That being said, there is still a lot of good music on this album, especially side two. Side one wasn't bad either...
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8) Everything is Cool - Another song written and sung by Tommy. This was also released as a single but failed to chart. I love the intro, and did you notice the sample of "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" from Styx II? Awesomesauce.
It's coming on like a fever
Burning deep inside of your brain
Have you become a believer
Have you gone a little insane
Tonight your life is a party
Let the celebration begin
Turn on the lights and let's start it
Find out what condition your condition is in
Check in, Check out
No one needs to know what you're thinking about
In the here, In the now
You can take it in while you're working it out
'Cause you're into it
When you're out of it
Everything is cool in the land
Of the brave new world
Hail to the new corporation
Fulfilling every need and desire
Come take a mental vacation
The reservation never expires
I say we make it a holiday
Bigger than the 4th of July
Declare a new Independance Day
Yeah there's nothing to it
You can do it if you try
Time is always on our side
Love is there to be our guide
We are spirits pure and free
And all our dreams are meant to be
Realized
But if we were granted just one minute
To choose a dream and stay there in it
How could we decide?
We are a sea of tranquility
We are the new golden age
History is a mystery
We will start it over on
A blank new page
Check in, Check out
No one needs to know what you're thinking about
In the here, In the now
You can take it in while you're working it out
'Cause you're into it
When you're out of it
Everything is cool in the land
Of the brave new world
And life is good
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9) Great Expectations - This is another DDY Broadway sounding song, but it doesn't suck. Pretty good song actually.
Everybody will be watching
Just to see what can you do
They'll be waiting, anticipating
For the genius to come through
So raise the bar up a little higher
They expect so much of you
Feel the madness accelerating
Cause you feel the same way too
Great, Great, Great Expectations
Everybody's masturbating
Wondering what you're gonna do
And all the doctors are contemplating
Can the smart ass still pull through
Mister big shot with all the answers
One more time through the hoop for you
Light a fire to the whole thing
Feel the flame as you go through
Great, Great, Great Expectations
Did you think that your ambition
Would ever end up in remission
Did ya, now did ya
Did you think your sacrifices
Would turn your dreams into your vices
Now did ya, how could ya
All the cynics & the ciphers
Make you question what you do
So turn your amp up a little louder
To drown out that void in you
While the mantra keeps repeating
There are dreams you must pursue
If you just try a little harder
There ain't nothing you can't do
Great, Great, Great Expectations
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10) Heavy Water - This is one of the coolest Shaw/Young collaborations on the album, with both on vocals.
Sittin' here on terra firma
It's the kind of place we were meant to be
Out here kinda lost in space now
Pondering life's mysteries
All of mankind worship at the altar of old mythology
But the genie's out of the bottle, collision course with eternity
Young children playing in the chat room with the freaks and the satellites
Upload the nearest planet, burnin' out at the speed of light
Better living for the masses with the new technology
But some fool went and pushed the button
He didn't get an apology
Feeling good is a new sensation
Panacea for the Prozac nation
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Sacred cow sizzling in the fire as we all go up in flames
With millions of true believers and their unfamiliar names
On the road to good intentions
Blown to hell by our own inventions
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Unholy, holy water
Leading us like lambs to the...
Custom made for the self reliant
Lemonade for the thirsty giant
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Unholy, holy water
Leading us like lambs to the (slaughter)
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11) High Crimes and Misdemeanors (Hip Hop-Cracy) - Another Dennis song here with no other co-writers (there's that theme again) and which, yes, once again sounds like it belongs in a Broadway show. And yeah I like this song too.
They want you to believe the unbelievable
They say you should accept the unacceptable
Forget your common sense it isn't sensible
Good times for fools and dreamers
Watch 'em all deny the undeniable
See how they refute the unrefutable
They're ready to defend the indefensible
High times for lawyer schemers
They say we must forgive the forgivable
They want us to respect the unrespectable
The pious and the hip, so hypocritical
High crimes and misdemeanors
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
See how they explain the inexplicable
Watch 'em debate the undebatable
Apparently a lie is never liable
Prime time for talk show screamers
They say we constitute the Constitutional
With justice here for all, so justifiable
I'm tryin' not to laugh but man it's laughable
High crimes and misdemeanors
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
And so today we find
They've changed their minds
They've switched their points of view
Oh what tangled webs they weave
When their beliefs ain't really what they believe
They're trying to divide the indivisible
Because they think we're fools, so foolable
I'm tryin' not to laugh but man it's laughable
Boom times for Wall Street dreamers
They want you to believe the unbelievable
They say we should accept the unacceptable
The pious and the hip so hypocritical
High crimes and misdemeanors
High crimes and misdemeanors
High crimes and misdemeanors
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip
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12) Just Fell In - Another Shaw/Young tune here with Tommy on vocals that shows a sense of humor.
<noitacidem rouy rof emit s'ti, seidal yakO>
It was 8:15 when I pulled into the 7 Eleven
I bought a 12 ounce coffee and I threw down a 357
I guess I was thinking I would never be found
Next thing I knew I was spread-eagle down on the ground
I just fell into a manic depression
And I really want to spend it with you
I got pretty paper shoes and I'm weaving you a basket for Christmas
Three hots and a cot and a cellmate who keeps calling me missus
But I like to think I'm the king of the couch
And I like my shrink 'cause he always brings me smoke in a pouch
I just fell into a manic depression
And I really want to spend it with you
We don't have any inhibitions
We're not consumed by ambition
We've got no mission control
They say Dr. Freud might call me an anal retentive
But my PO says I'm delinquent and I got no incentive
Rehab is a thing of the past
I step into the cab and say "Hey buddy, step on the gas"
Just fell into a manic depression
And I really want to spend it with you
<Okay ladies, it's time for your medication>
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13) Goodbye Roseland - Easily the best DDY song on the album. I swear I read somewhere that this was about his father passing away but I'll be damned if I can find it. Roseland is the community in Chicago where DDY and most of the others grew up.
There was a time
When we were children
Blue skies would shine
And all was forgiven
And there were heroes to guide us
And we had family beside us
And there were dreams to believe in
Each and every day
And I was your friend
Father and brother
And you were my wife
Mistress and mother
And through the good times and bad times
We shared the love of a lifetime
Oh what a shame and a damn crime
For it all to end
So goodbye to Roseland
How I wish I could stay
To live in the memory
Of your sweet sweet day
But every road that we travel, has an end
And so the time now has come to say
Farewell old friend
Well goodbye to Roseland
How I want you to know
Just how much I miss you
So I got to let go
But all the love that you gave me will remain
And every tear that I've cried has not been shed in vain
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14) Brave New World (Reprise) - Yes it's a reprise of a few of the songs on the album (though none of DDY's), but at times this is my favorite track. Just so awesomely positive.
No fear
No pain
Never any need to worry again
More new cures
No more war
We're better off now than we were before
And the sun will always shine
You never shed a tear again
In the brave new world
You never shed a tear again
In the brave new world
Here in the brave new world's embrace
I watch the parade begin
How will I know if there's a place
For me in the brave new world
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Who's that walking out the door
Who can't take it any more
Who's walking that path will fall
Forever
(Heavy)
You tell me who's number one
(Heavy water)
Who's not here who's having fun
(Won't wash away the sins of the father)
Who's that knocking on the door
Who's not taking any more
Who's been down that road before
Without you
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Admittedly at the time, Dennis DeYoung had been working on two projects: Styx and his Hunchback musical. According to "Behind the Music" he said he had worked himself to a nub flying back and forth between concerts doing casting for the show.
When Brave New World was complete and the group was planning the next tour, Dennis had come down with a "mystery illness" that James Young said 16 different doctors couldn't figure out. DeYoung was eventually diagnosed with a viral illness that left his eyes sensitive to light (in the last few years I have attended his concerts at Epcot and noticed he always wears his sunglasses late into the evening). Dennis asked the band to delay touring, but they were fired up and ready to go so they went on without him. JY said it was "either his way or the highway, and they chose the highway". Styx replaced him with Lawrence Gowan and he has been out of the band ever since.
Goodbye Roseland indeed...
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