Dennis Defends Songs
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:59 pmhttp://www.centredaily.com/mld/centreda ... 006536.htm
Former Styx singer defends 'cheap sentimentality' while promoting solo tour
By Leslie Gray Streeter
Cox News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Dennis DeYoung is on to you.
He knows the rap: That the former Styx singer's soaringly sincere ballads of love like "Babe," "Lady" and "Don't Let It End" are so sweet that they border on musical sugar shock. He's aware of the eye-rolling, the idea that he's schmaltzy.
And he pities your loveless, irony-addicted soul.
"People have called it 'cheap sentimentality,' but cheap sentimentality is better than none at all. I believe that a world without any sentimentality is a world I don't want to live in," says DeYoung, whose tour lineup includes songs from his and Styx's symphonic rock repertoire with a full orchestra.
" 'Babe' and 'Lady,' those are romantic love songs. That's what they are," he continues. "Does everything have to have an edge and a bite and cynicism? You can think that if you want. You're entitled to think that. But good luck to you. And you can quote me on that."
Obviously, DeYoung's not afraid to speak his mind, and that's translated into his music. Whether it's his love for Suzanne, his wife of 35 years (the aforementioned love songs), his fear of censorship ("Mr. Roboto") or spiritual questioning ("Show Me the Way"), his work both with Styx and solo has been all about honesty and emotion.
And he's not apologizing for it.
"This whole discussion is about people who write about music, not people who are listening to the music," he says. "(Critics) don't know what people's tastes are. People can talk about (more critically loved acts) like the Ramones or Iggy Pop and the Velvet Underground until the day they die, and they're not going to sell any more records (than they have)."
Styx's embrace of the big statement is exactly what makes its music perfect for an orchestra. A preview of his show can be seen on "The Symphonic Sounds of Styx," a DVD recorded in Chicago with 70 musicians and, at one point, a gospel choir.
"I believe the music lends itself to this ... I visualized our rock band as the symphony orchestra, through the synths and guitars," DeYoung says. "There was a lot of layering, and a lot of the music was intentionally big."
Former Styx singer defends 'cheap sentimentality' while promoting solo tour
By Leslie Gray Streeter
Cox News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Dennis DeYoung is on to you.
He knows the rap: That the former Styx singer's soaringly sincere ballads of love like "Babe," "Lady" and "Don't Let It End" are so sweet that they border on musical sugar shock. He's aware of the eye-rolling, the idea that he's schmaltzy.
And he pities your loveless, irony-addicted soul.
"People have called it 'cheap sentimentality,' but cheap sentimentality is better than none at all. I believe that a world without any sentimentality is a world I don't want to live in," says DeYoung, whose tour lineup includes songs from his and Styx's symphonic rock repertoire with a full orchestra.
" 'Babe' and 'Lady,' those are romantic love songs. That's what they are," he continues. "Does everything have to have an edge and a bite and cynicism? You can think that if you want. You're entitled to think that. But good luck to you. And you can quote me on that."
Obviously, DeYoung's not afraid to speak his mind, and that's translated into his music. Whether it's his love for Suzanne, his wife of 35 years (the aforementioned love songs), his fear of censorship ("Mr. Roboto") or spiritual questioning ("Show Me the Way"), his work both with Styx and solo has been all about honesty and emotion.
And he's not apologizing for it.
"This whole discussion is about people who write about music, not people who are listening to the music," he says. "(Critics) don't know what people's tastes are. People can talk about (more critically loved acts) like the Ramones or Iggy Pop and the Velvet Underground until the day they die, and they're not going to sell any more records (than they have)."
Styx's embrace of the big statement is exactly what makes its music perfect for an orchestra. A preview of his show can be seen on "The Symphonic Sounds of Styx," a DVD recorded in Chicago with 70 musicians and, at one point, a gospel choir.
"I believe the music lends itself to this ... I visualized our rock band as the symphony orchestra, through the synths and guitars," DeYoung says. "There was a lot of layering, and a lot of the music was intentionally big."
