Show Me the Way (Styx song)

Last updated
"Show Me the Way"
ShowMeTheWayStyx.jpg
Single by Styx
from the album Edge of the Century
B-side "Back to Chicago"
ReleasedNovember 1990 [1]
Recorded1989
Genre Soft rock
Length4:35
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Dennis DeYoung
Producer(s) Dennis DeYoung
Styx singles chronology
"Love Is the Ritual"
(1990)		"Show Me the Way"
(1990)		"Love at First Sight"
(1991)

"Show Me the Way" is a song by American rock band Styx, written by Dennis DeYoung and released as the second single from Edge of the Century . It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1991 (Styx's eighth and last US top 10 single to date). The song's music video was directed by Michael Bay.

Contents

Background

Lead vocalist/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, a devout Roman Catholic, originally wrote the song for his son Matthew as a pseudo-hymn about the struggle to keep the faith in a "world so filled with hatred". [2] [3]

In January 1991, just prior to the United States' entry into the Gulf War, music director Chris Taylor from WAVA-FM in Washington, D.C., and Knoxville DJ Ray Edwards from WOKI-FM each did their own customized "Desert Shield Mix" incorporating television and call-in comments from officials, soldiers and callers as well as C-SPAN's coverage of the House and Senate debates. [3] [4] [5] The single had not yet peaked [6] when the war officially ended on February 28, 1991. [7]

Written in 6–8 time, the song begins quietly with the lone DeYoung on vocals and transitions into a big sounding vocal triad chorus. The bridge uses a solo DeYoung vocal praying and pleading that "if I see a light, should I believe? Tell me, how will I know?" followed by, on the album version, an acoustic guitar leading into an electric guitar solo.

Release and performances

The single rose up the Billboard Hot 100 reaching number 3 the week of March 16, 1991, and remained in the top 40 for 23 weeks. [8] The song also hit number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, remaining in the top 40 of that chart for 31 weeks. It also peaked at number 4 on the Canadian pop charts. [9]

The song was Styx's fourth and final top 5 single to date (and eighth top 10 single), and comes in at number 68 on the Billboard rankings of the top Hot 100 singles of 1991. [10] The song also placed Styx among a handful of artists to have top 10 singles in three different decades, the 1970s ("Lady", "Come Sail Away", "Babe"), the 1980s ("The Best of Times", "Too Much Time on My Hands", "Mr. Roboto", "Don't Let It End"), and the 1990s ("Show Me the Way").

Despite the song's enormous success along with "Babe", "Don't Let It End" and "The Best of Times", it has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999. DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours.

Charts

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Styx (band)</span> American rock band

Styx is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. They are known for blending melodic hard rock guitar with acoustic guitar, synthesizers mixed with acoustic piano, upbeat tracks with power ballads, and incorporating elements of international musical theatre. The band established themselves with a progressive rock sound during the 1970s, and began to incorporate pop rock and soft rock elements in the 1980s.

<i>Edge of the Century</i> 1990 studio album by Styx

Edge of the Century is the twelfth studio album by Styx, released in 1990. It was the first Styx album featuring A&M solo artist Glen Burtnik, the only album to feature the Dennis DeYoung/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/John Panozzo lineup, and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums before his death in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Roboto</span> 1983 single by Styx

"Mr. Roboto" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Kilroy Was Here (1983). It was written by band member Dennis DeYoung. In Canada, it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 on 12 February 1983, reaching No. 3 in April.

<i>Cornerstone</i> (Styx album) 1979 studio album by Styx

Cornerstone is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. Styx's third straight multi-platinum selling album, Cornerstone was Styx's first album to earn a Grammy nomination, which was for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Like the four previous Styx albums, the band produced the album themselves. Styx recorded the album at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

<i>Kilroy Was Here</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Styx

Kilroy Was Here is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Styx, released on February 22, 1983. A concept album and rock opera about a world where rock music is outlawed, it is named after a famous World War II graffiti tag, "Kilroy was here." It was the last album of original material to be released by the "classic" lineup of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James "J.Y." Young, John Panozzo, and Chuck Panozzo.

<i>Caught in the Act</i> (Styx album) 1984 live album by Styx

Caught in the Act is a live double album by Styx, released in 1984. It contains one new song, "Music Time," which was released as a single, reaching #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegade (Styx song)</span> 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx

"Renegade" is a 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx on their Pieces of Eight album. Although songwriter Tommy Shaw and fellow Styx guitarist James Young usually played lead guitar on their own compositions, Shaw asked Young if he could take the solo on "Renegade". Young agreed, and Young later returned the favor by allowing Shaw to play lead on his "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" on the Paradise Theatre album. When performed live from 1978 to 1983, drummer John Panozzo increased the tempo of the drum pattern during the guitar solo sections. Also, the track would serve as the drum solo spot for Panozzo during that time frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babe (Styx song)</span> 1979 single by Styx

"Babe" is a song by the American rock band Styx. It was the lead single from the band's 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was Styx's first, and only, US number-one single, spending two weeks at No. 1 in December 1979, serving as the penultimate number-one single of the 1970s. "Babe" also went to No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It additionally held the number-one spot for six weeks on the Canadian RPM national singles chart, charting in December 1979 and becoming the opening chart-topper of the 1980s. It was also the band's only UK Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 6. It also reached No. 1 in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let It End</span> 1983 single by Styx

"Don't Let It End" is the third track and the second top 10 single on the 1983 album Kilroy Was Here, by Styx. The song is also reprised at the end of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorelei (Styx song)</span> 1976 single by Styx

"Lorelei" is a song from rock band Styx. It is on their 1975 album Equinox, and was released as a single in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mademoiselle (song)</span> 1976 single by Styx

"Mademoiselle" is the first single released from Styx's Crystal Ball album. The B-side, "Lonely Child", was taken from the previous album, Equinox. It peaked at #36 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles chart the week of December 25, 1976, becoming Styx's third top 40 hit. It also reached number 25 on the Canadian RPM singles chart on the week of January 22, 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)</span> 1978 single by Styx

"Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" is the second single released from Styx's The Grand Illusion (1977) album. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S., the single peaked at #29 in April 1978. It also hit no. 20 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart the week of May 6, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)</span> 1978 single by Styx

"Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their eighth studio album, Pieces of Eight (1978). Released in 1978, the single came in two 7" vinyl formats: one with the b-side "Superstars" (a track from The Grand Illusion) and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side. Some printings of the single were also issued in a translucent blue vinyl, which are now highly sought after collectors items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing for the Day</span> 1978 single by Styx

"Sing for the Day'" is the second single that Styx released from their album Pieces of Eight. It reached #41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in February 1979. It was later the B-side of their next single “Renegade”. Tommy Shaw used the name ‘Hannah’ in the song, to represent his fans. Several years later, he named his newborn daughter Hannah. The album version that lasts 4:57, was edited down to 3:40 for the single version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Me (Styx song)</span> 1979 single by Styx

"Why Me" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung that was first released on Styx's 1979 double-platinum album Cornerstone. It was also released as the second single from the album, and reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borrowed Time (Styx song)</span> 1980 single by Styx

"Borrowed Time" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw that was first released on Styx's 1979 album Cornerstone and was also released as the third single from Cornerstone. It peaked at No. 64 on the U.S. chart in April 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best of Times (song)</span> 1981 single by Styx

"The Best of Times" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second chart-topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Much Time on My Hands</span> 1981 single by Styx

"Too Much Time on My Hands" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the second single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It was written and sung by Tommy Shaw, who also plays the lead guitar solo during the break in the song. It was Shaw's only top 10 single as a writer and vocalist with Styx.

"Music Time" is the sole studio track released on the live Styx album, Caught in the Act. It peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of June 2, 1984.

"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.

References

  1. ↑ "Styx singles".
  2. ↑ Kawashima, Dale (2017-01-23). "Special Interview with Dennis DeYoung, Renowned Singer & Songwriter of Styx's Hits "Babe," "Come Sail Away," "Lady," "Mr. Roboto" and "The Best of Times"". songwriteruniverse.com. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  3. 1 2 Smith, Rob (11 April 2011). "Death by Power Ballad: Styx, "Show Me the Way"" . Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Top 40 Music on Compact Disc: Styx - Show Me the Way".
  5. ↑ "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search".
  6. ↑ Billboard Hot 100, Week of March 2, 1991
  7. ↑ The Gulf War: Chronology, Frontline, PBS.org
  8. ↑ Billboard Hot 100, Week of March 16, 1991
  9. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17.
  10. ↑ Hot 100 Singles of 1991, Billboard
  11. ↑ "Styx Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Styx Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1991". LongBoredSurfer.com. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  15. ↑ "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.