Pearl Jam WEEK on Jimmy Fallon

[E.H. Ruddock]

I love Mike so much.

[McParadigm]

After the initial struggle, I thought he did a fine job with it. It's just not a song that fit his style particularly well...the problem wasn't the singer, it was the choice of song.

I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I switched it off about 5 seconds into the solo. I'd rather they'd have taken a little more prep time to develop some creative adjustment to the ending that fit The Roots creativity than have to sit through yet another live reproduction of that fucking guitar solo.

[harmless]

I enjoyed the solo in context, i.e. "Thank God, something that doesn't sound awkward." I'm not saying it wasn't awkward, but the whole thing was awkward. That the vocals would've worked better with a different song goes without saying. It just sounded like a very conservative, MOR version of the song, and basically exposes what the song (or any PJ song, past or present) might be without Eddie Vedder.

[Thejambi]

After the initial struggle, I thought he did a fine job with it. It's just not a song that fit his style particularly well...the problem wasn't the singer, it was the choice of song.

I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I switched it off about 5 seconds into the solo. I'd rather they'd have taken a little more prep time to develop some creative adjustment to the ending that fit The Roots creativity than have to sit through yet another live reproduction of that fucking guitar solo.

Be that a it may but it felt like he was reciting the words, not truly singing them.

[stip]

After the initial struggle, I thought he did a fine job with it. It's just not a song that fit his style particularly well...the problem wasn't the singer, it was the choice of song.

I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I switched it off about 5 seconds into the solo. I'd rather they'd have taken a little more prep time to develop some creative adjustment to the ending that fit The Roots creativity than have to sit through yet another live reproduction of that fucking guitar solo.

a more unusual solo would have been desirable if the song was better up to that point. As far as I'm concerned Mike gave me the only part of that worth watching.

So why is pearl jam seemingly so hard to cover well? Or are we just being over precious fans?

[bada]

If you are an average singer Country is the place to go. It's a very forgiving audience if they like you. Low expectations.

This seems kind of like a weird thing to say. Country music has some excellent singers, and rock music has Mick Jagger.

It goes without saying that this isn't an all encompassing statement. As I wrote it I thought I should qualify this because someone will start pointing out good country singers. Of course there are good country singers. Still country music isn't a particularly demanding genre vocally.

[harmless]

If you are an average singer Country is the place to go. It's a very forgiving audience if they like you. Low expectations.

This seems kind of like a weird thing to say. Country music has some excellent singers, and rock music has Mick Jagger.

It goes without saying that this isn't an all encompassing statement. As I wrote it I thought I should qualify this because someone will start pointing out good country singers. Of course there are good country singers. Still country music isn't a particularly demanding genre vocally.

[WaitingForBluey]

I haven't watched the performance yet but I was pretty disappointed when I found out they played Alive. With a backup band as kickass as The Roots, you gotta bring something groovy.

Let's see here, best PJ song for The Roots to play (ignoring the country singer problem for now):
No Way
DTE (a real funked out version?)
Rival
Why Go
Daughter
WMA
Not For You
Who You Are
Smile
Red Mosquito
Faithful
Given To Fly

Just off the top of my head.... I might pick Red Mosquito from that list

[digster]

After the initial struggle, I thought he did a fine job with it. It's just not a song that fit his style particularly well...the problem wasn't the singer, it was the choice of song.

I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I switched it off about 5 seconds into the solo. I'd rather they'd have taken a little more prep time to develop some creative adjustment to the ending that fit The Roots creativity than have to sit through yet another live reproduction of that fucking guitar solo.

a more unusual solo would have been desirable if the song was better up to that point. As far as I'm concerned Mike gave me the only part of that worth watching.

So why is pearl jam seemingly so hard to cover well? Or are we just being over precious fans?

I think this is part of it....I think a big reason is that overall, PJ hasn't really been covered by many great bands and those bands typically try song like Alive, which are so outsized and grand they just sound awkward when not coming from PJ. Alot of people have dug into PJ's full catalog (although I think we're starting to see signs that's changing), so if you're only pulling from Ten and Vs. the possibilities are going to be limited.

[WaitingForBluey]

Damn, now I just want to hear nothing but The Roots (*BY THEMSELVES!!!*) covering PJ songs every night on Fallon! To hell with guest musicians... I would watch every night until The Roots exhausted PJ's entire catalog...

*wakes from a beautiful daydream*

[harmless]

The Roots and that country singer dude could've done a great rendition of "Who You Are" or "You Are".

[McParadigm]

I haven't watched the performance yet but I was pretty disappointed when I found out they played Alive. With a backup band as kickass as The Roots, you gotta bring something groovy.

Alive could lean into a groove, and you could certainly feel the band wanting to give it that...or at least feeding off that swaying undercurrent.

I really wish Mike hadn't been there. That band is soooooo good, and they might have felt the right to get a little more hands-on with it if they hadn't basically been relegated to "just carry it to the rawk solo" status.

[harmless]

I haven't watched the performance yet but I was pretty disappointed when I found out they played Alive. With a backup band as kickass as The Roots, you gotta bring something groovy.

Alive could lean into a groove, and you could certainly feel the band wanting to give it that...or at least feeding off that swaying undercurrent.

I really wish Mike hadn't been there. That band is soooooo good, and they might have felt the right to get a little more hands-on with it if they hadn't basically been relegated to "just carry it to the rawk solo" status.

To be fair, it sounds pretty bland and rock before Mike even starts. They had every opportunity to funk it up from the very first guitar note or drum hit, and they didn't.

[guitar_davey]

it felt like he was reciting the words, not truly singing them.

This, 100%.

[McParadigm]

Or are we just being over precious fans?

I'm not sure there's that big a difference between people on a Pearl Jam fan board and people on a Parrotheads message board...and I'd expect reactions to watching other people cover their

to be about the same.

To be fair, it sounds pretty bland and rock before Mike even starts. They had every opportunity to funk it up from the very first guitar note or drum hit, and they didn't.

they might have felt the right to get a little more hands-on with it if they hadn't basically been relegated to "just carry it to the rawk solo" status.

This was clearly built to be the "here's out musical guest and here's our Mike McWankery special addition. You guys just fade back and let them spotlight."

Throughout the various things they've done for that show, the Roots have shown a surprising ease for working under others sans ego. If an artist brings them in or wants to incorporate their sound into whatever song they're helping out with, they work with them and usually develop something really cool. If they're expected to be backdrop curtains, they pull the texturing back and just have a great time playing nothing special. Bringing in a member of the band whose song is being covered...specifically someone who is the star of like 1/3 of the song...is a cue. They followed that cue.

[harmless]

Or are we just being over precious fans?

I'm not sure there's that big a difference between people on a Pearl Jam fan board and people on a Parrotheads message board...and I'd expect reactions to watching other people cover their

to be about the same.

To be fair, it sounds pretty bland and rock before Mike even starts. They had every opportunity to funk it up from the very first guitar note or drum hit, and they didn't.

they might have felt the right to get a little more hands-on with it if they hadn't basically been relegated to "just carry it to the rawk solo" status.

This was clearly built to be the "here's out musical guest and here's our Mike McWankery special addition. You guys just fade back and let them spotlight."

Throughout the various things they've done for that show, the Roots have shown a surprising ease for working under others sans ego. If an artist brings them in or wants to incorporate their sound into whatever song they're helping out with, they work with them and usually develop something really cool. If they're expected to be backdrop curtains, they pull the texturing back and just have a great time playing nothing special. Bringing in a member of the band whose song is being covered...specifically someone who is the star of like 1/3 of the song...is a cue. They followed that cue.

Cool. I don't even watch the show, so that's probably entirely true.

[Fuck You Jobu]

After the initial struggle, I thought he did a fine job with it. It's just not a song that fit his style particularly well...the problem wasn't the singer, it was the choice of song.

I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I switched it off about 5 seconds into the solo. I'd rather they'd have taken a little more prep time to develop some creative adjustment to the ending that fit The Roots creativity than have to sit through yet another live reproduction of that fucking guitar solo.

Be that a it may but it felt like he was reciting the words, not truly singing them.

Yeah I agree with the recitement. I've seen better (not just EV sounding) @ karaoke... Pretty meh.

[bada]

Throughout the various things they've done for that show, the Roots have shown a surprising ease for working under others sans ego. If an artist brings them in or wants to incorporate their sound into whatever song they're helping out with, they work with them and usually develop something really cool. If they're expected to be backdrop curtains, they pull the texturing back and just have a great time playing nothing special. Bringing in a member of the band whose song is being covered...specifically someone who is the star of like 1/3 of the song...is a cue. They followed that cue.

Definition of a good house band.

[stip]

Or are we just being over precious fans?

I'm not sure there's that big a difference between people on a Pearl Jam fan board and people on a Parrotheads message board...and I'd expect reactions to watching other people cover their

to be about the same.

maybe. On the other hand no one is really going to bat for these covers either. Are there some good ones out there? I'd love to hear them. I generally like covers.

[McParadigm]

I don't know that I've really come across too many people itching to cover them. I think that when you spend 15 years investing yourself as the back-looking idolizers, you end up being the one doing all the covering.

It doesn't help that it's so hard to separate the songs themselves from Ed's meandering singing style. You almost can't do it. Even this guy ends up doing lots of "woah yeah uh huhhhuh"ing:

http://www.vulture.com/2009/03/ten_out_ ... ers_p.html