Who Do You Relate To

[BlackWall]

Out of the three primary songwriters; DeYoung, Shaw, Young; who do you find seems to write more on the level of the everyday, common person?

For me, it's Shaw. When he joined the band, I think a whole new dimension was added. Remember, this is not a question of talent, there were songs of substance before; "Young Man", "Father O.S.A.", but with the addition of Tommy, we got "Crystal Ball", "Man In The Wilderness", "Fooling Yourself", "Blue Collar Man", "Just Get Through This Night", and even "She Cares"(to an extent). These are just songs that the majority of everday people could relate to, in some way or another. DeYoung had potential for this kind of writing, but even in a song like "The Grand Illusion", he's singing from the perspective of a rock star; same with "Nothing Ever Goes As Planned". Not that there's anything wrong with that, I mean, after all, he was; and maybe that was a more honest approach. What are some thoughts?

[styxfanNH]

Hope this can be discussed without trashing any member.

For me it is not one but all of them. Each has a very different point of view that speaks to me depending on my mood. Its the perspective that each has in the way they write then the balance of all the members in the construction of an album.

[Adam]

I personally think they take turns. DeYoung seems to take the Billy Joel/"Regular Guy" approach alot, but he's also the one whose gone for the big concept pieces (Kilroy, Grand Illusion, Suite Mdm Blue) - which are arsty-sci-fi. Meanwhile, Shaw can be the Blue Collar southern 'aw shucks' boy or write about nonsense psychedelia. JY's delivery is certainly broadway/glam/pomp, but his lyrics can actually make alot of sense, hence more down to earth. I don't recall him getting Sci-Fi or trippy like the others.

But why limit this to those three? How about Curlewski, Burtnik and Gowan? I think Burtnik seems most down to earth. His lyrics usually make sense anyway (though not always).

[Abitaman]

I agree with all three, but all members have at some point. But overall I would say Tommy. Blue Collar Man, Just get Thru This Night, Fooling Yourself, I could got on, but his songs are more down to earth. Dennis does a good job of it too, but his songs are with more flair, so less down to earth. Dennis gets more personal on the love songs.-ERIC

[kansas666]

JY's delivery is certainly broadway/glam/pomp, but his lyrics can actually make alot of sense, hence more down to earth. I don't recall him getting Sci-Fi or trippy like the others.

Didn't JY come up with the idea for aliens rather than angels in CSA?

I think Tommy's song "Together" from Cyclorama is very well put togtether lyrically and musically.

By the way, has anyone purchased the dual disc version of Cyclorama released on Silverline? I have the DVD-A. But I just found out about the dual disc which is a cd on one side and dvd on the other.

[yogi]

They ALL do a GREAT job and I can relate to almost all of their writing.

John Curlewski's You Better Ask told an excellent story of the dangers of playing the field. I have always enjoyed that song, its damn funny.

Glen did an excellent job on All In A Days Work, Killing The thing That You Love, and Kiss Your Ass Goodbye.

JY's, Eddie, Heavy Water, and These Are The Times are excellent, as are many other of his penned tunes.

Gowan's line of " and why is it I buy the shit that nobody wants to" sounds like hes talking about me.

Tommy's Man In The Wilderness, Havent We Been Here Before, and soo many other songs hit the nail perfectly. The solo writing Tommy did on Seven Deadly Zens was UNREAL it was sooo damn good.

Still, and I hate where Dennis's music is now(mostly broadway based), but back in the day he could pen a mighty song. To me besides being the voice of the band he did write the best songs. Some of his GREAT penned 'sleeper' songs that have great lyrics that I can relate to include: This Old Man, I'm OK, Pieces Of Eight, Why Me, Borrowed Time, Paradise, Roseland and many many others.

I can relate to all of their writing styles. With that being said Dennis was the best.

[froy]

Still, and I hate where Dennis's music is now(mostly broadway based),

Will you stop with the broadway based crap
Hello God id not broadway based
Paradise is not Broadway based
His live concerts are not broadway based
His next Chicago cncert is going to be all Styx and thats not broadway based

[yogi]

To me, orchestras and broadway go hand in hand.

Two of his last six songs with Styx were from his Hunchback musical which from what I understand he hoped to take to Broadway. Then throw in Hip Hop, Great Expectations,and Fallen Angle to me that equal 5 of his last six Styx penned tunes as being Broadway based. Add to this My god Can Beat Up Your god, Music Time, High Time, Roboto, and youve got a DDY thats not even close to the one who wrote and sang all those other GREAT rock songs.

I hope he proves me 100% wrong on his next release.

[froy]

To me, orchestras and broadway go hand in hand.

So Rod Stewart Is broadway
Kansas is Broadway
Yes is Broadway
Moody Blues is broadway
Frank Sinatra is brodway

I think you got my jist.

Two of his last six songs with Styx were from his Hunchback musical which from what I understand he hoped to take to Broadway.

Yogi Tommy was on Broadway
Billy Joel is on Broadway
So what

Then throw in Hip Hop, Great Expectations,and Fallen Angle to me that equal 5 of his last six Styx penned tunes as being Broadway based.

Those 3 are just plain crap no Broadway at all.



I hope he proves me 100% wrong on his next release.

[BlackWall]

I don't know, as I stated before, it's not a question of talent, I would say that Dennis is definitely the better composer, but I feel that Tommy's subject matter is a little easier to relate to. With Dennis, it feels more like he's preaching, like in "The Grand Illusion", and especially with the little speech he gives before it, live. Where Tommy throws himself into all kinds of regular situations, Dennis more or less tries to relate to the average person, but he remains a pop star, trying to give us a lesson on how things aren't easy for him, either.

[kansas666]

With Dennis, it feels more like he's preaching, like in "The Grand Illusion", and especially with the little speech he gives before it, live.

Amen brother.

[sadie65]

I don't know, as I stated before, it's not a question of talent, I would say that Dennis is definitely the better composer, but I feel that Tommy's subject matter is a little easier to relate to. With Dennis, it feels more like he's preaching, like in "The Grand Illusion", and especially with the little speech he gives before it, live. Where Tommy throws himself into all kinds of regular situations, Dennis more or less tries to relate to the average person, but he remains a pop star, trying to give us a lesson on how things aren't easy for him, either.

Well I can respect this opinion, but I disagree. I have always thought that Dennis related very well to me in GI. It gave me a sense that he was still the same guy he was before they became big. His songs resonate very well for me.

I like TS' songs, but to me, they have always come across as a guy who wants people to know he is a rock star. As if he is demonstrating how he can write a rock song.

I think JY can write a good song, but I also think he and I connect least from a musical standpoint .

Peace,
Sadie