I'd Do Anything For Love...

After talking about Bonnie Tyler's song in Footloose, and the comment about Steinman songs, I remembered another one of my favorites...I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) sung by Meat Loaf.  It is a really LONG song.  In fact, according to one site, the original version was 12 minutes long.  Steinman was told to cut it down and he did so they would actually play it on the radio.  The radio version is shorter than the video version but all are shorter than the original. 

When this one came out I played it over and over...and sang it really LOUD in my car!  I always wanted to act this one out.  Don't ask...I like acting and costuming so these things play out in my head.  Anyway, I thought it told a great story.  I also love how the majority of the song is Meat Loaf and then the woman jumps in and asks some tough questions.  Here are the lyrics from the radio version (I think)...

And I would do anything for love,
I'd run right into hell and back.
I would do anything for love,
I'll never lie to you and that's a fact.

But I'll never forget the way you feel right now, oh no, no way.
And I would do anything for love,
Oh I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that,
No I won't do that.

And some days it don't come easy,
And some days it don't come hard,
Some days it don't come at all, and these are the days that never end.

And some nights you're breathing fire.
And some nights you're carved in ice.
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before or will again.

And maybe I'm crazy.
Oh it's crazy and it's true.
I know you can save me, no one else can save me now but you.

As long as the planets are turning.
As long as the stars are burning.
As long as your dreams are coming true, you'd better believe it!

That I would do anything for love,
And I'll be there till the final act.
And I would do anything for love,
And I'll take the vow and seal a pact.

But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way, tonight.

And I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that.
No, I won't do that!

I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that.
[x2]

[Solo]
And some days I pray for silence,
And some days I pray for soul,
Some days I just pray to the god of sex and drums and rock 'n' roll!

And maybe I'm lonely,
That's all I'm qualified to be.
There's just one and only, one and only promise I can keep.

As long as the wheels are turning.
As long as the fires are burning.
As long as your prayers are coming true, you'd better believe it!

That I would do anything for love,
And you know it's true and that's a fact.
I would do anything for love,
And there'll never be no turning back.

But I'll never do it better than I do it with you, so long, so long.
And I would do anything for love,
Oh, I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that.
No, no, no, I won't do.....

I would do anything for love.
Anything you've been dreaming of.
But I just won't do that!
[x3]

But I'll never stop dreaming of you,
Every night of my life.
No way.

And I would do anything for love.
But I won't do that.
No I won't do that.


[Girl]
Will you raise me up, will you help me down?
Will you get me right out of this God forsaken town?
Will you make it all a little less cold?

[Boy]
I can do that. Oh I can do that.

[Girl]
Will you cater to every fantasy I've got?
Will you hose me down with holy water, if I get too hot? Hot!
Will you take me places I've never known?

[Boy]
Now I can do that! Oh oh now, I can do that!

[Girl]
After awhile you'll forget everything.
It was a brief interlude
And a midsummer night's fling,
And you'll see that it's time to move on.

[Boy]
I won't do that. I won't do that.

[Girl}
I know the territory, I've been around,
It'll all turn to dust and will all fall down,
Sooner or later, you'll be screwing around.

[Boy]
I won't do that. No, I won't do that.

Anything for love,
Oh, I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that.
No, I won't do that.

All those pledges and promises from the guy.  This girl is the only one who can save him...the only one he will ever love.  Then comes the girl.  I love the part where she asks (she's setting him up)..."Will you make it all a little less cold?"  Sure, he'll do that.  "Will you cater to every fantasy I've got?  Will you take me places I've never known?"  Sure again, he'll do that!  Then she hits him with it.  He'll end up being bored with her.  He'll want someone else.  He'll end up with someone else.  No.  He claims he won't do that.  Will he?  Guess it depends on the guy.

This song has a awesome video.  OK, at least I think it is awesome because I had already wanted to act the thing out before I saw the video!  Michael Bay (he that blows things up in movies) directed the video.  It is based on Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera.  Bob Keane did Meat Loaf's make-up, which took up to two hours to apply. The make-up was designed to be simple and scary, yet "with the ability to make him sympathetic." (It also serves to make Meat Loaf look more attractive when he is shown minus the make-up!)  It went over budget, and was filmed in 90 °F heat, across four days. According to one executive, it "probably had the budget of Four Weddings and a Funeral."  It is the abridged seven minute single version, rather than the twelve minute album version.  Check it out...

There you have it!  Meat Loaf singing one of my favorites!  Great song, great video and a great memory from the 90s.

I Need A Hero...

With that title I bet you guys think I am going to write about yet another superhero movie.  Well, you would be wrong!

Today marks the release date of the remake of Footloose.  I hear it is terrible.  I don't plan on seeing it.  However, it got me thinking about the original version.  I LOVE that movie.  Teen angst, dancing, Kevin Bacon as the cool, bad boy...what's not to love? 

The original Footloose came out in 1984 and was billed as "a city boy comes to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned."  What?!  Ban rock and roll music and dancing?  Yep!  Apparently, a group of kids had been out partying one night several years before and got killed in a car accident.  The town went nuts and cut out music and dancing.  Enter that city boy, Ren, who thinks it's a really stupid rule. 

Wouldn't you know it, the city boy ends up catching the eye of the pastor's daughter, Ariel.  The pastor is the leader of this no dancing deal and Ariel makes it her mission to play the bad girl role to the hilt.  Guess what they say about pastor's kids is true!  Anyway, Ariel's new mission is to get Ren even though she has a boyfriend (he beats her so we all hate him).  Ren's mission is to change the town or get out. 

Thankfully, Ren does make some friends along the way.  You know, those great people who talk you into doing things like playing chicken with tractors!  Yep, Ren ends up facing off against Ariel's boyfriend in a dangerous game of tractor chicken!  Check out that clip below.  Be aware - there is probably language.  The 80s movies are well known for adding in the language!  Here you go...

That song playing in the background is Bonnie Tyler's I Need A Hero (yep, there's that blog title!).  What a GREAT 80s song!  It also has a great lesson for all you guys on what a woman really is looking for!  Check out the lyrics...

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need

I need a hero
I’m holding on for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero (hero)
I’m holding on for a hero ‘till the morning light (‘till the morning light)
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life (gotta be larger than life)
Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There’s someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It’s gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

I need a hero
I’m holding on for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding on for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I’m holding on for a hero ‘til the end of the night

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear there is someone somewhere
Watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like a fire in my blood
I need a hero...etc...

See, guys, that is all you need to do!  Bonnie spells it out very clearly!  Warrior just back from battle (please wear cool costume...see Thor post if you need inspiration) where he has rescued the fair maiden or defended her in some way.  Contrary to all that feminist talk, at the heart of it all, women still want the white knight.  Unfortunately, there are so few of those heroes still around.  Oh well...

Back to Footloose.  Ren has some great dance numbers with the most famous one being a heated, angry dance through a warehouse.  In case you've never seen it, check it out.  Oh...before you play it please be aware that Ren smokes and drinks in this clip.  Those kids from the 80s were BAD!

One of the most heartwarming moments of the movie comes when Ren attempts to teach his new farmer friend, Willard, how to dance.  Check it out...

In the end, the kids get to have their school dance and Ren gets the girl.  This clip, showing the end of the movie, has a little note at the beginning so be patient.  Also, please note the rocking 1984 styles these kids are sporting! 

Yes, the 80s were an interesting time.  Too bad Hollywood can't leave well enough alone and stop with all the remakes!  Someone must have some new ideas!  Anyone?!  If you do, call California...