There’s something about rock and roll that reaches into your chest, grabs hold of your soul, and shakes it until you can feel the very essence of the music coursing through your veins. For me, no duo encapsulates that raw, electrifying energy better than Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman. Together, they crafted songs that are more than just music—they’re stories, epics, and anthems that speak to the deepest parts of who we are.
Two of those anthems—’Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through’ and ‘Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are’—have a special place in my heart. They’re songs that don’t just play in the background; they take over, demand your attention, and pull you into a world where every note, every lyric, feels larger than life.
Let’s start with ‘Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through’. There’s a line in the song that always gets me:
“You’ve been through the fires of hell, and I know you’ve got the ashes to prove it.”
It’s a line that feels so real, so raw, and it’s a perfect encapsulation of what rock and roll is all about. It’s not just about the music—it’s about survival, about coming through the other side of life’s trials with the scars to prove you’ve lived. Steinman’s lyrics, paired with Meat Loaf’s powerful, almost operatic voice, create a song that feels like a lifeline. It’s a reminder that no matter how dark things get, there’s always the music, always that driving beat, to pull you through.
And then there’s ‘Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are’. This song is a journey in itself, an epic story told in the span of a few minutes. It’s about memories, the way they linger, sometimes haunting us, sometimes comforting us. The lyrics are haunting:
“There are times I think I see him peeling out of the dark, I think he’s right behind me now and he’s gaining ground.”
This song captures the way the past never really leaves us. It’s always there, in the rearview mirror, closer than we’d like, reminding us of the things we’ve lost and the roads we’ve travelled. But it’s not just a song about nostalgia—it’s about the power of those memories, how they shape us, how they drive us forward even as they pull us back.
What I love most about these songs is the energy they bring. Meat Loaf’s voice is a force of nature—he doesn’t just sing; he ‘inhabits’ the songs, bringing every ounce of emotion to the surface. When you listen to him, you don’t just hear the music—you ‘feel’ it. The rock pulses through you, shaking you to your core, making you feel alive in a way that few things can.
And Jim Steinman’s songwriting—what can I say? The man was a genius. He didn’t just write songs; he wrote ‘operas’. His lyrics are poetic, filled with imagery that takes you to another place, another time. They’re dramatic, yes, but that’s the point. They’re meant to be larger than life, because rock and roll itself is larger than life.
He wrote possibly the greatest lyrics of all when he penned: “And the angels had guitars before they had wings.”
Listening to ‘Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through’ and ‘Objects in the Rear View Mirror’ is like riding a wave of emotion. It’s a reminder of the power of music to connect us to something greater, something beyond the everyday grind. These songs aren’t just entertainment—they’re catharsis. They give voice to our struggles, our triumphs, our hopes, and our fears.
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, the music of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman is a constant. It’s a reminder that no matter what we’re going through, there’s always a way to express it, to let it out, and to feel connected to something bigger. That’s the power of rock and roll, and that’s why these songs will always shake my soul.
So, if you haven’t listened to them in a while, or if you’ve never experienced the magic of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, do yourself a favour—turn up the volume, let the music take over, and let your rock and roll dreams come through. You won’t regret it.
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