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"Holy Diver" by Dio: Great song or stupid lyrics? (Other songs like this?)
Posted on 6/26/16 at 4:48 pm
Posted on 6/26/16 at 4:48 pm
I have been torn about this song for many years. I think I like the overall song, but the lyrics regarding the "tiger" make me cringe...they seem so awkward.
Any thoughts? Any other songs make you feel like this?
Any thoughts? Any other songs make you feel like this?
8
Posted on 6/26/16 at 6:04 pm to lsufan9193969700
Dio as a solo artist was hardly a poet when it came to writing lyrics...but who really cares?
I would assume most people don't listen to Dio's music in search of introspective lyrics which expose the artist's feelings and emotions. There isn't going to be anything comparable to Kurt Cobain, Jackson Browne, or John Lennon. Dio's music was meant to be empowering and instill a sense of vigor and strength within the listener. The imagery described was needed to operate in unison with Vivan Campbell's wailing guitars and Jimmy Bain and Vinnie Appice's thundering rhythm.
"Holy Diver" is one of the most recognizable songs in heavy metal and, for many, it is Dio's most iconic work. I suppose by that definition you can label it as "great" despite the less-than stellar lyrics.
I still love the song. It's not nearly as campy or disingenuous as other releases within the genre.
I would assume most people don't listen to Dio's music in search of introspective lyrics which expose the artist's feelings and emotions. There isn't going to be anything comparable to Kurt Cobain, Jackson Browne, or John Lennon. Dio's music was meant to be empowering and instill a sense of vigor and strength within the listener. The imagery described was needed to operate in unison with Vivan Campbell's wailing guitars and Jimmy Bain and Vinnie Appice's thundering rhythm.
"Holy Diver" is one of the most recognizable songs in heavy metal and, for many, it is Dio's most iconic work. I suppose by that definition you can label it as "great" despite the less-than stellar lyrics.
I still love the song. It's not nearly as campy or disingenuous as other releases within the genre.
This post was edited on 6/27/16 at 11:19 am
Posted on 6/26/16 at 7:51 pm to lsufan9193969700
"you can see his stripes but you know he's clean"
This post was edited on 6/26/16 at 7:53 pm
Posted on 6/27/16 at 12:14 am to lsufan9193969700
Ride the Tigah!
Posted on 6/27/16 at 1:37 am to lsufan9193969700
I like the cover and video that Killswitch Engage did.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 7:41 am to ChatRabbit77
Thanks for the link. 
Posted on 6/27/16 at 8:40 am to lsufan9193969700
I always though Invisible from the Holy Diver Album was a very under rated song and lyrically one of DIO best.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 9:46 am to lacajun069
The South Park episode with holy diver and the phonics monkey was funny as hell
Posted on 6/27/16 at 10:04 am to lsufan9193969700
Posted on 6/27/16 at 11:37 am to lacajun069
quote:
I always though Invisible from the Holy Diver Album was a very under rated song and lyrically one of DIO best.
I agree 100 percent. Plus, "Invisible" has my favorite Campbell guitar solo.
I have never been able to make proper sense of the final stanza.
My dad told me when I was younger that the final stanza details Dio's supposed conversion to Satanism or his denouncement of Christianity. However, anyone who has listened to any Dio interviews knows that he was anything but a Satanist in terms of the Medieval/Pagan sort who deal in ritual sacrifice and occult worship. He was more than likely a humanist or atheist of some sort.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 12:02 pm to saint amant steve
quote:
He was more than likely a humanist or atheist of some sort.
He was actually a vocalist on one of Kerry Livgrens Christian albums.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 12:12 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
He was actually a vocalist on one of Kerry Livgrens Christian albums.
I admittedly didn't realize that.
Still, that doesn't necessarily reveal his position regarding his ideological/religious beliefs. He very well might have done it as a favor to a friend.
His quotes in interviews have always pertained to self-empowerment and spirituality from within.
quote:
“In my mind, we live in heaven and we live in hell,” Dio says. “God and the Devil and inherent in each of us. It’s our choice to make; you can take the road to good, you can take the road to bad. Well, we have a choice. The optimum way to go, of course, is to do the good thing, I totally agree with that, but again [it’s] because religion is taught so badly, I think, that I’ve used it as an example of humanity.”
Posted on 6/27/16 at 1:10 pm to lsufan9193969700
LOOK OUT!!!!!
Posted on 6/27/16 at 1:14 pm to lsufan9193969700
Dio is the greatest metal voice. The power and emotion in his voice almost always makes up for his sometimes subpar lyrics. They get way more cringeworthy the later he goes into his solo catalog.
side note: Mystery is my favorite Campbell solo.
side note: Mystery is my favorite Campbell solo.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 2:39 pm to metallica81788
His lyrics don't bother me. I can still jam to Holy Diver.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 7:50 pm to saint amant steve
quote:
His quotes in interviews have always pertained to self-empowerment and spirituality from within.
His lyrics for the Sabbath tune Heaven And Hell re along those lines, like we have the choice to do good or evil. Really doesn't speak to spiritual influences though.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 8:07 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
His lyrics don't bother me. I can still jam to Holy Diver.
Same here. Great album. Great musicianship. Stand Up And Shout has one of my favorite guitar solos of all time. Hell, the entire album is Vivian Campbell's best work by a mile. His playing on it is amazing.
Posted on 6/27/16 at 10:16 pm to lsufan9193969700
RIIIIIDE THE TIGER!
fricking Awesome
fricking Awesome
Posted on 6/27/16 at 10:29 pm to lacajun069
quote:
I always though Invisible from the Holy Diver Album was a very under rated song and lyrically one of DIO best.
Wholeheartedly agree. Fantastic song on an incredible album. I absolutely wore this album out.
I saw him in New Orleans in '83, '84, and '85. Last In Line and Sacred Heart shows were at Lakefront Arena. My favorite of the three by far though was Holy Diver at The Saenger. Awesome venue for that show.
Posted on 6/28/16 at 4:24 pm to LSU Jax
quote:
My favorite of the three by far though was Holy Diver at The Saenger. Awesome venue for that show.
I was at that show. WRNO advertised " ear protection will be provided". Everyone got two cotton balls when you got in the door.
Dio had a great voice, but his lyrics were cheesy as hell. Most of his songs with Rainbow/Sabbath and Dio all had some lyric alluding to dragons/rainbow/dark/night/mountain ect.... I guess with an operatic voice like his, he couldn't sing about getting laid in the back of his mom's ford ( like David Lee Roth-- lol).
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