This week’s theme, led off by Jim in his post Seattle Sound, is to play some grunge music. I’m with Jim on this as to me it says Seattle and Nirvana, but I looked it up nevertheless and found a list of bands, most of whom were unknown to me, and of the few I did know I couldn’t really claim any of them as favourites. Apart from one. I may be stretching it a bit this week, as my chosen song isn’t overly loud and tuneless (how I classify most grunge music!) but the band is on the Wikipedia list. After Kurt Cobain’s suicide brought Nirvana to a shuddering halt Dave Grohl, their drummer, released a solo album on which he played all of the instruments, but by the time the second album came around the title of that first had become the name for the band he assembled. They are still going strong and have made some great records. This is today’s tune, a track from that second album:
And these are its lyrics:
Hello
I’ve waited here for you
Everlong
Tonight, I throw myself into
And out of the red
Out of her head, she sang
Come down and waste away with me
Down with me
Slow, how you wanted it to be
I’m over my head
Out of her head, she sang
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever be this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Breathe out
So I can breathe you in
Hold you in
And now
I know you’ve always been
Out of your head
Out of my head, I sang
And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: David Grohl
Everlong lyrics © DistroKid
Whilst in Nirvana Dave Grohl was writing his own songs, but was too nervous to share them with the band, though he did record quite a few demos. After Nirvana broke up he had considered various offers, and had been close to becoming the drummer for Tom Petty, but decided he wanted to take a chance at doing his own thing. He booked a studio, and five days and fifteen tracks later he had his first album, on which he played all but one guitar part. He named it after the term foo fighter, which was used by Allied aircraft pilots during WW2 to describe various UFOs seen in the skies over both Europe and the Pacific. That first album was released in June 1995, peaking at #23 in the US and at #3 in the UK. The follow up, by which time there was a full band, was The Colour And The Shape, which was released in May 1997, getting to #10 in the US and also reached #3 in the UK. Everlong was the second single taken from the album, in August 1997: it got to #18 in the UK but didn’t make the main US chart, though it did get to #3 on their Alternative listing, and #4 on the Mainstream Rock chart, both of which are based on airplay. I’ve been a fan of the band ever since Everlong: for me they are one of the best rock bands of the past thirty years.
After a couple of line up changes, the band’s membership remained fairly stable from 1999 onwards. This was when Taylor Hawkins, Dave’ great mate, joined as drummer. Sadly, Taylor passed away in March 2022 at the age of just 50. I did a small tribute to him at the time, and wanted to do another for him today as he was such an integral part of the band’s sound, which his drumming drove. So I thought I’d include a second of their songs, which happens to be one of my favourites of theirs, and has a fantastic video in which Taylor gets to display his range of facial expressions:
Resolve was a track on the In Your Honor double album, released in June 2005 and peaking at #2 in both the US and the UK. The track was released as a single in November of that year, making #32 in the UK but not reaching the US chart.
Back in 2017 I spent a wonderful evening on Facebook watching a surprise show the band played at the Cheese And Grain venue in Frome, in Somerset, which was a lead in to the announcement of them being the headliners at that year’s Glastonbury Festival. They were fantastic at Glastonbury, but I think I might have enjoyed the smaller gig even more. I’ve found a piece written by the venue which tells the story, and it seems that everyone involved enjoyed it too. You can see it here. And if you feel like watching the full 2 hours plus of the show, it is on YouTube. Be warned, though – once you start you won’t stop!
I should probably close now, or I could just keep playing their songs! Enjoy your Sunday and the music – not just mine, but what others will be playing too – and I’ll see you again for Tuesday Tunes. 🎶
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Two good choices, Clive I have always liked Foo…x
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Thanks, Carol. Glad you enjoyed them 😊 xx
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One of my favorite bands. I simply think of them as making rock or alternative rock. Like you, I would have a hard time naming more than a handful of grunge bands. I also give the Foo Fighters credit for some pretty entertaining videos besides making some great music.
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Mine too. I think these genre names are potentially misleading and confusing. Next week’s theme is alternative rock, and grunge is probably a subset of that. Who decides them, and on what authority? I’ll just keep enjoying the music and the videos!
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Clive “Mr. Grunge” Pilcher is the final authority.😊
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I’d never claim to be an authority on anything! 🤣
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You picked a great song Clive. Right up my street. I saw the Foos in Manchester at the MEN Arena as was. They were brilliant. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins did a drum off. My favourite song that night was ‘My Hero’. Got goose bumps.
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Glad you liked it, Paul. I’ve only ever seen their live shows on tv but those were enough to give the idea how good they are.
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They were great showman but also real tight!
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My brother has been a longtime Foo fan, me less so, but ‘Resolve’ is more for down my alley, more rock-y, less Grungily manic.
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They have their lighter moments! Try “Wheels” if you liked this one.
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I grew up in Seattle and have followed Grohl’s career – he is well known as the nicest person in rock”n’roll – perhaps the only one close is Paul McCartney, who can lay claim to that as well…as I work in entertainment, I can tell you that it’s a difficult business to stay “nice” in…and they have longevity in music which isn’t easy to do as well…
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That’s good to know. He always comes across that way, and the Cheese and Grain piece I linked to says that too 😊
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I think most people think of grunge as being loud and manic rock and whilst this is by and large true, Foo Fighters prove they are more than capable of writing great tunes. I often wonder if tragedy hadn’t struck Nirvana, whether Dave Grohl’s talents would have outgrown the band.
He gives the impression of being an approachable guy.
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I’m not really a fan of much grunge, for exactly that reason. I think Foo Fighters are more varied than a lot of bands of their type, and also wonder if they would have happened without Cobain’s suicide.
Dave Grohl is a nice guy – see John’s comment!
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Everlong is a favorite of mine! I hadn’t heard the 2nd one, but I like it a lot, too. 🙂
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Glad to have found a favourite! To be honest, I think I prefer Resolve of these two, though my favourite of theirs is Wheels. I’ve written about that one before so went for something different today.
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I watched their Glastonbury gig on TV. It was great 🤗
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Likewise! They live streamed the warm up gig on their Facebook page, and that was fantastic too, all the better for being a surprise 😊
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Everlong is a very pleasant song, Clive and I enjoyed listening to Resolve also. Glastonbury has had 15 concerts, which one did you go to?
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Thanks, Jim, I like them both too.
15? This year’s will be the 37th! I’ve only ever seen it on tv, never experienced it live. I was referring in the post to the 2017 event. To be honest, I’ve always preferred indoor acoustics for gigs, and you don’t get wet and muddy either!
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