Friday 15 July 2011

Beast Of Burden


You think they knew? You think they realised? Can you ever really know that what you've created is greatness?

Average is easy. Good we get to if we try hard enough. So often we create a song, a film, a whatever -- and it's good. And no-one cares! Because good is boring. Why waste two hours of our life watching good? Who downloads a song because it's good? You don't.

You want greatness.

Sometimes you forget that. But when you have the chance to turn the volume up and let a song breath -- you don't play the good song. You play the GREAT song.

'Beast Of Burden' is as good as it gets. It's a band at the top of their form. They captured something in a studio that is so rare. Bands try for years to do something that means something. Often the greatest screenwriters pour their souls into their work and what comes out the other end is mildly decent at best.

Can you ever know? Can you ever be certain that it will connect? I don't think so. 

The Rolling Stones got good through constantly playing. Always touring. Forever recording. Their talent is unreal and the voice is amazing. But it's more than that. It goes deeper. Somewhere between genius and hard work and heart, it all comes together.

This song, this version, is five minutes and twenty seconds of perfection.

Care to share?

3 comments:

  1. Amen, man. Triple amen. The guitars on this song are like listening to the most skilled symphony in the world. Better even, if you ask me.

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  2. pretty pretty pretty pretty such a pretty giiirrrrl...

    Every time I hear this song, all I can think about is the scene in The Family Man where Tea Leoni is singing it and (her body double is) dancing in the shower. Great movie. Great song.

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  3. Hallelujah! The greatest rock n roll band ever. I remember when the vinyl album came out--plucking it from the store within hours of it being stocked, then racing home to listen.
    Pure mastery. Magic. I'll be the Stones knew. ;)

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