To my great surprise, I didn't come across today's two songs while washing the dishes or cooking in the kitchen, as I often do, but for a change while riding my bicycle outside in the beautiful weather. When you're in a good mood and out in the fresh air, it really shouldn't be difficult to whistle along to cheerful melodies, should it?
However, caution is advised if you have Kiss music in mind, because then you should definitely take care of yourself and your surroundings, especially when the infamous Deva Vu effect comes into force.
And this time it caught me cold and behind the back during warbling the verses of Gene's Rain Keeps Falling (1991/92) (1). And what can I say, when it hit me and I suddenly realized that this could only be a precursor to Carnival of Souls' Seduction of the Innocent (1997) (2), I had to pull over to the side of the road to calm down again.
And I had to get over my gasping for breath as quickly as possible, otherwise I would never make it home, that much was clear. I had to think of something, and quickly, because I'd also left the house without my notes yet again. But what?
First of all, I took my pulse and when I'd managed to catch my breath, I set off again, but slowly, very slowly. I couldn't afford to make a mistake. I had to stay calm, yes. Calm was exactly what I needed most, and not to accidentally think about my latest Kiss discovery.
But it was already too late. I couldn't resist. More unconsciously than consciously, I mentally scanned both songs once again and compared them with each other, and my suspicions were confirmed: Gene the old bastard had not only taken over the verses from Rain Keeps Falling in Seduction of the Innocent, but also its bridges, and to a certain extent the chorus, or at least its basic structure, and what might still be left of its melody! Bugger me!
Out of sheer shock, I started to drive in serpentine lines and crashed head-on into the oncoming tart delivery man who was about to cross the street on his way to our neighbor's upcoming wedding reception (3), which I had completely overlooked.
And what do you think I noticed about a song on Unmasked (1980) in the shower afterwards, I'll better tell you another time.
(1) One of Gene's old demos that he recorded with Silent Rage in the early 90s and first released, I think, on his Speaking in Tongues DVD (2004) or something; long, long before The Vault (2017), which he must have already announced back then, I guess.
(2) First mentioned in public by Gene around 1993 as a title for the announced follow-up album to Revenge (1992). So in terms of timing, that should fit.
(3) As far as I was told in a not exactly friendly tone, they were expecting almost thirty guests from all over the country.
Rain Keeps Falling (Demo) (1991/92)
Seduction of the Innocent (1997)
