Here at Muse-Zach we will be taking a look at the religous beliefs of musical artists over the next two weeks. Musicans, often being famous and rich, have a unique oppurtunity to escape the beliefs of their families and local communites as they visit the world and experience many different individuals, cultures, countries, and ideas. Some stay put in their initial beleifs, perhaps even becoming more staunch in them, while others may go on a spiritual journey exploring several different beliefs (I'm looking at you Dylan). So we're going to start by listing off Atheist musicans because (we'll be honest) religon in all its hundreds of forms is fucking stupid. So here they are, Atheist Musicans:
Wayne Coyne- Lead Singer of the Flaming Lips. King Diamond- Danish Heavy Metal legend. Danny Elfman- Movie and television composer. Brian Eno- Electronic musician and producer. Ben Folds- Liam and Noel Gallagher- The Oasis boys. David Gilmour- Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist. Roger Waters- Pink Floyd bassist and vocalist. Greg Graffin- Lead singer of punk rock band Bad Religon. Billy Joel- the fucking Piano Man Alex Kapranos- Lead singer of Franz Ferdinand Kerry King- Guitarist of Slayer Simon Le Bon- lead singer of Duran Duran Lemmy Kilmeister- The only real God. Till Linderman- Lead singer of Rammstein Dave Matthews- Randy Newman- Hates midgets Gary Newman- Could easily kill Randy Newman Henry Rollins- Black Flag and Rollins Band lead singer Robert Smith- Lead singer of the Cure. Wayne Static- Lead singer of Static-X Eddie Vedder- Lead singer of Pearl Jam MC Chris- Bjork- Isaac Bock- Lead singer of Modest Mouse Mike Burkett- Lead singer of NOFX Stephan Jenkins- Lead singer of Third Eye Blind Frank Zappa- Mark Knopfler- Lead singer of Dire Straits
(note: there are plenty more atheist musicans than this. Think if all these guys got together and formed a band......im freaking out man.)
Welcome readers (*crickets*) to a new weekly segment were we run down the top ten albums in America and make wishes and predictions of next weeks top ten. Hey, Ho, Let's Go.
10. No Better Than This- John Mellencamp The Midwest's own old dog howls his way into the top ten this week with the debut of his new album. Not to shabby John, critics love it and after finishing up a short summer tour with Dylan, we look forward to seeing you in Minnesota for a two night stand at the Orpheum.
(Was digging this one at first but it kinda fell flat, got a bit boring....)
9. Foundling- David Gray Also debuting this week is David Gray's new album. Now you may be wondering who the fuck is David Gray? What the fuck does 'Foundling' mean? Ummm....well apparently he's some British fuck who had a breakthrough album in 1999 (thanks wiki), and I have no idea what 'Foundling' means. Congrads on the number nine finish though David, cheerio.
(I like the dude's voice (sounds familiar) but the songs a bit repetitive. Nice try though....cheers)
8. My World 2.0- Justin Bieber 22 weeks and still going, America's retarded teenage girl population have made this album a juggernaut. It's already platinum and in case you live in a nursing home where your grand kids never come to visit, you know lil Biebs is fucking everywhere. Now usually this blog would refrain from mentioning this lil cutesy fuck, but he got us on a technicality (bastard). Our apologies.
Well I was going to post a Bieber vid here, as horrifying as that is, when I realized I've never actually heard a Bieber song. Which is pretty fucking crazy given the boy wonder's huge fame. Do they play him on the radio? I mean I've heard Miley and the other lil kid shit music before (fuck you JoBros) but never Beebes. Have I just been lucky? Has Satan simply spared me this horrid nightmare? I dunno, but for the love of journalism I've decided to take the Bieber challenge and I welcome you fellow virgins to violate your ears with me. Here we go:
(....Why baby Jesus, why did you allow this to happen? So many thoughts running through my head right now, ahhhhhhhhh the pain. I feel old, violated, and and and stupider. Luda what the fuck man, I mean I'm hardly a fan but Jeezus playa, what the fuck was that. I dont know what to say typing this literally seconds after viewing....calm down muse-zach, take a deep breathe, turn on Slayer album....Ahhh, there we go Im back, mind mostly intact. Dear god can you imagine what this album must sound like, the other nine fucking tracks. America please, please, watching Glenn Beck and stop listening to Justin Bieber.)
7. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire Three weeks on the charts, the current Indie Rock things should be pleased that the inhabitants of many of the US's suburbs have taken a shine to them and purchased their awesome new album. September 22 they'll be rocking Roy Wilkins.
(My fave song on the album, really makes me want to see them live.)
6. Need You Now- Lady Antebellum Country music, and country music fans get a bad rap. They're often looked down as country bumpkin and out of touch with the times. Well perhaps there is some truth there because country fans have yet to realize CD sales suck in 2010. While every other genre of music watches their record sales plummet year to year (accept for Jazz for some odd reason) Nashville keeps flexing its muscle, loosing ground by mere decimal percentages or not at all. Lady Antebellum is a prime example. Released in mid January, their new album has been on the Billboard Top 200 for 30 weeks, has gone platinum twice, and creeps back into the top ten whenever they release a new single or Country Music has another award show. A country group can survive.
(Modern Pop Country at its finest. Big sound, steel guitar, clean harmonies, sing along chorus, relate-able lyrics. Decent song.)
5. Cowboy's Back in Town- Trace Adkins Another new debut on the charts from Country's big man. I actually purchased and enjoyed Trace's fourth album, 2001's Chrome, but quickly fell off the bandwagon after Trace rolled out Country Music hits like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk". He has been an interesting guest a number of times on the Bill Maher show though.
(Chick in this video is hot. Song itself is nothing special though. Initially it feels kind of like a interesting approach to writing a song, but the novelty wears off waiting on the chorus.)
4. Final Frontier- Iron Maiden Raise you Irons lads, Metals longest running legacy band is back again, this debut release marking their 15 album. While metal fans roared Maiden to #1 in 21 countries worldwide, sadly Americans fans could not beat three other contenders (I did my part). 35 years after their start, Dickinson and the boys are still running to the hills under Eddie's portrait.
(Epic)
3. God Willing and the Creek Don't Dry The face of modern Folk, Ray Lamontagne and his new band the Pariah Dogs have snuck into the Billboard top 3 to many insiders surprise. Bearded, and folky with a crisp rising voice, Lamontagne is awesome and deserves the spot. Sorry Maiden.
(Brillant, his guy should have gotten a real band behind him years ago.)
2. Intamcy: Album 3- Kem Some rapper I've never heard of has released his third album......
(Ok, maybe he's an R&B singer. If I was black I would have makeup sex with my wife to this song.)
1. Recovery- Eminem Nine weeks out, Eminem is number one again. Beating an early retirement and an addiction to sleeping pills, Slim Shady has roared back to life. Equaled only to Jay-Z, Eminem is on top of the rap world an poised to have the biggest album of the year.
(Hard hitting, real, and catchy dam sucka this is exactly why this white boy from Detroit has conquered the airwaves.)
There it is readers, the very diverse top ten albums in America. Now let's take a look at next weeks big releases.
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream (Big release) Usher - Versus (Booo might do good though) Fantasia - Back To Me (Sucks) Little Big Town - The Reason Why Randy Rogers Band - Burning The Day Joe Diffie - Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album Jeremy Camp - We Cry Out: The Worship Project (Jesus Rock) Apocalyptica - 7th Symphony (Good band) Ricardo Arjona - Poquita Ropa Randy Travis - I'll Fly Away (Like the classics) Ricky Skaggs - Mosaic The Sword - Warp Riders (Curious) JJ Grey - Georgia Warhorse JP Chrissie & The Fairground Boys - Fidelity! Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Hawk Ra Ra Riot - The Orcharrd (Curious) Tamar Kaprelian - Sinner Or A Saint Blind Guardian - At The Edge of Time Eels - Tomorrow Morning (Supposedly good)
God dammit I love making list. Sure they're completely opinonated and often BS, but shit son they are fun to make. And so here is my list for the Top 10 Movies of 2010 Thus Far (only movies I've seen are included, and yes I havent seen some supposedly good ones).
10. Despicable Me Super Villian Gru is awesome in this original kiddie comedey, though his little yellow minons often steal the show.
9. How to Train Your Dragon It's not Pixar, but this film takes you on a Viking adventure fun for the whole family.
8. Predators Finally a worthy sequel to the 80's classic. I had no expectations thanks to the horrid crop of Predator films that preceded it, but this one delievers on all cylinders.
7. The Crazies With so many zombie pictures in the last couple years, it's crazy that this film was able to go the distance.
6. Crazy Heart A true outlaw tale with a good soundtrack to boot, but it's the oscar winning performace by Jeff Bridges that sets this apart.
5. Kick Ass All in the name.
4. Shutter Island Leo gets lost in a Dennis Lehane novel, luckily Martin Scorsese is behind the camera.
3. Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Sam Dunn makes Rush look as amazing as they've always sounded.
2. Toy Story 2 Shockingly, Pixar got it right the thrid time.
1. Inception Christopher Nolan plays mindgames with Leo and audiences. Yes, it's as good as everyone says it is.
This list will of course be updated at the end of the with hopefully lots of great movies lumming in the coming months.
It has been said that only the good die young, and dammit Buddy Holly was certainly one of the good ones. Although his life burned out when Buddy was only 22, his career lasting only two years from 1957-59, his music and his unique personal has burned strong through the history of Rock and Roll. It never fails to astound me how big an influence this young man from Lubbock, TX, had on music. Here are a few examples of the influence Buddy Holly had, and continues to have, on Rock and Roll Music. Enjoy.
-Buddy was a huge Elvis fan and the aspiring musician got the chance to open for Elvis as a local act twice in 1955 when the King came through Lubbock. Buddy said of Elvis,"“Without Elvis, none of us would have made it."
-Famed Country outlaw Waylon Jennings played bass for Buddy's band on his last tour, and survived the trajic crash by giving his seat on the plane to a sick Big Bobber. Here Waylon covers Buddy's "Not Fade Away" with a little help from Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.
Waylon and Buddy circa 1959
-Guitar god Eric Clapton commented in his autobiography Clapton,"I have no idea where I was when John Kennedy died, but I remember vividly the day Buddy Holly died." (not a verbatum quote) In 1969, Clapton's short lived supergroup with Steve Winwood, Blind Faith, covered Holly's "Well Alright" on their first and only album.
-A 17 year old Bob Dylan saw Holly on January 31, 1959, and Dylan recalled the event in his 1998 Grammy acceptance speech as Time Out of Mind won Album of the Year.
-The Beatles' name was chosen partly as a Homage to Buddy's backing band The Crickets.
-Paul McCartney ownes the publishing rights to Buddy's song cataloug, and John Lennon covered "Peggy Sue" on his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll. The Beatles' covered "Words of Love" on 1964's Beatles for Sale.
-Don Mclean's epic 1971 single "American Pie" recounts the plane crash death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. Unfortunately it was covered by Madonna in 2000.
-The only true God, Lemmy Kilmister, has numreous times praised the work of Holly. “That’s my era! Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, Buddy Holly.” Here Lemmy covers Buddy's "Love Made a Fool of You."
-John Mellencamp wrote a piece about Rolling Stone for their 2004 Immortals Issue. Here is a brief exert: Buddy Holly was a complete and utter hillbilly. I'm very proud of that. So much of our musical heritage is from the country. People always ask me, "Why do you stay in Indiana?" Well, I have to. Just about every song, every sound that we emulate and listen to was created by a hillbilly, born out of the frustration of a small town where there ain't much to do in the evening. That's one thing that I loved about Buddy Holly.
-One of Weezer's most famous songs is their single "Buddy Holly" off their 1994 Blue Album. The single was released on what would have been Buddy's 58th birthday.
-British hitmakers the Hollies, who were inducted into the retarded Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, took their name from Holly (though they somewhat deny this) and covered many of his songs.
-In the video for Nirvanna's "In Bloom", Kurt Cobain channels Holly's dress and facial expressions before destroying the stage with bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic all in drag.
-In a 1978 interview with Rollingstone, Bruce Springsteen commented,"I play Buddy Holly every night before I go on; that keeps me honest."
-The Rolling Stones scored an early hit on the UK charts in 1964 with thier cover of Holly's "Note Fade Away". The song has also been a main staple of Grateful Dead concerts, the band has covered the song over 500 times in the course of their long career.
Clearly Buddy Holly was kicking ass and taking names all the way back in 1950's, and for that Muse-Zach salutes him.
Our fourth and final installment relating to Lennon's "God" and the numerous songs that sprung from it ends on a high note. The amazingly gifted guitarist with a PhD in Astrophysics, Brian May, brings it all back home. One last time dear friends let's take a look together.
Following the death of possibly the greatest front man of all time, Freddie Mercury, Queen guitarist Brian May began work on a solo career. In September 1992, Brian released his first solo disc Back to the Light and went on a subsequent tour with the newly formed Brian May Band. The later went on tour with Guns N'Roses, opening for them in the U.S. and Europe. While on tour Brian began performing a cover of Lennon's "God" with altered lyrics. The song was performed and originally supposed to be released as part of The Brian May Band's 1993 live album Live at the Brixton Academy, but legal restrictions from Yoko Ono(bitch) lead to the track being edited out.
Silly cover.
As I stated earlier, Brian May's version really brings this whole topic round full circle because at how close May's version is to Lennon's original. While Bono and Larry were inspired by Lennon's song and subsequently took it in their own unique directions, Brian takes the original and just gives it a personal spin. He makes the song about Brian May, his past accomplishments, his beliefs, and his own future. It is a homage to Lennon, a goodbye to Queen, a spoken confidence in himself, and a thank you to fans. Before we go any further have a listen, the song's lyrics are provided below the video in case you have a hard time hearing May in this live recording.
The dream is over, what can I say The dream is over, yesterday We were the fab ones, but now it is gone I was the gentle one, but now I must be strong And so dear friends we'll just have to carry on The dream is over
The dream is over, no matter what they say The dream is over, it has to be this way We played in springtime, but now I play in fall We hit the bigtime, but now we are small And our dear friend let's hope he has it all, still The dream is over
I don't believe in magic I don't believe in pain I don't believe in heroes I don't believe in fame I don't believe the newsprint I don't believe we're free I don't believe in nations I don't believe in pride I don't believe in pressure I don't believe we're right I don't believe in torture I don't believe in fight I don't believe in colour I don't believe in white I don't believe in history I don't believe in being Queen any more I just believe in me Just you guys and me And that's reality
Yes the dream is over Dream on
That's some awesome shit. My initial reaction was "dam, I had no idea Brain May could fucking sing so good." Now it's true, while May's cover is closest to Lennon's and lack some of the complexity, I still find it excellent. He picks up the song on the same words John left it some Twenty-Three years earlier and trudges on. He tells the audience from the start the dream is over and than explains why, and how he's ok with that. He still has himself and he still has all the supporting fans. I liked the mentioning of "Pressure", a badass Queen song with David Bowie, and like that Brian made sure to specially emphasis Queen like Lennon did the Beatles. Additionally, by telling the audience to 'dream on' in the final line really makes for a moving and uplifting ending.
Interestingly while Larry Norman moved to pull God to the forefront in God Part 3, Brian May makes no reference or allusion to him in his own cover. Humorously God is nowhere to be found by the end of our series though his name is in the title of all four versions. Brian May's cover really should just be called "The Dream is Over", but by calling it "God (the dream is over)" it does harken back to the original. Sorry sky man, apparently the Astrophysicist couldn't find you, figures.
So that's all folks the God Blog Series is officially over. In the end we learned that Lennon's reality was himself being godly with Yoko, Bono's reality was love, Larry's reality was God, and Brian's reality was just himself and his fans. Which ones the best? Lennon's. Second best? Hmmm depends on mood but probably Mays making U2's third and alternate second. Sorry Larry your dead last......oops I apologize for repeatedly mentioning your dead, if it's any consolation John is too...Oh and readers for your homework tonite Muse-Zach wants you to write and record your own version of "God".
Fun Fact: In case you thought Brian was being big headed in comparing the end of Queen to the end of the Beatles, just remember Queen was hugely popular in England and Queens Greatest Hits is the highest selling album in UK history.
Now to the third act, the final in a trinity of songs (part four is a bit different) and yes feel free to make some loose Christianity Trinity analogy. Once again, enjoy.
In 1991, Twenty-one years after the original and three years after the sequel Larry Norman penned a second song inspired by Lennon's "God" and again appropriately named it "God Part 3". Now you may be asking yourself "Who the fuck is Larry Norman," well fret not dear reader for Muse-Zach is here to enlighten you.
Larry Norman, who died of heart complications in 2008, was a solo artist for most of his musical career and is bested remembered being for the self described "father of Christian Rock Music". Before going solo and becoming a notable name n the hippish Jesus Movement of the late 1960s early 70s, Norman was in the one hit wonder group People!. People! scored a huge worldwide hit in the summer of 1968 with their cover of The Zombie's "I Love You." Success didn't last long for the group, though they did open for the likes of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and The Doors, Larry quit the group on the same day their first album was released following supposed spiritual disagreements within the group (Larry loved Jesus and the rest of the guys were getting in the whole L. Ron Hubbard thing).
Away from People!, Larry began a long solo career that would touch on several genres on music but primarily focus on folk. As a solo artist, Larry's work was centered around promoting Jesus, the bible, and living a Christian lifestyle. Although Larry never reached mainstream success singing about his god(s), he was popular in certain circles and did inspire both secular and Christian artist. Both U2 and the Pixies list him as an influence, and numerous artist from the 1960's (like McCartney and Dylan) have basically been quoted saying Larry could have been a world famous recording artist if he had used subject matter other than Jesus. Often overlooked by the secular world, Larry wasn't exactly triumphed by the Christian world either. Many churches and Christian groups disagreed with Larry's outspoken commentary on Western Culture and the church, and his music was for many years banned in a number of Christian stores. Larry's most famous works include 1969's Upon A Rock, 1972's Only Visiting This Planet, and the song "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music." Sounds like an interesting fellow eh, there is a controversial new documentary about him called Fallen Angel that I haven't been able to track down online yet. Oh well.
Ok so we got the background on Larry Norman covered, now we need to clear up some confusion surrounding God Part 3. This one actually had me confused for quite a while and delayed the publishing of this and the previous blog while I did some online investigation. The confusion arose from reports that Larry had originally written God Part 3 in 1971, and that Larry had actually written God Part 2 and allowed U2 to cover it. Here are the facts. Larry did write a song in 1971 called God Part 2 as a response to Lennon's song released only a year early. Larry's God Part 2 was not released on any album and only became widely available in 2002 as it appeared on the Larry Norman anthology Agitator. It should be noted that Larry's God Part 2 and God Part 3 are not the same song, though they have some identical lyrics. Additionally Larry did not write U2's God Part 2, that credit goes to Bono, but you can probably see how confusion would arise about the song especially since U2 are fans of Larry's music.
Inspired by Lennon's "God", Larry's "God Part 2" is a rambling folk tune zeroing in on Lennon's list of things he doesn't believe in, and ultimately nothing more. Here and there Larry makes affirmations, but overall "God Part 2" is five minutes of Larry making social commentary by listing off things he doesn't believe in and why. Using a tune all his own, Larry takes swipes at the Beatles, the Vietnam War, non-Christian religions, and numerous other topics. In the end, while we learn about Larry's believes by hearing all about his non-believes God as a central proclaimed belief is lacking from "God Part 2." You can hear the song by clicking the link below.
Alright, so finally we're going to talk about "God Part 3". Hmmmm....I guess you need to hear the song first.
See, I told you Part 2 and 3 were different. Obvious from a listening to Larry's "God Part 3", is the added influence of U2's "God Part 2." The sound is more rocking and less folky than Part 2, and Larry has taken note from Bono to cap off his disbeleifs with his ultimate belief. For Larry, an old school Christian Rocker, this ultimate belief is in God. Not God through making ourselves godly, or God through channeling his ultimate characer of love, just the plain and simple Christian God. Plain and simple is a good way to put it because Larry's version is unshakably straightforward in it's message missing the poetic self inquiry of Lennon, or the unraveling hypocrisies of Bono. The goal of Larry's song is to stand up to social norms he doesn't believe in, and proclaim the name of God in their place.
You can see why I spend so much time talking about Larry and "God Part 3"'s background, the song doesn't leave a lot of room for analysis. None the less, lets run through Larry's song with a little commentary and the Yays and Nays system. (For all you readers at home free to get a piece of paper and play your own version of Yays and Nays.)
i don't believe in beatles, i don't believe in rock Look Bono, hypocrisy. Nay
i don't believe in the cutting edge, that's just journalist talk Valid point. Yay
i don't believe in the cover story or the gospel chart you can easily hit number one with a bullet and totally miss the heart but i oh i believe in God Agreed, funny he's talking about the Gospel chart though. Makes me think of that South park episode where Cartman has a Christian Rock band, Faith+1. Funny Shit. Yay.
i don't believe in politics while the masses stay unfed til the leaders change priorities and supply the poor with bread I dunno, I mean I hear where you're coming from here Larry but politics is complicated and I'm not sure we can through at the whole system because a few people are starving. Nay.
don't believe in the revolution or the empty words of peace Tisk tisk another swipe at the Beatles and possibly U2 (lol). Fuck off Larry Revolution is a good song and a need process. For example, we should start a revolution where people realize Christianity is retarded....oops, let they ole Atheist flag fly a little to high there. Nay
you can tear all of the governments down you still won't find release but i oh i believe in God Dumb. Nay.
i don't believe the papacy when fallible lies are told if they really want to help the poor they should sell some of their gold Now we're talking Larry, fuck the Vatican. Yay.
and i don't believe the aryans are the master race if you think that Jesus is white you'd be surprised to see His face but i oh i believe in God You're rollin now buddy keep that good vibe flowing. Yay.
don't believe in esperanto or the dreams of babylon if we all spoke the same language, long ago we would'a built the bomb Really Larry, you dont believe the world should be able to communicate with each other. What about fucking unity? Wouldn't it be easier to spreak the message of God if everyone knew the same fucking language. And another thing, if the tower of babylon is comparable to the bomb than why the fuck didnt God intervene again and stop us. Dumb. Nay.
and i don't believe in money the way lives are bought and sold Well, I suppose society could be set up in such a way that eliminated money, but you may run into the problem of stifling creativity and demand based innovations. Nay.
and when this world is ended bankrupt i'm gonna walk the streets of gold Keep dreaming buddy. Nay.
no i don't believe in evolution, i was born to be free Read a science book Larry, and wtf does evolution have to do with being free? Nay.
ain't gonna let no anthropologist make a monkey out of me Hey Larry you know what I don't believe in, preserving self ignorance. Nay.
and i don't believe the devil, i ain't gonna be his slave Would have been with you if you would have said "i dont believe in the devil." So your telling me you won't be Satan's slave but you'll gladly be God's slave. Hey Bono, I found more hypocrisy. Nay.
and when i'm finished dying i'm gonna bust out of my grave Yeah, the funny thing about this line Larry is that you actually are dead now, and in these two years following your death you have yet to bust out of your grave. Sorry buddy, reality sucks sometimes. Nay
oh i yeh i oh i - I and i oh i oh i believe in God i believe in God i believe in God i believe in God Here at Muse-Zach, we don't. Nay
So that's "God Part 3", and in case you were wondering the final total came to Yays:4 and Nays:12. It's not that I think Larry wrote a bad song, it just pails in comparison to Part 1 or 2. It has a catchy rythem to it, but it also has mostly ignorant Christian jargon. Better luck next time Larry....oh right you're dead....rest in peace than.
Eight-teen years after the original, U2 penned a would-be sequel to the Lennon's God tune appropriately named "God Part 2." The song was off the group's 1988 album Rattle and Hum, a pretentious album exploring and paying homage to many of the bands roots and heroes (especially in America). The album was released just a year after the groups monster masterpiece The Joshua Tree, and album that instantly propelled the group's record sales and critical acclaim to unprecedented heights. While The Joshua Tree was universally loved, many fans and critics were suspicious and critical of Rattle and Hum, feeling the motivation behind the album was self serving rather than a tribute to America's fore running Rock and Roll sounds. Instead of exploring American and Irish musical roots with the intent of crafting their own personal songs like they did on The Joshua Tree, U2 was accused of using their new status as one of the biggest bands in the world to make an album of covers, live tracks, and new inspirations in order to proclaim themselves in league with Rock and Roll legends like the Beatles, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, etc. In hindsight the comparison may not be so blasphemous, but critic accusations aside we're not here to talk about any of this background info (as intriguing as it no doubt is) we're here to focus on God (Part 2 that is).
Listen Now:
While a defiant sequel dealing with some of the same themes, U2's song has strikingly different sound, song structure, and lyrical emphasis. As you can probably tell right off the back, U2's God is not the light piano flowing muse of Lennon's. Instead, U2 take a more bass and drum powered rawk adventure into the yeahs and nays of belief. The sound, while a departure from The Joshua Tree, would become a mainstay on their next album Achtung Baby and pave the way for U2's 90s self reinvention.
Past U2's louder rattle and hum God, Part 2 also differs strikingly from the original in its song structure. While Lennon's tune can be separated into four distinct sections (1.defining god, 2. listing former gods/beliefs, 3. proclaiming his new belief and god(himself), and 4. consoling himself and his dear friends on the emergence of his new reality and the end of their beloved past beatle reality) culminating in a unified message, Bono's song is unified from the get-go and follows a much simpler structure; about the same formula in all seven verses (1. list a conviction/belief, 2. show the hypocrisy, 3. proclaim his own ultimate and overriding conviction). Instead of dispelling his former heroes/gods, Bono's lyrics center mostly around the hypocrisies he sees in the world. While many hold good moral convictions, Bono see's the worlds actions not emulating them.
Alright so those are the bare bone differences between part 1 and 2, but lets forget the original for a minute and break down the sequel a little more closely. Like we did in the previous blog, lets initially skip the non-beliefs and focus on Bono's beliefs because they are far more important. While the song does seem to give us a little glimpse into Bono's life and psyche, the ultimate conviction displayed here is 'love'. Bono trumps all the beliefs and hypocrisies he lists by proclaiming love. A statement very fitting and understandable to anyone who even has an inkling of this Irishman's character; he cares about universal love between all people above any dogmas, creeds, skin tones, nationalities, or borders that might separate them. Lennon wants us to believe in ourselves, Bono wants us to believe in love. (While one could deposit that Bono's message is of a higher order, one could just as easily counter that love may be implied in Lennon's message of believing in ourselves, because how can we believe in love with any real conviction if we don't love and believe in ourselves. This could really spin into some a fun logical debate, but we'll leave just let it be, haha no need to ramble excessively.)
Now you may be asking yourself, where the hell is God in "God Part 2" he's not even mentioned in the song. Well if you know a little about Bono's convictions you know God essentially is love. Yes he is a Christian and most likely does believe in the sky man, but to Bono the utmost importance of his religon is that God is loving and that we all need to be loving as well. So there you go, Lennon has ourselves as God and Bono is promoting God as equating love. Literal Christians are not going to be appreciating of either promotion.
We're pretty much done here, but...I dunno, do you feel like deconstructing the verses for shits and giggles (we'll be doing it a bunch in the next blong entry)? Ok, ok you talked me into it. Here is the lyrics to U2's God Part 2 with Muse-Zach interpretation and commentary. Enjoy.
Don't believe the devil I don't believe his bunk But the truth is not the same Without the lies he made up
Hypocritically saying he doesn't believe in the Devil when he does, and than claims the truth wouldn't be the same without the Devil's lies. With our without depositing a real belief in Satan, he's basically saying the truth is not as clear without the darkness for comparisson. Christian bullshit if you ask me.
Don't believe in excess Success is to give Don't believe in riches But you should see where I live I...I believe in love
Pretty simple hypocrisy here. Sure Bono has several very nice houses, hear that starving African child?
Don't believe in forced entry Don't believe in rape But every time she passes by Wild thoughts escape
Showing a little bit of his Catholic roots here perhaps, cant help but be reminded of the retarded Jesus saying, "To look on a woman with lust is to commit adultery." BS.
I don't believe in death row Skid row or the gangs Don't believe in the Uzi It just went off in my hand I...I believe in love
Simple again, people not believing in death or killing go outn and fight wars, join gangs, etc.
Don't believe in cocaine Got a speed-ball in my head I could cut and crack you open Do you hear what I said
Drugs, lots of people that advocate against them us them, and alot of people who use them sometimes will threaten and/or use violence. Lots of musicans know all about this.
Don't believe them when they tell me There ain't no cure The rich stay healthy While the sick stay poor I...I believe in love
I'll let you handle this one.
Don't believe in Goldman His type like a curse Instant karma's going to get him If I don't get him first
Albert Goldman was a controversial author who wrote two famous books. One largely damming the personality and activities of Elvis, and the other damming the personality and activities of John Lennon. Bono hypocritically dams Goldman in this song, and wonderfully threatens him while referencing a Lennon tune. Lovely.
Don't believe that rock 'n' roll Can really change the world As it spins in revolution It spirals and turns I...I believe in love
Ummm....little tougher one here..saying he doesn't believe rock'n'roll can change the, but than counters by saying it moves revolutions and so through influence and anthem does change the world. Also a Beatle reference of sorts.
Don't believe in the 60's The golden age of pop It glorifies the past While the future dries up
Says 60s are not the golden age of rock, but than undercuts his statement by saying when the tunes of the future loose their vitality they have to go back to the past for inspiration, as if the past were some golden age. Sounds like what U2 did on The Joshua Tree. BS though, there really is no golden age of music and I'd rather be alive today with our music scene than alive 50 years ago.
Heard a singer on the radio late last night He says he's gonna kick the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight
References Bruce Cockburn's song "Lovers in a dangerous time". Bruce is Canadian and U2 enjoy his music. Barenaked Ladies, another Canadian Band, covered "Lovers in a dangerous time" and it was their fist top 40 hit.
I feel like I'm falling Like I'm spinning on a wheel It always stops beside a name a presence I can feel I...I believe in love
Little bit more ambiguity and metaphorical language here. I'll take a stab at it though. Bono is falling through time, his life, and spinning round on the world (the wheel). Through all this God is always with him.
So in conclusion (I know this blog entry is long as hell) Bono on this song sets out to pay homage to Lennon, further his band's sound, show hypocrisies in convictions, and ultimately proclaim love. A tall order to be sure, but this band has always set the bar high for themselves and on this song I really feel they hit the mark. It's certainly not as good as the original (so few sequels are) but it's a worthy song with its own merits.
The next four blog entries will deal with "God", no not the white bearded dude in the sky, but rather the song written by John Lennon and the four subsequent versions inspired by it. So without further ado, Part 1.
Following the Beatles official break-up in April 1970, John and Yoko began working on two albums simultaneously, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, both produced by the now imprisoned Phil Spector. I won't speak of Yoko's, but John's album was a true winner containing some of his best loved songs and beginning what would be an shinning solo career. Inspired by the therapy sessions he and Yoko had just completed, John appears poised and introspective crafting the album's eleven songs with freed emotions, tackling a whole host of subjects (his mom, spirituality, the Beatles, Yoko).
The first time I heard this song I was a newly enlightened college atheist, and I wanted this song to be an anthem for me. John Lennon saying he doesn't believe in Jesus or the Bible, how perfect. Sadly my interpretation was premature and not well thought out. But what was John saying, why is this song called 'God' and why does John list off a number of things he doesn't believe in? Well, let's take a look.
First things first, what does John mean when he says "God is a concept for which we measure our pain"? Instead of babbling a reason myself, let's let John explain it himself.
“Our pain is the pain we go through all the time. You’re born in pain, and pain is what we’re in most of the time. And I think that the bigger the pain, the more gods we need. It was my own revelation. I just know that’s what I know.”
Alright pre-"I don't believe" rant done, but before we go looking into the long list let's skip to the end of the rant. After a long list of 'donts' John gives us two 'dos' and they far out weight the donts in importance. John tells us that he just believes in himself and in Yoko, that is his reality. Outside of what everyone else believes in, or what he used to believe in, now John is focused on himself and on his relationship. This is the primary message of the song, that following the end of the 60s, the end of the Beatles, and the end of a long list of former heroes, practices, and beliefs, John in the coming decade (the 70s) is focused on himself.
After establishing his reality, John tells Beatle fans, his "dear friends", that the past is over. The dreams of yesterday, the dream/reality of the Beatles being the biggest, best band in the world is over. Referencing "Yesterday" and "I am the Walrus", John dismantles Beatlemania telling fans "they'll just have to carry on", he's just John now.
The I don't believe rant than is just John doing what he wants Beatle fans to do, move on from your past likes, dislikes, heroes, and beliefs; focus on yourself and the now.
So why did John call this song 'God'? Well, in my humble opinion there are three reasons. First, John feels man makes gods to deal with the everyday pain we all experience. Next, that people, beliefs, and practices we put on a pedestal and call god, are not as important as ourselves. We must make ourselves, and our own actions godly. Finally, that as good as the Beatles were they are not god.
“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us.” -Lennon
*Fun Fact* Besides Lennon, "God" features a very Beatle-y set of musicians. Ringo on drums, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Billy Preston playing that wonderful piano backing.
