The "Rock A Little" album discussion podcast

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by mitzo

The impassioned, committed vocals and rich, complex production on RAL make even the clunkers sound good.

I'd say this about Wild Heart.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I love Some Become Strangers. It's a song that grew on me.

It's a blend of quirk and pathos. And it perfectly matches what I think of as uniquely Stevie. Also, I was a shipper so . . . I got caught up in the futility of trying to hang on to past love vs. the pain of letting it go. I could never make it better for you anyway.

Back in the day, it was exciting to have the Talk to Me video and it may be fun to hear the song now in CVS, a lively dance memory, but the ditty really has no layers and I feel the same way about I Can't Wait. So, when you have those two on the same album, it's like eating too much cotton candy at the fair.

[Macfan4life]

I dont care for Some Become Strangers but I always liked this version so much better. I dont understand how you can listen to versions and pick the album version. What I like better about this version is the way too heavy background singers are not ooohhing in the beginning. Also her vocal is so much more consistent and stable compared to the album version. If you have not heard this, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDdew8UJ1uU

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I dont care for Some Become Strangers but I always liked this version so much better. I dont understand how you can listen to versions and pick the album version. What I like better about this version is the way too heavy background singers are not ooohhing in the beginning. Also her vocal is so much more consistent and stable compared to the album version. If you have not heard this, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDdew8UJ1uU

Thanks for the link- that version is, indeed, awesome. I like many of her inflections on this version compared to the one on the album. I wish the things I like about both versions could be combined into one song. I also listened to the Williams Brothers performance and it was nice, although I prefer Stevie’s version, maybe because hers was the one I heard first. I fell in love with their song Can’t Cry Hard Enough when it came out- a mini-masterpiece, I’d say.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by michelej1

It's a blend of quirk and pathos. And it perfectly matches what I think of as uniquely Stevie. Also, I was a shipper so . . . I got caught up in the futility of trying to hang on to past love vs. the pain of letting it go. I could never make it better for you anyway.

Back in the day, it was exciting to have the Talk to Me video and it may be fun to hear the song now in CVS, a lively dance memory, but the ditty really has no layers and I feel the same way about I Can't Wait. So, when you have those two on the same album, it's like eating too much cotton candy at the fair.

I love it when people post things like this. A personal remembrance of how a song can strike a chord with the listener. Reading all these thoughts, plus listening to Jeremy’s YouTube video, makes me want to listen to RAL again, and I will this weekend.

I find it interesting the minor controversy about whether Stevie shouldn’t have sang other people’s songs on RAL. Maybe this is a reflection of how poor a fan I am, but the author of the song isn’t as important to me as how well the song is sang. Truthfully, I love it when artists are willing to sing songs by other writers because it can open new sounds and new ideas. Cyndi Lauper is a songwriter, but True Colors and Time After Time, probably her 2 biggest hits, weren’t written by her. But I’m pretty sure She Bop and Goonies were written by her. I guess my point is I don't care that she didn’t write them, they’re still great songs. Same thing with Talk to Me- it’s a great song and Stevie absolutely does justice to the song. It’s impossible for me to put Talk to Me in the same league as Every Day, based solely on the vocal performance. Her voice has changed significantly, of course, but you can hear passion in Talk to Me; I’m not sure what people hear when they listen to Every Day. Still, just like I love Talk to Me, I’m sure someone feels just as strongly about Every Day, so I get it. The songs Stevie didn’t write on RAL sound great, especially compared to songs she didn’t write on the OSOTM or Street Angel, like Fire Burning, Docklands, or Cry Wolf.

I wish Christine and especially Lindsey had sang songs written or produced by other people, too. For example, comparing You Make Loving Fun to Got a Hold on Me to Love Shines to Save Me, all produced by different folks, it’s great to hear different sounds. Stevie performed Seven Wonders better than the 2 songs she provided for Tango. Lindsey did a great job with his guitar playing on Caution by the Killers- imagine if he could trust Brandon Flowers enough to let him produce or even just write a song or two for Lindsey. I don’t mean for a hit, I mean just to draw something out of him that he may not even be aware is in him.

[michelej1]

I mean, there are some people that I want to do covers. Elvis, Tim McGraw, Luther Vandross. They have no special talent as a songwriter. Their art is their vocal.

But when it’s someone that you admire as a songwriter, to me, it feels like every track that they have not contributed to as a writer is a piece of their art that is lost to fans forever. I feel like I could’ve gotten one more masterpiece from them, but I didn’t, because someone else’s stuff took its place.

Similarly, I was frustrated when she did Rock and Roll in concert, when there were 100 songs of her own she did not perform. Of course, if I didn’t feel back then that her writing itself was so distinct and exceptional, then it wouldn’t have mattered. With most singers, I actually don’t care. And even with someone like Michael Jackson who I think did some great writing, I don’t care if he authored something or not. Because songwriting was way down on the totem poll of the things that I liked about him. With Stevie, Chris and Lindsey I prioritize a bit differently.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by michelej1

It's a blend of quirk and pathos. And it perfectly matches what I think of as uniquely Stevie. Also, I was a shipper so . . . I got caught up in the futility of trying to hang on to past love vs. the pain of letting it go. I could never make it better for you anyway.

Back in the day, it was exciting to have the Talk to Me video and it may be fun to hear the song now in CVS, a lively dance memory, but the ditty really has no layers and I feel the same way about I Can't Wait. So, when you have those two on the same album, it's like eating too much cotton candy at the fair.

I read a review that said the same thing about Tango.

As for "Some Become.." there's so much truth in these lyrics. The vocal gives them the feel that she wrote them.

Didn't want to be the one to
Say goodbye
In a stranger's eyes
Look how we've changed


Love it! Not much has changed, though... lololol

[greendaze5]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Similarly, I was frustrated when she did Rock and Roll in concert, when there were 100 songs of her own she did not perform.

Ditto for 'Circle Dance' and 'Crash Into Me'.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I read a review that said the same thing about Tango.

As for "Some Become.." there's so much truth in these lyrics. The vocal gives them the feel that she wrote them.

Didn't want to be the one to
Say goodbye
In a stranger's eyes
Look how we've changed


Love it! Not much has changed, though... lololol

Nah...just like laundromat, hurricane is not word Stevie would put in a song.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by greendaze5

Ditto for 'Circle Dance' and 'Crash Into Me'.

Face the Promise and You Wreck Me for Me. I Need to Know needs a third verse written by her. Such a short song.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Face the Promise and You Wreck Me for Me. I Need to Know needs a third verse written by her. Such a short song.

I always thought the Petty song Change of Heart would be suited so much for her. Its such a damn good song and live is a beast. Her background singers also would add to the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-rDZILYs2o

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Nah...just like laundromat, hurricane is not word Stevie would put in a song.

The woman is practically a meteorologist. Hurricane 100% is a word she would use. Thunder, storm, lightning.

I’ll tell you what is a word she should not have used in a song: barricade.

Even today I search my brain trying to think of something else to be thrown down by.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by michelej1

The woman is practically a meteorologist. Hurricane 100% is a word she would use. Thunder, storm, lightning.

I’ll tell you what is a word she should not have used in a song: barricade.

Even today I search my brain trying to think of something else to be thrown down by.

Her walls are flaming...

I've always found that to be a HORRIBLE line. I picture all kinds of swabs and antibiotics, or Preparation H.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Her walls are flaming...

I've always found that to be a HORRIBLE line. I picture all kinds of swabs and antibiotics, or Preparation H.

Eat the seafood chowder at Fleetwood's On Front Street and you'll appreciate that lyric!

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by michelej1

The woman is practically a meteorologist. Hurricane 100% is a word she would use. Thunder, storm, lightning.

I’ll tell you what is a word she should not have used in a song: barricade.

Even today I search my brain trying to think of something else to be thrown down by.

That was hilarious! Actually, I think Macfan is incorrect- I listened to Some Become Strangers by the Williams Brothers, and I think they sing the line “In the beginning I believed in love and things, it happened like a holiday.” Stevie changed ‘holiday’ to ‘hurricane.’