In much the same way as a trip to Taco Bell guarantees you indigestion, taking a musical journey with Meat Loaf guarantees you a whole gordita’s worth of bombast. And on that count, "The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be," Loaf’s new duet with recent Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (streaming here at AOL Music), doesn’t disappoint. The lyrics ("Some days I feel so numb and empty/ And those would be the good days for me") are predictably over-the-top, the vocals start at "full-tilt wail" and eventually get amped-up to "manic shriek," and the arrangement is like something from the first-act finale of a Disney-on-Broadway extravaganza. All of which makes it that much weirder to me that the whole number is so incredibly dull. The melody on "Future" doesn’t have the same stick-in-your-brain quality that marked Meat Loaf’s previous love-it-or-hate-it hits like "I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)," nor does it have the randy energy of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." I’d do anything to see J.Hud find success on the Billboard charts, but while "Future" isn’t as screamingly awful as that "we are a tree" nonsense from Dreamgirls, I am telling you, I’m not going… to be listening to this track again, either. How ’bout you, PopWatchers?
Snap judgment: The new Meat Loaf-J.Hud duet
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Comments (1-30) of 34 Add your comment
Poor JHud, the end of the “dream” starts barely a week after peaking. that was Terrible.
Slezak’s description of this song is dead-on, and Jennifer Hudson is so much better than this crap. Meatloaf is a good entertainer, but he can’t really sing. I can’t understand why J-Hud’s agent/manager would let her do this (and it certainly couldn’t have been her idea). She isn’t a has-been (yet), and she doesn’t have to resort to this!
The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be. I can only assume that Meat Loaf came to that conclusion after visiting the future and finding out that the only form of music left is over-wrought power ballads.
That song is just awful. While I’m a fan of Jennifer Hudson, I seriously think that she’s overrated. Her high notes are not as round and confident as those of, say, Whitney Houston. She needs to pick songs where she gets to emote with lower notes rather than just wailing and screeching with the higher ones.
Thank you for pointing out that terrible family giant tree song in Dreamgirls. The whole time I could not believe they were actually singing such awful lyrics.
Thank you! I thought I was the only one who hated that “we are like a giant tree” song…and they kept singing it!!!
Ummm………..I actually dug “Family”
from DreamGirls…
Big girl…meatloaf…there’s a fat joke in there somewhere, I can just smell it…
This song was recorded long before she won the oscar and was even signed with Clive Davis– Don’t give up hope!! And lately, anything with MeatLoaf blows– so– I’m still rooting on Jennifer Hudson!
This song was done a while ago before even The Dreamgirls ball got rolling, like David said. I don’t think one should rush to judge already. Give the woman her moment to shine. She’s certainly earned it! And as for Meatloaf, half the fun of his songs is the theatrical over the top nature of them. Not his best but still better then a lot out there.
Why is this post making me so hungry?
“performers” who belt and wail are a dime a dozen. There’s nothing special about “J-Hud”. Hopefully this is just the first nail in the coffin of her undeserved career.
I think they should have done a cover of Jim Steinman’s “Tonight is What it Means To Be Young” from “Streets of Fire”. That would’ve been spectacular. This song however is just loud and boring. A real shame because I like them both.
“isn’t as screamingly awful as that “we are a tree” nonsense”…Priceless!
I am still laughing at that one!
I still love this song! It’s worth it for JHud’s beautiful belt. And I have loads of love for MeatLoaf. Anyone who can pull off 7 min powerballads with a choir has my respect. Also EW way to get on this topic soooo late! This album came out last October. And this song has been in my Ipod mix ever since. Although I have supported JHud since the begging knowing she would be in the oscar race since I heard the news of her starring as Effie. Also check out her version of “Easy To Be Hard” from an all star recording of Hair benifit CD.
“Thank you for pointing out that terrible family giant tree song in Dreamgirls. The whole time I could not believe they were actually singing such awful lyrics.” That tree song is from a 20 year old Broadway show and Diana Ross sang it in her Central Park concert.
As for J-Hud and Meatloaf, the actual video is at youtube.com; search Meatloaf and Jennifer.
It’s amazing that two vocalists can get in the same studio these days to record. Interesting view.
OMG! I just notcied that you called it the “new” duet in the title. This song was available to purchase like 5 months ago at least
“That tree song is from a 20 year old Broadway show and Diana Ross sang it in her Central Park concert.”
You say that as if that means it can’t be bad…
i thought the headline said “The new Meat Loaf-J.Hud diet”
i thought the headline said “The new Meat Loaf-J.Hud diet”
didn’t mean to double-post; call it a user error
MeatLoaf needs to put BAT OUT OF HELL to rest once and for all. What worked thirty years ago doesn’t work today.
I am happy for Jennifer. She did an awesome job on Dream Girls, but why is she going in the same direction as Fantasia? Has she been getting tips from Beyonce? If she sneezes too hard her top will fall off. And girl, please don’t copy Aretha Franklin. She sang great, but just could not understand that she was way too big for most of the clothes she wore. Yes, you are big and beautiful, but carry yourself with dignity. Hope you don’t turn into a Prostitute for show.
Meatloaf had his time. Some singers voices make it through with few changes as they age, mealoaf is not one of them. He should be happy with what he had. “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
Sounds like Rocky Horror Picture to me. I haven’t been following Meaty’s career – but it sounds the same. I couldn’t sit through the whole thing – I was at about 1:30 when I shut ‘er down.
Oh, this must be the place you go to make fun of people.
Renee: Could you be more specific?
MEATLOAF – I was a big fan for years, but Tuesday I went to a concert my (fourth)and was very disappointed. My fiance’ surprised me with front row center seats ($500. each). After 3 songs, the Meat invited everyone up to take pictures and stand up. If anyone said anything, he would “kick their ass”. The Civic Center said his contract basically rents the hall and he can do whatever he wants. So 2/3 of the show I spent viewing cheap seat butts. Also, I agree his voice is not as good, but that comes with age. I will never again go to a Meat Loaf concert.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT JENNIFER HUDSON IN DREAMGIRLS. IF YOU ASK ME SHE MADE THE MOVIE, WITHOUT HER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BORING. SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND I BELIEVE SHE HAS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HER. SHE HAS THE WHOLE PACKAGE AND SOME. I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR MORE OF HER MUSIC AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF HER ON THE SCENE SHE IS GREAT.
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