Something Special

[VinylGuy]

OK so...

in the run up to Dark Matter, when we first saw the track list and started hearing stories and background on the songs, I was sure that it was going to be "Waiting For Stevie" -- about a woman (according to Ed) at a concert, who has always been able to escape her pain through music -- that captured me emotionally, hook line and sinker, as someone who has been with this band all of my music-listening life (I was 9 in 1991), and grown to realise I was a woman; but I was wrong

turns out that WFS doesn't go into all that potential depth, it's a bit vaguer, which is fine

since we heard the metal door and official clips of "Something Special", I knew this would be a song I could get behind and on the favourable end of the "schmaltzy songs about Ed's family" spectrum, but I didn't expect a song about *Ed's own daughters* to be the one that hit me in that deep way; I just expected it to be cute, in a good way

that is until yesterday, when I started listening and singing along, and I began crying; I knew immediately why

over the last 10 years I've had a bit of a rocky time with my family, and my parents, accepting me fully as a trans woman, a sister, and a daughter; without going too far into that and making myself completely vulnerable, I don’t expect ever to hear my parents call me their daughter without some hesitation; I've accepted that, come to terms, what have you, and learned to take the good of our relationship while we're all still around; but, suddenly listening to this song from a doting father speaking wisdom / prayer / prophecy of protection almost, over his daughter, it suddenly moved me to tears knowing that I had never experienced that in my past, but that right here, in this moment, I was experiencing a version of that right now, because Ed has always been there and his lyrics were crucial to my development, and here he was, letting me "fly the nest", and saying "before you go, here is a little emotional closure that you maybe didn't even know you needed"

one thing I've been doing for years is referring to Pearl Jam as "my Grunge dads" as a joke; they have no idea who I am, but they've been speaking to me, shaping my morality, my politics, my talents, my tastes, and my choices during some of the best and worst times of my life, *all* of my life

and in that moment, the realisation that Ed, the same force that once scrawled "PRO-CHOICE" on his arm when I was a wide-eyed kid with no idea that some choices would even be possible for me, was still here, and telling me "out of everyone, you're not just anyone; you're the one and only you... we've done all we can do"

and after I was done crying, there was a contentment that washed over me about that

This was nice. It's cool that PJ can help you process some of the things going on inside and you feel comfortable enough with this group at RM to express those feelings.

yeah, i agree.

[The Argonaut]

Golly, I teared up a little reading that and I feel like Ed would be stoked on it.

[Ms Harmless]

I wish I could tell him

[Clint72]

The only 3 star song for me on the album (or worse) It is kind of catchy. Interesting i have 2 children 1 born in 2004 and 1 born in 2008, same as Eddies children, i believe. (1 girl and 1 boy for me) So it does resonant with me on some levels.

[Ms Harmless]

[Fattie_Vedder]

Just saw Ms. H’s post and wanted to share similar sentiments. Thank you for sharing that powerful and touching experience, for being brave and vulnerable, and for trusting us in this community to hold space for it.

Selfish bonus: I might like Something Special a little more now

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[guitar_davey]

This has become an album highlight for me.

[Ms Harmless]

Just saw Ms. H’s post and wanted to share similar sentiments. Thank you for sharing that powerful and touching experience, for being brave and vulnerable, and for trusting us in this community to hold space for it.

Selfish bonus: I might like Something Special a little more now

that means a bunch, thank you

[Mike]

This has become an album highlight for me.

Same

[Clem Halibut]

I really like this song now...I didn't expect that I would like it as much as I do.

[stip]

its just a winning, endearing performance that manages to be incredibly sweet without being saccharine.

[Ms Harmless]

it's weird but of all the songs on this album, this is the one that keeps reminding me of Vs.

[RockPusher]

Yay grunge dads and their grunge daughters! This one’s been a grower for me and the live performance kind of sealed the deal.

[stip]

it's weird but of all the songs on this album, this is the one that keeps reminding me of Vs.

i really like this song, but that is a little bit weird

[Angus]

Josh owns this song in a total RHCP-kinda way. Love seeing it live. Love the grunge dads. Love this song. Love my daughter.

[Angus]

I don't even like RHCP that much. What the hell is this song doing to me?

[Ms Harmless]

I don't even like RHCP that much. What the hell is this song doing to me?

I think they suck

[Ms Harmless]

it's weird but of all the songs on this album, this is the one that keeps reminding me of Vs.

i really like this song, but that is a little bit weird

I am both honest and detailed

[Angus]

I don't even like RHCP that much. What the hell is this song doing to me?

I think they suck

I was being polite.