Like or Dislike: Beauty & the Beast

[skcin]

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Stevie songs. Ever. It is stunning. Her words, the music, that VOICE!!! I can't understand how so many people say "it's OK." OK? OK?!?! It's unf*ckingbelievable!

She pours her heart & soul out in this vocal performance. The music is hauntingly beautiful, my heart skips a beat when I hear it. I have literally been brought to tears many times with this song, and I honestly can't say that about any other Stevie solo tunes. I love every word, but if I had to pick favorites:

"Oh who is the beauty...who the beast
Would you die of grieving when I leave
Two children too blind to see
I would fall in your shadow...I believe"

I'm listening to the live version from LA 7-26 right now & I'm getting chills. I will never, ever forget that first night in Vegas Tues 5-10 when I realized she was doing this instead of HAEWAFY. I actually said "oh my God" out loud when she walked out in that cloak. And the singing? Sheebus. I have to go & watch my vid from Wed 5-11 again when I get home...

I must say that this song was never one that I loved live before this tour. The album version is just so perfect, IMO, and it was never really matched (at least on the boots I have.) I never would have longed for it to be back in the setlist. But I'm so glad she decided to do it, because it blew me away. She put everything she had into it.