The first time that I heard Steve Perry cry/scream this beautiful love song, I was in my car. I had to pull off the road and listen to it with the volume pumped up. "Foolish Heart" -- we have all been victimized by own own hearts. The song spoke to me.
I could feel the heartbeat cadence of the song. The singer was pleading with his own heart not to fall prey to a love who would not, or could not love him back. He was on the verge of falling into the abyss of Love's mystery, and was teetering on the brink, trying to be sensible and rational when sense and rationality had deserted him and left him to his seductive object's mercy.
Perry, formerly of Journey, strained his voice to the point of damage, in his plea for love to show him some mercy. He has a wonderful vocal range (think of "Don't Stop Believing," or "Oh Sherrie"), which he pushed to the limit to make this song reach everyone on the planet.
The girl I was dating loved the song as I did, and we would sit in the car, talk, fog up the windows a bit, and hold each other, as if our lives were dependent upon it, as Steven wove his spell.
The sustained bass note (C -- the song is in G major), while the chords weave their way around the lyrics creates an almost religious or hypnotic effect -- it puts you into a trance.
The song is elegantly written with beautiful poetic lyrics, a perfect vocal, and minimalist orchestration -- no distractions from the message.
Click to enjoy a wonderful love song. And remember, in the words of a Spinners classic "Love Don't Love Nobody." Amen.
FOOLISH HEART
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-A8MSEB9rg
Dazz wishes you each at least one love in your one life on this planet where the object of your love loves you so deeply, so generously, so kindly and so relentlessly that it makes you feel almost worthy of the gift of love that you are receiving. And may you love this person in return for as long as the magic lasts. And if it does have to end, never forget the time that you were given, and give thanks to that someone....someday....in some way. No matter how it ends (if it must), it was a gift that will have left you forever transformed.
Thank you, Bone. My scribe. My sometime muse. The girl I watched grow up at discrete intervals. I hope that you are being loved by someone who you deem truly worthy, and not just settling for company in preparation for the lonely New York winter.
I remember our first date, and how I just couldn't get close enough to you. And I am sorry for not just blurting out "I love you. Please love me back. Nothing else matters." I was such a fool. And you were a fresh bouquet, needing water, and sunlight and loving care that I didn't quite know how to give.
Do you remember when I sat on your couch and sang for you...I think the song was "If You Ever Leave Me" by B.J. Thomas. I didn't have a guitar or a piano to hide behind. I just closed my eyes and sang my fool heart out. I'd never done it before, and haven't done it since. Thank you for loving me, and for loving my music before I became DAZZ.
