Just been listening to the "Happiness?" album on my iTunes, and noticed something I hadn't before on the title track: on each alternate line, Roger's vocals float from being echoed to very sharp - i.e "in times of peace" is echoed, "in times of war" sounds sharp.
I'm probably just being slow here, but is there a reason for such structure?
For instance, is the song supposed to be portrayed as two people, or two sides, talking? "in times of peace" is a positive, so has a more distant, yet peaceful echo, but "in times of war" is stark reality, so is more "in your face".
I'm sorry if I'm not coming across as articulately as I'd like here, but if anyone's any idea of what I'm talking about, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Has anyone else noticed this? Have I just missed the obvious? Or am I just reading too much into it?
Sorry if it's been discussed before!
Also, just wondering.....does anyone think the album should have started with the title track? I'm not a big fan of "Nazis", and think the album flows better with "Happiness" opening the story.
Cheers!!
I'm a bit surprised you hadn't picked up on this earlier!
I've always seen (heard) it as a simple effect to make a distinction between the two opposite sides in the lyric... I think it should have been recorded as a duet with two disctinct singing voices. Now it sounds a bit cheap and rushed. :/
[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]
I'm a bit surprised you hadn't picked up on this earlier!
I've always seen (heard) it as a simple effect to make a distinction between the two opposite sides in the lyric... I think it should have been recorded as a duet with two disctinct singing voices. Now it sounds a bit cheap and rushed. :/[/QUOTE]
Tbh, I have only actually listened to the album a handful of times since I got it. At least I know I wasn't overthinking it now lol :)
A duet would have been a nice idea, however I'm now noticing that the effect tails off towards the end of the song. Not sure if I'd say it sounds cheap or rushed - despite not listening to the album so often, I do really like that track.
What do you think about the running order? Would "Happiness" have been a better start?
Roger's best work!
[QUOTE] [b]Band Forever wrote:[/b]
Roger's best work!
[/QUOTE]
what smashing insight :)
Interesting! I actually feel more like "Happiness" should be the last song. It's the kind of beautiful little I like at the end of an album, but I can see how it would work great to start it off as well.
As for "nazis", I can't say I like that song. I feel like it lacks something; the music is missing a sort of "punch" (for lack of a better word) that says 'Here's a great album'. So I do agree it shouldn't be the opening song.
[QUOTE] [b]Thistleboy1980 wrote:[/b]
Tbh, I have only actually listened to the album a handful of times since I got it. At least I know I wasn't overthinking it now lol :)
A duet would have been a nice idea, however I'm now noticing that the effect tails off towards the end of the song. Not sure if I'd say it sounds cheap or rushed - despite not listening to the album so often, I do really like that track.
What do you think about the running order? Would "Happiness" have been a better start?
[/QUOTE]
I think It should have remained as an experiment in the studio. It doesn't really add anything to the song, so why make it at all?
As for the song order... The album doesn't really have a lot of "rockers", and traditionally those are good for getting attention. That's why they're singles or opening tracks, and that's what has happened here. Nazis also work as the (shorter) intro song.
The whole album could have benefited from trimming a few songs anyway. Perhaps it's worthy of a complete re-think instead of a single change?
roger is a schizophrenic, no he isn't yes he bloody well is AH fuck off no you feck off, stuff this if offski, come back you plonker
[QUOTE] [b]scollins wrote:[/b]
roger is a schizophrenic, no he isn't yes he bloody well is AH fuck off no you feck off, stuff this if offski, come back you plonker[/QUOTE]
does anybody understand this ? kind of reminds me on john lennon:
[QUOTE][b]BEATLES, strawberry fields forever:[/b]
(...) That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right, that is I think it's not too bad. (...)
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]The whole album could have benefited from trimming a few songs anyway. Perhaps it's worthy of a complete re-think instead of a single change?[/QUOTE]
I'm thinking of something like this...
1) Touch The Sky
A perfect opener: Instrumental intro, fast tempo rocker, samples of Freddie, and the corny lyrics you expect from Roger. ;)
2) Happiness
3) Revelations
From fast rocker to a light ballad and back to rock again. Lyrics as deep and meaningful as you would never have expected from Roger... Maybe that's why there's the "voice of outsider" singing the lyrics? :P
4) Foreign Sand
Back to light ballad again. One of Roger's all-time greatest songs, and different enough to tell us that Yoshiki had a pretty big part in the writing. A slow fade-out that deserves to finish the A-side of the album.
5) Freedom Train
6) The Key
...And back to rock again. The fade-in of Freedom Train fits the beginning of B-side, and the hectic ending deserves a more up-tempo song (The Key) to follow it than 'You Had To Be There'.
7) Everybody Hurts Sometime
8) 'You Had To Be There'
9) Old Friends
A good way to finish the album is to slow down the tempo, and set a melancholy mood. The finishing line "You have to be there" segues into Old Friends, which gives a positive spin on the finish of the album.
Samples of Freddie in Touch The Sky?
[QUOTE] [b]Pim Derks wrote:[/b]
Samples of Freddie in Touch The Sky? [/QUOTE]
Doesn't it have a couple of Yeah's in there?
First at around 2:20, and again at 3:09?
[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]The whole album could have benefited from trimming a few songs anyway. Perhaps it's worthy of a complete re-think instead of a single change?[/QUOTE]
I'm thinking of something like this...
1) Touch The Sky
A perfect opener: Instrumental intro, fast tempo rocker, samples of Freddie, and the corny lyrics you expect from Roger. ;)
2) Happiness
3) Revelations
From fast rocker to a light ballad and back to rock again. Lyrics as deep and meaningful as you would never have expected from Roger... Maybe that's why there's the "voice of outsider" singing the lyrics? :P
4) Foreign Sand
Back to light ballad again. One of Roger's all-time greatest songs, and different enough to tell us that Yoshiki had a pretty big part in the writing. A slow fade-out that deserves to finish the A-side of the album.
5) Freedom Train
6) The Key
...And back to rock again. The fade-in of Freedom Train fits the beginning of B-side, and the hectic ending deserves a more up-tempo song (The Key) to follow it than 'You Had To Be There'.
7) Everybody Hurts Sometime
8) 'You Had To Be There'
9) Old Friends
A good way to finish the album is to slow down the tempo, and set a melancholy mood. The finishing line "You have to be there" segues into Old Friends, which gives a positive spin on the finish of the album.
[/QUOTE]
That's the very chap! Would have been a much better way to put that album out :)
