Post subject: SOTM #79: Here's a token of my openness...
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:37 pm
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Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
No Way
Here's a token of my openness Of my need to not disappear How I'm feeling, so revealing to me I found my mind too clear I just need someone to be there for.. me I just want someone to be there for.. me
All the static in my attic-a Shoots down my sciatic nerve To the ocean of my platitudes Longitudes, latitudes, it's so absurd I just need someone to be there for.. I just want someone to be there for.. Someone to be there for..
'Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference I'm not trying to make a difference I'll stop trying to make a difference No way 'Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference I'm not trying to make a difference I'll stop trying to make a difference No way
Ooh... Let's call in an angel Ooh... Let's call in an angel Ooh... Let's call in an angel
'Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference I'm not trying to make a difference I'll stop trying to make a difference No way Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference I'm not trying to make a difference I'm not trying to make a difference No way, no way
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Musically No Way is an absolute gem. A great slow burning fuzzy groove. One of the few songs I think Jack does a nice job on drums for too. Not that much intensity to it, but the song has a chill vibe so it isn’t necessary. It’s not trying to be Not For You. Even the places where it is trying to ratchet up the intensity it never really explodes
This is one of the two reasons why I think this hasn’t returned to the live sets. It may have a bit of the NAIS concert problem. A cool listen on its own, or in the context of its records, but live songs really need to build and swell, and this one is a bit too much of a plateau. Once the shock of it being played wore off, there wouldn’t be much here for people
Vocally eddie does a fairly nice job here too. Not a performance for the ages, but it follows the music well. Nice, relaxed, kind of playful. The chorus isn’t that explosive, but then again, going into overdrive here would have felt a bit out of place. So far, so good
But those lyrics….
The verses are unspectacular, but not terrible. Underwhelming, but there isn’t anything to be embarrassed about. I’d even go so far as to say that the first verse is pretty good, and the “I just want someone to be there for me†line is nice and plaintive without being melodramatic. It’s a statement more than it is a plead
The chorus, however, is quite possibly the most atrocious thing they’ve ever written and I’m including matt cameron’s abortions here. This makes Sweet Lew look like Shakespeare, since at least sweet lew knew it was stupid. The sentiment is ridiculously juvenile (I’ll stop caring about stuff. PSYCHE!!! Jokes on you. I really do care. Fooled you though!) nor is it written in a compelling way, or sung with any great feeling (I think Eddie knew this sucked, but since this was an album about healing the band dynamic he couldn’t say anything). No way is no longer sung because Eddie refuses to utter those lyrics in public, and he’s right to do it. Just awful. Absolutely kills the song. Stone’s nasally backing vocals here don’t help.
I think the “lets call in an angel†bridge is pretty stupid too (what the hell does that mean) but compared to how horrid the chorus is it’s excusable
Between the chorus and bridge I feel like I have to apologize for being a Pearl Jam fan. It’s why I would NEVER give someone yield as a starting album.
I’m stone’s bitch in spite of, not because of, No Way
2 stars. Probably 2.5 if we had the .5’s in here, but closer to 2 than 3.
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:31 pm Posts: 10340 Location: Norway Gender: Male
I gave it four stars. A great, quirky little song. A weird rhythm and I think the lyrics are ok.
The chorus is not the best that's been written, but I don't think it's as bad as stip makes it out to be. Also, I like Ed's delivery here, which makes the lyrics less noticable.
_________________ A simple prop to occupy my time.
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:10 am Posts: 459 Location: milwaukee
i've thought no way would work great live. i picture a slow, quiet opener, than about 5 or 6 heavy songs, and then no way to bring it down a little bit but not all the way, and then a more quiet or experimental song (like nais, which i know a lot of people here don't like live, but you get the idea). so i guess i really don't know why it isn't played live except for the simple fact that it "doesn't work." i suppose jack irons not being in the band has something to do with it too.
i don't really mind the chorus, because for me the music is so good that it overshadows it. the same thing applies to habit. 4 stars.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
5 stars. song is magical.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:29 am Posts: 199 Location: US
Absolutely mediocre song. Nice music, shitty lyrics and an ok delivery make for one not-really-halfway decent Pearl Jam song. Nothing more needs to be said beyond what Stip said.
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:47 am Posts: 27904 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Male
4 stars.
I think this song works extremely well within the context of Yield, but it's not a "great" song for me. I particularly like the ambiguity of the chorus, which isn't nearly as bad as Stip makes it out to be. I do, however, agree with the "let's call in an angel line." After 9 years of listening to this album, I still don't understand the relevance of that line. It just comes out of nowhere and really doesn't make any sense.
_________________ It's always the fallen ones who think they're always gonna save me.
I always interpreted the chorus as "No way, I'm not going to try to make a difference". It doesn't seem like he's saying, "psych... I fooled you". That would be quite shitty, though, admitted. I don't like the interpretation Stip had and I for the first time boldly disagree with the initial review. The chorus means a lot to me and I think it's a powerful statement.
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