Home› The Porch

who thinks Johnny Guitar was not a very good song?

Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
edited August 2013 in The Porch
not saying it's bad but I ranked it #11 out of 11 songs on Backspacer, it's all right but nothing special just an okay song in my estimation, all opinions wanted
Post edited by Unknown User on
«134567

Comments

  • rpech'erpech'e Posts: 1,106
    I always skip it :yawn:
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    rpech'e wrote:
    I always skip it :yawn:
    good I thought I was the only one
  • betterday52betterday52 Posts: 204
    I skip it too. at best it's a homage to one band member favorite musican.
    our future is paved with better days

    EV Austin Nov 9 &11 2012
    EPIC Wrigley 7/19/2013 who could ever forget that date :-) my first PJ
    Dallas 11/15/2013
    OKC 11/16/2013
    Seattle 2 hopefully?!
  • drummerboy_73drummerboy_73 Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,011
    Well, for a different opinion, I love it - it's in my top 3 from the album, along with Unthought Known and Got Some. Probably has to do with the off-time drum groove and it's just great fun to play along to. Same reason I love songs like "Evacuation" which doesn't seem to be a popular choice around here either.
    Osaka, Japan (2/21/95), San Diego (7/10/98), Las Vegas (10/22/00), San Diego (10/25/00), Las Vegas (6/6/03), Las Vegas (7/6/06), Los Angeles (7/9/06), VH1 Rock Honors (7/12/08), Ed Solo (7/8/11), Ed Solo (11/1/12), Los Angeles (11/23/13)
  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,431
    On a mostly pretty boring album, I think this one sticks out in a positive way. Think PJ brought something fresh and cool compared to their usual forays into punkier territory.
  • veddertownveddertown Scotland Posts: 5,260
    I actually love Johnny Guitar. It has that very 70's sounding riff similar to the way Unemployable does. It's very Ace Frehley I think and although it's not a classic it's great fun to hear live and gets you jumping around. I prefer it to the singles from the album along with The End and Force Of Nature. I don't think the album has enough quality to rate anything as a classic but JG is really underrated for me.
    Like a book among the many on a shelf...

    Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
    Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    I love Johnny Guitar - great live song, and in my top five on the album. Amongst the Waves is probably my least favorite.
    Download the unofficial <a href="http://bit.ly/PJStatTracker">Pearl Jam Stat Tracker</a> app for iPhone/iPad. It's <em>FREE.</em>

    PM me with any comments or suggestions for the app - or weigh in <a href="http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=167611
    ">here</a>.
    or
    <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pjstattracker">Join the discussion on facebook</a>

  • nukebootnukeboot Posts: 1,465
    PJStatTracker wrote:
    I love Johnny Guitar - great live song, and in my top five on the album. Amongst the Waves is probably my least favorite.

    We have exactly opposite tastes, which is fine.
    EdSurfingSig_zpsgmyltito.jpg
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me...
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    nukeboot wrote:
    PJStatTracker wrote:
    I love Johnny Guitar - great live song, and in my top five on the album. Amongst the Waves is probably my least favorite.

    We have exactly opposite tastes, which is fine.

    i'm comfortable with it
    Download the unofficial <a href="http://bit.ly/PJStatTracker">Pearl Jam Stat Tracker</a> app for iPhone/iPad. It's <em>FREE.</em>

    PM me with any comments or suggestions for the app - or weigh in <a href="http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=167611
    ">here</a>.
    or
    <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pjstattracker">Join the discussion on facebook</a>

  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    no one in the middle on this one either love or hate, lol
  • CAVSTARR313CAVSTARR313 Posts: 8,756
    I like it.. gives the album some teeth..
    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
    Abrn Hlls '98 - Clarkston 2 '03 - Grd Rpds '06 - Abrn Hlls '06 - Clvd '10 - PJ20 - Berlin 1+2 '12 - Wrigley '13 - Pitt '13- buff '13- Philly 1+2 '13 - Seattle '13
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Caveeze wrote:
    I like it.. gives the album some teeth..
    I thought Got Some was that song, a song with a clear meaning and purpose to the point and well constructed
  • CAVSTARR313CAVSTARR313 Posts: 8,756
    Big Bank Hank wrote:
    Caveeze wrote:
    I like it.. gives the album some teeth..
    I thought Got Some was that song, a song with a clear meaning and purpose to the point and well constructed
    Johnny Guitar has a pretty clear meaning!! extremely clear, actually..

    and, It is very well constructed.. out of teh box and great..
    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
    Abrn Hlls '98 - Clarkston 2 '03 - Grd Rpds '06 - Abrn Hlls '06 - Clvd '10 - PJ20 - Berlin 1+2 '12 - Wrigley '13 - Pitt '13- buff '13- Philly 1+2 '13 - Seattle '13
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    edited June 2012
    I just think it is lyrically not Eddie's finest work


    Johnny Guitar wasn't staring at me
    Riding on 3 wheels, a woman on his knee
    With a leg under the red dress I wish I could see
    Farther? the love of lingering
    Now Johnny he be having lots of women
    Oh the reason he'd be smiling known to him

    On the left the girl in red so innocent
    Never sheds her clothes even when she goes to bed
    Yeah on top the girl responsible for original sin
    Can't help but wonder where and who she is
    Oh and the memory's always getting clearer
    First thirty years and more I've loved her so
    But now I need to know why she's with him
    And I sleep with the light on in case she comes
    And I sleep with the light on in case she...

    Recently as I was waiting on a dream
    She came to visit lost and lonely me
    Oh she leaned over the bed and with the lips above my head
    She asked if I had seen her Johnny
    Oh and I hide my disappointment cause for years I have been hoping
    Oh yeah I have been hoping that when she came that she would come for me

    Hey... hey...

    I'll hide my disappointment cause for years I have been hoping
    That when she came she'd be coming just for me...
    I'll hide my disappointment cause for years I have been hoping
    That when she came she'd be coming just for me... ah yeah!

    Aw yeah!
    Aw yeah!
    Hoo...

    More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/pearl_jam/#share
    Post edited by Big Bank Hank on
  • LostdogsinthegardenLostdogsinthegarden Posts: 844
    I love the song, one of the best on the album. It has a unique sound that I wouldn't mind the band returning to in the future. Certainly a delight to hear live.
  • CAVSTARR313CAVSTARR313 Posts: 8,756
    Big Bank Hank wrote:
    I just think it is lyrically not Eddie's finest work


    really? he paints a very clear picture for the listener.. Its not nearly as ambiguous or vague as others..

    I am not here to argue.. I just really like that song.. :D
    None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
    Abrn Hlls '98 - Clarkston 2 '03 - Grd Rpds '06 - Abrn Hlls '06 - Clvd '10 - PJ20 - Berlin 1+2 '12 - Wrigley '13 - Pitt '13- buff '13- Philly 1+2 '13 - Seattle '13
  • GD274660GD274660 Posts: 514
    Big Bank Hank wrote:
    I just think it is lyrically not Eddie's finest work

    First off, those lyrics are wrong. Secondly, two of my favorite lyrics ever:

    "With a leg under a red dress I wish I could see
    Further north a warmth alive & lingering"

    and

    "Recently as I was waiting on a dream
    She came to visit lost & lonely me
    She leaned over the bed & with her lips above my head
    She asked if I had seen her Johnny
    Oh and I hide my disappointment
    Cause for years I had been hoping
    Oh yeh how I had been hoping
    That when she came, she would come for me"

    Favorite song on the cd.
    San Jose 10/93, San Francisco 6/95, San Jose 11/95, St Louis 4/03, Columbus 5/10, MSGII 5/21/2010, Alpine Valley 09/03/2011 and 09/04/2011
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    well I hope he plays it for you when you are in attendance
  • SomethingCreativeSomethingCreative Kazoo, MI Posts: 3,402
    DewieCox wrote:
    On a mostly pretty boring album, I think this one sticks out in a positive way. Think PJ brought something fresh and cool compared to their usual forays into punkier territory.

    this.

    Yeah I hated it at first... but over time I came to the same conclusion
    "Well, I think this band is incapable of sucking."
    -my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
  • NoWayNoWay St. Louis Posts: 347
    Didn't like it much at first. Love it now. Funny how that happens.
    St. Louis - 7/27/92, 4/22/03, 10/5/04, 5/4/10, 7/1/11 (EV), 10/3/14
    Chicago - 5/17/06, 8/21/08 (EV), 8/23/09, 7/19/13, 8/20/16
    Champaign - 4/23/03
    East Troy - 9/3/11, 9/4/11
    Kansas City - 5/3/10
    Las Vegas - 6/6/03
    Memphis - 6/20/09 (EV)
    Moline - 10/17/14
    Oklahoma City - 11/16/13
  • ceskaceska New York Posts: 1,129
    Good music, ncec idea, just a hard song to get into as it's not easy to sing along with like most all the rest of PJ songs.
  • Seahawksean80Seahawksean80 Raleigh, NC Posts: 9
    PJStatTracker wrote:
    I love Johnny Guitar - great live song, and in my top five on the album. Amongst the Waves is probably my least favorite.

    I started playing Amongst the Waves today and listened to it a bunch and realized it's a really good song. Different tuning but deep meaning to it. And yes, I also really like Johnny Guitar. I was kind of going thru a similar situation as interpreted in the song at the time so that may have something to do with it.
    Boston II '94, Charlotte '96, Hartford '96, Raleigh '98, Columbia, MD '98, Greensboro, NC '00, Raleigh '03, Denver I '06, Denver II '06, Columbia, SC '08, Bristow, VA '10, Los Angeles I '13, Los Angeles II '13, Amsterdam I '14, NYC Central Park '15, Greenville, SC '16, Hampton '16, Columbia, SC '16, Wrigley I '16, Wrigley II '16
  • WildsWilds Posts: 4,329
    Big Bank Hank wrote:
    I just think it is lyrically not Eddie's finest work


    Johnny Guitar Watson staring at me

    More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/pearl_jam/#share
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    Seahawksean80 wrote:
    PJStatTracker wrote:
    I love Johnny Guitar - great live song, and in my top five on the album. Amongst the Waves is probably my least favorite.

    I started playing Amongst the Waves today and listened to it a bunch and realized it's a really good song. Different tuning but deep meaning to it. And yes, I also really like Johnny Guitar. I was kind of going thru a similar situation as interpreted in the song at the time so that may have something to do with it.

    well, it's not say that I dislike Amongst The Waves, just my least favorite. I think it's the first PJ song I've heard where I felt like they were actively trying to write a big anthem with a soaring chorus. Feels forced to me.

    When I first heard Johnny Guitar, I really didn't like it. Thought it was...well...weird. Now I love it. It's definitely different and interesting, but I really dig it.
    Download the unofficial <a href="http://bit.ly/PJStatTracker">Pearl Jam Stat Tracker</a> app for iPhone/iPad. It's <em>FREE.</em>

    PM me with any comments or suggestions for the app - or weigh in <a href="http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=167611
    ">here</a>.
    or
    <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pjstattracker">Join the discussion on facebook</a>

  • martin gmartin g Posts: 105
    Didnt like it when the album came out and still dont like it now!! the only PJ song on any album i always skip!!
    London 29/05/00, Dublin 23/08/06, London 18/06/07, London 18/08/09, Manchester 21/06/12, EV London 30/07/12, Milton Keynes 11,07,2014
  • Meg8686Meg8686 Posts: 1,234
    Maybe your not playing it loud enough :) Good Summer tune.
    Sometimes I speak of nothing at all.
  • mysticweedmysticweed Posts: 3,710
    rpech'e wrote:
    I always skip it :yawn:

    ditto
    no love for jg here
    fuck 'em if they can't take a joke

    "what a long, strange trip it's been"
  • RW8297RW8297 Posts: 1,616
    I skip Backspacer,.. :lol::lol::lol:
  • deserteddotsedeserteddotse Posts: 1,276
    Great tune from a mediocre album...
    Give a monkey a brain and he'll swear he's the center of the Universe...
  • TroubledSoulTroubledSoul Posts: 1,369
    johnny guitar is a horrid song. one of pearl jam's worst songs they've ever written... IMO (now I've said IMO I can't get flamed... clever).

    ok the intro maybe promises something.. then ed just jumps in ranting in that first line..

    then it gets to "Now Johnny he be having lots of women.. oh the reason he'd be smiling known to him".. that line.. ok all the lines.. there's no melody anywhere, it's rushed, it's disjointed. there isn't even a decent mike solo that can try and redeem it.

    and what's with that crap rap interlude at the 1:03 mark?.. into that shit bridge about the light on.

    "I'll hide my disappointment cause for years I have been hoping"
    interesting line in the context of the discussion of pearl jam's recent works, although i haven't hidden my disappointment in this song.
    Yeh I've seen Pearl Jam, too. But I can't remember the dates.
Sign In or Register to comment.