Red Mosquito

Division 3 Round 4bb: Given to Fly vs. Man of the Hour

this is tough call. They are both great songs that are very effective at what they do. Given to Fly, especially after No Code, was a shot in the arm for me--the kind of soaring, magisterial stuff that, at their best, they do better than anyone. In My Tree and Red Mosquito were the two closest stabs at this on No Code but in both cases the effect was muted--either by the fever haze of Red Mosquito or the height and distance of In My Tree. Given to Fly is in the betterman category for me--a song that has lost some of its impact over the years. But every now and then the song can just sweep under you and lift you up and remind you why pearl jam is so great. It's also, like betterman, a song I'm always thrilled to get when I'm at a show.

Man of the Hour did bring tears to my eyes the first few times I heard it--there are some powerful moments of wistful sadness in that song--both the way the music feels like memory in a remarkably tactile way, and the way it feels so personal--the way he is eulogizing the subject only for himself.

having said that, there are moments in Man of the Hour that don't work quite as well. I don't like the harmonies in the second verse, and the modest crescendo in the bridge sticks out a bit against the flatter vocals. There are times I like it, but there are other times I wish the song maintained the same plodding pace. And my only issue in Given to Fly is maybe the slightly juvenile drug reference.



Given to Fly but it's close.

Given to Fly is a great song, but Man of the Hour still makes me tear up. Especially now that I'm a dad.

Man of the Hour is the better tribute song.

Man of the Hour.

Usually I try to vote with a little objectivity but this is a sentimental matchup: These are my two all-time favorite PJ songs. Tough vote but I have to go with "Given to Fly" -- when all is said and done, there is probably no song in the world that has meant more to my life.

GTF. The studio take is delicious.

As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

I just thought.... I thought you were trying to help.

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

I just thought.... I thought you were trying to help.

knock knock

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

I just thought.... I thought you were trying to help.

knock knock

Daddy's home.

Thejambi wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

I just thought.... I thought you were trying to help.

knock knock

Daddy's home.

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

LoathedVermin72 wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Thejambi wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:As much as I tend toward GtF being a tad overrated, it's still a really well constructed thing. It still manages to hit me at least a third of the time. Man of the Hour is also lovely, but never managed to grab me. It's a better idea than execution, I think. Or I like where they were going, but not exactly how they got there. I don't reach for either song often, but I tend to respond more positively and frequently to GtF.

Given to Fly.

MoH's attachment to Big Fish has helped its standing in my ratings. That movie's ending leading in to the song triggers my eye faucets. Every time.

I'm pretty cold when it comes to stuff like "daddy issues." Which is weird, since I'll cry at anything. Usually I'm overly emotional. And I like Big Fish as a film a lot. But dad dying doesn't tug at me like it probably should. Maybe I should see a therapist.

why do you hate your father

That's the thing, I wish I hated him. Then there would be something there. I just feel completely indifferent to his existence.

you made it weird by giving me a serious response to my joke post and now everything is uncomfortable

I just thought.... I thought you were trying to help.

knock knock

Daddy's home.

Stop it. Im getting misty.

Man of the Hour is my favourite post-2000 Pearl Jam song. Given to Fly is one of my favourite songs by any band.

It hurts a little, but Given to Fly.

Easy choice - GTF!! Though, MOTH has a warm spot in my heart.