Is this the best song of all time?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Or does it typify Deyoung's excesses at their sugary worst?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OJS4b6ISk60& ... Way%20Styx

Discuss.

[DarrenUK]

I think this is one of Dennis's best efforts and harks back to the days when he wrote great songs...........This is by far the best song he wrote since PO8 along with Best Of Times in my opinion.......

[bugsymalone]

I don't know where one could ever come up with the term to describe "sugary" for this song.

It is beautiful, with an uplifting, thoughtful message.

And that is one of the best videos, not just for Styx, ever.

Bugsy

[yogi]

What song is it? My work computer wont let me download the article. Can you print it here??

[sadie65]

What song is it? My work computer wont let me download the article. Can you print it here??

Appears not to be an article. Song is Show Me The Way.

[Moon Beam]

Yup this one is in my Styx top five
This song is so well done.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I don't know where one could ever come up with the term to describe "sugary" for this song.

I think many of Deyoung's sacharine efforts have been rightfully slapped with the title of "sugary" or in less PC-terms, "gay".
This is not to say that they aren't melodious or catchy, but sometimes the themes are, well, mushy.

It is beautiful, with an uplifting, thoughtful message.

Dude, u just answered ur own question.
"uplifting" ?
"thoughtful" ?
"beatiful" ?
Sounds pretty sugary to me.
- those are not terms one wants to immediately associate with a rock n' roll band.

[jrnyman28]

I always heard it is a the 'obligatory ballad'. It is a good song, but.....

[BlackWall]

For me, the Deyoung Ballads are ranked like this:

1.Desert Moon
2.Show Me The Way
3.Lady(If this is really considered a ballad)
4.Babe
5.Best Of Times

I now actually prefer "Best Of Times" to "Babe", just because you hardly ever hear the former on the radio.

"Show Me The Way" is prettty typical, musically, of what a lot of bands were doing at the time. There's really nothing that stands out about the melody or the power ballad progression, but Dennis really reached a little deeper on the message, and for that, I think he scored a winner.

[bugsymalone]

I think many of Deyoung's sacharine efforts have been rightfully slapped with the title of "sugary" or in less PC-terms, "gay".

Only the chronically stupid would see songs written for someone's WIFE and SON as "gay."

But, duuuuude,....whatEVER....

Bugsy

[sadie65]

Once again...it's personal interpretation of what the band is/was/is. It seems pretty clear that for some, unless the songs flat out rock...they are "gay" or "sugary".

I'd rather any band have the diversity to be able to pull off varying songs than be nothing but one genre of music. Obviously, that is my personal interpretation.

The message of SMTW is powerful. But I can respect that for those who like straight up "rock", this doesn't cut it.

Me personally, I very much enjoy the song.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Only the chronically stupid would see songs written for someone's WIFE and SON as "gay."

Then I guess it is wrong to classify ANY love song or ballad as being "sappy" or "gay".
I mean, after all, nearly every rock ballad in existence was either inspired by somebody's wife or girlfriend.
Therefore, according to your simple backwoods logic, if a song was written about a girl, it simply, absolutely, unequivocally, in no uncertain terms should ever be deemed "gay".
Is that right?

[bugsymalone]

Only the chronically stupid would see songs written for someone's WIFE and SON as "gay."

Then I guess it is wrong to classify ANY love song or ballad as being "sappy" or "gay".
I mean, after all, nearly every rock ballad in existence was either inspired by somebody's wife or girlfriend.
Therefore, according to your simple backwoods logic, if a song was written about a girl, it simply, absolutely, unequivocally, in no uncertain terms should ever be deemed "gay".
Is that right?

Why would anyone refer to a song by a guy about a girl "gay" ? Sappy? Sure. Sugary-sweet. Sure. But gay??? Seems sort of...well, dumb. But, then, maybe it is my "backwoods logic" at work and I just do not see the grand, larger picture on this. Sorry if I offended your far greater knowledge of this topic.

Bugsy (ducking back into HER log cabin in the backwoods)

[The_Noble_Cause]

Why would anyone refer to a song by a guy about a girl "gay" ?

I don't know where you stem, but where I'm from, the term "gay" is used inter-changeably with anything overly sentimental or infused with emotion.
Therefore, what is "sappy", or "sugary sweet" or "overtly-romantic" can also be referred to as "gay".
This is not to say that Dennis's marriage is a sham and that the man is a bonafide pole smoker. Of course not.
Don't be so damn literal.

Sorry if I offended your far greater knowledge of this topic.

Bugsy (ducking back into HER log cabin in the backwoods)

It's ok. No harm done. Enjoy your squirrel pie.

[bugsymalone]

I don't know where you stem, but where I'm from, the term "gay" is used inter-changeably with anything overly sentimental or infused with emotion.

Well, why didn'tcha say so?!

It's ok. No harm done. Enjoy your squirrel pie.

MmmmmMMM! Tasty good!!!!

Bugsy

[styxmike]

wow
first time i've seen that video, after all these years!!!!!!! CLASS, SHEER CLASS

[styxmike]

Thanks for the link for that site , there are a lot of videos we never got to see here in blighty, the tommy solo ones are cool

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Thanks for the link TNC

Great song, Dennis wrote that for his Matthew when he was going through a difficult time.

I love all these types of songs!!

StyxMike - did you ever receive that package that I sent you?? I think I sent it by a boat or something crazy. Let me know if you like what I sent you!!

[The_Noble_Cause]

Thanks for the link, even though you bashed it! TNC

I did no such thing.
If you can find a quote of me bashing this song, I'd love to read it.
I posted a question; whether this was the best song of all time, or representative of Dennis at his worst.
I never revealed my own feelings.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

TNC wrote:

I did no such thing.
If you can find a quote of me bashing this song, I'd love to read it.
I posted a question; whether this was the best song of all time, or representative of Dennis at his worst.
I never revealed my own feelings.

Okay TNC you didn't bash it. I'll change my post. I just love picking on you.

So what are your feelings???

I am glad that you posted the link, I haven't seen that video in a long time

[Zan]

I think many of Deyoung's sacharine efforts have been rightfully slapped with the title of "sugary" or in less PC-terms, "gay".

Only the chronically stupid would see songs written for someone's WIFE and SON as "gay."

But, duuuuude,....whatEVER....

Bugsy

He doesn't mean "gay" in the literal way, Bugs. He means in the cheesy, wanna gag sorta way.

Does that make me chronically stupid for knowing that? LOL

[bugsymalone]

I think many of Deyoung's sacharine efforts have been rightfully slapped with the title of "sugary" or in less PC-terms, "gay".

Only the chronically stupid would see songs written for someone's WIFE and SON as "gay."

But, duuuuude,....whatEVER....

Bugsy

He doesn't mean "gay" in the literal way, Bugs. He means in the cheesy, wanna gag sorta way.

Does that make me chronically stupid for knowing that? LOL

Yeah. I think TNC and I got that one figured out.....Never heard that term used that way, but, remember, according to TNC, I am a simple, backwoods thinking kind of....uh, person.

Bugsy

[AnnieOprah]

For me, the Deyoung Ballads are ranked like this:

1.Desert Moon
2.Show Me The Way
3.Lady(If this is really considered a ballad)
4.Babe
5.Best Of Times

I now actually prefer "Best Of Times" to "Babe", just because you hardly ever hear the former on the radio.

"Show Me The Way" is prettty typical, musically, of what a lot of bands were doing at the time. There's really nothing that stands out about the melody or the power ballad progression, but Dennis really reached a little deeper on the message, and for that, I think he scored a winner.

All I can say is Dennis really does have a lot of ballads..
Lady
Golden Lark
This Old Man
Lonely Child
Come Sail Away (some consider this a ballad, do you?)
Pieces of Eight
Babe
First Time
Best of Times
Don't Let It End
Desert Moon
Dear Darling
Call Me
Beneath The Moon
Won't Go Wasted
Show Me The Way
Love At First Sight
Carrie Ann
Paradise
While There's Still Time
Goodbye Roseland
Hello God
Goodnight My Love

Wow that is 23 by my count with 17 out of those 23 coming in 1980 or after (Cornerstone). Maybe the line in Borrowed Time shouldn't have been "Don't look now, but here come the 80s" should have been "Don't look now but here come the ballads!".

[styxmike]

No Suite ain't got it yet, might have been intercepted by customs or summfin. I've waited a lot longer for stuff from your side of the pond, i'm a patient guy, sure it will be worth waiting for !!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

No Suite ain't got it yet, might have been intercepted by customs or summfin. I've waited a lot longer for stuff from your side of the pond, i'm a patient guy, sure it will be worth waiting for !!

Mike I hope you get it soon. I have no clue what I sent you anymore - LOL I have another stack of cds/dvds I made for people, but I forgot who - LOL Anyone????

Sadie/Bugsy, your stuff is still coming - LOL I swear, before Christmas -LOL

Who cares about Ballads, I love all the songs!! Music is GREAT, Styx is GREAT, Everything is GREAT!!!!

[sadie65]

Sadie/Bugsy, your stuff is still coming - LOL I swear, before Christmas -LOL

We noticed you didn't specify what year

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Sadie/Bugsy, your stuff is still coming - LOL I swear, before Christmas -LOL

We noticed you didn't specify what year

LOL, I was hoping neither of you would notice that !!!!

I have a lot of stuff to find and put it all together again. I was waiting for a few more things but the person is somewhat like me in sending stuff - LOL

You did get my interviews on dvd, right????

[ek88]

I think I would've liked Show Me The Way a whole lot more if I'd never heard Babe, Best Of Times, or Don't Let It End. No disrespect to the lyrical content, but the sound was very "been there, done that" for me.

[LordofDaRing]

I love the song and the recording.

Bugs, you know the drill these days, to be classifed as a "cool" song it has to: be anti American, talk about a depressed life, deal in negativity, neglected childhood, killing police officers, all women suck, all men suck, all humans suck, throw in the "F" word a few times just for the heck of it, etc, etc. All other songs are sappy.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Bugs, you know the drill these days, to be classifed as a "cool" song it has to: be anti American, talk about a depressed life, deal in negativity, neglected childhood, killing police officers, all women suck, all men suck, all humans suck, throw in the "F" word a few times just for the heck of it, etc, etc.

Man, what a self-loathing asshole.
I bet the first thing you do when u wake up is flip God the bird for not striking u down in ur sleep.
Stop being so disgruntled at the world.

All other songs are sappy.

A large chunk of Dennis-penned material is sappy.
This is not up for debate.