Frances
Second Class Scout
Posts: 35
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Post by Frances on Feb 18, 2018 14:19:13 GMT -5
Which Replacements/PW songs have helped you the most over the years (or now)?
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Post by anarkissed on Feb 18, 2018 16:26:25 GMT -5
"Unsatisfied"...It's actually a pretty depressing song, but it's that whole thing about realizing other people feel this way, too..."Swingin Party"..."I.O.U."...
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Post by con on Feb 18, 2018 17:44:00 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing Frances, and welcome! You’re not alone — I think Paul’s music can definitely be a kind of balm. And he knows it. I remember an interview where he talks about (because of stage lights) only being able to see the loudmouths up front during “Skyway” or something, when the sensitive ones are hanging in the back, in the dark, and wanting to say “hey we wrote this for you!” I return over and over again to “Swinging Party,” “23 Years Ago,” “Things,” “What a Day (For a Night),” “Good Day,” “Lush and Green,” “Ghost on the Canvas,” and, a lot lately, “Hands Together” from the Wild Stab record. All of Stereo, too. Nothing like Paul and the ‘Mats, for me, when ya need to really feel something. |
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Post by holeinthedrapes on Feb 18, 2018 21:12:33 GMT -5
Once Around the Wwekend has always struck me. When it first came up it struck me as a really honest song about trying to sober up. At the time, as a single and completely unattached man, it just struck me for Paul. But as I've gotten older and had times where I really wanted a beer or twelve but knew I probably shouldn't, it has struck me on a more personal level. Not that I am an alcoholic, but there are times where you can see that road taking shape before you and you know you need to do something else to veer away. Sweeping the floor is as good as any other distraction.
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bside
Star Scout
Posts: 356
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Post by bside on Feb 19, 2018 16:44:42 GMT -5
This song (and this live version) has always helped to lift my mood. Maybe not specifically thematically, although it's a beautiful song that turns from love to melancholy, but that groove always makes me so happy. I don't think Paul's done anything like it since.
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Post by rosecity409 on Feb 19, 2018 22:19:02 GMT -5
"Things" definitely gets me sometimes. "If Only You Were Lonely" often hits pretty close to home. I find it very relatable...the alcoholic's desperation, the honest and self deprecating humor and charm. A song I fucken wish I wrote. Mostly Westerberg's very depressing songs help me out. Makes things feel a bit less lonesome. "How Can You Like Him" helped me through some breakups, as well as "Ain't Got Me." I mean, shit, Replacements and Westerberg have helped me through, or at least given me some solace, in my toughest times-of which there have been many.
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Post by anarkissed on Feb 19, 2018 22:37:22 GMT -5
"King of America"..."First Glimmer" isn't really a "help me" song, but if I had written a song about the first girl I ever loved, it would be that...It is perfect, down to the safety pins and purple mascara...
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Post by curmudgeonman on Feb 19, 2018 23:04:50 GMT -5
When my father died in the late 90s, "Angels Walk" was very helpful for me at the time. It wasn't particularly a favorite, and even now I don't listen to it much, but at the time, it was much needed.
Listening to the song in later years still reminded me of that period in my life, perhaps explaining my lack of desire to play it nowadays.
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Post by raccoon on Feb 22, 2018 22:55:32 GMT -5
Can I go the opposite way just because I'm a contrary s.o.b.? For me, I have to file 'all that I had' under Paul songs that almost killed me. (This is a lie. I almost killed me with my lifestyle at the time) :
Me and yesterday hopped on a track
I swear to God neither of us ever coming back
And I gave all that I had
It’s taken some bad times to show me
I gave all that I had
It’s taken some bad times to show me
I’m doing fine
I’m doing fine
And I gave all that I can
Every time
Didn’t follow my dreams
I lost the map
I live my fantasy instead
Till I found it was a trap
Gave a life, got a living
Hey that’s all right
All is forgiven
I was not doing fine. This song still punches me right in the gut. And you know what? I love it anyway.
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Post by leftofthedial09 on Feb 25, 2018 21:51:04 GMT -5
Can I go the opposite way just because I'm a contrary s.o.b.? For me, I have to file 'all that I had' under Paul songs that almost killed me. (This is a lie. I almost killed me with my lifestyle at the time) : Me and yesterday hopped on a track I swear to God neither of us ever coming back And I gave all that I had It’s taken some bad times to show me I gave all that I had It’s taken some bad times to show me I’m doing fine I’m doing fine And I gave all that I can Every time Didn’t follow my dreams I lost the map I live my fantasy instead Till I found it was a trap Gave a life, got a living Hey that’s all right All is forgiven I was not doing fine. This song still punches me right in the gut. And you know what? I love it anyway. I like that one too. |
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Post by towilmusic on Feb 25, 2018 22:29:37 GMT -5
Glenn Campbell's version of "Sadly Beautiful" after losing my mother 6 months ago...
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Post by FreeRider on Feb 26, 2018 11:46:19 GMT -5
There are a lot of songs I can identify with, songs that speak to me. But the songs that helped me through some emotional tough times were, oddly enough, the songs that were the least talked about.
The Last and Only Lie Worth Telling.
It wasn't so much as they comforted me as it allowed me to wallow in self pity and emotional self indulgence. Which pretty much acted as a great catharsis to finally just get rid of all the sadness, anger about the sting of rejection and how much it hurts when love disappears on you.
Or in the case of Only Lie Worth Telling, a sour break up where your liar of an ex still wants to be friends with you and only "loves you as only as a friend". She's moved on and you're left staring into space, yet, she won't let you heal because she keeps wanting to talk to you. Paul really nailed it with this one, at least for me.
If you need someone
To tell everything you've done
Then lie to me
I'm the one who can attempt to be your friend
If you need someone
To tell everything you've done
Then lie to me
I'm the one who can still pretend
You lied enough
Open wide enough
To drive a truck straight like a knife...
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Post by teddinard on Feb 26, 2018 18:50:04 GMT -5
Not quite a "tough times" song, but I find "I'll Be You," of all things, helps me out quite a lot.
The mix of boredom, defeated ambition, who gives a shit, and overall self-absorption is uniquely Mats/PW.
And then the way he deals with it is to reach out to another person--"if it's just a game / then let's hold hands just the same."
And then the total switch, "you be me for a while / and I'll be you," makes the need for a connection with somebody else seem almost like a joke. But not really.
My life in a nutshell.
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Post by bigbak on Apr 29, 2018 14:15:51 GMT -5
The Last, I'm In Trouble, Answering Machine, Within My Reach, Here Comes A Regular, AAA, Things, Anywhere's Better Than Here, Knockin' Em Back...pretty much the entire catalog.
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