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Sirens the Powerballade

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    klusterfukklusterfuk Posts: 1,411
    the whole problem with people is that need to put labels..
    so,talking about Powerballade their mind goes to other pop or whatever bands and they think their pearl jam isnt "cool" by having this song in their catalogue..

    things are simple..

    i dont give a flying fuck what "type of song you can call Sirens..

    the song ,the lyrics and the music is a masterpiece IMO and most of all,talks to my fuckin soul...

    and i dont need anything more than that..thats the limit for me..the song to talks to my soul..

    and you know whats the 2 most common words the last 2 days i see people who like the song saying here and at facebook about Sirens?

    1."i love it"..no like it..or i dig it,its cool,..etc..BUT "I LOVE IT"
    2."its Beautiful"...
    I gotta agree with ya there Dimi.
    The future's paved with better days

    Alpine Valley Resort is etched in my brain!!!


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    dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,413
    and something last..

    other bands ..that have Powerballads in their catalogue..and people compare with them..

    .they missing something..


    Eddie fuckin Vedder and Mike God McCready...

    cos those 2 guys,when this song will be played live,will prove you wrong how brilliant is this song..

    musically and lyrically the song is Brilliant..

    "CHEESE SONG"????


    bring my Feta or Gouda any day bitch!!!
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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    Comeback was way more of a Power Ballad than Sirens IMO. What I think throws people off with Sirens is that it's fairly modern sounding, in it's production and it's country like acoustic guitar and piano keys. It's a sound Pearl Jam has never used before.

    Having said that I really really love this song. The first time I heard it I didn't like the first half of the song as much as I loved the second half of the song, but by listen 4 I was all in on this song. It's really moving for both loves had and loves lost. It's a song that many people can relate to.

    Lastly I remember when Metallica came out with Nothing Else Matters and Metallica fans everywhere cried they were now cheesy 80's groups. Now that is one of there most popular songs amongst fans and non fans alike. Departures in sound take time but if the song is good enough (and I think Sirens is) most fans will come around.
    10/31/2000 (****)
    6/7/2003 (***1/2)
    7/9/2006 (****1/2)
    7/13/2006 (**** )
    4/10/2008 EV Solo (****1/2)
    6/25/2008 MSG II (*****)
    10/1/2009 LA II (****)
    10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
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    dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,413
    It's really moving for both loves had and loves lost.
    i think this comment says it all..thank you for that..
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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    october22 wrote:
    I'm always impressed at the lengths some people here will go to to convince themselves that even Pearl Jam's worst is somehow brilliant. That's not meant to offend anyone here. It's just an observation. Honestly, I wish I was like you sometimes. I wish this song didn't make me nauseous and embarrassed but it does. It is a total "powerballade" or whatever word you want to call it so long as that word is used in the pejorative. I don't believe for one second any of you would get even half way through this song if you heard it on the radio and didn't know who sang it. I think you're lying to yourselves, I really do.

    Actually this is, maybe unintended, quite insulting. It works from the premises that the people who like the song are delusional and people who don't are "objective". Whatever the hell that means. Let me post this hypothethical question, that I also posted somewhere else: Why is it that we need to defend ourselves if we like a song, but not liking a song is equated by not being blindsided? Isn't this a very interesting circular argument?

    Yeah.
    I was actually thinking about the "power ballad" thing in my head this morning re-listening to the song (3rd listen now?) trying to frame my thoughts on "Sirens".

    To me, and where the comparison to "power ballad" immediately stops is at the commercial angle. By that I mean, "power ballad" was something an otherwise "heavy" 80's band released to get mainstream appeal. In other words, I think the boys are making a somewhat calculated move to get air play and draw in the general population.

    Thats where it stops though.
    As far as the actual song structure, although it clearly is a ballad, it has a much more 2000's-Alt-Indie oddness to it. I do also get the Pink Floyd in the darkness, the production, and sonic layering.

    I agree. Poweballads were known for their strong "choruses" which this song in structure is lacking. The song is more subdued and subtle than that. You have really have to dig and take it in to grasp the meaning. I am not sure if PJ aimed for commercial success with this, or that some critic created this label that somehow stucked. (Just like "cheese".) Either way this is not - because of its subtelty, and the way the song is mostly carried by the vocal melody and line - a "typical" top 40 rock song. It doesn't even have the build up that some PJ songs have, that may be categorized with this label. ATW is more powerballad than this.

    That said, I agree with Dimitris. Labels don't mean a thing. But the truth this, that song is being picked apart, scrutinized because of it so-called commercial appeal.

    Regarding the theme of the song I agree with slightofJeff:
    Kat wrote:
    I also think there are a whole lot of people on this board (and, in the world, I guess) who hear the word "love" in a song and automatically assume it's a "cheesy love song."

    Sirens is not a love song. At least, not totally.

    This more than just a simple love song. It is about love in the face of chaos, death and catastrophy and therefore more about the fragility of love than love itself. In this sense I start to see a common theme on the songs we heard; the theme of self-realization. (Maybe this is why MYM was the first single?)

    In short; this starts to become an album, just like Vitalogy,Yield, Binaural and No Code, where an overarching theme is present.
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    pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,244
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.
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    Sirens is not a power ballad, its a mediocre song from a band that once was the greatest, most mysterious, innovative band around......

    These are true power ballads, and Sirens can't hold a candle to any of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1IVyXBGjM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRfYDP5P28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4
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    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    Hahahahha, I think I'm Open, Immortality, Sometimes, Sleight of Hand, Parting Ways are all pretty introspective however...
  • Options
    Sirens is not a power ballad, its a mediocre song from a band that once was the greatest, most mysterious, innovative band around......

    These are true power ballads, and Sirens can't hold a candle to any of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1IVyXBGjM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRfYDP5P28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

    I love sarcasm...
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    Sirens is not a power ballad, its a mediocre song from a band that once was the greatest, most mysterious, innovative band around......

    These are true power ballads, and Sirens can't hold a candle to any of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1IVyXBGjM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRfYDP5P28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

    I love sarcasm...

    Afraid not......
  • Options
    Sirens is not a power ballad, its a mediocre song from a band that once was the greatest, most mysterious, innovative band around......

    These are true power ballads, and Sirens can't hold a candle to any of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1IVyXBGjM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRfYDP5P28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

    I love sarcasm...

    Afraid not......
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    dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,413
    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.
    oh yeah
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Options
    Sirens is not a power ballad, its a mediocre song from a band that once was the greatest, most mysterious, innovative band around......

    These are true power ballads, and Sirens can't hold a candle to any of them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1IVyXBGjM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbRfYDP5P28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

    I love sarcasm...

    Afraid not......

    Comparing any song to Motley Crue's Home Sweet Home is loosing all credibility... C'mon. So you are stating Home Sweet Home is a better song? It is fine by me. It takes all flavours, but I cannot take this seriously, sorry.
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    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    THIS!! I love the fact that his ladies have done this to him....his family obviously makes him happy/sappy/whatever....Thanks J O H... :-)
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
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    dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,413
    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    THIS!! I love the fact that his ladies have done this to him....his family obviously makes him happy/sappy/whatever....Thanks J O H... :-)
    i know you are at that age,that should know.,.its always the ladies..always the women.... :P
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Options
    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    THIS!! I love the fact that his ladies have done this to him....his family obviously makes him happy/sappy/whatever....Thanks J O H... :-)
    i know you are at that age,that should know.,.its always the ladies..always the women.... :P

    Women are Sirens :shh: ... ;)
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    pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,244
    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    Hahahahha, I think I'm Open, Immortality, Sometimes, Sleight of Hand, Parting Ways are all pretty introspective however...

    true but I don't think the general theme of those albums were about being introspective about love and life as this album clearly seems to be heading.

    and Home Sweet Home, Love Bites and Every Rose Has It's Thorn are great songs. Ignore the picture of who might be singing those and process the songs themselves. I dig those 3 songs too.
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    PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,683
    I think at first it is pretty easy to discount Sirens as a "power ballad" because tonally it is very similar. However, that's pretty much where the comparison ends. Lyrically, Sirens is pretty dividing because of the content. I think it comes down to the listener being able to relate to the lyrics being sung. If you can't relate, you might think, ok this is cheesy... if you can relate then I think it comes off wonderfully.
    I disagree. I can totally relate to the lyrics and the meaning. My problems lies only in the arrangement.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
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    pjhawks wrote:
    pjhawks wrote:
    we had angry Ed (1990s)
    then political Ed (2000s)
    and now introspective about love and life Ed...and in all 3 iterations the man fucking nails it.

    label it whatever you like, but I dig it.

    Hahahahha, I think I'm Open, Immortality, Sometimes, Sleight of Hand, Parting Ways are all pretty introspective however...

    true but I don't think the general theme of those albums were about being introspective about love and life as this album clearly seems to be heading.

    and Home Sweet Home, Love Bites and Every Rose Has It's Thorn are great songs. Ignore the picture of who might be singing those and process the songs themselves. I dig those 3 songs too.

    Hey, I grew up with these songs. Even had a bottle of hairspray. But they cannot be compared with the fragility of Sirens. Sorry. Sirens is more than just about love. Where the songs above are downright love songs.

    Ps: I left my hairspray bottle a long time ago.
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    pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,244
    Hey, I grew up with these songs. Even had a bottle of hairspray. But they cannot be compared with the fragility of Sirens. Sorry. Sirens is more than just about love. Where the songs above are downright love songs.

    Ps: I left my hairspray bottle a long time ago.

    agree 100%. wasn't trying to compare those songs. just saw those mentioned and wanted to say I like those songs.
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    pjhawks wrote:
    Hey, I grew up with these songs. Even had a bottle of hairspray. But they cannot be compared with the fragility of Sirens. Sorry. Sirens is more than just about love. Where the songs above are downright love songs.

    Ps: I left my hairspray bottle a long time ago.

    agree 100%. wasn't trying to compare those songs. just saw those mentioned and wanted to say I like those songs.

    I like Every Rose, and I like Home Sweet Home because I had my first kiss on that song... But Love Bites - aaahhh, what the hell was I thinking back then...

    It amazes me, no one mentioned White Lion of Skid Row yet.
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