Former Styx singer defends 'cheap sentimentality'

[styxfanNH]

Former Styx singer defends 'cheap sentimentality' while promoting solo tour

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centreda ... 006536.htm

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."

[sadie65]

NH...

Haven't We Been Here Before

(Not that I don't enjoy reading it a second time) LOL

[classicstyxfan]

Question for you all, which song(s) do NOT belong in the following Medley, and why not ????


Sugar..........( doodoo doo doo doodoo ) aw honey honey ( doodoo doo doo doodoo ) you are my candy girl.....and

It's the First Time........the First Time for love.
they could be som many hills, and mountains we could climb

HEEEEEEEEEY !!!! I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of, I'm afraid that I'm not sure of...........

Babe I'm Leavin, I must be on my way.......

and I'm never gonna dance again, cus guilty feet have got no rythem.....

The two of us....we're quite a pair............

When will Our Eyes Meet.....when can I touch you.....when will this strong yearning end ??

[styxfanNH]

i must need a drink, cuz i don't remember reading this or the other one on this site.

[sadie65]

i must need a drink, cuz i don't remember reading this or the other one on this site.

Thread was Dennis defends songs.

Don't worry...I'm blonde. Stuff like this happens to me all the time.

[styxfanNH]

and when I click on that thread, it starts with a post from rockwriter, unless there is another thread with the same name.

I'm gonna have another drink

[sadie65]

and when I click on that thread, it starts with a post from rockwriter, unless there is another thread with the same name.

I'm gonna have another drink

Have one on me.

Rockwrite aka Sterling seems to have had a problem posting a response, so he started a new thread.

It's there...I promise.

[DeeJaySTYX]

Question for you all, which song(s) do NOT belong in the following Medley, and why not ????


Sugar..........( doodoo doo doo doodoo ) aw honey honey ( doodoo doo doo doodoo ) you are my candy girl.....and

It's the First Time........the First Time for love.
they could be som many hills, and mountains we could climb

HEEEEEEEEEY !!!! I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of, I'm afraid that I'm not sure of...........

Babe I'm Leavin, I must be on my way.......

and I'm never gonna dance again, cus guilty feet have got no rythem.....

The two of us....we're quite a pair............

When will Our Eyes Meet.....when can I touch you.....when will this strong yearning end ??

Answer....The Wham Song because it's a song about a hurt relationship and guilty feelings...

[Zan]

The answer is "Weekend in New England" because Barry Manilow has never been compared to himself.

No wait - it's "Sugar" because it wasn't recorded in the 70s?

[classicstyxfan]

Astute Observation Zan.......actually, wasn't Wham ! a product of the 80's ??

[Zan]

Astute Observation Zan.......actually, wasn't Wham ! a product of the 80's ??

D'oh!

[Zan]

Astute Observation Zan.......actually, wasn't Wham ! a product of the 80's ??

D'oh!

[bugsymalone]

Stere-D'OH????



Bugsy