MR

I need some info on this remarkable song. What inspired Tommy to write it and whats it about? It seems like hes in a dream or something.
Nevertheless, its Styxs best ever ballad, and up with some of the best ballads of all time. Very inspiring stuff.

Actually, Tommy co-wrote this with Jack Blades. Another classic Styx ballad (I Will Be Your Witness) was also co-written with Jack. I agree emphatically that Yes I Can is one of Styx' best songs, period. Sorry, Froy.

My 7 year old daughter LOVES that song.

Everytime I burn her a CD 'Yes I Can' has to be on it.

Great song!

My thoughts on this topic are well known. One of the lamest Styx songs ever. Glad someone enjoys it.

StyxCollector wrote:My thoughts on this topic are well known. One of the lamest Styx songs ever. Glad someone enjoys it.

LOL, just goes to show once again how different the tastes are for fans of the same band. I kinda fall in the middle on this one . . . I like the singing, and I also like the melody and the chord structure, but if you take away the production/performance elements and just look at the lyrics, I think they are bottom-drawer lyrics. That's a big issue for me because I'm a lyricist. I kinda think this song comes off as a B-side on an America record (of course, I've had the same said of some of MY songs, LOL). Of course, you have to understand that I live in Nashville - the largest singer/songwriter community on the planet - and I can go into any hole in the wall club in town and hear the greatest acoustic singer/songwriters in the world, so maybe I'm a bit more jaded than some when it comes to this kind of music. I just think the lyric is pure corn. The actual recorded performance is good. I always like Glen's tendency, as a harmony singer, to go for that Beatle-esque underneath part, same as he did with "All In A Day's Work".

On a side note, can you just fuckin' IMAGINE what Ted Nugent would have done to this song?!! The mind boggles!


Sterling

Rockwriter wrote:

StyxCollector wrote:My thoughts on this topic are well known. One of the lamest Styx songs ever. Glad someone enjoys it.

LOL, just goes to show once again how different the tastes are for fans of the same band. I kinda fall in the middle on this one . . . I like the singing, and I also like the melody and the chord structure, but if you take away the production/performance elements and just look at the lyrics, I think they are bottom-drawer lyrics. That's a big issue for me because I'm a lyricist. I kinda think this song comes off as a B-side on an America record (of course, I've had the same said of some of MY songs, LOL). Of course, you have to understand that I live in Nashville - the largest singer/songwriter community on the planet - and I can go into any hole in the wall club in town and hear the greatest acoustic singer/songwriters in the world, so maybe I'm a bit more jaded than some when it comes to this kind of music. I just think the lyric is pure corn. The actual recorded performance is good. I always like Glen's tendency, as a harmony singer, to go for that Beatle-esque underneath part, same as he did with "All In A Day's Work".

On a side note, can you just fuckin' IMAGINE what Ted Nugent would have done to this song?!! The mind boggles!


Sterling

Considering it was supposed to be on that aborted DY project, yeah. I'm sure it would have had to have a somewhat different arrangement to allow a guitar solo. Don't get me wrong, the blending of Glen and Tommy's voice is well done. I'm not confusing good production with crap song.

Rockwriter wrote:I kinda fall in the middle on this one . . . I like the singing, and I also like the melody and the chord structure, but if you take away the production/performance elements and just look at the lyrics, I think they are bottom-drawer lyrics. That's a big issue for me because I'm a lyricist. I kinda think this song comes off as a B-side on an America record (of course, I've had the same said of some of MY songs, LOL). Of course, you have to understand that I live in Nashville - the largest singer/songwriter community on the planet - and I can go into any hole in the wall club in town and hear the greatest acoustic singer/songwriters in the world, so maybe I'm a bit more jaded than some when it comes to this kind of music. I just think the lyric is pure corn. The actual recorded performance is good. I always like Glen's tendency, as a harmony singer, to go for that Beatle-esque underneath part, same as he did with "All In A Day's Work".

Agreed on all points. Nice tune, good arrangement/performance/production, don't care for the lyrics. (Generally I rate music as more important than lyrics, but sometimes you just can't ignore the elephant in the room.)

Rockwriter wrote:On a side note, can you just fuckin' IMAGINE what Ted Nugent would have done to this song?!! The mind boggles!

The "camping" scene from Uprising comes to mind...

GREAT song. I love the visual of the sun in the dress, etc.
My favorite Styx love song.

while not one of my favorite styx songs, i'll take it over Babe, DLIE, or First Time ANY DAY of the week! the harmonies rock, and it was really interesting hearing GLEN sing it last weekend. (oops- 2 weekends ago. where has the time gone?)

unfortunately, i spazzed out and didn't videotape that particular song (camera remained on pause. Y#*(&#^#&!!!!) but i did get some other goodies. they are on youtube. search glen burtnik or stmonkeys.

stmonkeys wrote:it was really interesting hearing GLEN sing it last weekend. (oops- 2 weekends ago. where has the time gone?)

Where did Glen sing this song? I only recall Styx performing it one time just before Glen left the band. And I think it was performed at Todd's wedding.


Technically, Glen is singing the melody and Tommy is singing the harmony. Tommy's part is mixed higher so it sounds like it should be the melody.

This is one of my favorite songs off of Cyclorama. My wife likes it too. But she doesn't care for the lyric about the cotton dress. She says it is perverted.

kansas666 wrote:Technically, Glen is singing the melody and Tommy is singing the harmony. Tommy's part is mixed higher so it sounds like it should be the melody.

This is not the first time I've seen this mentioned. It certainly does seem the harmonies are a little too loud in comparison.

This is one of my favorite songs off of Cyclorama. My wife likes it too. But she doesn't care for the lyric about the cotton dress. She says it is perverted.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

kansas666 wrote:This is one of my favorite songs off of Cyclorama. My wife likes it too. But she doesn't care for the lyric about the cotton dress. She says it is perverted.

Heh. Those cotton-fetishists can be a disturbing bunch...

kansas666 wrote:

stmonkeys wrote:it was really interesting hearing GLEN sing it last weekend. (oops- 2 weekends ago. where has the time gone?)

Where did Glen sing this song? I only recall Styx performing it one time just before Glen left the band. And I think it was performed at Todd's wedding.


Technically, Glen is singing the melody and Tommy is singing the harmony. Tommy's part is mixed higher so it sounds like it should be the melody.

This is one of my favorite songs off of Cyclorama. My wife likes it too. But she doesn't care for the lyric about the cotton dress. She says it is perverted.

He sang it at the Tin Angel Cafe on 2/24/07. there is a link on the gb bb.

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n288 ... esICan.flv

I like almost all of Cyclorama, and Yes I can is a great ballad. But the best Styx ballad of all time??? Come on!! That would be "The Best of Times", in my opinion.