THE CHASE

[Serpens Mercurialis]

This is a review and a personal interpretation of the song and of the scene... OK this is probably an old discussion for you but I didn't pay much attention to this song until... yesterday. Yes, songs have their moments. One day you don't notice them, the next day they're a revelation. This is what happens to me at least...

So I decided I should find out what is it about and I suddenly found myself in a fabulous story... And no, as much as I like opera librettos and concept albums I don't mean the story as it is presented in the album; but the symbolical story of this scene only, the story as it is told by Dio's amazing narrative talent and by Tate's special interpretation...

First this is an example of a great rock duo of two tenor voices with opposite roles; this is an immense pleasure I rarely tasted, given that in the whole opera music (which I've listened to all my teenage years) the villain is usually played by the low voices; and the tenor duos are way too rare. The scheme is well-known to me: the main character, tortured, in love, never having a true chance to happiness, a villain, a girl, death all around and music, music, music, arias and duets. Smile It's always sweet to have that recognizable element in the song you're listening for the first time.

BUT, a few things are different.

The story, as operatic as it is, talks about modern conflicts and situations (particularly the drug issue); but most important is how the villain is portrayed. Or how Ronnie builds this character.

Most of the villain characters are fascinating. This one, as it is in the script, certainly had potential. But without Ronnie that character wouldn't be nearly as fascinating! After listening to his interpretation a few times in a row, I started wondering what is it that he adds to this character to make him so convincing - and highly charismatic if you ask me.

I was aware of Ronnie's special way of interpreting "Lord of the last day", that was like a warning - "this tenor I love... would make a great villain on stage"! And I was right. He puts that tremendous energy in the character, adds his inner power, his well-centered attitude and rough lucidity, he uses his most subtle phrases and nuances and there he is - one of the greatest, most fascinating villains ever interpreted! In front of this guy... you have no chance. He's way too powerful.

But then - he is not alone on stage; I love the way the two characters are positioned against each other and Tate is making his character convincing, also helped by the fact that the finest melodic lines are his. He builds a character who is sweeter, less aggressive, (still) more confused that the villain. But you can't fail to notice a certain similitude between the voices, the lines, they are just like a man and his mirror... It could be all about one man actually and I like to think that's the way it is. My interpretation will always evolve somewhere in the personal/psychological field... I think the man character is facing his Shadow. And he does this for the first time. He was more like a victim until he decided to face it, his Shadow, his opposite self, his dark side, whatever you want to call it. The fight is energetic and this is what I liked about this scene in the first place. Huge chaotic energy, hard to control, the demons exposed, and the specific struggle of a man in that state of self-exploring... What the character fails to do is to "negotiate" with this Shadow of his, accept it as a part of himself... Instead, he judges it as Bad and tries to destroy it. No wonder he feels empty afterwards... You can't kill the most energetic part of yourself and expect to feel wholesome afterwards.

What amazes me is the perfect way Ronnie is expressing all of this: the energy of the Shadow, the ideas and solutions it gives us for our life (not ethic, maybe violent, but they're solutions at some point - "I gave your life a purpose" could be seen this way!), ... the hard-to-control and overwhelming quality, its stubbornness , the ability to anger and confuse us, to make us want to eliminate it, ...yet the preciousness of it all, without which we'd be deserted.

[IRON-MaN]

A lovely brillaint view to the song Serphens , totally enjoyed every bit of it ! thanks for posting !

[Serpens Mercurialis]

Thank you so much, IRON-MaN!

Did you read my comments on your Computer God interpretation? I feel a bit guilty for that one... But then that's how I see things.

[IRON-MaN]

Serphens there is nothing you have to feel gult or sorry for !
ive already sent you 2 private messages ! ive sent you one a while ago and i actually sent another one ( since from your comment it seems you didnt receive the first one !)

cheers !

[Serpens Mercurialis]

Indeed I just received one. Maybe you misspelled "Serpens"?