This I Love - discussion/comments

[King Axl]

50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To

March 13, 2009

Esquire magazine's annual guide to music shares their favorite new (and sort of new) songs they like. Simple as that. Heard 'em all?

24. "This I Love," Guns N' Roses (Chinese Democracy)
Because on this song, more than any other on Chinese Democracy, Axl is Axl. And that's all we've been waiting for the last fifteen years.

http://www.esquire.com/features/music/best-new-songs-0409

Yeah, I've been hoping the label will release it as a single. I think it's time to forget about a video/official single for "Better" and move on to one of the ballads. Hopefully, "This I Love" would be chosen over "Street Of Dreams".

[Annie]

50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To

March 13, 2009

Esquire magazine's annual guide to music shares their favorite new (and sort of new) songs they like. Simple as that. Heard 'em all?

24. "This I Love," Guns N' Roses (Chinese Democracy)
Because on this song, more than any other on Chinese Democracy, Axl is Axl. And that's all we've been waiting for the last fifteen years.

http://www.esquire.com/features/music/best-new-songs-0409

That is so totally awesome!

[carmiedisco12]

My opinion varies every time I hear it. I cant decide if its a beautiful heartfelt song that moves me or a cheesy 'jump the shark ' moment that is everthing that exemplifies why GNR died (in the eyes of many)

Truthfully it's prob both.

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

[LunsJail]

My opinion varies every time I hear it. I cant decide if its a beautiful heartfelt song that moves me or a cheesy 'jump the shark ' moment that is everthing that exemplifies why GNR died (in the eyes of many)

Truthfully it's prob both.

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

You explained exactly why I don't care for it. CHEESE!

[Mal Brossard]

My opinion varies every time I hear it. I cant decide if its a beautiful heartfelt song that moves me or a cheesy 'jump the shark ' moment that is everthing that exemplifies why GNR died (in the eyes of many)

Truthfully it's prob both.

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

You explained exactly why I don't care for it. CHEESE!

I second that.  Some songs get better the more I listen to them.  This is one of the few that for me just gets worse and worse.

[ppbebe]

to arouse a storm of praise and criticism, isn't it quite rare for a ballad?

50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To

March 13, 2009

Esquire magazine's annual guide to music shares their favorite new (and sort of new) songs they like. Simple as that. Heard 'em all?

24. "This I Love," Guns N' Roses (Chinese Democracy)
Because on this song, more than any other on Chinese Democracy, Axl is Axl. And that's all we've been waiting for the last fifteen years.

http://www.esquire.com/features/music/best-new-songs-0409

intriguing list. No rock band before GNR.

[crow316]

for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

For me, its the solo that saves the song.  Cliched lyrics with awesome vocals followed by the best solo on the album.

[ppbebe]

for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

For me, its the solo that saves the song.  Cliched lyrics with awesome vocals followed by the best solo on the album.

word. there's the most exquisite balance in there.

[seely]

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

Wow, really? I think Ficks solo on TIL is one of the highlights of the album

[CheapJon]

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

Wow, really? I think Ficks solo on TIL is one of the highlights of the album

yup, absolutely 

[Voodoochild]

Not only that, but theres NO out of tune guitar there. This was really an ignorant statement.

[russtcb]

I for one love it, despite it's obvious cheesiness. but Finck SUCKS though , my God how he ruined it......that out of tune butchering of a guitar, oh the pain hahah......other than that it;s a mesmerising ,  gorgeous song that's cheesy as hell but great

Wow, really? I think Ficks solo on TIL is one of the highlights of the album

You think that because it is. There's nothing "out of tune" about the solo.

[Jim Bob]

yup easily the guitar highlight of the album for me. 

[MeanBone]

very heartfelt... a totally more intimate side to Axl and a brutal and raw solo by robin, kind of reminds me of Achilles last Stand 4 minute mark solo from Zeppelin

[draguns]

I like the solo on this song!  I think it saves the song in a lot of ways. Although I'm not a fan  of this song, it is starting to grow on me just a little bit.

[jacdaniel]

I dont think it would make the greatest single.  SOD is more poppy and mainstream.

[downzy56]

Singles generally follow a set structure with obvious exceptions (November Rain).  Rarely do singles lack a proper verse, bridge, chorus arraignment. 


Whereas This I Love does have a proper chorus, Street of Dreams is such an unstructured song that it wouldn't work for radio.  Radio singles require something that's easily and quicly discernible. 

That said, neither would really work as a single in my opinion.  Street of Dreams does not work for radio programing and This I Love is so out of left field I'm not sure it would catch on.  It hasn't been since the Lion King that a Broadway-styled song performed well on the radio charts.  And make no bones about it, this is a broadway show tune through and through. 

The other problem with the song is that doesn't have much of the bad-ass swagger that previous GNR ballads had.  November Rain, Don't Cry, Patience all had an attitude about themselves; a vibe that said that the authors could give a fuck if it's a slow song; we're still going to fuck you up.  I don't get that from This I Love.  While I applaud Axl's attempt to try something for new, for me, it misses it's mark as a GNR song.  The piano is too Hallmark "movie of the week," the lyrics yearn to be sung by the Phantom, and the arraignment contains little to no GNR attitude. 

For me, the final stand in terms of singles is There Was A Time.  Cut a radio edit and sell it like a November Rain/Estranged style song.  It's the only song on the album that for me embodies the spirit of what GNR once was.  There's a feeling on TWAT that makes me want to return to the place where the "grass is green and the girls are pretty."

But this is just one man's opinion.

Cheers,

Andrew

[LunsJail]

I don't see it as a single either. Who's going to play it? Rock radio? A lot of these radio guys have it out for Axl anyway and this song would get laughed right off the air.

[younggunner]

I think TIL will work for all the opposite reasons you are giving. Its not the traditional ballad but thats a good thing. This band needs to take chances. Why release another generic rock ballad when you have created a more modern, fresh, unique rock ballad?

They need to take chances. What do they have to lose?  Its a song that can not only be played on rock stations but pop stations as well. Such as Z100 here in NY. It has the potential to get the attention of many different listeners. The Blues does not.

Radio is dead now anyways. Krock here in NY folded because they werent generating any money. What does that tell you? And they were CD's biggest supporters in the area. So GNR is going to have a tough time here in NY in terms of getting the music out there.

TIL can be played on 2 of NY's biggest radio stations. q104.3(classic rock)..and Z100 (teen girl stuff)...if TIL is a success on either station than GNR will see a significant bump in sales.

If they dont release TIL then they have no balls.

[Annie]

Singles generally follow a set structure with obvious exceptions (November Rain).  Rarely do singles lack a proper verse, bridge, chorus arraignment. 


Whereas This I Love does have a proper chorus, Street of Dreams is such an unstructured song that it wouldn't work for radio.  Radio singles require something that's easily and quicly discernible. 

That said, neither would really work as a single in my opinion.  Street of Dreams does not work for radio programing and This I Love is so out of left field I'm not sure it would catch on.  It hasn't been since the Lion King that a Broadway-styled song performed well on the radio charts.  And make no bones about it, this is a broadway show tune through and through. 

The other problem with the song is that doesn't have much of the bad-ass swagger that previous GNR ballads had.  November Rain, Don't Cry, Patience all had an attitude about themselves; a vibe that said that the authors could give a fuck if it's a slow song; we're still going to fuck you up.  I don't get that from This I Love.  While I applaud Axl's attempt to try something for new, for me, it misses it's mark as a GNR song.  The piano is too Hallmark "movie of the week," the lyrics yearn to be sung by the Phantom, and the arraignment contains little to no GNR attitude. 

For me, the final stand in terms of singles is There Was A Time.  Cut a radio edit and sell it like a November Rain/Estranged style song.  It's the only song on the album that for me embodies the spirit of what GNR once was.  There's a feeling on TWAT that makes me want to return to the place where the "grass is green and the girls are pretty."

But this is just one man's opinion.

Cheers,

Andrew

Very interesting critique. TIL does remind me of Music of the Night and Defy Gravity which are 2 great Broadway songs. I adored LION KING. I still think TIL would be perfect for THE NEW MOON movie soundtrack, and it could snag Axl an Academy Award nomination and introduce GNR to a whole new fanbase.