“A Song for a Son” reaches milestone 10th performance
November 20th, 2008 by jjbtags: analysis, video, criticism
The surefire hit today pulls down the most outlandish of comparisons from Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald music critic Jeff Pizek:
“A Song for a Son” started on a “Stairway to Heaven” track before swelling upon to a well-developed crescendo - a signature Pumpkins move also displayed Wednesday during “Soma” and “I of the Mourning.”
How much longer can this go on before the song is tossed into the same memory hole where past pop gems such as “Let Me Give the World to You” (total performances: 22), “Chrysanthemum” (4), and “Glorious” (5) rest in silence? Or have things changed, and in the future our bleeping culture will get the chance to embrace a studio version?
Below: This is an illegal video, and I am one of many who don’t care (YouTube)
November 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
It’s a great song… But not very original, perhaps. I was surprised at first that it wasn’t a cover.
But still awesome, particularly when hearing it in person. Definitely a hi-light of the evening when I saw them.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Watching stupidly after already posting… Fuck originality, this song is so great.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
It’s one of the best songs that he’s written since they’ve been back. My guess is the download ep that you get if you go to both nights will contain As Rome Burns, Owata & Song For A Son as part of the multi release concept album thing.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
@Thom - That would be awesome. I’ve been dying to find out what the hell that EP is since I bought my tickets. They e-mailed me weeks ago to tell me it was available and it still isn’t up yet :p
I wonder if the EP is CR-06, which was teased on the official site before it relaunched.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
lyrics are not that great
November 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I’m just happy someone still remembers “Chrysanthemum” and “Glorious”. I’ve often thought what I would say to Corgan if I ever met him. I think I would plead with him to bring those under the Pumpkin banner, that and to give “Apples + Oranjes” a new lease on life.
recaptcha: while traveling
November 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Good lord this song is amazing. Whether it’s poppy or unoriginal or too much like the Pumpkins of the past or whatever, I don’t care. It is just full of emotion and fun to listen to. I don’t hold out much hope of hearing a studio version, though, at least not in its current state.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I really like this song. I like it a lot, it was performed beautifully in Boston.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Pitchfork just made a crazy rant bout the pumpkin shows without even reviewing itthemselves. They just posted a bunch of links to other negative reviews as evidence.
Hilarious. Man, that’s some blinding hatred.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
“I am one of many who don’t care”
But am I three?
Okay, this deserves it…
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November 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Also, this is easily the best song that the new Pumpkins have done IMO, even better than United States perhaps.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:27 am
I would much rather have a studio recording of Owata.
Though I do love this one too, it really builds up very dramatically.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This song is as good as ANYTHING Billy has ever written. I didn’t get it when I heard the acoustic Bridge School performance but the electric version is… electric! This video isn’t the best representation of the song however. His vocals sound a bit shaky here.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Corgan’s voice here is sparkling with emotion. (Beautiful delivery Corgan!) The live performance also shows Corgan acting like a front man of a real band fleshing out new material (providing cues to various members with his whole body). This is really cool to see. A band at work at what they do best…
I think ‘Song for a Son’ helps define what Corgan means by “American Gothic” — it is music that reminds you of a time when music was good and new music mattered.
I am one of many who hopes there are many more [songs like this] to come. (Sorry, too easy to pass up on this fun.)