SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 45:00 Min.
In 2003, Big 3 Records released “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s only album consisting of fourteen spoken rap tunes backed by hip-hop professionals and/or heavy metal instrumentals. Savage’s fourteen tracks are:
Running Time:
- Intro 0:48
- “I’m Back” 3:19
- “Ru Ready” 4:15
- “Hit the Floor” (featuring DJ Kool) 3:37
- “Let’s Get In On” 2:38
- “Remember Me” 4:01
- “Tear It Up” 3:21
- “Macho Thang” (featuring AJA) 3:00
- “Be a Man” 3:00
- “Get Back” 3:25
- “Feel the Madness” 3:20
- “”What’s That All About” 3:43
- “Gonna Be Trouble” 3:37
- “My Perfect Friend” (featuring Primary Colorz) 3:55
Notes: Savage co-wrote Track 9: “Be a Man.” Curiously, neither a rendition of Savage’s signature entrance theme, “Pomp and Circumstance,” nor one of his later WCW themes is included.
REVIEW:
In one interview hyping “Be a Man,” a 51-year-old Savage had claimed this debut album would be his post-retirement answer to trendy memoirs penned by his wrestling colleagues. Given his trademark gravelly voice (and a mastery of charismatic wrestling promos), Savage might have sought to imitate someone like John Cafferty (i.e. the singing voice of Eddie and The Cruisers), as “Macho Man”-style rock.
Then again, if he meant to display a self-deprecating sense of humor, perhaps this project would involve some celebrity duets, i.e. how about a hilarious tag-team with Lionel Richie good-naturedly warbling “Say You, Say Me?” Sadly, neither possibility resembles the finished product, as Savage swallowed epically bad career advice from his music industry contacts.
There’s no mistaking that Be a Man extends Savage’s desperate (skin-tight black leather, silver chains, and an earring), mid-life crisis gimmick from his 1999 ‘Team Madness’ phase during WCW’s final years. More so, it isn’t a coincidence that the pulsating dance instrumentals and super-loud back-up singers fail to hide Savage’s weak vocal performances. Upon enduring Be a Man, there’s one stark realization for listeners. Specifically, prior to his tragic passing in mid-2011, Savage should have opted for a ghostwritten memoir worthy of his legacy.
Aside from the album’s finale: a poignant tribute to the late “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, the vast majority of Savage’s tracks are excruciatingly awful. Even his Track 9 dissing of Hulk Hogan falls flat, as it sounds more like a cringe-worthy publicity gimmick than any airing of personal grievances.
Had Savage merely released a passable single (i.e. Track 11’s “Feel the Madness”) to regain pop culture relevancy, the “Macho Man” would have surely gotten off easy with a mild reprimand from the public. Instead, he brashly goes full bore into this misguided vanity project. His subsequent humiliation becomes immortal playing Be a Man in its entirety.
For nostalgia’s sake, ‘Macho Madness’ fanatics will come away preferring a DVD/Blu-Ray reliving Savage’s exuberant, mid-80’s-to-early-90’s WWF prime. Such vivid memories far surpass this tone-deaf dreck masquerading as contemporary hip-hop.
PACKAGING:
A fold-up insert depicts a poster-size pin-up of Savage; its flip side sports five promotional photos (one of which is a black-and-white mid-air “Macho Man” during his patented flying elbow drop). The writing and technical credits are provided, along with Savage’s thoughtful thank-you’s.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 2 Stars
