Red Mosquito

It's that long but it still feels like the component parts towards the end are rather clipped and could be longer.

dimejinky99 wrote:It's that long but it still feels like the component parts towards the end are rather clipped and could be longer.

I think the 'oh, oh, ah, ah' vocal melody at the outro could well be extended live. Not sure how i'll feel about it though.

I'm never one to be put off by genre elements that are supposed to be uncool or not aesthetic or whatever. PJ were lambasted by some when they made Ten for not being 'alternative' enough, their songs had solos, etc. Yet, I couldn't give a shit because I liked the songs. Musically, it was nothing new. Plenty of classic rock bands had done what they were doing. But somehow, Eddie's angst and emotion gave them an element of sincerity and edge that those bands lacked. It's the same now but in a different way. Some people are lambasting them for being too 80-ish, commercial, cheesy, etc. And I still don't give a shit because I like the song, a lot. When it's as well executed as this, I don't really care about aesthetics. What sets it apart from the usual 80s power ballads is again the sincerity with which Ed sings it and the melody which is catchy despite not having an easy sing-along part (except for 'hear the sirens' and 'the fear goes away'). I give props to the band for really going all the way with this one but not indulging in a manner that would make it seem over the top. This song sounds as authentic as anything they've ever put out. And it's not about Ed being 'happy'. I hear it as Ed feeling insecure and vulnerable. He is afraid of losing the love of his life because his time could be near and he values what he has dearly. It's him trying to come to grips with the fear of dying. Not that he hasn't touched on this before, but it's done with heartfelt sincerity here and that resonates with those who like the song. My two cents.

OK, so this song could be subtitled 'Mortality'. But (and I'm going to sound like an insensitive prick here) I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic? Especially when you consider he's still interested in running forward into Rock God superstardom. How 'vulnerable' is he, really? I'm vulnerable. Not Eddie Vedder.

The lyrics are patchy. It is a great kickoff (the sirens coming for someone) and then realizing all that you have could be lost. But then the whole love poem crap of another man and mistakes. That whole stanza/bridge/verse whatever is just cringeworthy. Those 3 lines just don't seem to fit with the rest of the song's sentiment.

I completely agree, and it's winding me up trying to understand it or fit it in. I want to fucking rewrite it and republish the album myself.

harmless wrote:OK, so this song could be subtitled 'Mortality'. But (and I'm going to sound like an insensitive prick here) I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic? Especially when you consider he's still interested in running forward into Rock God superstardom. How 'vulnerable' is he, really? I'm vulnerable. Not Eddie Vedder.

I think it's just an anxiety that he could die at any moment. And when I think of sirens, I think of 9/11 still. That at any moment things could turn upside down.

I mean, come on Ed, the sirens aren't coming for you, you don't need to worry.

We don't know this is about Ed. If it's my fictionalised story about a criminal / shooter, trying to make money for his family in the most despicable ways, the lyrics make perfect sense, even that second verse.

But Ed hasn't cheated on anyone, and I don't think his wife is considering leaving, so what the fuck is going on?

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:OK, so this song could be subtitled 'Mortality'. But (and I'm going to sound like an insensitive prick here) I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic? Especially when you consider he's still interested in running forward into Rock God superstardom. How 'vulnerable' is he, really? I'm vulnerable. Not Eddie Vedder.

I think it's just an anxiety that he could die at any moment. And when I think of sirens, I think of 9/11 still. That at any moment things could turn upside down.

Maybe, yeah. But still... the second verse.

I need to ask B to write a filter to delete the word cringe and any of its offshoots (cringeworthy, cringeful,cringey, cringeilcious), but that aside that is a puzzling verse that doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the song and detracts from it a bit

I always wonder if lines like that are about the smoking--how can you so recklessly engage in a self-destructive behavior when people love and depend on you? It would help the lines make sense, even if it wouldn't make them good

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:OK, so this song could be subtitled 'Mortality'. But (and I'm going to sound like an insensitive prick here) I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic? Especially when you consider he's still interested in running forward into Rock God superstardom. How 'vulnerable' is he, really? I'm vulnerable. Not Eddie Vedder.

I think it's just an anxiety that he could die at any moment. And when I think of sirens, I think of 9/11 still. That at any moment things could turn upside down.

Maybe, yeah. But still... the second verse.

the will they come for me next time is pretty good. It's the lyrics that follow. Don't blame the whole second verse for the sins of the last 3 lyrics!

Fair point. If the sirens are ambulance sirens, then your smoking / drinking / generally being an ass might make the second verse make sense. But "If you choose to stay, I'll wait, I'll understand..." Ugh. Ed, explain.

harmless wrote:I mean, come on Ed, the sirens aren't coming for you, you don't need to worry.

We don't know this is about Ed. If it's my fictionalised story about a criminal / shooter, trying to make money for his family in the most despicable ways, the lyrics make perfect sense, even that second verse.

But Ed hasn't cheated on anyone, and I don't think his wife is considering leaving, so what the fuck is going on?

Isn't he a good few years older than his wife? Maybe he's thinking about dying before her? Maybe he's been ill lately? maybe him and his wife have been having trouble? We don't really know anything . Which is as it should be. Could be about him, could be about a character like nothingman. Could be a half an half type deal.

I think he's at least a decade older. I think his wife is about my age (I looked her up when Malice was railing about her the other day because I wanted to see what she looked like)

stupidmop wrote:

harmless wrote:I mean, come on Ed, the sirens aren't coming for you, you don't need to worry.

We don't know this is about Ed. If it's my fictionalised story about a criminal / shooter, trying to make money for his family in the most despicable ways, the lyrics make perfect sense, even that second verse.

But Ed hasn't cheated on anyone, and I don't think his wife is considering leaving, so what the fuck is going on?

Isn't he a good few years older than his wife? Maybe he's thinking about dying before her? Maybe he's been ill lately? maybe him and his wife have been having trouble? We don't really know anything . Which is as it should be. Could be about him, could be about a character like nothingman. Could be a half an half type deal.

Yeah, I've gotta think there's at least some fictionalising going on.

stip wrote:

harmless wrote:

Harry Lime wrote:

harmless wrote:OK, so this song could be subtitled 'Mortality'. But (and I'm going to sound like an insensitive prick here) I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic? Especially when you consider he's still interested in running forward into Rock God superstardom. How 'vulnerable' is he, really? I'm vulnerable. Not Eddie Vedder.

I think it's just an anxiety that he could die at any moment. And when I think of sirens, I think of 9/11 still. That at any moment things could turn upside down.

Maybe, yeah. But still... the second verse.

the will they come for me next time is pretty good. It's the lyrics that follow. Don't blame the whole second verse for the sins of the last 3 lyrics!

Those 3 lines take me out of the song and they taint my enjoyment. Those lines are awkward. And I feel shame when I am hearing them in a song that I enjoy.

Maybe this is a distant tribute to Jani Lane. Ed wrote it the day Jani died and when he heard sirens he pondered that he could be next.

stip wrote:I think he's at least a decade older. I think his wife is about my age (I looked her up when Malice was railing about her the other day because I wanted to see what she looked like)

I feel pretty bad about reacting to that malice rant like I did. I think I know where it comes from.

harmless wrote:Fair point. If the sirens are ambulance sirens, then your smoking / drinking / generally being an ass might make the second verse make sense. But "If you choose to stay, I'll wait, I'll understand..." Ugh. Ed, explain.

That line is weird. It sounds like it could be about the afterlife, so if she decides to stay on earth, he'll understand and wait for her on the otherside. Which is still odd cause it sounds like hed be happy if she topped herself and followed him.

harmless wrote:I'm not sure I completely buy this is Ed thinking he's about to die, or even that he's going to die in the next 20, 25, 30 years. Is that realistic?

His father died young from MS, I'm sure that's the kind of thing that's going to weigh on a guy's mind once he has kids of his own. It doesn't seem particularly far-fetched.

stupidmop wrote:

harmless wrote:Fair point. If the sirens are ambulance sirens, then your smoking / drinking / generally being an ass might make the second verse make sense. But "If you choose to stay, I'll wait, I'll understand..." Ugh. Ed, explain.

That line is weird. It sounds like it could be about the afterlife, so if she decides to stay on earth, he'll understand and wait for her on the otherside. Which is still odd cause it sounds like hed be happy if she topped herself and followed him.

Yeah, I have considered that. And it kind of looked interesting against my criminal film noire story.