Red Mosquito

Yeah I really like this one

This has grown on me tremendously.

I think the big barrier for me was Ed's vocal. I'm still not nuts about the phrase "buckle up" in the context of the song and I'm especially not fond of the way Ed delivers the phrase. But now that I'm used to the vocal and I can focus on everything else going on in the song (the arrangement, background vocals, etc) I'm hearing a much better song. Just got too hung up on Ed, I think.

Still wish Stone sang this one. But I like it a lot more than I did a week ago.

oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

I think that same quality is what bugs me the most.

Stip, what is the song about to you?

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

That’s a good way to put it. Some of his best vocals.

Anders wrote:

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

That’s a good way to put it. Some of his best vocals.

I wish I heard more "childlike awe" and less "childish immaturity".

But maybe I'll get there. I think looking at the song and what it's about from a different angle might help.

Anders wrote:

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

That’s a good way to put it. Some of his best vocals.

Agreed. Perfectly intended and executed.

I envision it as someone confronting the mortality of their parents and reflecting back on the lessons learned from them - and the vulnerability you feel when you realize your parents aren't going to be there.

durdencommatyler wrote:

Anders wrote:

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

That’s a good way to put it. Some of his best vocals.

I wish I heard more "childlike awe" and less "childish immaturity".

But maybe I'll get there. I think looking at the song and what it's about from a different angle might help.

Do you have kids? I wondered if the song came across differently for parents. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of the lyrics, but the "Put your seatbelt on, buckle up" juxtaposed with the rest of the lyrics, which I'm interpreting as the awful aspects of life hit me in a beautiful way. Surrounded by despair and destruction, yet hopeful and determined keeps coming through in every corner of this album. I love it!

the juxtaposition between the life lesson 'firstly do no harm' (which also ties into the medical decline frame song) and the much more prosaic (and put your seat belt on) is pretty powerful. especially because a child can't tell the difference, and the 'put your seatbelt on' lyric invokes so much parental comfort. someone will take care of you. It's so hard to lose that as you get older.

It could be interpreted several ways. I’ve seen talk about murder, but I think that’s taking it very literal. I think the parent connection is more likely. Perhaps a parent that is dying, and the pain you feel from not being able to help.

I know the guilt children can feel from sending their parents to the hospital, to possibly die. Driving them there after a fall.

this song is a snoozefest. this is the best stone can come up with in 7 years?? he should get back to writing rock riffs.

lol

Read the Josh Evans interview. Stone contributed on lots of the so gs, including the bass on DOTC.

stip wrote:I envision it as someone confronting the mortality of their parents and reflecting back on the lessons learned from them - and the vulnerability you feel when you realize your parents aren't going to be there.

Interesting. That's a cool interpretation. I'll listen to the song again with this in mind and see if it gives me a new way in. Thanks.

What has been your interpretation of the lyrics so far?

Hatfield wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Anders wrote:

stip wrote:oh man, I love how he sings it. There is a a slight tinge of childlike awe to it that is so appropriate to the song

That’s a good way to put it. Some of his best vocals.

I wish I heard more "childlike awe" and less "childish immaturity".

But maybe I'll get there. I think looking at the song and what it's about from a different angle might help.

Do you have kids? I wondered if the song came across differently for parents. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of the lyrics, but the "Put your seatbelt on, buckle up" juxtaposed with the rest of the lyrics, which I'm interpreting as the awful aspects of life hit me in a beautiful way. Surrounded by despair and destruction, yet hopeful and determined keeps coming through in every corner of this album. I love it!

I do not have kids. So maybe that's a barrier for me? I don't know. I'm a pretty sappy dude and Ed's delivery and phrasing feels too sappy for me. It's like it's a song for little kids. It reminds me of his solo song, Skipping. Like if this was on a children's album it would make sense but it feels out of place on Gigaton.

Love what you're saying about how you hear the song, though. And again, a lot of what I just above is slowly wearing off for me. This has changed and evolved as I've listened to it. The above describes my initial barrier to the song. It's settling for me. The music and the arrangement is fantastic, as Stone's songs usually are. I just wonder if Ed is trying too hard, doing too much in the vocal delivery. I feel like Stone's take on the vocals would suit the song far better/more appropriately.

Anders wrote:What has been your interpretation of the lyrics so far?

Not sure that I have one that I'm locked into. My initial take is climate change, which is partly why the delivery feels manipulative and pandering at times. And why I'm looking for a different way to access it.

Like, a lullaby about climate change and a dying planet dressed up in the shopworn metaphor of "mother" is hokey as fuck to me.

stip wrote:the juxtaposition between the life lesson 'firstly do no harm' (which also ties into the medical decline frame song) and the much more prosaic (and put your seat belt on) is pretty powerful. especially because a child can't tell the difference, and the 'put your seatbelt on' lyric invokes so much parental comfort. someone will take care of you. It's so hard to lose that as you get older.

This is insightful.