In a memorable scene from the Academy Award-nominated film The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei jam out at a bar to Round and Round by Ratt. “Why can’t music be about having a good time?” laments Rourke. Randy the Ram does a good job of summing up the feel-good metal music that was so big in the 80s and 90s. It was about having “nothing but a good time.” However, once in a while, these rock stars got a little sad and picked up an acoustic guitar. Such occasions were so rare that they were worthy of their own compilation album (re: Monster Ballads). These metal moments have one other thing in common:
They are usually hilarious.
With occasional exceptions, metal attempts at emotional music have a tendency to be marvelously ridiculous.
Exhibit A: The original terrible ballad by the star of Rock of Love, Rock of Love 2, Rock of Love Bus and…all that. It’s “Every Rose Has its Thorn” by Poison.
Feel the sadness in those eyes. Sigh indeed, Bret.
Second is an even better video of Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde mourning the death of his friend Dimebag Darrell. As a tribute, Zakk Wylde wrote this touching song (in no more than 30 words or so, might I add). The imagery of Zakk Wylde menacingly destroying a piano really goes for the heart. The overall aesthetic, from the beard to the double-neck black guitar to the arson fits perfectly with the subject matter. The best moment of the video? The meaningful, forlorn, passionate guitar solo (look for this):
Lastly comes my favorite example. Sometime in the early 90s, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson traded in his spandex and satanism and pursued a solo career. While he never achieved much notoriety, he did make a fantastically incomprehensible video for “Tears of the Dragon.” How are dragon tears symbolic? Why is he jumping into the waves so many times? Who is the large Buddha-like man? The answers to these questions don’t really exist. Watch the video anyway…