Like or dislike: Fire Burning

[skcin]

Nice little ditty. The lyrics are a mess. But it's OK. Nothing special, not emotionally powerful. I blame Rupert, which is what I usually do. Just because.

There is no fire burning, just a soul crying. OK, Stevie.

And I don't find it strange that her eyes were bright - there's a fire! Of course her eyes would be bright, there's nothing strange about it!

I do love this verse:

I will...you know
So I take it to the limit
I will...you know...as I always have
I understand your position...
I withdraw my decision
Well I've got no more information for you

Not because the lyrics in that verse are good. Cuz they're not. But the way the lines flow with the music is pleasing to my ear & I like her vocal delivery.

The song is pretty fun to sing along to. But I wouldn't care to hear it live, and if I were making someone a "best of Stevie" mix CD, this would not be on it.

[Rickypt]

I do not like this song and I still scratch my head wondering how songs like this made it on an album. That's just me.

I do like these two lines, though. Not the lyrics, but how they sound.

So cry for me take a little time and then stop
It's just something that you cannot see so stop

[amber]

Nice categories.

This is one of my three favorite songs on the album. I think the lyrics do have an emotional impact, at least they definitely speak to me.
"You know, it's an illusion - there is no fire burning just a soul crying" is very deep to me. I'm not saying that's right, I'm just saying that's how I feel.
I love the music, too, because it's fast and jouncy.
mmkay, I'm kind of late, I know you like people to explain why or why not they like or dislike - I'll have to resume later...besides, "Refugee" just came on the radio.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by amber

I know you like people to explain why or why not they like or dislike

Oh I have to explain?

Because I think the lyrics are second rate. It comes across to me (like many on this ablum) like a slew of lines that are trying to be deep, but aren't. I know they mean something to her, but I just don't get or feel it.

The music is relatively catchy, but not enough for me to like it. I especially don't like the end where she says "There's no fi-re, there is no fi-re"

[Sahara]

Hmm. Depends what day of the week it is on this one for me, really. At best, yes, it's kinda fun. At worst ... I can't understand either how it got on the album.

When I first heard it I always thought it was about some sort of delusional individual who imagined fires and ended up refusing rescue from a fire that didn't exist ... "I'll get down she said" ... I don't know. Tis odd.

Not a winner I'm afraid.

[Rickypt]

^ I love your signature, but I think Simon's been spinning for almost as long as Stevie.

[JazmenFlowers]

Paula, again, you've selected my favorite lyrics from a song. weird.

I love where her inspiration from this song comes from...how funny when you really listen to the lyrics.

I like this song, yeah, it's not something I'd play to win someone over to the dark side, but it's a cutesy song. fun to sing along to. and everytime someone asks that damn question "if your house was on fire, what would you take?" I think of this song and sing it in my head.

nothing more.

[ELIUD]

I like this song a lot and find it to be mostly amusing. Wasn't this written about a fire at her neighbors home that she thought was coming from her garage or somewhere in her own house? She freaked and went running around the house looking for things to carry out, then realized there was no fire or no real danger. I think it's all an allegory for her mental state at the time, about how things may have really seemed worse than they were. The kolonopin was taking hold of her and she was kind of crazy...and constantly talking herself down from her craziness.

So still there is a fire...that no one sees
She doesn't even see it either
Or so everyone thinks (my favorite line)
But then again, there was a window
You know it's an illusion
There is no fire burning...just a soul crying

Yep she was nuts.

[David]

The opening two bars are promising (for you nonmusicians, that's about 5 seconds on the stopwatch), but the track goes downhill from there.

The words mean nothing to me--even if I try to read them goofily or pour them into all sorts of weird thematic molds. They're still just Jell-O.

But I don't hate it. When I used to listen to this 1989 album, I'd just let "Fire Burning" play through. It was just background noise that didn't bother me.

The whole album really could have been a shlock masterpiece if Stevie had left in all those melodramatic, lugubrious sagas set against smooth jazz horns. Can you imagine an "Other Side of the Mirror" with "Tragedy of One's Own Soul," "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger," "Dial the Number" & the toe-tapping, glorious "Beautiful Ghost/The Crystal"?

What a great album it could have been with that sort of material instead of stuff that just plops itself down so squarely, like "Fire Burning" & "Cry Wolf" & "I Still Miss Someone" & "Whole Lotta Trouble"--all just a bunch of 4-minute-pop-song, Richard Marx soundalikes.

Ahhh. . . the album that might have been . . .

[JazmenFlowers]

Originally Posted by David

Can you imagine an "Other Side of the Mirror" with "Tragedy of One's Own Soul," "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger," "Dial the Number" & the toe-tapping, glorious "Beautiful Ghost/The Crystal"?

that would have been wonderful. it's interesting you say that b/c I just switched to Dial the Number.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

^ I love your signature, but I think Simon's been spinning for almost as long as Stevie.

Hehe Quite possibly but you can imagine my delight to see the Notorious video -- tambourines, spinning ....
All we need is for Nick to break out the platforms and lace shawls and we're laughing.

[David]

Where was the live video of "The Reflex" filmed & when?

[DavidMn]

I like it. I've sure heard worse.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by David

Where was the live video of "The Reflex" filmed & when?

I'm pretty sure Oakland Coliseum (indoor) and I'll guess early '84.

[David]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I'm pretty sure Oakland Coliseum (indoor) and I'll guess early '84.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, Ryan...can you believe it??