Madagascar

[younggunner]

Does anybody else find the quotes, especially the MLK ones, more than a little pretentious?

Not really..it tells a story...its not there because they wnated to do something with samples...its there for a reason and to tell a story. Just because Gnr does stuff doesnt mean its pretentius or self absorbed....but whatever.

[Booker Floyd]

Just because Gnr does stuff doesnt mean its pretentius or self absorbed....but whatever.

Its not exactly "stuff-doing" I find pretentious...its taking those indelible quotes pertaining to something as real and important as civil rights struggles and sampling them for a song that isnt even about that subject (not that it would be much better if it was).  It just doesnt feel right, and comes off as pretentious to me.  I dont care about the other quotes so much, its the MLK ones that give that impression.

[jarmo]

The quotes are part of the HTGTH FAQ.



/jarmo

[younggunner]

its taking those indelible quotes pertaining to something as real and important as civil rights struggles and sampling them for a song that isnt even about that subject

So if the song was directly talking about civil rights it would be ok? It has an indirect meaning. The song has many interpretations and thats why its awesome. It could be applied to ones life or to gnrs situation....thats why the quotes work and tell a story....

[badgirl]

Just because Gnr does stuff doesnt mean its pretentius or self absorbed....but whatever.

Its not exactly "stuff-doing" I find pretentious...its taking those indelible quotes pertaining to something as real and important as civil rights struggles and sampling them for a song that isnt even about that subject (not that it would be much better if it was).  It just doesnt feel right, and comes off as pretentious to me.  I dont care about the other quotes so much, its the MLK ones that give that impression.

I absolutely agree Booker. I still love the song though.  

[Booker Floyd]

So if the song was directly talking about civil rights it would be ok?

Guess you didnt read my post?

...sampling them for a song that isnt even about that subject (not that it would be much better if it was).

It has an indirect meaning. The song has many interpretations and thats why its awesome. It could be applied to ones life or to gnrs situation....thats why the quotes work and tell a story....

I didnt say anything about the lyrics or the song itself, which are both great.  Its the use of MLK quotes which, story or not, come off as pretentious.  Not a big deal - I dont have any moral obkections to it or anything, just an observation.

[Fuckin' Gunner]

NewGnR.com did a deconstruct of all the quotes, where they came from and what they possibly mean alone and in context originally and in the song and it's like, Axl thought more about that one song then VR have about their whole album. Which isn't a criticism of their methods, just another reason to get off Axl's back.

Yeah... this one is very real. He seems to care about every second of music on Chinese Democracy.

[SLCPUNK]

The song is good. Not great IMHO.

I like the MLK quotes though.  

Those don't come cheap, as the MLK family makes people pay dearly for any of his work.

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

The post in the other madagascar thread just kinda made it dawn on me - he had to get permission to use them from MLK's family... even had to pay for the right to use 'em.  So, I'm thinking if anyone is gonna be the judge of what is 'beneath' using them - it's gotta be his family.  They must have had to find it appropriate.  Its not like we hear quotes from MLK's speeches in sneaker adverstisements.  

Not that that precludes whether anyone else might find them to be too 'sacred'.

[Malcolm]

These r both prolly my two faviourite gnr songs...i love madagascar its amazing

[Axl4Prez2004]

   How can anyone not like MLK quotes?  Are they insane???  And yes, I remember watching a 60 Minutes piece on the MLK family demanding royalties from all of the entertainment industry for using likeness, images, and quotations.  I can't say that I blame them.  

Maddy rocks, and MLK's quotes are awesome.

[triple]

The song is good. Not great IMHO.

i disagree, it HAD a potential to become big

[TyRod Tulip]

I disagree.  This is supposed to be Rock and Roll and IMO those quotes are gay.  Just Ilike think thoat shit at the end of Breakdown is gay.  Adding a little quote , ala Civil War, is fine.  But to do a 1 minute piecing together of various quotes makes the song weaker, not stronger.

the song would be brilliant if he didn't have the quotes.  I haven't listened to the song more than 15-20 times because of those quotes.  Definately the weakest of all the post Slash songs except silkworms.  

That's just my opinion.  Give me 10 OMGs or CDs and leave the damn gimmicks out of it.

-TyRod-

p.s.  I think that anyone that thinks Axl is slaving day in and day out to perfect this album is nuts.  My bet is that he goes long streatches without even touching it.  How else do you explain the crazy length of time it has taken him?  I just hop ethat Maddy and The Blues are hte two worst sonmgs on the album.  They better be for the amountof time this is taking.

[Miz]

I disagree.  This is supposed to be Rock and Roll...

Says who?  GN'R were a rock n roll band.  GN'R now are just....well....who knows...we've heard about 6 songs and none of them would fit into the same genre and none of them would be classed as rock n roll...

[triple]

I just hop ethat Maddy and The Blues are hte two worst sonmgs on the album.  

well good for you then

[TyRod Tulip]

Good point.  Let me rephrase.

I want GNR to be a Rock & Roll band.  I want GNR to be GNR.  I don't want anything too electronic or synthisized.  I don't want anything over-produced.  I want AFD for 2004.  I want something that is felt and not learned.

That is just me.  So from that perspective, my opinion stands as previously stated.

-TyRod-

[triple]

Good point.  Let me rephrase.

I want GNR to be a Rock & Roll band.  I want GNR to be GNR.  I don't want anything too electronic or synthisized.  I don't want anything over-produced.  I want AFD for 2004.  I want something that is felt and not learned.

That is just me.  So from that perspective, my opinion stands as previously stated.

-TyRod-

yeah, you said it right, its 2004 now

[D]

Maddy especially the MSG version is an unbelievable amazing song that is highly under rated and under appreciated by all GNR fans cause they cant get past the "MLK" quotes

Now buddy, that's a bit of a generalization don't you think?

On this board...I can't actually remember many people at all finding fault with the quotes.

We did a deconstruction over here on the old board, I wish that we still had the thread, it's a very layered song and one of the best I've heard in the last few years.

oops sorry used illusions i was aiming at all gnr fans that dont like the quotes not all gnr fans in general

my fault i shouldve clarified that better!

my mistake!

[TyRod Tulip]

its just my opinion, thats all

i want 1989 gnr, is that so bad?

i hate electronic mucis, is that so bad?

just my opinion, not anyone elses

[dave-gnfnr2k]

i cringe everytime someone says "i love maddy but i hate martin luther king quotes"

there are what 2 or 3 mlk quotes?

but all people remember is the mlk shit and it pisses me off

that song is an ingenius work of art

the quotes tell a story, the quotes arent there for shits and giggles they have a meaning, and i think its an awesome innovative way to express a song that no one has ever done b4, take a bunch of different quotes, put them together in a way that tells a story'

no wonder its taking axl so long to record CD

u have any clue how long it must have took to find all those quotes and piece them together like that?

i bet that took a long ass time just for that

i think axl is taking extra special care of each song and is making sure each one has brilliant ideas, instead of making half a dozen kick ass songs and putting good but filler tracks for the rest of the album

Maddy especially the MSG version is an unbelievable amazing song that is highly under rated and under appreciated by all GNR fans cause they cant get past the "MLK" quotes

I agree 100% its not who is saying the quotes, its what is being said.