Speed of Sound Appreciation Thread

thefin190
thefin190 Posts: 918
edited April 2011 in The Porch
The song, Speed of Sound, is arguably one of the most critically panned song of Pearl Jam's latest smash hit, "Backspacer". But I beg to differ. I recently listened to the acoustic demo of the song while my iPod was on shuffle, and I realized how well crafted the song is. The lyrics, melody, everything.

Personally, I think that the album version of the song sounds like a clusterfuck of instruments on first listen, but it only gets better the more that one listens to it. I recommend giving those who dislike or skip Speed of Sound to give it one more try (no pun intended). Although I think that the demo version is much better (could've fit in Into the Wild), but both versions are very good.

I hope that Ed plays it in Seattle in July!
Member Number: 437xxx

Pearl Jam:
Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Sep 21, 2009
Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC - Sep 25, 2011
Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Dec 6, 2013

Eddie Vedder Solo:
Benaroya Hall - Seattle, WA - Jul 15, 2011
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Comments

  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    Wasn't digging this song until Hartford last year. Now I love this song.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIM41EbHbgc
    Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
    "Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
  • thefin190
    thefin190 Posts: 918
    Newch91 wrote:
    Wasn't digging this song until Hartford last year. Now I love this song.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIM41EbHbgc

    He really does nail it in this version. They've only played it three times in total, twice in Philly. I hope that they don't decide to bury the song.
    Member Number: 437xxx

    Pearl Jam:
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Sep 21, 2009
    Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC - Sep 25, 2011
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Dec 6, 2013

    Eddie Vedder Solo:
    Benaroya Hall - Seattle, WA - Jul 15, 2011
  • washedinblack91
    washedinblack91 Posts: 3,079
    i've always loved that song. and cropduster. never understood the hatred for it. i'd rather listen to it than a lot of people's favorites like down or unthought known
    PJ: 9/29/04, 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/30/08, 10/30/09, 10/31/09, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/18/13, 8/7/16
    eV: 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 6/21/11
    SG: 10/4/08<-- MET STONE!!!
  • thefin190
    thefin190 Posts: 918
    Bump.

    Has anyone else seen the connection between this song and Rearviewmirror?

    RVM - "Tried to endure what I could not forgive. Yeah."

    Speed of Sound - "Can I forgive what I cannot forget and live a lie? I could give it one more try"

    Could've Eddie possibly have been thinking back to the same moments when writing the lyrics to both of these songs?
    Member Number: 437xxx

    Pearl Jam:
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Sep 21, 2009
    Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC - Sep 25, 2011
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Dec 6, 2013

    Eddie Vedder Solo:
    Benaroya Hall - Seattle, WA - Jul 15, 2011
  • thefixer9
    thefixer9 Posts: 9,376
    I have always loved this song! Great music and fantastic lyrics: "A whisper in the dark, is that you or just my thoughts." I actually prefer the album version over the demo version, i like the music better on the album version.
    Tres Mts- 3/16/2011
    Eddie Vedder- 7/16/11
    Brad- 4/21/12 (RSD Performance), 4/27/12, 8/10/12
    Flight To Mars- 5/23/12
    RNDM- 11/27/12

    PEARL JAM- 12/6/13 I have finally seen Pearl Jam live!
  • Little Italy
    Little Italy Rochester, NY Posts: 404
    Under rated and under appreciated. I remember alot of people bashing this song when it came out, but in my opinion it was one of Backspacers highlights. Its very well produced......
    "he who forgets-will be destined to remember"
  • The Waiting Trophy Man
    The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    Love it
    Another habit says it's in love with you
    Another habit says its long overdue
    Another habit like an unwanted friend
    I'm so happy with my righteous self
  • thefin190
    thefin190 Posts: 918
    Little Italy wrote:
    Under rated and under appreciated. I remember alot of people bashing this song when it came out, but in my opinion it was one of Backspacers highlights. Its very well produced......
    That's what I thought. I didn't understand all of the hatred for it.
    Member Number: 437xxx

    Pearl Jam:
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Sep 21, 2009
    Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC - Sep 25, 2011
    Key Arena - Seattle, WA - Dec 6, 2013

    Eddie Vedder Solo:
    Benaroya Hall - Seattle, WA - Jul 15, 2011
  • themessenger
    themessenger Dallas Posts: 1,320
    Yeah I was surprised to read about people disliking it too. The lyrics mean a lot to me and I love this song!
  • love-boat-captain
    love-boat-captain Essex. UK Posts: 476
    love it, it's a great song, beautiful, right up there for me!!

    i think people are scared of it, lol
    London 29-10-96, London 29/30-5-00, London 20-4-06, Reading 27-8-06, London 18-6-07, London 11-8-09, London 18-8-09, London 25-6-10, Berlin 30-6-10 / PJ20 3/4-9-11, Manchester 20-6-12, Amsterdam 26/27-6-12, EV-London 30/31-7-12, EV-Orlando 27-11-12
  • Gardenparty
    Gardenparty Posts: 1,910
    Ed's backing vocals are so powerful on this one.

    Might be my favorite song on Backspacer
    “I know this song so well, I can smoke a cigarette, have a drink, brush my teeth, take a shit, and mow the lawn while singing it. But I'll only be doing a couple of those things during this version.”
  • TJ25487
    TJ25487 Posts: 1,509
    I too really like SOS. I find that all the layers of instruments give it a spacey atomospheric sound that it needs otherwise its another slow acoustic ballad which there is already plenty of on Backspacer.
  • Spags
    Spags Leigh-on-Sea, UK Posts: 3,077
    Love it too and agree its has a spacey feel, especially with them lazor sounds in it...all ironic as there is no sound in space...still, wicked track!
    Nature drunk and High
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,376
    I love Speed of Sound!
    That Hartford version is great, but I still love the acoustic "demo" the best! Amazing song!!
  • Vedder_Girl77
    Vedder_Girl77 Posts: 4,344
    I absolutely love this song too! I could never understand why so many people dislike it.

    I've been lucky to hear it live 3 times!
    8/29/00, 7/3/03, 5/24/06,6/28/08 & 6/30/08, 10/9/09,10/28/09, 10/30/09 & 10/31/09, 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10 & 5/21/10, 10/23/10 & 10/24/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 9/11/11, 9/12/11, 9/23/11, 9/22/12, 9/30/12, 7/16/13, 7/19/13
  • samjam
    samjam New York Posts: 9,283
    Don't understand the dislike either! Beautiful lyrics, beautifully sung. Although I do prefer the demo version/solo versions, I also love the studio version.
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
    ~not a dude~
    2010: MSGx2
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  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,649
    Loved the demo.

    Loved it live in Hartford.

    Not crazy about the album version. I do wonder if the demo had never surfaced would my opinion of the album version be different? No way to know.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • 50 Foot Roman
    50 Foot Roman Posts: 242
    One of my new favorites from the guys! I was lucky enough to hear it once live, but I agree with many that the demo version is incredible. This song is Ed at his best IMO. Glad it finally got an appreciation thread! :D
  • cd21miller
    cd21miller Columbia, MO Posts: 302
    another example of EV being way ahead of the game.

    great song...either version.
  • Leezestarr313
    Leezestarr313 Temple of the cat Posts: 14,457
    I have a lot of love for this song, especially for the demo version :D
    Please, Pearl Jam, consider a Benaroya Hall vinyl reissue! http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/148993/please-pearl-jam-consider-a-vinyl-benaroya-hall-re-issue


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