Category: Rock

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Indie Rock Rock Rock And Roll Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Day 28. Another one influenced by Disco Elysium here. This song doesn’t appear in the game, as such, but appears as one of several easter eggs within the game which reference Manic Street Preachers song titles & lyrics. In the game world, the song was the anthem of a past Communist revolution in the main city, Revachol. An old man who fought during said revolution sings (or speaks, it isn’t voice acted) the opening lines of the song to you. When you ask him how the rest of the song goes, he says: “Something about shooting rabbits? I don’t remember.”

The song was originally written about the Spanish Civil War & became the Manic Street Preachers first number one single in the UK. The song is the longest song title (without using parenthesis) to ever reach the number one spot. It is, as far as I can ascertain, the only UK number one single to address the Spanish Civil War too, although I remember, at the time it was released, journalists saying that The Clash did it better with Spanish Bombs. I’m not sure where I stand on this.

The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists

Bullets for your brain today
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain?

Holes in your head today
But I’m a pacifist
I’ve walked La Ramblas
But not with real intent

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

And on the street tonight an old man plays
With newspaper cuttings of his glory days

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Looking for some great music? Check the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral): Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

Day 25. I saw a meme yesterday (that I can no longer find) that stated, “society has progressed beyond the need for Weezer.” Obviously this was meant as a joke (probably). This morning, while watching YouTube music videos, Say It Ain’t So came on. It’s a great tune.

Oh yeah
Alright

Somebody’s Heine’
Is crowdin’ my icebox
Somebody’s cold one
Is givin’ me chills
Guess I’ll just close my eyes

Oh yeah
Alright
Feels good
Inside

Flip on the telly
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

I can’t confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
So try and be cool
When I say
This way is a water slide away from me
That takes you further every day
So be cool

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

Dear daddy
I write you in spite of years of silence
You’ve cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven’s awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Say it ain’t so
Your drug is a heart breaker
Say it ain’t so
My love is a life taker

Looking for some great music? Check the Song of the Day (Chaotic Neutral) Spotify playlist.

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New Wave Post Punk Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Queens Of The Stone Age – Never Say Never

Day 24. It was a toss up between their version of The Kinks’ classic Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy & this, their cover of the ’80’s Post-Punk/New Wave classic Never Say Never by Romeo Void.

Queens Of The Stone Age imbue the Post-Punk rhythms with a hard Rock muscularity that a) makes the song rock harder than the original & b) adds a layer of sleaziness which the original doesn’t quite match. In fact I’d argue the original has a sense of wide-eyed innocence which Josh Homme’s fuzz-laden lead guitar steamrolls right over. A great cover of a great song.

If time itself was his demeanor
There’d be no sunlight or a glimmer
Of sunlight landin’ on the street
Some say girls must be discreet
Some say girls must be discreet
Nursing their fathers locked inside
They masqueraded as his bride

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

They slump by the courthouse with windburn skin
That man could give a fuck
About the grin on your face
As you walk by, randy as a goat
He’s sleepin’ on papers
But he’d be warm in your coat

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

There’s no easy way to lose your sight
On the street, on the stairs
Who’s on your flight
Old couple walks by, as ugly as sin
But he’s got her, she’s got him

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
But there’s somethin’
In your eyes that says
Maybe that’s never
Never say never

I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together
I might like you better
If we slept together

Looking for some great music? Check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist.

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Indie Rock Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (Covers): Manic Street Preachers – Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)

Day 10. I’ve written a fair bit about Manic Street Preachers lately & will probably write more in the future. They’re one of my favourite bands from when I was a teenager & I’ve recently started listening to them a bit more again.

Their version of the theme tune from the classic Korean War drama M*A*S*H was recorded for a double a-side single with Fatima Mansions (who’s contribution was a cover of Bryan Adams’ (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. The single was a charity single with proceeds going to The Spastic Society (since renamed SCOPE).

Through early morning fog I see
Visions of the things to be
The pains that are withheld for me
I realise and I can see

That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please

The game of life is hard to play
I’m gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I’ll someday lay
So this is all I have to say

Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please

The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn’t hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger, watch it grin

Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please

A brave man once requested me
To answer questions that are key
Is it to be or not to be
And I replied oh why ask me?

Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please

And you can do the same thing if you please

Looking for some great music? Why not check out the Song of the Day (Covers) Spotify playlist?

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Grunge Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (The Chain): Alice In Chains – Them Bones

Day 30. The link today is actually the recording studio. Yesterdays Pearl Jam tune & Them Bones by Alice In Chains were both recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle.

Them Bones is downtempo Grunge done to perfection. Atmospheric, Black Sabbath riffs, driving rhythms & fantastic vocal harmonies combine to create an oppressive & expressive atmosphere. For me personally, Them Bones takes me right back to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It’s inclusive on the rock stations fairly short playlist ensuring that I’ve probably heard it hundreds, if not thousands, of times in that particular setting.

I believe them bones are me 
Some say we’re born into the grave 
I feel so alone 
Gonna end up a big ole pile a them bones

Dust rise right on over my time 
Empty fossil of the new scene 
I feel so alone
Gonna wind up a big ole pile a them bones
Toll due bad dream come true 
I lie dead gone under red sky 
I feel so alone, 
Gonna end up a big ole pile a them

I feel so alone
Gonna end up a big ole pile a them
I feel so alone
Gonna end up a big ole pile a them bones

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Grunge Mental Health Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (The Chain): Pearl Jam – Jeremy

Day 29. From a song about an American teenager opening fire on her school to a song about another kind of American school shooting. Jeremy is about a 15 year old boy, Jeremy Delle, who committed suicide in front of his English class by self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Interestingly, the same set of circumstances seemed to contribute to Delle’s suicide as many more famous school shootings. Chiefly that Delle, like many school shooters, was mercilessly bullied by his classmates.

Pearl Jam wrote Jeremy in a bid to increase awareness of gun violence (specifically in schools), teen suicide & the dangers of unchecked bullying. As the description to the YouTube video states, “the themes of Jeremy highlighted by Pearl Jam in 1991, have sadly only become more relevant in the intervening 30 years as gun deaths continue to increase.”

At home drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V

Dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn’t give attention
Oh, to the fact that mommy didn’t care
King Jeremy the wicked
Oh, ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin’ on the boy

Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed the lion
Gnashed his teeth and bit the recessed lady’s breast

How could I forget
And he hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurting

Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Oh like the day I heard
Daddy didn’t give affection

And the boy was something that mommy wouldn’t wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Try to forget this (try to forget this)
Try to erase this (try to erase this)
From the blackboard

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in
Spoke in
Jeremy spoke in
Spoke in
Jeremy spoke in class today

Uh uh uh uh (spoke in, spoke in, spoke in)
(Spoke in)
Uh uh uh uh (spoke in, spoke in, spoke in)
Whoa oh (spoke in)
(Spoke in, spoke in)
Whoa oh (spoke in)
Whoa oh (spoke in, spoke in, spoke in)
Ah ah ah yeah 
Ah ah ah ah (spoke in, spoke in, spoke in)
Yeah yeah ah ah ah (spoke in, spoke in, spoke in)
Ah ah ah ah ah

Keep up to date with the Song of the Day (The Chain) Spotify playlist.

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Prog Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (The Chain): Pink Floyd – One Of My Turns

Day 27. From a song called Tourniquet yesterday to the only other song I could think of that used the word Tourniquet in it’s lyrics (I’m sure there’s more but my mind is blank).

Luckily, One Of My Turns from The Wall is a great tune. The slow burning synth drones of the opening are so lush & thick. They take me back to a certain time in my life when I first heard The Wall. The movie, I think. & the explosive drop before the loud section is a huge shock. I wish musicians (in the mainstream, at least) still played with dynamics like that. Great tune. & an intense section of the movie.

“Oh my God! What a fabulous room! Are all these your guitars?
“I’m sorry sir, I didn’t mean to startle you!”
“This place is bigger than our apartment!”
“Let me know when you’re entering a room”
“Yes sir!”
“Um, Can I get a drink of water?”
“I was wondering about”
“You want some, huh?”
“Yes”
“Oh wow, look at this tub? Do you want to take bath?”
“I’ll have to find out from Mrs. Bancroft what time she wants to meet us, for her main…”
“What are watching?”
“If you’ll just let me know as soon as you can … Mrs Bancroft” “Mrs Bancroft…”
“Hello?”
“I don’t understand”
“Are you feeling okay?”

Day after day, love turns grey
Like the skin of a dying man.
And night after night, we pretend its all right
But I have grown older and
You have grown colder and
Nothing is very much fun any more.
And I can feel one of my turns coming on.
I feel cold as a razor blade,
Tight as a tourniquet,
Dry as a funeral drum.

Run to the bedroom,
In the suitcase on the left
You’ll find my favorite axe.
Don’t look so frightened
This is just a passing phase,
One of my bad days.
Would you like to watch T.V.?
Or get between the sheets?
Or contemplate the silent freeway?
Would you like something to eat?
Would you like to learn to fly?
Would’ya?
Would you like to see me try?

Would you like to call the cops?
Do you think it’s time I stopped?
Why are you running away?

Keep up to date with the Song of the Day (The Chain) Spotify playlist.

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Industrial Metal Rock Song of the Day

Song of The Day (The Chain): Nine Inch Nails – We’re In This Together

Day 25. A bit of an obvious one today, but a good one. From a Nine Inch Nails mix of a Bowie song to one of my favourite Nine Inch Nails songs.

We’re In This Together was the lead single from the bands excellent 1999 album The Fragile. Precision production, industrial percussion & some of the nastiest Noise Rock guitar ever committed to tape ProTools combine to create a huge single. Aa creeping sense of dread grows throughout the songs verses before exploding into the fury of the loud, angry, & somehow optimistic, chorus.

I’ve become impossible holding on to when
When everything seemed to matter more
The two of us
All used and beaten up
Watching fate as it flow down the path we
Have chose

You and me
We’re in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
If the world should break in two
Until the very end of me
Until the very end of you

Awake to the sound as they peel apart the skin
They pick and they pull
Trying to get their fingers in
Well they’ve got to kill what we’ve found
Well they’ve got to hate what we fear
Well they’ve got to make it go away
Well they’ve got to make it disappear

The farther I fall I’m beside you
As lost as I get I will find you
The deeper the wound I’m inside you
For ever and ever I’m a part of

You and me
We’re in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
If the world should break in two
Until the very end of me
Until the very end of you
All that we were is gone we have to hold on
All that we were is gone we have to hold on
When all our hope is gone we have to hold on
All that we were is gone but we can hold on

You and me
We’re in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
Even after everything
You’re the queen and I’m the king
Nothing else means anything

Keep up to date with the Song of the Day (The Chain) Spotify playlist.

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Industrial Pop Rock Song of the Day

Song of the Day (The Chain): David Bowie – I’m Afraid Of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix)

Day 24. From songs produced by David Bowie (Lou Reed’s Perfect Day & Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes) for the last two days to a David Bowie song produced by another artist. In this case it’s the V1 mix of I’m Afraid Of American’s, produced by Nine Inch Nail’s polymath Trent Reznor. Although not the original version, this mix surpassed the album version in popularity (partly due to the video, one would assume) & is even included on many ‘best of’ albums.

I’m Afraid Of Americans already shared some major characteristics with Nine Inch Nails. Bowie was, after all, heavily influenced by them in this period. Trent Reznor transforms it into a behemoth of punishing Industrial Noise Rock. Check out the video below.

Johnny’s in America, no tax at the wheel
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
No-one needs anyone, they don’t even just pretend
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Johnny’s in America

I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans

Johnny’s in America
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Johnny wants a brain, Johnny wants to suck on a coke
Johnny wants a woman, Johnny wants to think of a joke
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Johnny’s in America (ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)

I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans

Johnny’s in America, Johnny looks up at the stars
Johnny combs his hair and Johnny wants pussy in cars
Johnny’s in America (ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
Johnny’s in America (ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)

I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans

God is an American
God is an American
(Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)

I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t

Yeah I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans

Johnny’s an American
Johnny’s an American
Johnny’s an American
Johnny’s an American
Johnny’s an American

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Rock Rock And Roll Song of the Day

Song Of The Day (The Chain): Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes

Day 23. I’m assuming that most people who may be reading this post will be able to pick out the link between Perfect Day & All The Young Dudes from miles away. That’s right. Perfect Day is take from Lou Reed’s excellent album Transformer, which, as I’m sure you’re aware, was produced by none other than David Bowie. All The Yung Dudes by Mott The Hoople is also produced by David Bowie. Unlike Perfect Day, however, Bowie actually wrote All The Young Dudes. Legend has it that Mott The Hoople asked Bowie for Drive-In Saturday, but he liked it too much & decided to give them All The Young Dudes instead. An excellent Bowie version is also available.

All The Young dudes is a fairly typical Glam-era Bowie tune, with a swaggering & androgynous vibe, amazing guitar work (Bowie & the legendary Mick Ronson both play on it) & lyrics about feeling different & taking solace in your generation’s art. NME described it as “one of that rare breed: rock songs which hymn the solidarity of the disaffected without distress or sentimentality”.

Well, Billy rapped all night about his suicide
How he’d kick it in the head when he was twenty-five
Speed jive, don’t want to stay alive
When you’re twenty-five
And Wendy’s stealing clothes from Marks & Sparks
And Freddy’s got spots from ripping off the stars from his face
Funky little boat race
Television man is crazy saying we’re juvenile delinquent wrecks
Oh, man, I need TV when I’ve got T.Rex
Oh brother, you guessed
I’m a dude, dad

All the young dudes (hey dudes!)
Carry the news (where are you?)
Boogaloo dudes (stand up, come on)
Carry the news
All the young dudes (I want to hear you)
Carry the news (I want to see you)
Boogaloo dudes (I want to talk to you, all of you)
Carry the news (now)

Lucy looks sweet ’cause he dresses like a queen
But he can kick like a mule, it’s a real mean team
But we can love
Oh yes, we can love
And my brother’s back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
We never got it off on that revolution stuff
What a drag, too many snags
Now I’ve drunk a lot of wine and I’m feeling fine
Got to race some cat to bed
Oh, is that concrete all around
Or is it in my head?
Yeah
I’m a dude, dad

All the young dudes (hey dudes)
Carry the news (where are you?)
Boogaloo dudes (stand up)
Carry the news
All the young dudes (I want to hear you)
Carry the news (I want to see you)
Boogaloo dudes (I want to relate to you)
Carry the news
All the young dudes (what dudes?)
Carry the news (let’s hear the news, come on)
Boogaloo dudes (I want to kick you)
Carry the news

All the young dudes
(With the glasses)
Carry the news (I want you)
Boogaloo dudes (I want you in the front)
Carry the news (now)
(Now, you’re his friends)
All the young dudes (now you bring him down)
(‘Cause I want him)
Carry the news
Boogaloo dudes (I want him right here)
(Bring him, come on)
Carry the news (bring him)
(Here you go)
All the young dudes
(I’ve wanted to do this for years)
Carry the news
(There you go!)
Boogaloo dudes
(How’d it feel?)
Carry the news

If you’ve not heard it (you should have), here’s the Bowie version too.

Keep up to date with the Song of the Day (The Chain) Spotify playlist.

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