Heart on Tour...and Barracuda

So, I'm not sure if they just announced this, but Heart posted their summer tour dates on their website.  You can see them at http://www.heart-music.com/tourdates.html.  I was SO excited to see this, and I am wishing that I still lived in Indiana so that I could see them in Hammond.  Oh well... Maybe I will make a special trip out there this summer, because I would absolutely love to see them live.  Pat Benatar will be playing somewhat nearby where I am now on April 21st -- so I will have to decide if I can get out to that show (Rhode Island is kind of closeby).  Anyway, in honor of Heart, I wanted to share "Barracuda."  This is one of my all-time favorite Heart tunes.  It is just so terrific.  I love the cranking guitar line and Ann Wilson's unbelievably powerful voice.  If you read the history behind the song, you'll find out that it is about a man--well, sort of.  It's not about some cheating ex-boyfriend or anything like that.  No, it's about the dirty, sleazy press and how they tried to make people think that Ann and her sister Nancy were "lovers."  Oh please...that is sad, low, pathetic.  Yeah, just like a barracuda.  Nevertheless, this song could really be about anything.  I am SURE that they could put any lyrics to the music and it would be a virtual rock and roll explosion.  I've included two versions of the video here--one from 1977 and one from 2002 (live in Seattle).  I know the original was from the '70s and not the '80s, but that is alright because Heart has been rockin' through many decades, and I am sure they will for many more.  Hope you enjoy "Barracuda."

Piece of My Heart

Come on, come on, come on!

So, this evening I was listening to my favorite radio program.  You guessed it--Nights with Alice Cooper.  He played "Piece of My Heart" as covered by Big Brother & the Holding Company with Janis Joplin on lead vocals.  This is the only version of the song I had heard, but I did a bit of research and found there are many versions.  In fact, the song was written in 1967 and first performed by Erma Franklin (Aretha Franklin's younger sister).  So, the song has been covered in the 60s. 70s, 80s (Sammy Hagar), 90s (Faith Hill), and 2000s (Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge).  It has also been covered by Bonnie Tyler and a host of others, but the performance in this video with Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge is just truly amazing.  In the YouTube notes, someone commented that they felt Janis Joplin was smiling from above when these ladies performed.  It is powerful and passionate.  AMAZING.  Yeah!!!!  "Take another little piece of my heart now baby...break another little piece of my heart now darling..."  I cannot think of any other song that really packs as much punch and delivers the message as well as this one.  I think we've all had our hearts broken, but when you have really had it ripped out and smashed into a million pieces, this sums up the feelings perfectly!  Come on--we've all experienced this, right?  If you haven't, well, this tune paints a perfect picture.  So, listen and enjoy.  This particular performance gives me goosebumps.  It is just awesome.  I would love to hear Heart perform it sometime.  I bet Ann WIlson would change the earth's rotation with her voice on this tune.  Nevertheless, Ms. Etheridge and Ms. Stone really tear this one up.  BRAVA!!!!!

What About Love

So, Heart is one of my favorite groups from the '80s, and I absolutely love them.  I never get tired of their music, and all of their songs (from both the '70s and '80s) are terrific.  I heard "Barracuda" on the radio as I was driving home the other day -- definitely an excellent tune for driving through a twisty route through the mountains.  I looked at a couple of their songs that I hadn't heard in a while, including "What About Love."  This song is amazing, and I admit that Ann Wilson's vocals in the beginning were always so mesmerizing to me that I didn't listen to the rest.  I could remember the chorus pretty clearly, but I had to go back to read the full lyrics.  Beautiful, truly beautiful.  Pretty simple to understand.  Ann is singing to a man -- "the love I'm sending, ain't making it through to your heart."  Sounds like perhaps the man is preoccupied with work and forgetting about love.  I don't know how anyone could resist the touching lyrics of the song, which I imagine is one of the keys to it's popularity.  Well, that...and the video.  I hadn't seen it in ages, and I am not sure I understand it completely.  Definitely some kind of weird industrial underworld.  Guess it kind of goes along with the style of the day.  It has some very cool moments, like Nancy Wilson raising her guitar high above her head (kind of a "pray to the god of guitar" gesture -- very, very cool).  When she pops out of a mold after hot, molten liquid is poured in, that is pretty cool, too.  The video is fiery and intense, and I wonder what it would have been like in a different setting.  But, alas, it rocks....and so does Heart.  Hope you enjoy this wonderful power ballad.

Rod's Heart Can't Tell You No

In the last few minutes of the evening, I was thinking about another song to write about.  Contemplated something with "love" in the title once again and then decided to look for one with "heart" in the title.  Again, there are many good contenders.  Oddly enough, I thought about a Rod Stewart song that always pulled at my heartstrings, "My Heart Can't Tell You No." It's pretty straigtforward in that he sings about "when the one you love's in love with someone else...don't you know it's torture, I mean it's a living hell."  He really packs a punch in his delivery of these lyrics.  He really emphasizes "love" and "torture."  To me, it sounds like "when the one you loooooooove's in love with someone else...don't you know it's torrrrrrrrture, I mean it's a living hell."  The rest of the lyrics are pretty intense, too.  Take a listen, but keep a tissue closeby to wipe away the tears.  This is a tough one to listen to with a dry eye.  Plus, in the video, Rod looks really, really sad.  He's just singing and watching from the outside as this girl is romanced by another guy.  My heart goes out to Rod.  If you'd like to see the song in a completely new light, you can watch the version by Sara Evans from 2011.  It's a country version.  Pretty interesting.  Rod's version dates back to 1988.  It's a classic!  Enjoy, and don't be upset if you can't keep from welling up with tears...

'Till Now, I Always Got By on My Own

The words in this post's title have been in my head all day.  I'm sure many of you know they are from Heart's "Alone."  Of course, the rest of the chorus follows in my mind as well...and then the guitar solo....and repeat.  Ann Wilson's vocals are truly amazing on this.  Beautiful piano intro followed by lyrics with equal beauty and depth make this song one of my favorite from the 80s.  I've also realized that it is just as beautiful "unplugged" and found a great video of Heart accompanied by a small chamber orchestra.  Amazing, powerful, and relaxing all at the same time.  This is a perfect Saturday night song whether you are with loved ones or just enjoying some nice, quiet alone time.