulders > > > > And conjuring your desperate schemes. > > > > > > > > Let me be your next best thing tonight > > > > And I’ll let you be mine. > > > > It’s past last call, the house has turned up the lights, > > > > The bouncer’s calling closing time. > > > > You, you’re not as young as you used to be, > > > > And I refuse to be as old as I feel. > > > > So I’ll settle for you if you’ll settle for me – > > > > Nod twice for “yes,” pick up the check – > > > > Give me a kiss and we’ll seal this deal. > > > > > > > > No you can’t put make-up on a shattered heart, > > > > Sun glasses won’t hide an anguished mind, > > > > You can tease your hair up like an ecstasy high, > > > > And pull your hat low as the brim will go, > > > > Sure the shadows are thick and the light in here’s > > > > tricky, > > > > But sooner or later – you better pray that it’s later- > > > > Sooner or later, boy, > > > > Even the small cracks will show. > > > > > > > > > > > > This place is Hell tonight, > > > > So many devils are on the prowl. > > > > We’ve got our best angel masks on, > > > > But I can see you like mine anyhow, > > > > Like it bad. > > > > > > > > You went and let your heart show! > > > > Its pouring down your sleeve, > > > > I swear I’m looking right through you, > > > > And I’ll never let nobody deceive you > > > > Anymore > > > > > > > > So offer me your hand > > > > We can have ourselves a little one night stand > > > > You never know how different things may look in the > > > > morning > > > > > > > > So boy, stop waiting for the ride to begin, > > > > Quit watching from your seat in the stands. > > > > There’s no way you can win without some skin in the game, > > > > No way to knock a little something straight out of the > > > > park > > > > You can wash away your fears in these watered down beers > > > > Or you can get a little life on your hands. > > > > > > > > Let me be your next best thing tonight > > > > And I’ll let you be mine. > > > > It’s past last call, the house has turned up the lights, > > > > The bouncer’s calling closing time. > > > > You, you’re not as young as you used to be, > > > > And I refuse to be as old as I feel. > > > > So I’ll settle for you if you’ll settle for me – > > > > Nod twice for “yes,” pick up the check – > > > > Give me a kiss and we’ll seal this deal. > > > > > > > > | |
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