4 simple words what do they mean to you?

[wenners]

Bat out of Hell

4 simple words what do they mean to you?

Ok its no pet secret that i have had a hard time accepting the name bat 3
Dont get me wrong i like this new album. I had to not listen to it for two weeks to appreciate it though. What you may say.

You see for me nothing but a pure Steinman album could ever be called a bat album. So when i first started listening to the downloads in my mind shallow as it may be there was no way it would ever compare to previous albums. Having had a two week break from listening to the album i have been able to put aside those feelings and I can now appreciate this albums qualities as i am not constantly judging it and comparing it and i am really enjoying listening to it.

Now a lot other people on this forum, quite possibly the vast majority feel totally different to me and i respect that 100% and i would like to try to understand why.

Is it an ageism thing? do the younger generation have a different view to an old fart like my self. im 42 now i was 14 when it was released, i can remember the feelings of listening to it for the first time as if it was yesterday. It had that much of a profound effect. Now a lot of people may have not heard Bat first, they may have been introduced to Meat by some other album so im just as interested in what Bat means to them as it does to the old fogeys like myself. feel free to put your age by your post if your not too embarrassed if not at least the decade you were born in.


So it all comes down to those 4 words, 'Bat out of Hell' and what do they mean to you.

To me its all about excess. huge songs, huge vocals, huge performances, and a huge individual.

[L96]

I don't think it is an age thing, if that helps. I'm 27

To me, Bat Out Of Hell means Meat and Jim (yes, I know Todd Rundgren produces Bat I)... it means love, lust, sex, hard times, parties, depression, elation, a journey through times and places and situations, from extreme to extreme.... TMIL is a great album, no doubt about it. Doesn't fit my Bat criteria though. A great album nonetheless.

[CarylB]

No, I don't think it's about age either. I tend to think some people are more into the detail of the music, the lyrics and the composer .. whilst others (who imo are the majority) are more into the performance; of terrific music and lyrics that strike a chord, yes .. but for us it's the performance that brings them to life, that resonates with us, that lifts our souls and takes us to a better place.

I too bought BOOH when it first came out, and what inspired me to do this was seeing Meat perform Paradise and BOOH on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

For me .. Meat put the Bat into BOOH. He made it fly round the world, and has continued to do this year on year, introducing it to successive new generations of fans. Ask any random sample of people in the UK who do they associate with BOOH .. and 99% at least will say "Meat Loaf!" He's still a household name, still seen as the singer who gave them BOOH, just as people will always associate Candle In The Wind with Elton John.

So I welcome his releasing Bat III, and if the production style has moved on after nearly 30 years, I see that as evolution in the marketplace and it's fine with me. I haven't downloaded all the songs, because I want to wait for the release, and want to be surprised at the RAH :) But the 3 I've heard convince me I'll love this latest and last Bat album, not just because it has some songs written by Jim Steinman, but because it is being delivered by Meat, who for me IS BOOH.

Meat has said "Without Jimmy we wouldn't be here .. there wouldn't have been a Bat" .. and that's true, and I acknowledge and value that. But like many I believe that Meat has made the series the legend that it's become, so to me the title has always been entirely appropriate .. bring it on, Meat!! :)

Caryl

[The Flying Mouse]

I don't think there's much doubt which way this convo is going to go

Locked for the time being