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Rating: Nothing lasts forever. Not even if you are sure of the contrary.
On July 7, 1958, after six months of planning, the demolition of the "Paradise Theater" in Chicago was completed. When it was opened in the year of our Lord 1928, the idea was that it would last forever, magnificent in its squandered grandeur; emblematic splendor and unheard advertising campaigns did not seem to give rise to any doubt. From the start, however, things did not go as planned: the cinema did not take off as it should have, and the advent of sound in films also revealed an unforeseen acoustic inadequacy. Finally crushed by the rise of a clumsy and ungainly domestic entertainer, it was eventually closed in 1956, sadly. The Company agreed to a very laborious demolition: it was perhaps the most successful spectacle at the sad Paradise.
The story of this "cinema of dreams" is revived 22 years later by a band that, slow to start, was finally establishing itself in the United States in a musical trend that was raging and varied from the experience of a constellation of more or less important groups, from Boston to the very talented Kansas. Styx was their name; pomp rock their genre, some would say. Perhaps: their music, with a solid pop rock foundation, could certainly be considered crafted by subtle progressive strokes, if only for the magnificent brass patina that accompanied it throughout the storyline.
"Paradise Theatre" (with the horrid bileteral inversion so cherished overseas) is a concept album: it echoes the thirty-year inglorious history of the cinema of the West Side of Chicago, from the pomp of its debut to the sadness that envelops its cold materials. "A.D. 1928", therefore: while the fragrant ladies with unwatchable furs crowd into the bright, smoke-filled lobby, a voice glorifies what will be, what must surely be. The melody is fantastic, without mincing words; the piano shines on its own and this intro will prove to be the central theme of the show, recurring repeatedly to mark the dust of time. "We need your spirits high to turn on this theater lights and brighten the darkest skies, here at the Paradise.”
"Rockin’ The Paradise" then bursts like an impetuous thunder: the drawn-out yet gentle melody rises on a stage of black and white ivory, while the drum beats frantically behind the curtain. Allow me, beautiful; beautiful and certainly misleading. The following "Too Much Time On My Hands" indeed disrupts the lineup with its atmosphere bordering on the space rock of the Rockets; however, a track that gains depth with repeated listens. The first act continues with "Nothing Ever Goes As Planned": the register returns to the guitars of Tommy Shaw and James Young for a catchy ballad which, in its saxophone-infused chorus, seems to recall the contemporary works of the Alan Parsons Project. The reference to the Paradise Theater is evident: "You’ve done your duty and paid a fortune in dues: still got those Mother Nature’s Blues”. Highlighted, despite the song not being particularly deep, is the solid bass (and the name) of Chuck Panozzo. The first act, however, closes with a great track, introduced by the main theme (after all, we're talking about a suite — there is often no obvious break between individual tracks). “The Best Of Times” stands as a manifesto of a staple of the genre, the inevitable choral refrain, here truly intense and evocative.
There are still some elderly gentlemen who, refreshed in the luxurious bathroom, have not yet returned to their seats on the moist velvet of the dusty seat when the lights turn back on; among the most disparate voices, deceptive trumpets announce the resumption of the last show. "Lonely People", a relatively hard track, shines a spotlight on the state of mind of the Company while a guitar paints a canvas slowly but with a firm point by the bass and drums of the other Panozzo, John. "Oh my God, well we both are empty, Paradise and me: do you believe I’m still chasing rainbows when everywhere I see lonely people?”
"She Cares" is a flowing song, with choirs and piano like autumn rain easing the tension before the beautiful and nervous "Snowblind", driven by the shrill keyboards of Dennis De Young and guitars that know when to speak. Unfortunately, the curtain is already seen falling; people will not return to the Paradise, other interests now captivate society: we all know it’s the American way. "Half-Penny, Two-Penny”, ashes to dust. Musically, a good little rock song slightly tinged with prog whose choral parts supported by patriotic cries ("Back home across the sea where I know that I will be free.”) merge into a musical tailpiece made effective by the saxophone (the sad instrument par excellence). Here it is, one last time: that melody still resonates in "A.D. 1958", before the void, before the few disconsolate notes of a "State Street Sadie."
And so, my friends, we’ll say goodnight for time has claimed its prize; but tonight can always last as long as we keep alive the memories of Paradise.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Rockin' the Paradise (03:34)
Album: Paradise Theatre
Hey whatcha doin' tonight?
Have you heard that the world's gone crazy?
Young Americans listen when I say there's people puttin' us down
I know they're sayin' that we've gone lazy
To tell you the truth we've all seen better days
Don't need no fast buck lame duck profits for fun
Quick trick plans, take the money and run
We need long term, slow burn, getting it done
And some straight talking, hard working son of a gun.
So, whatcha doin' tonight, I got faith in our generation
Let's stick together and futurize our attitudes
I ain't lookin' to fight, but I know with determination
We can challenge the schemers who cheat all the rules
Come on and take pride, be wise, spottin' the fools
Big shots, crackpots bending the rules
A fair shot here for me and for you
Knowing that we can't lose
And we'll be rockin' in Paradise
Rockin' the Paradise tonight
Rockin' in Paradise
Rockin' the Paradise tonight
Tonight, tonight...
[guitar solo...'go sparky go'...guitar solo conitinues]
Come on and take pride, be wise, spottin' the fools
Big shots, crackpots bending the rules
A fair shot here for me and for you
Knowing that we can't lose
And we'll be rockin' in Paradise
Rockin' the Paradise tonight (you know we're Rockin' in Paradise)
Rockin' in Paradise (we're gonna rock you tonight)
Rockin' the Paradise tonight (everybody's gonna...)
Rockin' in Paradise (...rock, rock, rock ya, rock ya, rock ya, rock ya...)
Rockin' the Paradise tonight (...rock ya, rock ya, rock ya, rock in Paradise...)
Rockin' in Paradise (...everybody...)
Rockin' the Paradise tonight (...come on, come on...)
03 Too Much Time on My Hands (04:33)
Yeah I'm Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool
Got the twelve o'clock news blues
And I've given up hope for the afternoon soaps
And a bottle of cold brew
Is it any wonder I'm not crazy? Is it any wonder I'm sane at all?
Well, I'm so tired of losing - I got nothin to do and all day to do it
Well, I go out cruisin' but I've no place to go and all night to get there
Is it any wonder I'm not a criminal?
Is it any wonder I'm not in jail?
Is it any wonder I've got
Too much time on my hands, it's ticking away with my sanity
I've got too much time on my hands, it's hard to believe there can be such a calamity
I've got too much time on my hands and it's ticking away, ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, (it's tick tick tick tick tickin away)
too much time on my hands (Now I don't know what to do, I say)
Too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands,Too much time on my hands,Too much time on my hands
Now, I'm a jet fuel genius - I can solve the world's problems
Without even tryin'
I have dozens of friends and the fun never ends
That is, as long as I'm buyin'
Is it any wonder I'm not the president?
Is it any wonder I'm null and void?
Is it any wonder I've got
Too much time on my hands, he's ticking away with my sanity
I've got too much time on my hands, it's hard there can be such a calamity
I've got too much time on my hands and he's ticking away, ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, (tick tick tick tick tickin' away)
too much time on my hands (And I don't know what to do with myself)
Too much time on my hands (Mmmmm)
Too much time on my hands (Tick tick tickin' away)
Too much time on my hands (Mmmmm)
Too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands
Too much time on my.
04 Nothing Ever Goes as Planned (04:47)
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung
What'cha going to do when the sun goes down tonight
You'll hit the same old clubs, rap that same old trash
That's right
You've got them real silk shirts and them baggy pants
Dago shoes in the colors that match
But the girls are acting bored
And you're feeling like you're going to lose
You've got the G.Q. Blues
You get up every morning and you go to work each day
(you go to work, you go to work, you go to work)
Been doing the same damn job for ten long years this May
(you've got to work, you've got to work, you've got to work)
You've been working and saving for your Jamaican dream
Paradise is waiting across the sea
But when your plane lands Montego turns to Monsoon
You've got the Island Blues
'Cause, nothing ever goes as planned
It's a hell of a notion
Even Pharaohs turn to sand
Like a drop in the ocean
You're so together and you act so civilized
But every time that things go wrong you're still surprised
You've done your duty, you've paid a fortune in dues
Still got those Mother Nature's Blues
I strut around the stage like a little king tonight
They'll scream for every word and every note, that's right
But when the show is over and I'm all alone
Can't reach my baby on the telephone
And everywhere I look Mr. Loneliness is in the news
I've got the Big Star Blues
Boy, nothing ever goes as planned
It's a hell of a notion
Even Pharaohs turn to sand
Like a drop in the ocean
I'm so together and I act so civilized
But every time that things go wrong
I'm still surprised
I've done my duty and paid a fortune in dues
Still got them Mother Nature's Blues
06 Lonely People (05:25)
(Some background noise, then music)
The rain was hot
And the streets were empty
As Downtown closed her eyes
The movie house
Stood in silence
As I said my last good-byes
Her silver screen
Stained with memories
As Cagney shot them down
As I watched
I was their hero
In dreamlands lost and found
Oh my God, well we
Both are empty
Paradise and me
Do you believe I'm still
Chasing rainbows?
Everywhere I see
Lonely People
Lonely People
Up above these ghetto streets
In penthouse suites
They sit and stare
Lonely People
Lonely People
They smile and say they're fine
But behind their smiles
They just don't care
They just don't care
Lonely People
Lonely People
Beneath these neon streets
In subway seats they
Crowd for air
Lonely People
Lonely People
So close and yet so far
They share the secrets of
Despair
Lonely People
Lonely People
07 She Cares (04:21)
I tried to be the perfect soldier
I tried to be what everyone said was expected
Somehow I was selected
Well, my hands were steady, my aim was true
But deep inside of my heart I knew
That I lacked the will
I just couldn't shoot to kill
And still she treats me like a human
She says she'll still be there
I may not be a hero, but I'll be there
Because I know she cares
I worked hard to be the greatest lover
I wanted to be sure that I was her only one
That's how I thought it was done
But I went too far, assumed too much
The need to feel a younger one's touch
Seemed important then
Oh what a fool I've been
And still she treats me like a human (like a human)
She says she'll still be there (that she'll be there)
I don't quite understand it, she's been too fair
'Cause somehow she cares
I guess that's the way it goes, the way that it goes
And nobody knows what compels her
She's seen my highs and lows and never let go...Oh OO ah Oh
Oh yes she treats me like a human (like a human)
She says she'll still be there (that she'll be there)
I don't quite understand it, she's been too fair
'Cause somehow she cares
I guess that's the way it goes, the way that it goes
And nobody knows what compels her
She's seen my highs and lows and never let go...Oh OO ah Oh
And when the world has turned its back on me
I won't have to feel alone
'Cause I know she cares
08 Snowblind (04:59)
Mirror, mirror on the wall
The face you show me scares me so
I thought that I could call your bluff
But now the lines are clear enough
Life's not pretty even though
I try so hard to make it so
Mornings are such cold distress
How did I ever get into this mess
Now I'm snowblind, can't live without you
Cause your so fine I just can't get away
Now I'm snowblind, snowblind, snowblind
Harmless and innocent you devil in white
You stole my will without a fight
You filled me with confidence, but you blinded my eyes
You tricked me with visions of Paradise
Now I realize I'm
Snowblind, can't live without you
Cause your so fine I just can't get away
Now I'm snowblind, snowblind, snowblind
Mirror, mirror I confess
I can't escape this emptiness
No more reasons to pretend
Here comes that same old feeling again
Snowblind, can't live without you
Cause your so fine I just can't get away
Won't you throw me a lifeline
I'm going down for the third time
I'm snowblind, and I can't get away
09 Half-Penny, Two-Penny (05:58)
Half penny, two penny, gold krugerrand
He was exceedingly rich for such a young man
Sad story, old story, bring out the band
Another divorce just a few hundred grand
Half penny, two penny, back of the queue
Yes mister poor man this means you
Justice for money what can you say
We all know it’s the american way
Yes, I’m gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
Half penny, two penny, back in the states
You just couldn’t take that african pace
Yes, mrs. cleaver your son’s home to stay
We all know it’s the american way
Yes, I’m gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
"Come here - Hey Angelo... What’s happenin’? "
"Hey, Stosh, good to see ya."
"What the hell you doin’? "
"We’re tearing this old building down here"
"Oh you’re kiddin’ me. Remember when we were kids, and we used to come
here every saturday afternoon to see a cartoon? "
"Yeah, I remember"
"Well what’s she lost to? "
"Who knows - politicians, taxes...it’s a disgrace"
"I’m not surprised, they make me sick.
They don’t make theaters like this any more."
Half penny, two penny, ashes to dust
The almighty dollar says "in God we trust"
Justice for money how much more can I pay
We all know it’s the american way
Yes, I’m gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
(I want to be free)
Yes, I’m gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
(we all want to be free)
10 A.D. 1958 (01:06)
Album: STYX: Paradise Theater
And so, my friends, we'll say goodnight,
for time has claimed his prize,
but tonight can always last,
as long as we keep alive,
the mem'ries of Paradise
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