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I think Upper Hand is my favorite song of all time.

shetellsherselfshetellsherself Posts: 8,821
in The Porch
It’s a very bold statement and I’ve been waiting to put it out there to make sure it wasn’t just a knee jerk reaction. This song just blows my mind on every listen.  It contains all of the best of PJ. Beautiful slow building layered intro that is in no hurry.  Guitars coming from the distance to the front.  Lyrics that are somehow melancholy, reflective and uplifting at the same time. They speak directly to me at this point in my life.  Exactly what my heart is singing.  Mike with guitar solos that bring me to weeping and heart breaking wide open and make me jump with joy somehow a few moments later.  That little descending guitar riff right after/during “so sorry bout the timing”. Love it. This song is going to have the pit jumping at the end and I can just feel that outro extending into a joyful jam!  Thank you Pearl Jam for all of the moments of joy you’ve given and continue to give to all of us.  

Happy tour kick off day!  
5/3/92 Omaha, NE
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2

Comments

  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,445
    Love it. A very worthy candidate for favorite song. 
    hippiemom = goodness
  • spankyMPspankyMP Posts: 1,854
    Pink Floyd, NAIS, and Yellow Ledbetter all thrown in a blender. What's not to love!
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24
  • P-Town-P-Jam-FanP-Town-P-Jam-Fan Posts: 930
    Love this song.  I heard someone else say the end reminded them of Better Man which I fully agree with.  Love the guitar outro and Ed's singing, my favorite on the album as well.
    Gorge
  • shetellsherselfshetellsherself Posts: 8,821
    It’s like NAIS and present tense had a hot night together while listening to Pink Floyd and their beautiful baby Upper Hand was born 
    5/3/92 Omaha, NE
    6/19/95 Red Rocks
    9/11/98 MSG
    11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
    7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
    10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
    9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
    4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
    4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
    9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
    9/18/21 Asbury Park
    2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
    9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
  • Hawk123Hawk123 Posts: 2,134
    Check out the piano and guitar isolation tracks at the end, I don’t hear the piano at all when I listen but someone pulled it from the Atmos mix. 

  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,445
    shetellsherself said:
    It’s like NAIS and present tense had a hot night together while listening to Pink Floyd and their beautiful baby Upper Hand was born 
    This. So much this. 
    hippiemom = goodness
  • BLACK35BLACK35 Posts: 22,751
    It’s quickly becoming one of my favourites
    2005 - London
    2009 - Toronto
    2010 - Buffalo
    2011 - Toronto 1&2
    2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
    2014 - Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit
    2016 - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Ottawa, Toronto 1
    2018 - Fenway 1&2
    2022 - Hamilton, Toronto
    2023 - Chicago 1&2
    2024 - Las Vegas 1&2
  • CROJAM95CROJAM95 Posts: 9,870
    From the jump it was my favorite, surrounded by other worthy songs on the album

    its one of the best in a long time
  • kramerica4kramerica4 Posts: 284
    Upper Hand is a fantastic song.
    One of the best ones they have ever released.
  • ArriveLikeButterflyzArriveLikeButterflyz Posts: 131
    I can not get enough of this song  :)
    And I think it might be the opener for the tour, can't wait to see vids posted from Vancouver
    Dublin 00, Dublin 06, Madrid 07, Nijmegen 07, Rotterdam 09, Berlin 09, Manchester 09, London 09, Dublin 10, Belfast 10, East Troy PJ20 11 (1 & 2), Amsterdam 12 (1 & 2), L.A. 13 (1 & 2), Amsterdam 14 (1 & 2), Milan 14, Vienna 14, Berlin 14, Stockholm 14, Oslo 14, Boston 16 (1 & 2), London 18 (1 & 2).
  • TM10122TM10122 Posts: 4
    This song hits me. It just makes me want to be a better person. 
  • BALLBOYBALLBOY Posts: 1,030
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    Eastern Creek 95,Syd 1 98,Bris 2 98, Syd 1&2 03, Reading Fest 06, Bris 1 06, London 09, Hyde Park 10, Gold Coast BDO 14 Budapest 22 Krakow 22 Amsterdam 22 St Paul 1&2 23 Chicago 1&2 23 Chicago 1&2 24 New York 1 24 Philly 1&2 24 Boston 1&2 24 Gold Coast 24 Melbourne 1 24 Sydney 1&2 24
  • Niko80Niko80 Posts: 1,600
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    Yeah, I agree. Not hearing Pink Floyd here at all. 
    Upper Hand is a great song, but there are songs on the album I put above it. Great record! 
    I will swallow poison
  • kramerica4kramerica4 Posts: 284
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!
  • shepshep Posts: 5,797
    all the things...

    to me it's in the vein of:

    present tense
    unthought known
    corduroy
    review mirror
    severed hand

    it has quickly become one of my favorites

    kramerica4 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!

    you can claim U2 all you want, but go listen to Meddle or Wish you were here (the albums not the single tracks).... and the intro is so Pink Floyd there is no debate. 

    Houston, Texas... Believe it or not, there are 7 million people here... must be a couple of fans who'd love to see you play.
  • RS65573RS65573 Posts: 2,483
    Niko80 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    Yeah, I agree. Not hearing Pink Floyd here at all. 
    Upper Hand is a great song, but there are songs on the album I put above it. Great record! 
    Love this song but, all I hear is Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City.
  • kmcmanuskmcmanus Posts: 738
    shep said:
    all the things...

    to me it's in the vein of:

    present tense
    unthought known
    corduroy
    review mirror
    severed hand

    it has quickly become one of my favorites

    kramerica4 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!

    you can claim U2 all you want, but go listen to Meddle or Wish you were here (the albums not the single tracks).... and the intro is so Pink Floyd there is no debate. 

    It’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,500
    Sounds really good live!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqe66xnHKy8
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,525
    Doesn't the beginning with Eddies guitar sound like... Can't Keep 

    I WANNA SHAKE
    I WANNA WIND OUT


    Or some other song... hehe
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • GlowGirlGlowGirl Posts: 10,919
    kmcmanus said:
    shep said:
    all the things...

    to me it's in the vein of:

    present tense
    unthought known
    corduroy
    review mirror
    severed hand

    it has quickly become one of my favorites

    kramerica4 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!

    you can claim U2 all you want, but go listen to Meddle or Wish you were here (the albums not the single tracks).... and the intro is so Pink Floyd there is no debate. 

    It’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond
    Yes! I heard Pink Floyd immediately in both this and the interlude after WFS. 
  • droptheleash9droptheleash9 Posts: 1,435
    edited May 6
    It has quickly become one of my PJ favorites. Of course, seeing it live will be an important factor in whether it stays there for good or is just the flavor of the proverbial PJ month song for me.
  • shepshep Posts: 5,797
    kmcmanus said:
    shep said:
    all the things...

    to me it's in the vein of:

    present tense
    unthought known
    corduroy
    review mirror
    severed hand

    it has quickly become one of my favorites

    kramerica4 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!

    you can claim U2 all you want, but go listen to Meddle or Wish you were here (the albums not the single tracks).... and the intro is so Pink Floyd there is no debate. 

    It’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond
    no shit.... Wish you were here track list:

    No.TitleMusicLead vocalsLength
    1."Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I–V)Waters13:33
    2."Welcome to the Machine"WatersGilmour7:25
    Total length:20:58
    Side two
    No.TitleMusicLead vocalsLength
    1."Have a Cigar"WatersRoy Harper5:08
    2."Wish You Were Here"
    • Waters
    • Gilmour
    		Gilmour5:35
    3."Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts VI–IX)


    Houston, Texas... Believe it or not, there are 7 million people here... must be a couple of fans who'd love to see you play.
  • incognitonyincognitony Posts: 149
    It and Scared of Fear are the ones that are sticking inside my head.
  • kmcmanuskmcmanus Posts: 738
    shep said:
    kmcmanus said:
    shep said:
    all the things...

    to me it's in the vein of:

    present tense
    unthought known
    corduroy
    review mirror
    severed hand

    it has quickly become one of my favorites

    kramerica4 said:
    BALLBOY said:
    Alot of people are saying it is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd but to me the intro is more like a mixture of U2 & Soundgarden. 
    The intro is 100% U2!

    you can claim U2 all you want, but go listen to Meddle or Wish you were here (the albums not the single tracks).... and the intro is so Pink Floyd there is no debate. 

    It’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond
    no shit.... Wish you were here track list:

    No.TitleMusicLead vocalsLength
    1."Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I–V)Waters13:33
    2."Welcome to the Machine"WatersGilmour7:25
    Total length:20:58
    Side two
    No.TitleMusicLead vocalsLength
    1."Have a Cigar"WatersRoy Harper5:08
    2."Wish You Were Here"
    • Waters
    • Gilmour
    		Gilmour5:35
    3."Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts VI–IX)


    Yeah I’m agreeing with you dude
  • dreamweaverdreamweaver Posts: 719
    After 2nd week with the album, my favorite track. It didn't start that way; first I was drawn to Won't Tell, Setting Sun, etc. But, Upper Hand has pulled me in!! Like a lonely ship on the horizon...
    Meadowlands, MSG 1, MSG 2 - '98
    Jones Beach NY 1 + 3 - '00
    MSG 1 + 2 - '03
    Boston Garden - '04
    Montreal - '05
    Boston Garden 1, Meadowlands 1 + 2 - '06
    Mansfield 1 - '08
    (EV solo) Boston 1 - '08
    Chicago 1 - '09
    MSG -'10
    Brooklyn 1+2 - '13
    Central Park - '15
    MSG - '16
    Fenway - '16
    Wrigley - '16
    (RRHOF) Brooklyn - '17
    Fenway - '18
    MSG - '22
    MSG 1 - '24
  • KN219077KN219077 Posts: 1,116
    Maybe best song since riot act, have to give it time but it absolutely sounds like it could have been off of binaural and that’s a compliment 
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