Anyone else have a hard time with Sirens?

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Comments

  • scratched vinyl
    scratched vinyl Posts: 742
    Don't think you said anything that deserving to be flamed over, but I love the song. I'm not a huge ballad guy, but I get excited every time Sirens starts. The opening lyrics are just setting the stage for his mind set when he was writing the song, in my opinion, of the perceived dangers that come with hearing sirens. They're like character development in a movie :ugeek:
  • deserteddotse
    deserteddotse Posts: 1,276
    After 1 listen: meh...
    After 10 listen: so-so, not too bad...
    After 50 listen: boring...
    Give a monkey a brain and he'll swear he's the center of the Universe...
  • thefixer9
    thefixer9 Posts: 9,376
    The "I hear the Sirens" part of the song is my least favorite, but I still love the song.
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  • Pushin Forward Back
    Pushin Forward Back Posts: 890
    the song is so cheesey it makes me cringe. skip it on the album all the time.

    go to get beer at shows when they play it.
  • drlovemonkey
    drlovemonkey Posts: 394
    cwar077 wrote:
    JG108535 wrote:
    ..The song to me is about the fear of death and being separated from the people you love. It's a huge fear of mine too and Eddie expressed it in a way that when I really focus on the song it can actually tear me up and make me sad, uncomfortable, but ultimately thankful for life...as temporary as this life may be.

    While I have loved many many pearl jam songs in my time, sirens moved me in a way that is difficult to describe. Like while I love the build and the melody and the instruments, it's the feeling in myself that it conjures that i keep coming back to.

    This sums it up for me pretty well.
    For some strange reason I associate Sirens with the series finale of Dexter. The song came out a few days before the finale. Didn't love it at first, but by the weekend I couldn't stop listening to it. Fast forward to Sunday night, and when Dexter was lowering Deb's body into the water, all I could think off was Sirens should be playing in the background. Even now, everytime I hear Sirens, at some point during the song, my mind flashes to that scene.

    ...and just for the record, I hated the Dexter finale. Like Sirens, very polarizing among the fan base.
  • rival.
    rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    smanchac1 wrote:
    I enjoy sirens...

    The only part that bugs me is the solo.

    this.

    feels very out of place and the song doesn't need it.
  • IamTom
    IamTom Posts: 1,138
    I did. Massively.

    It's grown on me and now I love it and can't wait to here it live.
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  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    I think its an alright song. I find myself singing it sometimes and I dont know why.
    I think its a bit too long, wordy, and repetitive though.
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  • silentJ
    silentJ Columbus, OH Posts: 199
    Nope. Love it.
  • rey
    rey Monmouth County, NJ Posts: 303
    deserteddotse wrote:
    After 1 listen: meh...
    After 10 listen: so-so, not too bad...
    After 50 listen: boring...

    You thought it was meh/so-so and still gave it 50 listens?
  • RoughMix
    RoughMix back of a lorry Posts: 385
    Skip this song every time.
    The lyrics:
    "For every choice mistake I've made
    it's not my plan
    to send you in the arms of another man.
    And if you choose to stay,
    I'll wait,I'll understand."

    If I am reading this correctly...he is going to wait
    and understand if his woman leaves for another guy?
    Kinda wimpy.
    If she leaves for another man, whatever the reason.Time to move on.
    Also,the solo with the reverb.Can't do it.
    "They don't give a shit Keith Moon is dead,
    is that exactly what I thought I read."
  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    RoughMix wrote:
    Skip this song every time.
    The lyrics:
    "For every choice mistake I've made
    it's not my plan
    to send you in the arms of another man.
    And if you choose to stay,
    I'll wait,I'll understand."

    If I am reading this correctly...he is going to wait
    and understand if his woman leaves for another guy?
    Kinda wimpy.
    If she leaves for another man, whatever the reason.Time to move on.
    Also,the solo with the reverb.Can't do it.

    I hear that as if he dies, she has a choice to either go to another man, or to "stay committed" to her now lost lover who is waiting for her on the other side.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • aurynsdad
    aurynsdad Posts: 863
    dlymnfld wrote:
    I hear what your saying saying. The song is an enigma. The first time I heard it I immediately thought of Bon Jovi and was not that impressed. My initial response was "cheese". Mind you I was a teenager in the 80's and saw Bon Jovi several times and they were the biggest band in the world during that time. But after listening to the lyrics, especially "It's a fragile thing, this life we lead. If I think to much I can get overwhelmed by the grace. By which we live our lives with death over our shoulders", I realized this song was far much deeper than a 1980 power ballad. Then I watched Steven Gleason's reaction to the song (he must be extremely impressed by the song as he chose it as the opener for the New Orleans show and correct me if I am wrong but it's been the only other non Pendulum opener except for Long Road) and I loved the song even more. I was at first perplexed on how a song with such powerful lyrics could have such a strange and "cheesy" arrangement then I realized Obrien's method to his madness. With this song they can hook two types of people. The massed who enjoy the song for the poppy ballad but also the people who get swept up in the powerful lyrics like me and Gleason. That being said, yeah I love the song.

    I had the exact same experience with this song, including the same lyric that nailed it for me. It's a wonderful enigma of a song, because it is both "too accessible" and "too inaccessible" at the same time, at least superficially. I liken it to LBC and Inside Job in terms of arrangement experimentation. I also love the Pink Floyd influence. Gonna have to give November Rain a listen, I guess. ...EDIT I don't understand the November Rain solo comparison at all. The only possible similarity I hear is that both are heavily David Gilmour influenced.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • deserteddotse
    deserteddotse Posts: 1,276
    rey wrote:
    deserteddotse wrote:
    After 1 listen: meh...
    After 10 listen: so-so, not too bad...
    After 50 listen: boring...

    You thought it was meh/so-so and still gave it 50 listens?

    Approx yes... Haven't skipped it yet, but as I said, it's not growing on me. It's boring...
    Give a monkey a brain and he'll swear he's the center of the Universe...
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,029
    Yeah, I have struggled with the song... I have grown to appreciate it a fair bit, but it wasn't a smooth route to liking it, which isn't really as it should be, so that says something about the song I think.... I feel that the song is rather confused, as though it isn't quite sure what it's supposed to be. I'm not sure if that is because it's such a departure from the norm for PJ, or such a departure from the norm for me and the kind of music i listen to, but either way, no matter how much I come to appreciate it, I will always find it a bit unsettling as well (I have no issues with the lyrics though, as they are beautiful, and also think Eddie's voice is phenomenal in it).
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • deserteddotse
    deserteddotse Posts: 1,276
    While we're on the subject, can someone please explain the Pink Floyd resemblance?
    I sure hell can't hear it...
    Give a monkey a brain and he'll swear he's the center of the Universe...
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    deserteddotse wrote:
    While we're on the subject, can someone please explain the Pink Floyd resemblance?
    I sure hell can't hear it...

    I've been confused on this one too. Is there a G-C-D in there? Maybe because they've been covering "Mother?" I guess Mike was inspired after seeing a PF concert too... Inspiration doesnt always translate into copycat sound though I guess.
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  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    edited November 2013
    JG108535 wrote:
    I know the band is super proud of the song ,its powerful for sure....but the opening kills me.
    I cant relate the sirens with the rest of the song.

    Mike is killer on this song, esp the solo.....Eds lyrics in the verse are powerful/moving/meaningful
    .....but those damn sirens......"hear the sirens"......ouch


    Heard it live for the first time and was hoping it would convert me......BUZZ KILL

    I know you'll all stone me for this.......but I'm having problems with it like no other Pearl Jam song.
    My thoughts exactly...and I love the rest of Lightning Bolt....well most of it....

    Okay Eddie "ah ah ah ah ah ahhhhhhh"

    :lol:
    Post edited by callen on
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  • THE LOOK
    THE LOOK Posts: 324
    I didn't get it at first. I thought it was corny. Now it is one of my favorites on the album. It makes my ride home from work so much easier. Thank you PJ!
    Bigfoot is blurry.
    - Mitch Hedberg
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,029
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    deserteddotse wrote:
    While we're on the subject, can someone please explain the Pink Floyd resemblance?
    I sure hell can't hear it...

    I've been confused on this one too. Is there a G-C-D in there? Maybe because they've been covering "Mother?" I guess Mike was inspired after seeing a PF concert too... Inspiration doesnt always translate into copycat sound though I guess.
    The only way I can hear any resemblance is if I pretend Division Bell is the only Pink Floyd album in existence. And even then, only maybe.... or not.
    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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