Post subject: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:23 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm Posts: 4320 Location: Philadelphia, PA
MANKIND You'll be.... going out with radio Going out with disco Going out like bacchanal I'll be...going out with telephone Going out alone To the radar zone
It's all just inadvertent imitation And I don't mean mine It's all across this nation If it's just inadvertent simulation A pattern in all mankind What's got the whole world fakin' it
I'll be.... playing with my magazine Using up my Listerine Like Ovaltine And you'll be...dipping in your battleship For the latest tip For the latest dream
It's all just inadvertent imitation And I don't mean mine It's all across this nation If it's just inadvertent simulation A pattern in all mankind What's got the whole world fakin' it?
If it's just inadvertent imitation A pattern in all mankind What's got the whole world fakin'? What's got the whole world fakin'? What's got the whole world fakin'? What's got the whole world fakin'? What's got the whole world fakin' it? Yeah...yeah...
I don’t know for sure, but I feel like I’ve detected a lot of hate for this song in the past. I don’t normally hail a Pearl Jam song because it’s catchy and fun. But this one you could put on a CD dance mix. And in the process of being fun it’s also a devastating satire.
The churning power pop intro draws you in immediately. The beat is infectious and the chord changes are hit hard to cue the dancing. The chorus tells the story here.
It's all just inadvertent imitation And I don't mean mine It's all across this nation If it's just inadvertent simulation A pattern in all mankind What's got the whole world fakin' it
This is a song about artificiality in a heavily commercial world. Sometimes we believe things or feel things because of the constant pressure of advertising in the modern world. That’s “what’s got the whole world faking it.”
The verses are on the verge of being nonsensical. But they have a point. They are full of vague “product placement” hints. My favorite verse lines:
And you'll be...dipping in your battleship For the latest tip For the latest dream
And here’s the most important hint. The idea that we are told that all of these products will make our dreams come true.
Stone’s voice isn’t a powerhouse, but there’s a little echo, and the high harmonies give the chorus a fun, poppy feel. While it doesn’t quite seem like something that belongs on No Code, it works as a satiric piece about the delusions foisted upon us by crass commercialism on an album devoted to self-discovery. 3 stars.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:29 am
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Juvenal wrote:
FloydTheBarber wrote:
This would be the best Pearl Jam song. If it wasn't for all the other ones.
Lock the thread
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:31 am
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
I don't doubt that the song was intended to be satirical, but I think this is a case where your analysis is more intelligent than the song. The sentiment was there, but not the execution
This song occupies the spot that should have gone to the far more fun, and much better, Black Red Yellow
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
2 stars
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:22 am
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm Posts: 4320 Location: Philadelphia, PA
stip wrote:
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:08 am
Epitome of cool
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:47 am Posts: 27904 Location: Philadelphia Gender: Male
3.5 stars. I love the song and everything about it, including Stone on vocals. And I disagree that it has no place on No Code, as much as I love BRY and All Night. I'll add more later.
_________________ It's always the fallen ones who think they're always gonna save me.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:16 am
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 2:48 pm Posts: 3115 Location: Edinburgh/Lincoln, UK
stip wrote:
I don't doubt that the song was intended to be satirical, but I think this is a case where your analysis is more intelligent than the song. The sentiment was there, but not the execution
This song occupies the spot that should have gone to the far more fun, and much better, Black Red Yellow
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
2 stars
I partly agree with your first paragraph, but in response to your second - i think it's much better/more fun than BRY.
I like the song on it's own, i find it fun and it's not too far from Supergrass or some of the other brit-pop bands from the mid 90s....
It doesn't really fit on the album, but i don't mind that it's there. What is criminal, is placing it inbetween Present Tense and I'm Open. I elaborated on this in the no Code thread, so i wont bother now. Coupled with Hail Hail or Smile, it would probably flow a lot better with the record.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:04 pm
Global Moderator
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
iceagecoming wrote:
stip wrote:
I don't doubt that the song was intended to be satirical, but I think this is a case where your analysis is more intelligent than the song. The sentiment was there, but not the execution
This song occupies the spot that should have gone to the far more fun, and much better, Black Red Yellow
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
2 stars
I partly agree with your first paragraph, but in response to your second - i think it's much better/more fun than BRY.
I like the song on it's own, i find it fun and it's not too far from Supergrass or some of the other brit-pop bands from the mid 90s....
It doesn't really fit on the album, but i don't mind that it's there. What is criminal, is placing it inbetween Present Tense and I'm Open. I elaborated on this in the no Code thread, so i wont bother now. Coupled with Hail Hail or Smile, it would probably flow a lot better with the record.
its placing is pretty brutal, although there aren't many better places for it
Lets just agree that All Night would have been a better choice than mankind or BRY
_________________ "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
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:29 pm
Former PJ Drummer
Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:00 pm Posts: 19826 Location: Alone in a corridor
1 star. Don't like it. Never have. Probably never will. I'm so glad, when Stone took the mic in Ottawa, that they didn't play Mankind but the thusfar never played before Don't Gimme No Lip.
Mankind is also the one thing I really dislike about No Code and why it never had a chance to become my number one, even during a certain period when I absolutely adored it (now, it's somewhere around 4th on my list)
The one thing positive about it is that it lend its name to the best ever RM poster.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:23 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 2:48 pm Posts: 3115 Location: Edinburgh/Lincoln, UK
stip wrote:
iceagecoming wrote:
stip wrote:
I don't doubt that the song was intended to be satirical, but I think this is a case where your analysis is more intelligent than the song. The sentiment was there, but not the execution
This song occupies the spot that should have gone to the far more fun, and much better, Black Red Yellow
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
2 stars
I partly agree with your first paragraph, but in response to your second - i think it's much better/more fun than BRY.
I like the song on it's own, i find it fun and it's not too far from Supergrass or some of the other brit-pop bands from the mid 90s....
It doesn't really fit on the album, but i don't mind that it's there. What is criminal, is placing it inbetween Present Tense and I'm Open. I elaborated on this in the no Code thread, so i wont bother now. Coupled with Hail Hail or Smile, it would probably flow a lot better with the record.
its placing is pretty brutal, although there aren't many better places for it
Lets just agree that All Night would have been a better choice than mankind or BRY
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:37 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm Posts: 4320 Location: Philadelphia, PA
iceagecoming wrote:
stip wrote:
iceagecoming wrote:
stip wrote:
I don't doubt that the song was intended to be satirical, but I think this is a case where your analysis is more intelligent than the song. The sentiment was there, but not the execution
This song occupies the spot that should have gone to the far more fun, and much better, Black Red Yellow
I don't hate this song as much as I used to, but I loathed it when No Code came out. Stuff like this has no place on a PJ record, but now that No Code is no longer the disappointment that it was at the time I can live with it
2 stars
I partly agree with your first paragraph, but in response to your second - i think it's much better/more fun than BRY.
I like the song on it's own, i find it fun and it's not too far from Supergrass or some of the other brit-pop bands from the mid 90s....
It doesn't really fit on the album, but i don't mind that it's there. What is criminal, is placing it inbetween Present Tense and I'm Open. I elaborated on this in the no Code thread, so i wont bother now. Coupled with Hail Hail or Smile, it would probably flow a lot better with the record.
its placing is pretty brutal, although there aren't many better places for it
Lets just agree that All Night would have been a better choice than mankind or BRY
Ok, i can agree to that =o)
Not between PRESENT TENSE and I'M OPEN. Those two belong together.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:52 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:33 am Posts: 8422 Location: Berthier-sur-Mer Gender: Male
i don't remember on which thread i read this but i can't get around the muppet quality of Stone's voice still not as disastrous as one could think - i picked the "when you have eddie vedder in a band you don't let the others sing" option. at least on official albums. btw, i really like the instrumental part/solo on this song.
Post subject: Re: SOTM#105: It's all just inadvertant imitation
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:02 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm Posts: 4320 Location: Philadelphia, PA
mastaflatch wrote:
i don't remember on which thread i read this but i can't get around the muppet quality of Stone's voice still not as disastrous as one could think - i picked the "when you have eddie vedder in a band you don't let the others sing" option. at least on official albums. btw, i really like the instrumental part/solo on this song.
I forgot to mention the solo. Thanks. There's so little happening musically in this song that the solo really adds a lot.
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