Author Topic: Scorpions: my new guilty pleasure (Read 26079 times)

LudwigVan · « **on:** March 02, 2011, 10:50:29 AM »

I just felt like making a thread about this band. Frankly I'm a bit shocked that a self-avowed Prog snob (myself) has taken a liking to the Scorpions, as they seem to represent everything that would turn me off from a band.

At first glance, I was repulsed by the Euro-trashy album covers replete with hot women in compromising positions, not to mention the ESL-style of lyric writing. The songs are chockful of juvenile sexual innuendo and cornball rocknroll cliches, as borne out by titles such as Bad Boys Running Wild, Big City Nights, Hold Me Tight, etc ad nauseum. And the Scorps are one of the masters of the syrupy power ballad, something that I normally cringe at.

By all measures, this band should be "unlistenable" in my book, but there's something in the execution of the music that's totally drawn me in. I love Klaus Meine's vocals and that twin-guitar attack is absolutely killer... one of the best. The music really is very 'scorpion-like' in its attack and vigor.

I just listened to Tokyo Tapes for the 1st time ever and it is a stunning live album. The Scorpions epitomize low-brow hard rock, yet somehow they ROCK ME LIKE A HURRICANE.

EPICVIEW · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2011, 10:54:42 AM »

Tokyo Tapes is a monumental live album.

enjoy.

Zydar · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2011, 11:00:15 AM »

Lovely band. Blackout and Lovedrive are my two favourites.

King Postwhore · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2011, 11:15:12 AM »

I still remember my parents complaining I was seeing the Scorps(w/Bon Jovi opening) 2 days before my sophomore finals. Yet, they let me go!

TAC · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2011, 11:20:57 AM »

LV, I told you so!
Tokyo Tapes is awesome. Been listening to that since high school. The live version of We'll Burn The Sky gives me chills. I still love Lovedrive through Love At First Sting, that era, but the Roth albums are chocked full of goodness.
Sails Of Charon has the most addicting riff..easily as addicting as Megadeth's Black Curtains.

Dream Team · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:03:48 PM »

There is nothing AT ALL guilty about liking the Scorpions. To me it would make much more sense for someone to say that Opeth was a guilty pleasure.

Anyway, their 70s stuff is far and away the best, in addition to Blackout and Love at First Sting. And they probably have the distinction of having the greatest collection of lead guitar talent over the years (Roth, Schenker, Schenker, Jabs).

TAC · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:07:00 PM »

Quote from: Dream Team on March 02, 2011, 12:03:48 PM

There is nothing AT ALL guilty about liking the Scorpions.

Believe me, for LudwigVan, this IS a guilty pleasure!

LudwigVan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:10:49 PM »

Quote from: TAC on March 02, 2011, 11:20:57 AM

LV, I told you so!
Tokyo Tapes is awesome. .

Yes... yes you did... for the umpteenth time!

Seriously though, I owe you a cold frosty one (or two)

yeshaberto · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:12:25 PM »

their latest is actually my favorite...I have not heard tokyo tapes (that I remember

). I will have to check it out

edit: did not realize they had a release in 2010. my favorite is humanity

ShadowWalker · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:16:34 PM »

I never understand why people feel the need to qualify liking something by calling it a guilty pleasure. I have no guilty pleasures. If I like something, I make no apologies or excuses for it. I just enjoy it.

Quote from: yeshaberto on March 02, 2011, 12:12:25 PM

their latest is actually my favorite...I have not heard tokyo tapes (that I remember ). I will have to check it out

Definitely check it out. Quality live recording. I didn't think the new one was anything special, especially after the strong showing on Humanity Hour 1. Sting of the Tail felt too much like a rehash of old musical themes from throughout their career, kind of like a summary paragraph of a report, to remind the listener of past glory as they prepare to ride off into the sunset (until the cliche reunion tour)...

EDIT - Ignore comments about SotT and just leave it as I agree with you on Humanity Hour 1...

TAC · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:21:45 PM »

Sting In The Tail absolutely blows. Humanity is very good, and probably their best album in the last 20 years.

Dream_Theater01 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:25:28 PM »

"Still Loving You" is an amazing ballad!

LudwigVan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:26:50 PM »

I was just being a bit facetious in calling them a guilty pleasure.

It was more a way of drawing attention to the fact that the Scorpions fall outside my normal listening habits, especially for someone of my eminently high pretensions.

TAC · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:42:37 PM »

Quote from: Dream_Theater01 on March 02, 2011, 12:25:28 PM

"Still Loving You" is an amazing ballad!

It still gives me chills!

LudwigVan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2011, 12:50:24 PM »

How is the other live album... World Wide Live?

Mechanix1911 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:25:46 PM »

Anybody heard Yellow Raven here? It's my favorite from what I've heard.

TAC · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:33:33 PM »

Quote from: Mechanix1911 on March 02, 2011, 01:25:46 PM

Anybody heard Yellow Raven here? It's my favorite from what I've heard.

Yup, those early albums are quite unique.

Quote from: LudwigVan on March 02, 2011, 12:50:24 PM

How is the other live album... World Wide Live?

Well the biggest complaint is that there's no Roth era songs on it. It's recorded in different cities but it maintains the setlist order throughout. This was my 4th concert and one of the coolest things is how they went from Holiday into Still Loving You. WWL does a good job in capturing that moment. I really like it, but the songs do remain pretty faithful to their studio conterparts. One song that is vastly imporoved, howver, from the live treatment is Loving You Sunday Morning, which has a lot more life in it.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2011, 01:44:54 PM »

Quote from: TAC on March 02, 2011, 01:33:33 PM

Quote from: Mechanix1911 on March 02, 2011, 01:25:46 PM
Anybody heard Yellow Raven here? It's my favorite from what I've heard.
Yup, those early albums are quite unique.

Quote from: LudwigVan on March 02, 2011, 12:50:24 PM
How is the other live album... World Wide Live?

Well the biggest complaint is that there's no Roth era songs on it. It's recorded in different cities but it maintains the setlist order throughout. This was my 4th concert and one of the coolest things is how they went from Holiday into Still Loving You. WWL does a good job in capturing that moment. I really like it, but the songs do remain pretty faithful to their studio conterparts. One song that is vastly imporoved, howver, from the live treatment is Loving You Sunday Morning, which has a lot more life in it.

Thanks for pointing that out (you know me too well). I love the fact that they do quite a bit of extra jamming on Tokyo Tapes.

wolfking · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2011, 02:08:57 PM »

Humanity: Hour 1 is an amazing album.

ShadowWalker · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2011, 02:13:17 PM »

Quote from: LudwigVan on March 02, 2011, 12:50:24 PM

How is the other live album... World Wide Live?

I agree with what was said about WWL in a previous comment. It basically is a live GH disc of that era of the band. I believe I have an extra version lying around the house (original CD without the bonus tracks that that were thrown in for the remaster) and if it still is in my sell stack, I could send it your way if you want it for however much you think it is worth to you.

There are at least three other live CDs - Live Bites (never heard it), Moments of Glory (also never heard, features orchestra I think) and Acoustica (unplugged and a very strong unplugged album, an interesting mix of standards and some unusual covers a good listen if you happen to stumble across it).

TAC · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2011, 02:18:02 PM »

I actually like Live Bites mostly because In Trance and When The Smoke Is Going Down.

wkiml · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2011, 06:09:54 AM »

Quote from: kingshmegland on March 02, 2011, 11:15:12 AM

I still remember my parents complaining I was seeing the Scorps(w/Bon Jovi opening) 2 days before my sophomore finals. Yet, they let me go!

1984?? or maybe 1982?? I dont remember what year but I do remember the MSG show fell on my Birthday and my brother took me as a gift...

King Postwhore · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:04:50 AM »

Quote from: wkiml on March 03, 2011, 06:09:54 AM

Quote from: kingshmegland on March 02, 2011, 11:15:12 AM
I still remember my parents complaining I was seeing the Scorps(w/Bon Jovi opening) 2 days before my sophomore finals. Yet, they let me go!

1984?? or maybe 1982?? I dont remember what year but I do remember the MSG show fell on my Birthday and my brother took me as a gift...

84. Love at First Sting Tour. Best part of the show was(Besides the music) was a hot girl going up the stairs in High heels and the shortest leopard skin skirt I have ever seen. She had no underware on. 16 years old and rockin' with a bonner.

kári · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM »

Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

wkiml · « **Reply #24 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:29:30 AM »

Quote from: kingshmegland on March 03, 2011, 08:04:50 AM

Quote from: wkiml on March 03, 2011, 06:09:54 AM
Quote from: kingshmegland on March 02, 2011, 11:15:12 AM
I still remember my parents complaining I was seeing the Scorps(w/Bon Jovi opening) 2 days before my sophomore finals. Yet, they let me go!

1984?? or maybe 1982?? I dont remember what year but I do remember the MSG show fell on my Birthday and my brother took me as a gift...

84. Love at First Sting Tour. Best part of the show was(Besides the music) was a hot girl going up the stairs in High heels and the shortest leopard skin skirt I have ever seen. She had no underware on. 16 years old and rockin' with a bonner.

I thought it was 1984 which would have been my 20th birthday. I remember the show very well, msg was about 1/3 full while Bon Jovi was on...he finished his set and the place was still only about 1/2 full...Lights went down just before the Scorpions hit the stage and when they came back on (Opened with Coming Home) the place was packed not an empty seat..I remember the shirt they had for the MSG show as well the Statue of Liberty with a scorp tail coming out from under her gown

wkiml · « **Reply #25 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:30:23 AM »

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM

Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Jeez now I really feel like an old fogey

kári · « **Reply #26 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:32:11 AM »

Quote from: wkiml on March 03, 2011, 08:30:23 AM

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM
Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Jeez now I really feel like an old fogey

How come? They got married in 1992, also the year I was born. Which makes me older than quite a few people here...

King Postwhore · « **Reply #27 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:40:50 AM »

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:32:11 AM

Quote from: wkiml on March 03, 2011, 08:30:23 AM
Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM
Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Jeez now I really feel like an old fogey
How come? They got married in 1992, also the year I was born. Which makes me older than quite a few people here...

I was married in 94 so that's why I feel old.

TAC · « **Reply #28 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:37:22 AM »

They played in Providence on June 7th, '84. Bon Jovi was awesome too. I bought their album the next day. Scorps was a Saturday night, and we went to see This Is Spinal Tap at the movies the night before. That's about as good a weekend can get for a 10th grader!

Cool Chris · « **Reply #29 on:** March 03, 2011, 11:13:12 AM »

I had ‘Best of Rockers and Ballads’ but most have sold/traded it. I do still love ‘Still Loving You’ and their version of ‘I Can’t Explain.’ I liked their more popular songs, but obviously not enough to hold on to the one CD I had of theirs. I don’t think I ever knew they went back so many years before making it big. I’ll have to check out the older material.

Just checked the wiki… says they formed in 1965 and their first album release was 1972. Ouch.

Orbert · « **Reply #30 on:** March 03, 2011, 11:46:14 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on March 02, 2011, 02:08:57 PM

Humanity: Hour 1 is an amazing album.

Indeed. I didn't know whether or not the Scorpions still had it, but it seems they do. The drums and guitars sound very powerful, though the lead vocals are just a tiny bit weaker compared to older material. They're still plenty good, though, and the production is awesome. I like the sound of it.

I'm pretty much a prog snob myself, but Scorpions are one of those bands I'll crank up once in a while when it's time to just rock out.

bosk1 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 03, 2011, 11:52:05 AM »

Quote from: TAC on March 02, 2011, 02:18:02 PM

I actually like Live Bites mostly because In Trance and When The Smoke Is Going Down.

I love it. And, yes, two of the biggest highlights are those two songs. Great live album.

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM

Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Why? That's not even remotely a love song.

EPICVIEW · « **Reply #32 on:** March 03, 2011, 12:17:33 PM »

I love this

Speedy's Coming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-P9ySnC-k&feature=related

TAC · « **Reply #33 on:** March 03, 2011, 01:48:14 PM »

Quote from: bösk1 on March 03, 2011, 11:52:05 AM

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM
Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Why? That's not even remotely a love song.

Well, Bosk, it's more romantic than when you got married and asked your wife out fot a first dance when the band busted out Mean Streak!

wolfking · « **Reply #34 on:** March 03, 2011, 01:50:31 PM »

Quote from: bösk1 on March 03, 2011, 11:52:05 AM

Quote from: kári on March 03, 2011, 08:27:43 AM
Wind of Change was the song my parents got married to.

Why? That's not even remotely a love song.

Maybe the ceremony was held where the Berlin Wall use to be.

jk.

News: DreamTheaterForums is a place for people who just don't have the time for music anymore.

Author Topic: Scorpions: my new guilty pleasure (Read 26079 times)