Popdose: Redeeming Rod: “If We Fall in Love Tonight” (1996)
DwDunphy
· 1 year ago
I like this song a lot, even though I still think he does the yell thing a bit in here too. If this song has any negative, and you rightly zeroed in on it, it's that Rod fully embraced the Soft Side after this, leading to his laziness - COUGH, COUGH - uh, exploration of the American Songbook.
Love Touch sucks ass.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
I wouldn't really consider "All for love" being Rod's biggest chart hit of all time...Maybe at weeks spent, but this song still isn't stapled to people's memory when they think of Rod like Maggie May or Do ya think I'm Sexy? is, which btw both set more records than this song did. When I think "All for love" I think Bryan Adams plain and simple. So um, you may be able to get people on her to believe what you are saying is correct, because they don't know Rod's career, but you aren't going to fool me.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis haven't been good with Janet since the early 90s. They do blah run of the mill work with everyone from Mariah Carey to Rod Stewart. Only thing that saves this song is Rod's voice. Otherwise if they had handed it over to a more run of the mill r and b crooner it would have sounded just as generic as anything else they have made.
MatthewBolin
· 1 year ago
"I wouldn't really consider "All for love" being Rod's biggest chart hit of all time...Maybe at weeks spent"
Which is why I said "biggest chart hit", and not "most famous song".
"So um, you may be able to get people on her to believe what you are saying is correct, because they don't know Rod's career, but you aren't going to fool me."
Who are you, Tom Cruise? Do I not know Rod like you do? Am I being glib? What's with the defensive tone of all of your reactions to my posts? I'm not trying to "get people to believe" anything. or "fool" anyone. I pointed out a very simple fact: Chartwise, and only chartwise, the 3 Musketeers Trio did better than any other Rod song internationally. Mind you, Tonight's the Night was at number one for a longer period of time (8 weeks vs. 3 weeks) on the Billboard Singles Chart, but didn't chart as high as the trio did in markets outside the US and UK. So, you can make the case, just based on sales and chart data for either one, but in my OPINION, that's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Again, I know you're a big fan of Rod, and I am all for arguing the merits of my opinions, but all of your posts come off a bit hostile, as if you need to protect Rod from the slings and arrows of outrageous criticism. Point is, this there are some people who may know as much about Rod as you do, and many of them not only still think that he has made some very large mistakes and has wasted his talent in the last twenty-five years, but they these are (shocking) their own, independent conclusions, by listening to the actual songs and forming an opinion; not simly going along like sheep with what "the media" thinks.
I have no problem with your posts, the Mod, but I do have a problem with your attitude: you are basically accusing me of being ignorant on my subject, fed only by a surrounding media, and trying to pull the wool over my reader's eyes. There is no single, objective way to look at a bloody pop singer, though your tone suggests differently.
MatthewBolin
· 1 year ago
Of course, I've now realized that I've fallen into the trap of wasting time doing the most useless thing one can do: arguing on the internet.
Think I'll stick to the other side of the comment box.....
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Oh, I know. Arguing on the net is a bitch. Let me save you the trouble. I do apologize for my tone, but if I could make one suggestion.. Not that I feel there a lot of references back to the things people hate about Rod's career, but adding those in while trying to redeem him to me, just reinforces that negative opinion, and the redemption part falls on deaf ears. Perhaps those people would never change their thoughts, but I think it would help close that discussion if all what was discussed was the good and bad parts of the song or album for that period. I like the idea of this blog, but I'm just concerned that it isn't being digested properly if the material chosen is just the singles in which loads of people loathe to begin with. Digging deeper and highlighting the gems from Rod in the 80's on , would maybe not change people's opinions, but at least broaden the knowledge of his catalog, which in turn redeems him and then the mission of the blog is done.
Just a suggestion.
jefito
· 1 year ago
Mod, I guarantee that not even Rod Stewart himself would take this series as seriously as you seem to. There's a difference between "redeeming" an artist and just mindlessly shouting about how great they are; Matthew does the former, and that's precisely what I love about his posts. This is probably one of the only places you'll ever be able to read a cogent defense of Stewart's post-'80s work. Quit looking a gift horse in the mouth already.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
It isn't that I take it so seriously, is that I am the only one with a difference of opinion.
I still think some of the best work of an artist isn't their singles. And I think discussions of those songs would be more interesting.
I am not asking for him to mindlessly sugar coat it, but to at least not always go back to what people dislike him for.
Oh Rod, he'd probably laugh and tell one to bugger off. But Rod ain't here so whatever.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Ok, I apologize. I just am not exactly sure how one redeems Rod if the material chosen so far are his singles. As most people know most artist greater work can be found in non single songs.
I can be objective about Mr. Stewart. Yes, all the things people acuse him of loving fame, money, women, himself so much it overshadowed his talents. But I don't see the use in bringing that up as if it should change things now. Rod would admit he was cheap and tarty in the 80s. And it did strike a nerve in him when one of the critics said one of the biggest waste of one of the biggest talents. Maybe all of that is true, but I think understanding the personality that is Rod Stewart helps to ease that aggravation towards him. I think back in the late 60's/70s in Rod's golden period, and some things come to mind...His best work was done around people that could make sure he was focused , IE The Faces, Jeff Beck Group, Ronnie wood, Long John Balldry. Not to say Rod couldn't have come up with stuff, but I just think someone like him needs some guidance to not go off the deep end. Once he didn't have the kick up his ass and fame came he was free to do whatever, which is dangerous for a personality like his. For Rod is a lad who just likes to have a good time. Have his cars, his clothes, his women, and being silly. There is enough evidence to show that back in 63 before he was famous. He was a beatnik, before he become a Mod , and that sensibilty has always stuck with him, it just became over the top because now he had the funds to feed it.
Any how I just think if you want to redeem an artist, it is fine to pro/con a song or album, but then to constantly remind the readers about the crap in which you are trying to redeem him from , sorta just reinforces what people get mad at Rod for. Then the redemption falls on deaf ears.
I'm going to post some tunes for fun, hope you'll give them a spin.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Some tunes I'd like to share. I think they would make interesting for analysis, since they haven't been analyzed to death one way or another.
You Strum and I'll Sing - Rod and Ronnie Wood (Written by Ronnie, meant for an album of the same title that has been put aside. Recorded sometime after 2001 but before 2005) - http://www.sendspace.com/file/gqsqvo
All Comments
Love Touch sucks ass.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis haven't been good with Janet since the early 90s. They do blah run of the mill work with everyone from Mariah Carey to Rod Stewart. Only thing that saves this song is Rod's voice. Otherwise if they had handed it over to a more run of the mill r and b crooner it would have sounded just as generic as anything else they have made.
Which is why I said "biggest chart hit", and not "most famous song".
"So um, you may be able to get people on her to believe what you are saying is correct, because they don't know Rod's career, but you aren't going to fool me."
Who are you, Tom Cruise? Do I not know Rod like you do? Am I being glib? What's with the defensive tone of all of your reactions to my posts? I'm not trying to "get people to believe" anything. or "fool" anyone. I pointed out a very simple fact: Chartwise, and only chartwise, the 3 Musketeers Trio did better than any other Rod song internationally. Mind you, Tonight's the Night was at number one for a longer period of time (8 weeks vs. 3 weeks) on the Billboard Singles Chart, but didn't chart as high as the trio did in markets outside the US and UK. So, you can make the case, just based on sales and chart data for either one, but in my OPINION, that's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Again, I know you're a big fan of Rod, and I am all for arguing the merits of my opinions, but all of your posts come off a bit hostile, as if you need to protect Rod from the slings and arrows of outrageous criticism. Point is, this there are some people who may know as much about Rod as you do, and many of them not only still think that he has made some very large mistakes and has wasted his talent in the last twenty-five years, but they these are (shocking) their own, independent conclusions, by listening to the actual songs and forming an opinion; not simly going along like sheep with what "the media" thinks.
I have no problem with your posts, the Mod, but I do have a problem with your attitude: you are basically accusing me of being ignorant on my subject, fed only by a surrounding media, and trying to pull the wool over my reader's eyes. There is no single, objective way to look at a bloody pop singer, though your tone suggests differently.
Think I'll stick to the other side of the comment box.....
Not that I feel there a lot of references back to the things people hate about Rod's career, but adding those in while trying to redeem him to me, just reinforces that negative opinion, and the redemption part falls on deaf ears. Perhaps those people would never change their thoughts, but I think it would help close that discussion if all what was discussed was the good and bad parts of the song or album for that period.
I like the idea of this blog, but I'm just concerned that it isn't being digested properly if the material chosen is just the singles in which loads of people loathe to begin with. Digging deeper and highlighting the gems from Rod in the 80's on , would maybe not change people's opinions, but at least broaden the knowledge of his catalog, which in turn redeems him and then the mission of the blog is done.
Just a suggestion.
I still think some of the best work of an artist isn't their singles. And I think discussions of those songs would be more interesting.
I am not asking for him to
mindlessly sugar coat it, but to at least not always go back to what people dislike him for.
Oh Rod, he'd probably laugh and tell one to bugger off. But Rod ain't here so whatever.
I can be objective about Mr. Stewart. Yes, all the things people acuse him of loving fame, money, women, himself so much it overshadowed his talents. But I don't see the use in bringing that up as if it should change things now. Rod would admit he was cheap and tarty in the 80s. And it did strike a nerve in him when one of the critics said one of the biggest waste of one of the biggest talents.
Maybe all of that is true, but I think understanding the personality
that is Rod Stewart helps to ease that aggravation towards him.
I think back in the late 60's/70s in Rod's golden period, and some things come to mind...His best work was done around people that could make sure he was focused , IE The Faces, Jeff Beck Group, Ronnie wood, Long John Balldry. Not to say Rod couldn't have come up with stuff, but I just think someone like him needs some guidance to not go off the deep end. Once he didn't have the kick up his ass and fame came he was free to do whatever, which is dangerous for a personality like his. For Rod is a lad who just likes to have a good time. Have his cars, his clothes, his women, and being silly. There is enough evidence to show that back in 63 before he was famous.
He was a beatnik, before he become a Mod , and that sensibilty has always stuck with him, it just became over the top because now he had the funds to feed it.
Any how I just think if you want to redeem an artist, it is fine to pro/con a song or album, but then to constantly remind the readers about the crap in which you are trying to redeem him from , sorta just reinforces what people get mad at Rod for. Then the redemption falls on deaf ears.
I'm going to post some tunes for fun, hope you'll give them a spin.
Hard Lesson to Learn 1986 B Side - http://www.sendspace.com/file/bi2ypo
Bobby Womack feat. Rod - Don't break your promise (too soon) 1994 -
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wl7p9r
Muddy, Sam, and Otis - (a Rod written tune from Spanner in the works. 95) -
http://www.sendspace.com/file/w2lyn5
When we were the new boys (Last song he wrote/released 98)-
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3hdmfi
You Strum and I'll Sing - Rod and Ronnie Wood (Written by Ronnie, meant for an album of the same title that has been put aside. Recorded sometime after 2001 but before 2005) -
http://www.sendspace.com/file/gqsqvo