Why Estranged is so underrated?

[highend88]

Why didn't the song make it to the billboard charts? Did the singles sell well?
It didn't even go on the list of the greatest guitar solos.
Didn't many of GNR fans love estranged? Is it so overproduced? I realized only the "hardcore fans" like it.
Maybe we should have a poll about the song. Reason why people like and dislike it.

For me personally, it is one of the best songs that AXL had written with old GNR.
It had the best guitar and piano solos.
I've listened to so many songs and none had solos better than estranged.

Yet it is so underrated!!

[the dirt]

Maybe because it's considered bloated? 

[makane]

because it's over nine minutes. songs long as this never come real "radio hits".

[anythinggoes]

its more of an album track not a single its the gunners secret epic if it got rammed down everyone throat it may of been a hit plus there isnt a chorus to the song

[pasnow]

I think it's a result of two things.

1. The song is pretty long, and not the amped up motivator that Paradise City is.
2. At the time of it's release, GnR was being overshadowed by 'alternative rock'. You really had to live thru it to understand, but bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, AIC & Smashing Pumpkins were huge from 92-94. And if I'm correct Estranged was one of the latter songs released off UYI, the tides of rock music had shifted by then. I remember only seeing the 'Estranged' video a few times (Something about Axl jumping off a ship) whereas Pearl Jam's Jeremy was being played Non-stop.

[Alina]

I also not realy understant why estranget underrated , its realy beautiful song, every time
I listen to the song the song take my breathe away and make my heart beat very fast .
Estranged one of the most great songs in the world!!!!!!!!!!

[pasnow]

It has stood the test of time very well.

[estrangedpaul]

Maybe because it's considered bloated??

I hate people calling songs bloated. Lots of great artists have done similar stuff but for some reason when GnR did it, it was considered bloated. Bohemian Rhapsody is the most bloated song ever but its still considered one of the best ever. I think maybe the video for Estranged, particularly the dolphins part is why its considered bloated. As a single it was released way too late, too years after the albums, to have any real impact. It's a shame because it is one of the best songs ever. Slash's guitar playing is so unprecedented, so unique, so beautiful, so amazing. That dynamic between piano and guitar was so unique. Still, was it a good idea to put too almost completely different songs together like that? At first I wasn't sure but now I understand it. The song is a journey. It should have closed the IUse Your lllusion II album. It sums up the UYI albums and the love them or hate them attitude people have with them. Chances are if you like this song, you love the Illusions. If not, you probably hate them.

[madagas]

I too think it is a wonderful wonderful song. The video is what is terrible and does hurt the reputation of the song....probably should not have done the video. I too also think it should have finished off UYI2.

[highend88]

because it's over nine minutes. songs long as this never come real "radio hits".

Ok you've made a point. I get it.
So in general the public dislike estranged and prefer to listen to JT, Britney and 50Cents.

I cannot imagine why people nowdays listen to untalented singers.

[kunzerd]

I think it's a result of two things.

1. The song is pretty long, and not the amped up motivator that Paradise City is.
2. At the time of it's release, GnR was being overshadowed by 'alternative rock'. You really had to live thru it to understand, but bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, AIC & Smashing Pumpkins were huge from 92-94. And if I'm correct Estranged was one of the latter songs released off UYI, the tides of rock music had shifted by then. I remember only seeing the 'Estranged' video a few times (Something about Axl jumping off a ship) whereas Pearl Jam's Jeremy was being played Non-stop.

well put, and i totally agree. the newer bands at that time were quickly overshadowing gnr.

estranged was probably the last song released off those albums (if not garden of eden). plus, though november rain was about the same length, november rain was clearly a love song, where estranged is less that, and more like a song of reflection on love and life. that combined with its lack of any repetition (november rain has atleast some vague sense of a chorus) takes away from it ability to be catchy.

[the dirt]

well put, and i totally agree. the newer bands at that time were quickly overshadowing gnr.

Sadly, GNR was one of the only bands of their ilk that could have survived that period.

[kunzerd]

i totally went over why the love song thing was important:

two things make up whats popular (or whats popular can fill three categories):

1) if its heavy enough for most guys to rock to

or

2) if it has a dancable beat

3) or is a love song

(im really over simplifing, but name some hit songs and youll see it fills these requirements in some way: jungle, november rain, brownstone, patience).

this is also why those other hits are hits, even though they suck.

[kunzerd]

well put, and i totally agree. the newer bands at that time were quickly overshadowing gnr.

Sadly, GNR was one of the only bands of their ilk that could have survived that period.

if your talking pregrunge, than yes, they are basically the only one with heavy radio rotation to this day.

grunge era though, no, a lot of those bands (and the bands they later turned into) are still popular, and some still around as popular as ever.

[Origen]

I think if anythink it's overrated from a hardcore fan point of view on the forums.

As for main stream, it didn't go down well for 2 reasons imo,
Grunge was taken over and stadium bands like GnR were dying out.
And the video is totally overblown and alienated alot of people.

[the dirt]

well put, and i totally agree. the newer bands at that time were quickly overshadowing gnr.

Sadly, GNR was one of the only bands of their ilk that could have survived that period.

if your talking pregrunge, than yes, they are basically the only one with heavy radio rotation to this day.

grunge era though, no, a lot of those bands (and the bands they later turned into) are still popular, and some still around as popular as ever.

I still think they could have survived grunge itself if they made a tight to the point record after getting the epic UYI thing out of their systems.

[Skinflick]

Why didn't the song make it to the billboard charts? Did the singles sell well?
It didn't even go on the list of the greatest guitar solos.
Didn't many of GNR fans love estranged? Is it so overproduced? I realized only the "hardcore fans" like it.
Maybe we should have a poll about the song. Reason why people like and dislike it.

For me personally, it is one of the best songs that AXL had written with old GNR.
It had the best guitar and piano solos.
I've listened to so many songs and none had solos better than estranged.

Yet it is so underrated!!

Yeah, Estranged is one of the most original and best songs I have ever heard in my life by any band......someway, somehow...it will be more recognised down the road.

[kunzerd]

well put, and i totally agree. the newer bands at that time were quickly overshadowing gnr.

Sadly, GNR was one of the only bands of their ilk that could have survived that period.

if your talking pregrunge, than yes, they are basically the only one with heavy radio rotation to this day.

grunge era though, no, a lot of those bands (and the bands they later turned into) are still popular, and some still around as popular as ever.

I still think they could have survived grunge itself if they made a tight to the point record after getting the epic UYI thing out of their systems.

they did, it was called the spaghetti incident.

no i think what axl has done is what they shouldve done, change with the times. hope it works out.

[Wooody]

maybe they didnt play that song so often in the US but I remember seing the video for estranged at least 200 million times 

[the dirt]

I still think they could have survived grunge itself if they made a tight to the point record after getting the epic UYI thing out of their systems.

they did, it was called the spaghetti incident.

no i think what axl has done is what they shouldve done, change with the times. hope it works out.

A cover album like that doesn't count, and that was in the works for a while. And one should'nt compromise themselves to change with the times, but to change within yoursef(ves) and within your terms.