I wish I had more to say about this song. But it’s just one of those that hasn’t had that much impact on my life than it probably has for many other people. I simply like it.
It’s not the first one of the band’s I listened to, that goes to “Velouria” or “Here Comes Your Man”….. maybe even “Build High” – my memory’s fading. But I do think I saw the official video (above) on TV and thought “What the hell, is this even a song?” or something along those lines. Francis’ yelling definitely threw me off the first time as it may do for any listener who hasn’t heard “Debaser” before. But listening to it along with the other fourteen tracks that accompany it on the album, it all made sense.
Ah, Coldplay. Not my favourite group. But nevertheless they are back with a new album, their sixth to be exact, in May entitled “Ghost Stories”. They’ve put out two songs already: “Midnight“, which got some polarizing feedback due to its minimalism – and the first official single “Magic” which is quite similar to “Midnight in the way that there are barely any instruments in it, but actually has a beat and a good melody. It is the one which I like a bit myself and it is better than the former song. But that’s just my opinion.
Today’s song is the other title track from Coldplay’s fourth album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends“, commonly known as “Viva la Vida”. Most people know it for the album where Coldplay changed. They went around wearing suits a la The Beatles during the Sgt. Pepper phase and generally went for a new approach in making their music. Some may have found it pretentious. I think it’s their best album. I have “Parachutes“, “A Rush” & “X&Y“; they have their moments, but “Viva” along with “Prospekt’s March” – that is good listening. No to “Mylo Xyloto” though.
The beginning of “Death and All His Friends” is actually a song that was meant to be separate altogether. This was its original incarnation. It’s very calm and soothing for the first half before bursting into life when the rest of the band join in and abruptly changing into the soaring and climactic ending (in 7/4 time signature) which will catch any first listener by surprise. The song is a triumphant ending to a wonderful album. There is a full version of the instrumental that you hear at the beginning of the very first track of the album, but I cut that out before putting it on my iPod. You can’t beat that ending.
“Dear Prudence” is the second track on the first disc of The Beatles’ self titled album from 1968. It was one of many to be written by John Lennon when the group visited India earlier in the year for a meditation course, in order to get away from all the added attraction the band brought onto themselvesthe previous year. Many people joined the band on their visit and would be entertained by the group whenever there weren’t any lectures occurring, but there was one who would retreat back to their room, meditate some more and barely keep in contact with anyone. That person was Prudence Farrow, this was John’s message to her.
That’s just a bit of background info.
I became a huge Beatles fan in late 2009. Around the time the new album remasters and The Beatles: Rock Band came out, coincidentally. I downloaded (almost) every Beatles album as I was awed at just how consistently good their songs were, even as they changed through the years.
If only I was typing this to you from the computer back home, I could tell you when I actually first downloaded “The Beatles” and therefore listened to “Dear Prudence” for the first time. I can’t remember if I had seen its dreamscape from the game before listening to the whole album, or vice-versa……. It’s nothing to dwell upon, really.
I don’t think I’ve typed anything that would have convinced you to listen to the song. I’m not able to tell you just how good this song is with the less-than-satisfactory vocabulary I have.
It is one of Lennon’s best – a beautiful and timeless track.
“Dear Boy” is the fourth track on Paul McCartney’s second solo album (credited to both he and wife-at-the-time Linda) Ram, released all the way back in 1971.
Paul believed he was very lucky to have Linda as his wife, and wrote this song as a tribute to her. It is also an address to her former husband; they married years earlier in 1962 before divorcing in 1965. McCartney ‘tells’ him that he was a silly man to let Linda go, and that he will never find another one like her.
Although most of it is in a minor key, the dramatic, layered backing vocals and airy rhythm make things a little lighter. You can probably imagine the smugness he had when writing and singing this: “I hope you never know, dear boy, how much you missed/And even when you fall in love, dear boy, it won’t be half as good as this”.
“Deado” is the last track on Stephen Malkmus’ first ‘solo’ album after his former band Pavement split up. The term ‘solo’ doesn’t really count though; “Stephen Malkmus” was recorded by the band he formed immediately after, known by the name of The Jicks. Malkmus wanted to release it under the band’s name but the record label ‘insisted’ that he release it under his own. On iTunes and any other music service, you can only find the album under Stephen Malkmus, but I will label it under the group’s actual name whenever I do a song from this album.
When listening to the album for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice Malkmus’ enthusiasm in his vocals compared to those in Pavement’s last album “Terror Twilight”. From sounding like a guy who wrote his songs and sang them just to get them over and done with, he sounded more confident – ready to embrace the challenge of doing something new – and as a result the album is quite upbeat and fun, with some laid-back parts here and there.
“Deado” is very laid-back. The acoustic guitars, various synthesizer noises and sound effects and the double-tracked vocal give the song a hazy and ethereal feel. It’s the track that plays when relaxing and sitting in a chair in your back garden, or sinking your head into the pillow when you’re about to go to bed. Soothing stuff to the ears.
Lyrically, I haven’t a clue what it’s about. My interpretation of it is that, somehow, it is from the Ess-Dog’s point of view after becoming estranged from Jen who is referred to in the chorus (Listen to the preceding track “Jenny & the Ess-Dog” for more information). Apart from that… nah-I couldn’t tell you. The song ends with a minute ‘reprise’ of another song from the album “Vague Space” before fading to silence, bringing to a fine debut album to a close.
