Opulence, theatrics, rock ‘n’ roll promises, all-consuming power ballads and a big, distinctive voice: This is how Meat Loaf, who passed away on January 20, 2022 at the age of 74, will be remembered. As a tribute to Michael Lee Aday, as Meat Loaf is called middle-class, we take a look at his top ten songs.
“Bat Out Of Hell”
“Bat Out Of Hell” is the title track of the album of the same name from 1977. With a length of 9:51 minutes, Meat Loaf makes a good announcement right from the start. Triumphant rock guitars make the debut, shortly afterwards a piano takes over, which sets the cornerstone of the song in the room with a driven arpeggio. Despite its length, “Bat Out Of Hell” gets to the point, bursting with hooks and a spirit of optimism – “Bat Out Of Hell” is perhaps closest to Meat Loaf’s own “Thunder Road”, a grandiose ride down the highway with orchestral rock music, electric guitars, pianos, organs.
“Modern Girls”
In 1984, Meat Loaf released his album Bad Attitude. The first single was “Modern Girl” — a song penned by Paul Jacobs and Sarah Durkee. Piano and violins open the song, rearing up from the starting point of a symphonic ballad into rock heaven – and Meat Loaf keeps throwing “Gimme the future” at us, demand and promise in equal measure.
Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through
In 1993 Meat Loaf created a milestone with “Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell”. The songs became even more dramatic, even more theatrical, even more solemn. One of the big tracks on the album is “Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through”. “There’s always something magic / There’s always something new / And when you really really need it the most / That’s when rock and roll dreams come true,” he promises.
“I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”
Just reading the title of “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” is a catchy tune that’s hard to get rid of. We owe this, like so much of Meat Loaf, to songwriter Jim Steinman, who died in 2021. “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” is the overballad, the “phantom of the opera” that has become rock, the “Kleckern, nicht klotzen” that has become flesh or song. Everything is larger than life: the hook, the feel, the execution, the orchestration. The album took over twelve minutes to do this, the single was cut to 5 minutes and 13 seconds.
“Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul”
Of course, a song from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” should not be missing from this list. From 1973 Meat Loaf played the role of rocker Eddie in the production, in 1975 he was also seen in the film. Lyrically, “Hot Patootie — Bless My Soul” is no different than many of Meat Loaf’s own tracks. It’s about Saturday night glitz, believing in rock ‘n’ roll — and, of course, love.
Not A Dry Eye In The House
“Not A Dry Eye In The House” appeared on the 1995 album “Welcome To The Neighborhood”: A tearjerker from a pop-rock ballad whose title says it all.
Paradise By The Dashboard Light
While the single “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” (released on 1977’s Bat Out Of Hell) was not a huge chart success, it is an essential track in his catalogue. The song is a duet by Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley (although the video doesn’t feature Foley, it features Karla DeVito). It is a long-distance (7 minutes, 55 seconds) three-part story about a love story of (in Part 1) a young high school couple.
You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth
“You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth” was the first single Meat Loaf released as a solo artist. Loaf had asked Steinman to write a song “that wasn’t 15-20 minutes long” and wanted it to be a pop tune. In fact: by Steinman standards the piece has become short and crisp – but for many critics it was too theatrical at the time (which these critics probably said about later pieces, where it only so right became theatrical?) “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth” was also pivotal in Steinman and Loaf deciding to work together on an entire album.
Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back
After Bat Out Of Hell II: Back into Hell opened in grand style with I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), the follow-up track Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back” rockier, darker – but still dramatic to the point. In it, Meat Loaf philosophizes, rightly so, that life is actually a big scam, everything goes wrong and it’s best to ask for your money back.
“Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than They Are”
Sometimes not only the songs, but also the song titles are long: Number ten on our list is the noble ballad “Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are” from the album “Bat Out Of Hell II: Back into Hell”. For the song, Steinman adapted an existing track from his solo album – a song called “Surf’s Up”. The songwriter later reused the tune, this time for the musical Dance of the Vampires.