There's truth in sadness, but you have a brother in sadness. And that makes all the difference. Right now that seems to me the essence of Pearl Jam.

Pearl Jam for me are about acknowledging lifes sadness in song but the songs also give you the key for release and the ability to rise above whatever it is. So I kinda agree.

At the Seattle 2 show last year, Eddie basically thanked the fans for making the band rich. I guess sadness is all relative though, amirite?

are you saying one can't be sad if they have money?

I like that he did that. 'let's be honest, we're rich fuckin' rockstars thanks to you and have a charmed life thanks to your patronage.' Nothing wrong with that and I for one am glad they've left the angry young man bit behind them. it'd look ridiculous to do it at their age.

Not at all. That's why I said it's all relative. Just not sure if they are as "sad" at this point in their career as maybe earlier? I don't know, I'm just rambling dude.

i wasn't looking for a deep response. Im drinking beer and listening to Neil.


But yea...i would hope that we as humans grow past our sadness/anger/frustruation by the time we reach our 40's. Otherwise we are just pathetic.


What?

Cheers

I hear ya. I think that is why now in my mid 30's I like their later stuff better. When I was 18 and Ten came out, I was all into the grunge/teen angst scene, and loved everything they did for that reason. As my emotional state became more refined, I think I grew with their music.

I'm watching the Heart of Gold dvd (again), so technically I'm listening to Neil too. Beer in one had also.

I was thinking not just of their personal sadness-- which I agree is probably mitigated at least somewhat by being rich! -- but of the way they've used their own experiences and their appreciation of others' struggles (politically, or sympathetically imagined as in songs like Better Man or so many others) to help us all focus on our commonalities.
Earlier in the day I'd been pondering the thread on the line 'dream the dreams of other men, you will be no one's rival.' Some were reading it as critical, saying 'don't do what others do, stand out, be yourself.' but I agree with the other group, who understand it as, 'put yourself in others' shoes, understand their longings, feel our common humanity, and you'll overcome rivalry.' It was in line with those kind of ideas that I was thinking of them addressing sadness in this way.

I guess I'm rambling too.