Round 6: Big Wave vs. Satan's Bed vs. Given to Fly

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 1:41 pm

Vote for your favorite

Post by **stip** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:09 pm

Big Wave is fun, but feels disposable even without factoring in the lyrics. Plus it is part of the supremely uneven backhalf of S/T, which detracts from my appreciation of the song. The album needed something stronger in that slot.

Given to Fly and Satan's Bed were both top tier songs for me once upon a time that have lost some of their luster (though I like the way GTF is played live. It is exciting and has an infectious energy. I can't say I prefer it, but it doesn't bother me). The Atlanta 94 version of this song remains definitive, and was for a time being my favorite pearl jam song. Given to Fly was the anthem I needed after No Code.

Gonna vote for Satan's Bed since at its peak i ranked it higher, and it is just a bit more original than Given to Fly--though GTF is probably the better song. Am perfectly happy to see either advance.

doone · Post by **doone** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:56 pm

This is the hardest match for me. Even after listening to Satan's Bed and GtF I can't decide. Might be a coin toss.

PHATJ · Post by **PHATJ** » Sat February 13, 2016 2:58 pm

It's Satan's Bed for me. GTF suffers from Even Flow syndrome.

Kevin Davis · Post by **Kevin Davis** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:05 pm

"Satan's Bed" will always stand in my memory along with The Offspring's "Bad Habit" and Soundgarden's "Ty Cobb" as songs that I could never let be heard by my parents under any circumstances whatsoever, so as a kid I found myself skipping through it a lot while playing the CD in open air settings. It was sort of a private treat for myself while listening on headphones, so it's always felt oddly special to me because of that. The song's pop sensibilities have worn well, and its live resurrection in 2006 was welcome and generally very well-executed.

"Big Wave" is dynamite -- on the right day it feels like being atop a surfboard and being pelted by a ten-foot wave (not that I have any experience with that, mind you). In my view this is a Pearl Jam doing pop extremely well -- their own version of "Gremmie Out of Control."

But "Given to Fly" is my favorite song by any band ever. March Madness is not the appropriate forum for my rambling reminiscences on how much this song means to me, and my fondness for it completely renounces all objectivity. So I will just shut up and vote for it.

chewm · Post by **chewm** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:07 pm

All good songs, but Given to Fly takes this easily.

digster · Post by **digster** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:10 pm

"Given to Fly" is one of my favorite PJ songs, and with a bullet, their finest anthem. For all the talk about how PJ has lightened up and gotten happy in their recent catalog, which may be true or not, I've never heard them come close to equaling the unrivaled buoyancy and joy I hear in the music and vocal when they hit that first chorus ("the waves came crashing...") It's the one time where Ed's pseudo-stoned ramblings about the song sounding like a wave that's crashing, or like you're actually flying, feels wholly accurate. I also like how the lyric just blows straight through; it's one of my favorites from Eddie.

I like the other two well enough, but they didn't stand a chance for me.

darth_vedder · Post by **darth_vedder** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:11 pm

Man, I like all of these, and I know GTF is the best of the lot here, but I feel like voting against it. Satan's Bed it is.

Kaius · Post by **Kaius** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:14 pm

Three really good songs, but Given to Fly is my favorite.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:35 pm

Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.

LoathedVermin72 · Sat February 13, 2016 3:46 pm

durdencommatyler wrote:Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.

Joey, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 3:55 pm

LoathedVermin72 wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.
Joey, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said.

I've never been as big on GtF as errybody else. It's obviously a powerful song that resonates with a wide range of people. And I enjoy it. But I'll skip it from time to time. Big Wave just keep getting better and better. I could listen to it every day. In fact, I'm gonna put it on right now!

Kaius · Post by **Kaius** » Sat February 13, 2016 5:22 pm

LoathedVermin72 wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.
Joey, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said.

Birds in Hell · Post by **Birds in Hell** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:21 pm

LoathedVermin72 wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.
Joey, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said.

In that case I am stupid too.

Given to Fly is OK but it's no Big Wave.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:34 pm

Birds in Hell wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:Given to Fly will run away with this one. And it probably should. But for my money, it's Big Wave. All day, son. ALL DAY.
Joey, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said.
In that case I am stupid too.

Given to Fly is OK but it's no Big Wave.

LoathedVermin72 · Sat February 13, 2016 9:35 pm

Norah · Post by **Norah** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:36 pm

Preferring Big Wave wasn't what made Joey's post stupid.

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:38 pm

Was it the Schmidt reference?

Norah · Post by **Norah** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:39 pm

it was the "and it probably should" part

Post by **epilogue** » Sat February 13, 2016 9:40 pm

cutuphalfdead wrote:it was the "and it probably should" part

Ah. I just meant here on RM, it probably should. Or, in other words, I'll be surprised if it doesn't in this RM tournament.

Red Mosquito