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Freypower
04-09-2006, 12:13 AM
Glenn does music too! :D

I wondered if anyone wanted to talk about what appears to be a recurring theme on the Strange Weather album. I quote these four lyrics:

I feel the storm is coming soon

And we're running out of time (Strange Weather)


And they can't be saved by money

They're all running out of time (I've Got Mine)


Your time is up, are you ready to go? (Before The Ship Goes Down)


I look at you, your whole life stands before you

Look at me and I'm running out of time (POMPOY)


Perhaps I am over-analysing but perhaps having that colon surgery made him start to think about his mortality. There is a sense of urgency on this album about various topics. In the title track it's the relationship that needs to be saved. In IGM it's the rich people who need to change their ways. In Ship, we should enjoy ourselves while we can. POMPOY is quite blunt. We're all getting older and the sands of time are disappearing, etc. I think it's an interesting concept and he has handled it in a way which is not too heavy-handed. I would be interested to know what the rest of you think.

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 12:38 AM
I totally agree. I think when he introduces Before the Ship Goes Down at Rama he explicitly refers to his surgery as letting him know he should "always say yes to that glass of wine after dinner" or something to that effect. It made him realize that we need to enjoy life while we're living it. Your inclusion of the other songs to fit that theme works very well, especially for POMPOY. It certainly was a life-changing event for him, and it's natural that's reflected strongly in his lyrics. Good spot!


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PinkCoatGirl
04-09-2006, 12:47 AM
You know what, I am listening to this album right now, haha (it was my most recent Glenn acquisition and I couldn't find it for a long time--my room's a mess--so I hadn't hardly listened to it at all...making up for that now!) and I noticed that as well. Until I had the album, I didn't realize that "Strange Weather", "I've Got Mine" and POMPOY were from the same album (I read liner notes, but I tend to get distracted by pictures ;) ) and didn't make the connection. The one that always jumped right out at me though was POMPOY, and I have to say it really disturbed me when I first heard it. Not disturbed as in a bad way, but just...it's such a morbid thought, really.

In a way, that line, though, made me appreciate Glenn's music much much more--at the time, I was mainly familiar with "The Heat Is On" and "You Belong To The City" (I'm an 80's child, what can I say? I was raised on those songs), which really...well YBTTC is debatable, but they're not really his "deeper, darker" works, you know? I tend to gravitate towards deep lyrics, being a sometime-songwriter myself, and dark songs, and that line really grabbed my attention and made me sort of go "Hey, listen a little closer."

I definitely do think that his illness had a lot to do with that recurring theme on this album. I also think that possibly, IGM is slightly more similar to POMPOY because, although I don't think he's completely lumping himself in with those "rich men", he knows he is one of them and I think he might be including himself in that line, "They're all running out of time"...in the limelight? This is just after he married Cindy and started a family, and right around when he said there'd "never be an Eagles reunion", and I'm wondering if maybe he was thinking 'You know, I really don't know how much longer I'm going to be doing this rockstar thing'. And I think maybe his illness might've attributed to that as well, in that he may have been thinking, Hey, I have a family now, I had a health scare, I need to be thinking about this.

At the same time, I also completely understand that sometimes a song is just a song. ;) He gravitates more towards the music first, and I do think that a lot of his songs aren't really 'literal' as those by someone like Stevie Nicks or even Don would be, but more...stories. That's a talent I don't have, though--my thought process is blatantly obvious in my songs--so I always tend to think there's something of the writer in every one of their songs, even just a little bit. :) And because it shows up quite a bit over the course of the same album, I do think there's more to it here than just 'stories'.

Assuming the recurring theme really is resulting from him starting to give more thought to his own mortality, I like the way he deals with it here. Because the message most definitely is there--getting older, 'running out of time', not going to last forever--but it's not an overwhelming, driving force of the album, you know...it's not melancholy. It's just there enough to make you think, and make you realize that he had been doing a lot of thinking, too.

And make you want to give him a hug. (Or is that just me? ;) )

Sorry for my long-winded response, LOL! Good topic, though, Freypower...I'm glad it wasn't just me noticing this!


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 10:26 AM
I never looked at POMPOY that way - that lines like "a distant voice is calling me away" and "whatever time may take away" might be referring to him dying. If you look at it that way, it really puts the song into an entirely different dimension, at least for me. Wow.

P.S. I agree about "I've Got Mine."

P.P.S. I don't get the same melancholy vibe, though. It seems to be hopeful - perhaps not in I've Got Mine, but that song serves a different purpose. POMPOY is reassuring - no matter what, we'll always live in each other's hearts - and Before the Ship Goes Down is celebratory of life in its own hedonistic way. I think both are things that take the theme of mortality and turn it into something positive. I'm not saying positive in the sense that it's "Yay, death" but more like instead of focusing on that, he uses it to positively inform the choices he makes today "at the crossroads" and "before the ship goes down." Strange Weather is more melancholy-sounding, but again, this issue of "running out of time" is being used as the impetus to do something to save the relationship. If you believe there's still hope that they can work things out, and the song gives that impression IMHO - "somehow we'll survive" - then you still find a positive being made out of mortality.


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PinkCoatGirl
04-09-2006, 11:10 AM
Oh, no...I don't think it's melancholy at all. I was sort of deep in thought when I wrote that other post, haha, it might not have come out right... I fully agree with you. It's a hopeful sort of thing, like, "Until it happens, I'm going to live life to the fullest, but it *will* happen eventually" type thing. "Strange Weather" itself, though, yes...but you're right, it's more about the relationship end of things.

As for POMPOY...perhaps I'm just a dark person, LOL, but for some reason that is the first thing I thought of those lines to be referring to. "'Til we find a bridge across forever, Until this grand illusion brings us home", and "So many miles to go before I die"..."We can never know about tomorrow"... I don't know, I just always read a lot into this song. It's still not a sad song at all, to my mind, not in the least...it's very hopeful and happy, which again goes to the point of him having come to terms with his mortality and in the meantime, living and loving and being happy and not worrying about it.


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 01:18 PM
As for POMPOY...perhaps I'm just a dark person, LOL, but for some reason that is the first thing I thought of those lines to be referring to. "'Til we find a bridge across forever, Until this grand illusion brings us home", and "So many miles to go before I die"..."We can never know about tomorrow"... I don't know, I just always read a lot into this song. It's still not a sad song at all, to my mind, not in the least...it's very hopeful and happy, which again goes to the point of him having come to terms with his mortality and in the meantime, living and loving and being happy and not worrying about it.Well, I knew the above parts referred to mortality and death, but I didn't think the other parts did. The other parts like "A distant voice is calling me away" give it an immediacy I didn't see before and thus an additional urgency. Now obviously Glenn wasn't dying at this time but he did have a very serious illness so I can see him thinking along those lines. In fact I really didn't know much about diverticulitis but when I heard Glenn had it, I looked it up and if it gets bad enough to have part of the colon removed, it's pretty painful and severe. That's like one of the last resorts. :(


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

glenneaglesfan
04-09-2006, 01:28 PM
This is very interesting. I hadn't actually picked up the recurring theme of running out of time. POMPOY does make me think that he is reflecting on his mortality, and possibly the age difference between him and Cindy, but ultimately it is joyful and optimistic.

"Whatever time may take away

It cannot change the way we feel today"

I think Long Hot Summer also reflects on mortality, what man is doing to the environment and global warming. The version on Strange Weather sounds more ominous to me than the version on the video. It's a reflection on man's inability to cope with disaster, sadly confirmed by the events in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

In a way Big Life also looks at the temporary life of fame and fortune - the rather obnoxious and self important celebrity trying to come to terms with his fall from grace.

Strange Weather is one of my latest acquisitions, and I am really getting into it. For me, A Walk in the Dark is exquisite.


~~~

This way to happiness...

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 03:26 PM
Yes, Long Hot Summer is very ominous. It's got a tense melody and thought-provoking words which very effectively convey a sense of despair and frustration. Still, I'm surprised he opened concerts with such a downer.


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eaglesfans
04-09-2006, 04:09 PM
Doesn't Glenn also say that Long Hot Summer was partly inspired by a happy little book called The End of Nature that Don gave him to read?

glenneaglesfan
04-09-2006, 04:25 PM
That would fit with the dedication of the first track to Silent Spring, which was one of the most thought provoking books we had to read at school.


~~~

This way to happiness...

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 08:33 PM
Doesn't Glenn also say that Long Hot Summer was partly inspired by a happy little book called The End of Nature that Don gave him to read?It also fits with other songs Glenn has written that are inspired by books. He says he wrote "Brave New World" after reading The Stand. I admire how he can digest things like that and then write great songs as a result. Thanks for the interesting info, L&M!


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Freypower
04-09-2006, 09:43 PM
Yes, Long Hot Summer is very ominous. It's got a tense melody and thought-provoking words which very effectively convey a sense of despair and frustration. Still, I'm surprised he opened concerts with such a downer. These are great responses to this topic.

It's interesting that you should say LHS is a downer, Nancy - I think it's a perfect opening for that show. I can't explain why though. Perhaps it's him moving away from the 'lightweight' image he had.

If LHS was inspired by a book Don gave him - that was a while ago. It was written in 1988 during the Soul Searchin' sessions. He says in the Strange Weather EPK (I think) that it didn't fit the theme of that album. By the time he got around to the SW album he decided it would be appropriate.

I think the 'melancholy' aspect of POMPOY is what lifts the song from being a good song, to a great song (never mind the very personal meaning the song has for me). The transient nature of existence has rarely been so perfectly expressed.

And Kate, you said that A Walk In The Dark is 'exquisite'. I could not agree more. Yet even in this song there is a sense of only temporary happiness - when he switches to third person at the end you think - hang on, was this perfect night just a dream?

He Took Advantage is another song where he may be examining how perceptions change as time moves on.

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 10:11 PM
It's interesting that you should say LHS is a downer, Nancy - I think it's a perfect opening for that show. I can't explain why though. Perhaps it's him moving away from the 'lightweight' image he had.Well, it does have a good guitar part, so perhaps that's why he chose it. Glenn has always chosen odd openers for his solo shows, IMHO. "I Found Somebody" opened his NFA and Allnighter shows, and I always thought that song was a bit of a slow start, too.


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

eaglesfans
04-09-2006, 10:53 PM
Maybe Glenn subscribes to the same idea as Don...start with an obscure, but catchy album track while people are still taking their seats and settling in. That way the late-comers aren't really missing anything.


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PinkCoatGirl
04-09-2006, 10:57 PM
Glenn has always chosen odd openers for his solo shows, IMHO. I tend to agree. I was actually really surprised at the choice of "Peaceful Easy Feeling" as an opener for Dublin... I mean, I adore that song to no end, but I hadn't really thought of a ballad as an opener, I guess.

I liked "I Found Somebody" as an opener at Casino Rama...hehe, now I'm trying to think of songs of his that would make great openers. I think "Love In The 21st Century" would make a good one...then again, it could just be my bias of having always wanted to see that song live showing. ;)

Freypower, excellent point about "A Walk In The Dark"...there really is just an underlying theme of fleeting happiness through just about every song on the album...even though the songs themselves vary quite a bit between dark and light. Really I think the only song that doesn't have this theme is probably "Delicious"...even "Love In The 21st Century", although completely upbeat and all... 'Something is wrong with this picture'! And 'ominous' is a *great* word to describe LHS. I *love* that song, but that really is a perfect word to describe the overall feeling of it.

I definitely do think not just LHS as an opener, but really this whole album in a way is Glenn shedding his 'lightweight image'. There are many layers to the songs here, which I love. It just makes it a really *interesting* listen, in addition to just Glenn's sexy voice... :)

I haven't heard the Soul Searchin' album, by the way, it's the one I can't find yet...you say he said LHS didn't fit the theme of that one? What is it predominantly like? Lighthearted or..?


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~

My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

Freypower
04-09-2006, 11:17 PM
You've got it. Soul Searchin' is his most frustratingly lightweight album. All R&B and ballads which for the most part are very fluffy and really not up to his standards. It has three standout tracks - the title track, True Love & Livin' Right. It has a couple of very good tracks - I Did It For Your Love and Let's Pretend We're Still In Love. The rest is pretty ordinary.

I take it when you referred to PEF as an 'opener' in Dublin you mean it's the first Eagles song. The show like all the others on that tour opened with LHS.

I like I Found Somebody as an opener too, considering for a while he seemed to reject it, as the song he wrote before he wrote The One You Love.

PinkCoatGirl
04-09-2006, 11:40 PM
I take it when you referred to PEF as an 'opener' in Dublin you mean it's the first Eagles song. The show like all the others on that tour opened with LHS.Oops...hehe, I didn't know that! Should've probably looked at the Filmography first...I don't have the actual video of Dublin, I only have the Live CD, which begins with PEF. In that case, well, ignore that comment. :blush:

Hmm..very ironic that an album called "Soul Searchin'" should be almost completely lightweight and fluffy! This makes me think even more so that he was going for a departure with this album...if he had LHS hanging around from the Soul Searchin' sessions, then he probably almost built the album around that...a dark, 'ominous' song, plus the surgery and all the ways in which his life changed in that time from which to draw inspiration as well.

It's funny...at the time of Casino Rama, I hadn't yet heard the SW album, only NFA and The Allnighter. So when Glenn referred to himself as "dark" (during the intro for No More Cloudy Days), I really had to think about that...and was going "Well, I guess sort of...on some things..." But had a hard time combining the word 'dark' with Glenn's outward persona, you know? And the fact that he had a big grin on his face when he said it really didn't help. ;) But he is a Scorpio, and Scorpios are masters at being charming and all smiles on the outside while hiding their depth and 'dark' side...which I'd say sums Glenn up awfully well, the more I think about it.

He does, though, almost always manage to temper the darker, more sad tones of his songs with a hopeful idea or 2 as well...which is hard to do and get it right, yet he definitely does!


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

sodascouts
04-09-2006, 11:58 PM
Maybe Glenn subscribes to the same idea as Don...start with an obscure, but catchy album track while people are still taking their seats and settling in. That way the late-comers aren't really missing anything.Could be, although since "I Found Somebody" was a single I wouldn't call it obscure. It certainly isn't as well-known as other things he plays, though.


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

PinkCoatGirl
04-10-2006, 12:21 AM
Maybe Glenn subscribes to the same idea as Don...start with an obscure, but catchy album track while people are still taking their seats and settling in. That way the late-comers aren't really missing anything.
Hehe..aww. Sorry, I felt so bad for Don, especially at the Detroit show, during The Genie...Detroit started half an hour earlier than the tickets showed, so there was *no-one* around for it and those that were were all completely pre-occupied. Except me trying to ignore them all and pay attention to this song that I *adore*. :) Just out of curiosity, has he done that with many past solo shows? (Sorry, this is rather off-topic...I'm just a bit curious.)

People did seem to know "I Found Somebody" at Casino Rama...in fact, I looked around me and I seemed to be the only one who didn't know every single word (yet)!

I think another reason LHS might've been chosen as the opener, actually, is just that it *does* have a powerful theme/tone to it. Even if the underlying tone is not a pleasant one, it definitely commands attention, IMHO.


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

eaglesfans
04-10-2006, 12:52 AM
I think it makes a lot of sense. Why do a hit song when a lot of people are still coming in and finding their seats?



And "obscure" was the word Don used last summer at a couple of shows to describe "The Genie". He made a joke about starting with an obscure album track....so maybe it's something he and Glenn have talked about.





<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Could be, although since "I Found Somebody" was a single I wouldn't call it obscure. It certainly isn't as well-known as other things he plays, though. <hr></blockquote>


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sodascouts
04-10-2006, 12:53 AM
Hmm..very ironic that an album called "Soul Searchin'" should be almost completely lightweight and fluffy! This makes me think even more so that he was going for a departure with this album...if he had LHS hanging around from the Soul Searchin' sessions, then he probably almost built the album around that...a dark, 'ominous' song, plus the surgery and all the ways in which his life changed in that time from which to draw inspiration as well.I think I might disagree a bit with Julie. First, how are we definining "lightweight"? There are songs here that are darker, like Some Kind of Blue and I Did It for Your Love. However, those are very traditionally structured, so perhaps they can be called lightweight in that they're "safe."

I don't agree the title track is lightweight. I think it lives up to its name. The video emphasizes overtones that go beyond romance when he picks up the newspaper and reads about toxic waste. I also think "It's Your Life" has an unusually insightful theme. How many times do we hear a love song that has the message "I love you enough to let you go if you need to go be happy?" Lightweight love songs are much more simplistic than that "I love you! Yay!" lol

I will agree that the rest of the songs on that album are not among his best, with the exception of "True Love." In fact, "Two Hearts" is one of my least favorites of all of his solo songs.

I also think it's very possible he built the album Strange Weather around LHS - after all, global warming does cause strange weather! lol It makes sense that it was a thematic spark.


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

eaglesfans
04-10-2006, 12:55 AM
I'm a little lost.....done what? Start with a non-single song? Yes, he's does that in the past. For one tour he opened with Drivin With Your Eyes Closed...which is a great song, imo.





<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Hehe..aww. Sorry, I felt so bad for Don, especially at the Detroit show, during The Genie...Detroit started half an hour earlier than the tickets showed, so there was *no-one* around for it and those that were were all completely pre-occupied. Except me trying to ignore them all and pay attention to this song that I *adore*. Just out of curiosity, has he done that with many past solo shows? (Sorry, this is rather off-topic...I'm just a bit curious.)<hr></blockquote>


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PinkCoatGirl
04-10-2006, 12:55 AM
I also think "It's Your Life" has an unusually insightful theme. How many times do we hear a love song that has the message "I love you enough to let you go if you need to go be happy?"Oooh...definitely want to hear this. I did hear rumors of a store around here having this album from a friend of mine...I'll have to go check around.

As well, I agree about the title track...I'm only familiar with it and "True Love", off that album, and I love them both. I definitely don't think it's lightweight...I actually heard this song all the time over the PA at an old job of mine, haha, before I knew it was him (this is a theme with me--I've loved You Belong To The City since it came out, and only found out he did it in 2002... as well, had grown up loving "Holiday Road" and "Dancin' Across the USA" from the end of the "Vacation" movie without knowing it was one Mr Lindsey Buckingham who sang them!), and loved it even then, as it was definitely fitting for me at the time.

LOL...very very true about the global warming thing! I actually wasn't even thinking of that aspect, haha...I was thinking stylistically alone...yep, I can definitely see it being a spark for the album.


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

PinkCoatGirl
04-10-2006, 01:24 AM
Start with a non-single song? Yes, he's does that in the past. For one tour he opened with Drivin With Your Eyes Closed...which is a great song, imo.Sorry, I was doing a few things at once when I posted that...yes, started with a non-single song. Awesome...that is definitely a great song!

I suppose he might've discussed it with Glenn, yah... I was at one of the shows at which he referred to "The Genie" as "an obscure album track nobody knows"...hey, I love the "obscure" stuff, so I say bring it on guys!


-----

~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

glenneaglesfan
04-10-2006, 06:23 PM
I confirm what you said earlier about Glenn's illness. Diverticular disease is more common in older people and is usually relatively benign. To require that sort of surgery takes a real emergency - a perforation or peritonitis. He must have been very ill.

Back to the global warming, and slightly off topic, but it immediately made me think of this thread- I took my boys to the Aquarium in Plymouth today, and one of the telly weathermen from Sky was giving a talk on this subject. The three of us sat in an empty theatre and engaged in conversation with this chap. Fortunately, more people showed up and he gave an impressive and worrying talk about the inevitability of global warming, and the necessity for all of us to get together and slow down the release of carbon emissions. Sorry this sounds like I'm on my soapbox, but Glenn was concerned about it in 1992, and also demonstrated his environmental concerns on the Expedition Earth video.


~~~

This way to happiness...

sodascouts
04-10-2006, 06:31 PM
I'm not sure if he said that in Chicago or not about it being obscure. It's not so much the obscurity of it that bothered me, it was the lack of energy. At least Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed gets the blood pumpin'. I don't know, maybe The Genie does that for other people, I just know that for myself and the three girls I came with (Bree - I went with Tiffany/Wldhrt315, Lindsay/lhansboro and Darlene/dardragon), it inspired the reaction of "Gee, hope the rest of Don's set isn't full of lackluster songs like this." Luckily, it wasn't, and soon Don has us eating out of his hand. ;)

So, I understand the idea of not playing a hit early on so no one misses anything. However, if it were me, I would pick something peppier. Obviously this is just my opinion. I'm sure many people adore The Genie. I just think perhaps another choice would have gotten a better response out of the audience, even if they are still seating themselves. It's like how Fleetwood Mac starts with The Chain, and when you hear those notes, it doesn't matter where you are. You perk up and pay attention!


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

sodascouts
04-10-2006, 06:37 PM
I confirm what you said earlier about Glenn's illness. Diverticular disease is more common in older people and is usually relatively benign. To require that sort of surgery takes a real emergency - a perforation or peritonitis. He must have been very ill.And he had to have surgery twice in 6 or 7 years! That's unusual, isn't it? Luckily he's gone a decade now without a flare-up, so it appears to be under control. :: knock on wood ::


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eaglesfans
04-10-2006, 07:23 PM
I agree....he should have done something a little more up tempo, but I think he was going with his "witch/magic" theme and The Genie fit that. I also didn't like his cover of I Put a Spell on You and normally I LOVE it when Don does a cover.



On the whole I think Don's set with Stevie was fairly lackluster, which disappointed me because I know he can do better and I was hoping he'd wow the heck out of the Stevie fans who think he's a jerk.....but we all have off days. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">





<blockquote>Quote:<hr>I'm not sure if he said that in Chicago or not about it being obscure. It's not so much the obscurity of it that bothered me, it was the lack of energy. At least Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed gets the blood pumpin'. I don't know, maybe The Genie does that for other people, I just know that for myself and the three girls I came with (Bree - I went with Tiffany/Wldhrt315, Lindsay/lhansboro and Darlene/dardragon), it inspired the reaction of "Gee, hope the rest of Don's set isn't full of lackluster songs like this." Luckily, it wasn't, and soon Don has us eating out of his hand. <hr></blockquote>


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sodascouts
04-10-2006, 07:27 PM
On the whole I think Don's set with Stevie was fairly lackluster, which disappointed me because I know he can do better and I was hoping he'd wow the heck out of the Stevie fans who think he's a jerk.....but we all have off days :) Well, he wowed some of us! lol It wasn't just Don fans singing along and dancing to "Dirty Laundry." I saw some of my fellow hard-core Stevie fans doing it too. And "Gold Dust Woman" was HOT.


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PinkCoatGirl
04-10-2006, 09:08 PM
Obviously this is just my opinion. I'm sure many people adore The Genie. I just think perhaps another choice would have gotten a better response out of the audience, even if they are still seating themselves.I have to agree here, to be honest...as much as I love "The Genie" and am personally thrilled he chose to do it, part of why I am so thrilled is that when I heard it, I thought "Hm, this'll never in a thousand years translate well to live performance". LOL! I do agree that it went with his whole "witchy" theme, though, and I guess that's why he chose it.

I think maybe why Don's set might've come across as "lacklustre" was that he knew there were going to be a ton of people there that night that were *not* there to see him, and would *not* know his more 'obscure' stuff, so he chose to play it quite safe. I think it was a good decision, personally, as out of the 5 people I went to shows with, only one of them was also a 'hardcore' Don fan...one of them really knew only Heart of the Matter and Boys of Summer...but all of them loved his set. He might even be aware of some of the animosity towards him in the Stevie fandom, and not wanted to come across as trying to 'steal the show' (even though it was a double bill...I hope you get my meaning here..!).

And yah, semi-back to the topic here, hehe, though not really since it was just something that reminded me of this: I was at physiotherapy today, and was just lying there icing my knee trying not to eavesdrop on the people talking next to me, when one of them suddenly says "It's gonna be a long, hot summer." The other one said "It's been a long hot WINTER, too...it never even got cold." First one says, "Guess there's some truth to that global warming stuff." LOL...fitting, no? I had to remind myself I wasn't involved in the conversation so I didn't throw in "Yah, we've had some awfully strange weather." :)

Oh, and then I had to drop by my work afterwards, and one of my friends there randomly hands me "The Stand", by Stephen King, and tells me I need to read it, because she just finished it and apparently loved it. So, now I'll see what inspired "Brave New World"! :)

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~*She'll always be...the girl from yesterday...*~


My friend and I: "Nice coat Glenn!"

Joe Walsh, at next pause between songs: "Hey, nice coat, Glenn."

Glenn: "Thanks, thanks...yah, I picked this up at the..Liberace garage sale, glad you like it..." ;)

sodascouts
04-10-2006, 09:16 PM
lol. Interesting coincidences, Bree! Have fun reading The Stand. I think "Brave New World" is a really underrated song myself. I love the part where he goes "Don't worry, darlin', this will all be over soon... just remember you will always be my girl."


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http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/glennfreyonline/avatars/nancysigbanner.jpg

Freypower
04-10-2006, 10:09 PM
Just going back to the 'lightweight' thing. I specifically mentioned the three tracks on the Soul Searchin' album which aren't lightweight, one of which is the title track.

It's Your Life might be about letting the woman do her own thing, but I am sure there are many similar songs out there like it (and no, OK, I can't think of anything in particular at the moment). To me, regardless of the alleged sacrifice he is making, the lyrics are cliched and the music is boring. He sings it beautifully, but that is par for the course.

Some Kind of Blue was the song I forgot about. It has grown on me as the years have gone by, I admit, but I think he's done better.


I haven't seen Don solo but as The Genie and Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed are two of my least favourite of his songs, I can't imagine I would have thought the shows got off to a flying start.

sodascouts
04-10-2006, 10:23 PM
Just going back to the 'lightweight' thing. I specifically mentioned the three tracks on the Soul Searchin' album which aren't lightweight, one of which is the title track.Ah, OK. I saw you called three of them "standout tracks" but I didn't realize you also thought they weren't lightweight. You don't think Livin' Right is lightweight?

His voice sells "It's Your Life" for me. So sincere and strong. I love it.



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Freypower
04-10-2006, 10:47 PM
Given that Livin' Right is about a big life change, no, I don't think it's lightweight. It's a very personal song.

sodascouts
04-11-2006, 12:33 AM
Now we're getting back to the definition of "lightweight." Some would argue that because Livin' Right is expressing how good he's feeling and is not about "deep social issues," it's lightweight. (I don't buy into what I believe is a false dichotomy between the two). So, is it impossible for a personal song to be lightweight?


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Freypower
04-11-2006, 01:44 AM
I would have thought that because it's about a very personal issue, that makes it a better song. He was not writing many songs like that at that time. For me that means it's 'deep'.

I have got into trouble with my use of the word 'lightweight' before and I think I will not use it again. All I would say is that some of these songs are not exactly in the same league as for example Tequila Sunrise and New Kid In Town. They don't have much to say. That doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable to listen to but they aren't exactly masterpieces.

sodascouts
04-11-2006, 10:35 AM
Feel free to use whatever words you like! It's just such words often have different connotations for different people, so when we're having a discussion like this one, it helps to clarify.


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glenneaglesfan
05-22-2006, 04:30 PM
I've renewed this thread as I've been listening to Strange Weather a lot. I'm curious to know who is being referred to in Big Life, especially at Aspen - Don and Jack and Cher. Is it Don H and Jack Tempchin? Does Don H ski? I can see Glenn skiing, but not Don for some reason.


~~~

This way to happiness...

Ive always been a dreamer
05-22-2006, 05:54 PM
Good question Kate. I always just figured it was either Don Henley or Don Johnson. I know that both owned homes in Aspen at various times in the past. I also figured the "Jack" was Jack Tempchin.


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I'm just a hired hand working on the dreams I plan to try. The days go by...

sodascouts
05-22-2006, 06:06 PM
I think that Jack might be Jack Nicholson. I'm pretty sure these are all supposed to be famous wealthy people that the early 90s listener would recognize (and which would impress the girl in the song). That rules out Jack Tempchin! As for Don, he could be talking about Donald Trump - it's unclear.

Another possiblity: he chose the names of the rich people that would coincide with people he knew as an in-joke.


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eaglesfans
05-22-2006, 08:30 PM
I believe it's Don Johnson and Jack Nicholson. Henley doesn't ski.


</p>

Freypower
05-22-2006, 11:18 PM
I always thought it was obvious that 'Jack' was Nicholson and it makes more sense that 'Don' is Johnson. There are more oblique autobiographical references in this song. The man has houses in Aspen, LA and Hawaii.

It is interesting that you really don't know what will happen to him at the end of the song, when he's bluffing his way through the fact that his stock is going down, etc.

glenneaglesfan
05-23-2006, 03:10 AM
Thanks for all your replies - Don Johnson and Jack Nicholson do make sense. I noticed the references to locations of houses. I wonder if Glenn has 'staff' in his house in Hawaii?

The Big Life character seems to have the 'never give up' attitude at the end, I suppose that's the type that makes money (and headlines in the tabloids) in the first place.



~~~

This way to happiness...

sodascouts
05-23-2006, 01:59 PM
It's interesting to analyze the lyrics to Big Life and guess how much of it is self-parody and how much of it is the kind of "aren't most rich people lame" mentality that is in I've Got Mine.

Please allow me to introduce myself
Although you probably know my name
You may have seen me in the tabloids darlin'
I'm a player in the game
I own this airline and a baseball team
I started out with nothing, just a dream
Now I'm worth millions, what can I say?
Then I meet a pretty girl like you
It must be my lucky day

This doesn't sound autobiographical at all. At this point in his life, Glenn was hardly all over the tabloids, and since the Eagles were notoriously press-shy, he never really was even at the height of the Eagles. The airline and baseball team stuff is the stereotypical mogul not unlike Donald Trump, which is why I always wondered if he were "Don." Remember, it was around this time Donald and Ivana split up and their messy divorce was all over the news (and tabloids). Indeed, the divorce was a direct result of Donald being caught in an affair with Marla Maples - and the confrontation between husband and wife took place on the slopes of Aspen! I'm sure everyone in Aspen, including Glenn, heard all about it!

Right now we're flying over some land I own
Yeah, that's Aspen right down there
I go skiing there at Christmastime
With Don and Jack and Cher
Hey, maybe when we get to LA, honey
You'd like to come along with me
And watch me spend my money
You can use my limousine to pick up all your friends
We'll meet at my house in the hills
Where the party never ends

I get the impression from the impersonal phrasing "land I own" that he's talking about real estate rather than a home, again reminiscent of Donald Trump. However, it is certainly possible that he recognizes the elements of the non-stop partier that he once was and therefore is incorporating that ironically here.

I'll take you to my beach house in Hawaii
We'll find some peace, just you, my staff and I
No need to be so wary, it isn't necessary
You see I'm just an ordinary guy

I can see the continued reference to places he also owns homes in as self-parody, although he also could be thinking of his rich neighbors, too.

They say that I'm in trouble now
They say I'm on the run
They say my stock is going down
But I'm still having fun
I can take pressure; I can stand the heat
I say I'm still the man; I still compete
I'm calling all the shots; I'm still the boss
I'm suing everyone - I don't care what it costs

Donald Trump was near bankruptcy in 1991 and has filed many times since then! These rich guys are always filing for bankruptcy when their deals go bad. Odd, huh? Of course, one could also argue that Glenn is parodying his decline in popularity and using the terms "stock" as a symbol of that (or using it in both ways), but that doesn't have much to do with lawsuits.

Now, the end of the song is the lamest part where the guy uses all the oldest lines in the book. I think Glenn is just going for laughs at this point, even if there are disturbing undercurrents.

[spoken]

Yeah, I got a big life, alright. It certainly takes up all of my time!

Sounds like Joe in Life's Been Good!

By the way, you wanna get into the movies?

Hmm - King of Hollywood redux?

Do you work out? You look like the kind of girl who works out. I like that. Stewardess, would you get me another gin and tonic? Bring the little girl whatever she wants.

Just for laughs, I think.

Now, where I was I? Oh yeah, Hollywood. You know, the first time I went to Hollywood was 19, 20 years ago. You were just a twinkle in your mama's eye then.

Hmmm - Teen King redux? ;)

Come on a little closer...

If you insist. :twisted:


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glenneaglesfan
05-23-2006, 03:03 PM
Absolutely great piece of literary criticism there, Nancy. I can't add any more - that sums it up, particularly the corny chat up lines at the end. Makes it look much less like self parody and more like a snipe at the the Donald Trumps, Robert Maxwells and Rupert Murdochs of this world.


~~~

This way to happiness...

sodascouts
05-23-2006, 06:31 PM
Absolutely great piece of literary criticism there, Nancy.Aw, thanks, Kate! I am happy to lend my nerd powers to Glenn fandom. ;)


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Freypower
05-23-2006, 08:58 PM
The only part I referred to as 'obliquely autobiographical' was the location of the houses. If we are analysing it this closely perhaps the 'movies' reference concerns his spectacular failure in this area.

I do, however, like the fact that the opening line is the same as the opening line of Sympathy For The Devil.

tengo ritmo
05-27-2006, 12:06 AM
I do, however, like the fact that the opening line is the same as the opening line of Sympathy For The Devil.Me too, Julie. It gives the song a certain atmosphere right from the get-go.


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-Irene

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.