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91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 12:24 am
by stip

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 12:44 am
by stip
Don't Believe in X-mas is fun, and Present Tense is high up on the list of Pearl Jam songs I used to love that I don't care about anymore. Why certain lyrical moments on No Code have aged quite well (Hail Hail, Red Mosquito) there are a bunch that feel a bit immature looking back. Sentiments that appeal to 19 year old me far more then 23 year old me (I'm Open, Off He Goes, Present Tense, etc). But Present Tense is still the clear winner

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 12:48 am
by bodysnatcher
Present Tense has always been my next to last song in ranking No Code tracks. It’s never clicked with me as a whole, though I do really dig the “chanting” at the end that Ed does (no idea if he’s saying something). Always found it kinda overrated. Xmas is a fun song that I enjoy, this feels like a coin flip. Might go with Xmas bc of Ed’s face in the still frame of that YouTube video

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 1:00 am
by VinylGuy
Present Tense was always a favorite to me. a very special song. Last year, while i was watching the Jordan doc on my moms house because of the pandemic, i listened to those first chords and damn, i was so moved. Its a very very special one.

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 1:01 am
by wease
stip wrote:...Present Tense is high up on the list of Pearl Jam songs I used to love that I don't care about anymore.
So much this

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 2:08 am
by Higgs
VinylGuy wrote:Present Tense was always a favorite to me. a very special song. Last year, while i was watching the Jordan doc on my moms house because of the pandemic, i listened to those first chords and damn, i was so moved. Its a very very special one.
I just rewatched the final episode of this the other day. That final 5 minutes with PT playing is very moving indeed.

Like MJ would say, once those first chords started playing "I took it personal".

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 2:22 am
by epilogue
Present Tense still moves me.

"You can spend your time alone, redigesting past regrets, or you can come to terms and realize you're ther only one who can't forgive yourself" is sort of the logline or elevator pitch for the story of my life.

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 2:23 am
by VinylGuy
Higgs wrote:
VinylGuy wrote:Present Tense was always a favorite to me. a very special song. Last year, while i was watching the Jordan doc on my moms house because of the pandemic, i listened to those first chords and damn, i was so moved. Its a very very special one.
I just rewatched the final episode of this the other day. That final 5 minutes with PT playing is very moving indeed.

Like MJ would say, once those first chords started playing "I took it personal".
fuck yeah. So many thoughts came, so many moments..MJ sitting there, that incredible shot, the pandemic going on, i was taking care of my moms at her house, those lyrics....the magic of pearl jam , i guess.

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 3:53 am
by Jaeti
Agree with everyone who says Present Tense's lyrics feel less profound now than forever ago, but it still packs a wallop for me.

Re: 91. Don't Believe in X-Mas vs. Present Tense

Posted: Sun March 21, 2021 5:45 am
by PHATJ
My favorite from No Code, and a top 10 PJ song for me.