Me & my "main squeeze"
Little Stevie Nicks!- Jim Steinman
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Bats outta hell! Constantine & Meatloaf rockin a Jim Steinman medley! Epic! Crowd on its feet! - Official Tweet
(SongHall@SongwritersHOF)
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Steinman, the songwriter who composed all the tunes for the monster rock album Bat Out of Hell, was compared to Samuel Beckett by his old partner Meat Loaf, who paired up with former Rock Of Ages star Constantine Maroulis for a rousing rendition of the 1977 album's title track...Critical bias: There should have been a second helping of Meat Loaf. - The Village Voice
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To me a great song is an erection of the heart - Jim Steinman...who else? - Official Tweet
(SongHall@SongwritersHOF)
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"Great Songwriters Gather, Meat Loaf Holds Back Tears...
The Times Square gala took an emotional turn when rocker and actor Meat Loaf choked up as he inducted close friend and collaborator Jim Steinman who wrote the songs on Meat Loaf’s 1977 landmark album, “Bat Out Of Hell.”...“Jim Steinman’s songs allowed me to be the actor that I am,” Meat Loaf said as he held back tears. “Here I go getting emotional.”... Steinman lightened the mood noting that “a great song to me means an erection of the heart.” - The Wall Street Journal |
Some of 2012’s most incredible moments included a powerhouse medley of “I’d Do Anything For Love” and “Bat Out Of Hell” by Meatloaf, Constantine Maroulis and Patti Russo, which was followed by Meatloaf’s tearful tribute to his “best friend in the entire world” and inductee, Jim Steinman - SHOF Press Release
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It fell to Meatloaf to sing the praises of his old collaborator, Jim Steinman, before he was inducted into the hall. Mr. Steinman, who specializes in rock songs with a theatrical, tongue-in-cheek edge, wrote all the words and music to “Bat Out of Hell” and “Bat Out of Hell 2,” which together have sold more than 70 million copies. The hit singles he and Meatloaf produced include “I’d Do Anything for Love But I won’t Do That,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” He also wrote the 1983 Bonnie Tyler song “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
“I can never repay him,” Meatloaf said, as his voice broke and tears filled his eyes. - The New York Times |
One of the evening’s funniest moments came from Jim Steinman, who wrote songs for Meat Loaf on his first two “Bat Out of Hell” albums. After Loaf and Constantine Maroulis performed an abridged version of the nearly 10-minute title track, Steinman noted: “They shortened the song so much I felt like I was watching an episode of “Glee.” - Associated Press/Billboard |
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Jim Steinman gave a hilarious summation of his songwriting process. After watching Meat Loaf and Constantine Maroulis performed a shortened but powerful (yet still 5 minutes plus) medley of “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and “Bat Out of Hell,” Steinman remarked “I felt like I was watching an episode of Glee!” (Songs are) “erections of the heart. Because of the length of my songs (drum roll please!) I can’t shorten them!” Steinman related how he took up songwriting at the late age of 21 and wrote his first song (“still unrecorded!”) about protesters and policemen involved in the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. “I always wanted to write about characters.” - American Songwriter
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Steinman, who’s an eccentric dresser, confessed that he didn’t write his first song or play the piano until he was 21. He gave a very cogent speech. Meat Loaf teared up while introducing him. - ShowBiz 411 |
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It was a glorious and triumphant evening. - Jim Steinman
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Links to full stories the quotes above were taken from:
Songwriters Hall Of Fame, The New York Times, Associated Press/Billboard, Wall Street Journal, ShowBiz 411, American Songwriter.
Images by:
Gary Gershoff, Larry Busacca, Theo Wargo, Timothy A. Clary, Getty Images Entertainment |
