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Why the insistence on Miss America

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:46 am
by Toph
Of the four "hits" off Grand Illusion - CSA, FY, GI, MA, it is clearly fourth on the totem pole as far as popularity. I barely remember it getting played on the radio much.
So how does it stay in the set list? Why can't it be replaced with Borrowed Time or Born For Adventure or if you have to get a JY song in there - half Penny Two Penny?
I just don't consider Miss America as a got to have as far as the set list. But it's JY's baby and I guess he feels that it is his shining moment.
Re: Why the insistence on Miss America

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:48 am
by Boomchild
Toph wrote:Of the four "hits" off Grand Illusion - CSA, FY, GI, MA, it is clearly fourth on the totem pole as far as popularity. I barely remember it getting played on the radio much.
So how does it stay in the set list? Why can't it be replaced with Borrowed Time or Born For Adventure or if you have to get a JY song in there - half Penny Two Penny?
I just don't consider Miss America as a got to have as far as the set list. But it's JY's baby and I guess he feels that it is his shining moment.
I think that it's simple as it's there because JY likes it there.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:52 am
by yogi
Miss America WAS played alot on 92.5 KQRS MPLS/ST PAUL when I was young. It's as close to a 'hit' as JY had as a lead vocalist.
What I would love to see in their set is Young Man which is a GREAT JY led Styx song and also Love In The Midnight which is another GREAT Styx song which I am not sure if it was ever performend live.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:04 am
by Boomchild
yogi wrote:Miss America WAS played alot on 92.5 KQRS MPLS/ST PAUL when I was young. It's as close to a 'hit' as JY had as a lead vocalist.
What I would love to see in their set is Young Man which is a GREAT JY led Styx song and also Love In The Midnight which is another GREAT Styx song which I am not sure if it was ever performend live.
It's more like it's as close to a "hit" JY has ever seen or will see in his entire career.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:04 am
by Baron Von Bielski
I actually do like the song quite a bit, but don't really understand given his current vocal limitations why he doesn't sing it closer to the way it is on GI. It's time to give up on those ridiculous screams he attempts during the chorus.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:31 am
by Archetype
Half-Penny, Two-Penny is a much better song.
So is Double Life.
These Are The Times is probably his best song
Miss America should be replaced in the set

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:48 am
by Toph
Archetype wrote:Half-Penny, Two-Penny is a much better song.
So is Double Life.
These Are The Times is probably his best song
Miss America should be replaced in the set
I agree. Really, how many fans are going to the concert saying, "I just can't wait for Miss America...."?????

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:54 am
by yogi
I have always felt that 'Young Man' was the best song that JY sung lead on. It's an EXCELLENT Styx tune. It would be great to see that in the set since its from the Wooden Nickel era.
These Are the Times, Half Penny/Two Penny and Midnight Ride are also very good. I am not anti Miss America though because it did get a ton of airplay back in the day in my neck of the woods.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:35 am
by Everett
You answered your own question topher. But hey it's JY what he want's he get's.
It's better to not argue with him about it either. You don't wanna be on his shit list


Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:48 am
by Cassie May
Baron Von Bielski wrote:I actually do like the song quite a bit, but don't really understand given his current vocal limitations why he doesn't sing it closer to the way it is on GI. It's time to give up on those ridiculous screams he attempts during the chorus.
I agree on the vocal limitations--which I've always felt he has had. I've never understood why he aspired to be considered a lead singer. For me, listening to him sing lead on anything is painful, and I always skip his tracks when listening to an album. Bleah!
As for MA remaining in the setlist, it's probably because 1) it's as close to a "signature song" that JY has, and 2) after all these years of relentlessly playing it into the ground, it's the only song of his that the non-diehard fans know.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:17 am
by cittadeeno23
Miss America got a TON of airplay on rock radio in 1977. There is no way to track it as Billboard's top 40 Rock Charts didn't exist at the time. I don't think they starting tracking them until the early 80's, but if they had tracked rock songs in 1977 I would think MA would have been a top 5 rock track.
Miss America, as it was originally recorded is one of the best Styx tunes ever. It Fucking ROCKS. However, I agree that JY can no longer sing it as he originally did. No Disrespect to JY, I sill love the guy and can't stand the way he gets bashed in this forum all the time.
Classic Styx would never have been as great as they were without JY. I don't care what any of you say.
I would love to hear Half Penny live again. And even though I don't consider Cyclorama a Styx album , These are the Times is a GREAT song. But Miss America was the FM radio Hit so that is most likely why it remains in the set.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:02 am
by pinkfloyd1973
Archetype wrote:Half-Penny, Two-Penny is a much better song.
So is Double Life.
These Are The Times is probably his best song
Miss America should be replaced in the set
Don't care for "These Are The Times," but I definitely agree on the other ones. If he still had the the vocal prowess, I would also add "Winner Take All"

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:40 pm
by Boomchild
Everett wrote:You answered your own question topher. But hey it's JY what he want's he get's.
It's better to not argue with him about it either. You don't wanna be on his shit list

Yep, you may find yourself getting a stream of threatening letters from his army of lawyers!


Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:43 pm
by Boomchild
yogi wrote:I have always felt that 'Young Man' was the best song that JY sung lead on. It's an EXCELLENT Styx tune. It would be great to see that in the set since its from the Wooden Nickel era.
These Are the Times, Half Penny/Two Penny and Midnight Ride are also very good. I am not anti Miss America though because it did get a ton of airplay back in the day in my neck of the woods.
I think it would be neat to hear Young Man. Good song. Also like HPTP and MR too.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:43 pm
by Everett
Boomchild wrote:Everett wrote:You answered your own question topher. But hey it's JY what he want's he get's.
It's better to not argue with him about it either. You don't wanna be on his shit list

Yep, you may find yourself getting a stream of threatening letters from his army of lawyers!

I wouldn't mind. I'd frame it


Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:45 pm
by Boomchild
Cassie May wrote:Baron Von Bielski wrote:I actually do like the song quite a bit, but don't really understand given his current vocal limitations why he doesn't sing it closer to the way it is on GI. It's time to give up on those ridiculous screams he attempts during the chorus.
I agree on the vocal limitations--which I've always felt he has had. I've never understood why he aspired to be considered a lead singer. For me, listening to him sing lead on anything is painful, and I always skip his tracks when listening to an album. Bleah!
As for MA remaining in the setlist, it's probably because 1) it's as close to a "signature song" that JY has, and 2) after all these years of relentlessly playing it into the ground, it's the only song of his that the non-diehard fans know.
I kind of preferred his lead vocal work on the WN albums then what came after it.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:48 pm
by Everett
Boomchild wrote:yogi wrote:I have always felt that 'Young Man' was the best song that JY sung lead on. It's an EXCELLENT Styx tune. It would be great to see that in the set since its from the Wooden Nickel era.
These Are the Times, Half Penny/Two Penny and Midnight Ride are also very good. I am not anti Miss America though because it did get a ton of airplay back in the day in my neck of the woods.
I think it would be neat to hear Young Man. Good song. Also like HPTP and MR too.
Midnight ride was freakin killer when they played it live a while back. It was also cool
to see gowan on guitar on that tune. I didn't even know he played guitar until then.

Posted:
Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:10 pm
by masque
grand illusion= styx's biggest album
miss america= song that was played a ton on the radio back in the day.....they need a JY song or two in the set and it just makes sense for it to be this one based on songs from the era of their career that is well known.
i prefer great white hope and put me on over miss america at this point. but will likely never hear great whit hope again and will NEVER hear any of put me on without the cyclomedley being played.

Posted:
Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:06 am
by Baron Von Bielski
Boomchild wrote:Cassie May wrote:Baron Von Bielski wrote:I actually do like the song quite a bit, but don't really understand given his current vocal limitations why he doesn't sing it closer to the way it is on GI. It's time to give up on those ridiculous screams he attempts during the chorus.
I agree on the vocal limitations--which I've always felt he has had. I've never understood why he aspired to be considered a lead singer. For me, listening to him sing lead on anything is painful, and I always skip his tracks when listening to an album. Bleah!
As for MA remaining in the setlist, it's probably because 1) it's as close to a "signature song" that JY has, and 2) after all these years of relentlessly playing it into the ground, it's the only song of his that the non-diehard fans know.
I kind of preferred his lead vocal work on the WN albums then what came after it.
I completely agree on this point.

Posted:
Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:21 pm
by Boomchild
masque wrote:grand illusion= styx's biggest album
miss america= song that was played a ton on the radio back in the day.....they need a JY song or two in the set and it just makes sense for it to be this one based on songs from the era of their career that is well known.
i prefer great white hope and put me on over miss america at this point. but will likely never hear great whit hope again and will NEVER hear any of put me on without the cyclomedley being played.
This thread reminded me of a post about Styx asking for set list or song suggestions on their FB page. What ever became of that?

Posted:
Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:49 pm
by Everett
Boomchild wrote:masque wrote:grand illusion= styx's biggest album
miss america= song that was played a ton on the radio back in the day.....they need a JY song or two in the set and it just makes sense for it to be this one based on songs from the era of their career that is well known.
i prefer great white hope and put me on over miss america at this point. but will likely never hear great whit hope again and will NEVER hear any of put me on without the cyclomedley being played.
This thread reminded me of a post about Styx asking for set list or song suggestions on their FB page. What ever became of that?
We still have our fingers crossed that they actually listened.

Posted:
Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:53 pm
by masque
yes I hope they do as well.......considering how many times I have seen them here is the setlist i would want to hear right now just so most of the songs would be fresh....i havnt really thought about the order;
witch wolf
22 years
young man
man of miracles
mother dear
put me on
mademoiselle
shooz
man in the wilderness
great white hope
queen of spades
pieces of eight
lights
borrowed time
rockin the paradise
best of times
half-penny two penny
just get thru this night
havnt we been here before

Posted:
Sat Oct 20, 2012 2:03 am
by Archetype
I just can't bring myself to pay the ticket price and gas prices to go see them with what's basically the same set they've been playing since 1999.
I saw Iron Maiden in 2010 and again this summer. There were maybe 5 overlapping songs in a 17 or 18 song set.
I saw Rush in 2007 and I'm seeing them again next week. They have about 3 overlapping songs.
Styx should get the hint.
The last time I saw Styx was the 2012 GI/Po8 tour and that's probably the last time I'll see them unless they really do something different.

Posted:
Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:53 am
by gr8whitehope
Archetype wrote:I just can't bring myself to pay the ticket price and gas prices to go see them with what's basically the same set they've been playing since 1999.
I saw Iron Maiden in 2010 and again this summer. There were maybe 5 overlapping songs in a 17 or 18 song set.
I saw Rush in 2007 and I'm seeing them again next week. They have about 3 overlapping songs.
Styx should get the hint.
The last time I saw Styx was the 2012 GI/Po8 tour and that's probably the last time I'll see them unless they really do something different.
They will always do; Blue Collar Man, Too Much Time, Renegade, CSA, Miss American, TGI. Everything else is pretty much a toss up.