The Flashback: #5 - If The World

[Spirit]

First heard a snippet of this one in the Body Of Lies movie credits.

Maybe the song that deviates the most from the GN'R sound we know so well. A flamenco inspired guitar backed by a slow-paced electronic beat. Electronic bass line as well, quite different indeed.

Not one of my favorite songs on the album, but still I like the song. The lyrics are not the best but intentionally so according to Axl himself, it didn't bother me so much anyways.

I like the fact that they are willing to explore such different sounds, although I must admit I don't hope we'll get an overwhelming amount of songs like this in the future. As a one off, that's just fine.

The best thing about the song is the production because the song really shines when played loud on a high-end stereo. The sounds are crisp and very clear.

Today, not one of my go-to songs when I want to listen to GN'R, but I still play it occasionally.

[rebelhipi]

First time i heard it was the summer 08 leak on youtube. if the world is the only track i remember of that leak, i gave it one maybe two listens. I was rarely listening to leaks, because i knew these are likely demos, or unfinished versions.

I like If the world alot, its not one of the key tracks of the album Nor the best live track. But it makes a damn deeper cut.

What i like about it is that its the shining moments of Chris and Buckethead on the album. Theres also some cool piano licks from Dizzy. Theres all kinds of stuff going on on the Drum tracks. Would be nice to know which parts are played by Brain and which are by Frank.

[Sosso]

I love the 12-string guitar and Bucketheads guitar solo. But I don't really like Bumblefoot's input. Great song anyway!

[(t)]

One of my favorites from ChiDem. I heard it first when I bought the album.

And I think it worked really well live. I was disappointed they weren't playing it by the time I saw them in 2011.

Tokyo '09 monitor mix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQH0kIIFT-s

[AdZ]

I liked this song a lot when I first heard it, sounds fresh and still like a GN'R song without going over the usual ground..  It was really good live too, especially the jammed out ending it's always nice to see a song become less structured in a live setting.  However, as time goes by I find myself coming back to it less and less.

[D-GenerationX]

First time I heard it was the first leak.

Thought it was interesting and different.  Yet it has not sustained my interest over time. 

It never makes any of my playlists.  And when when I am just listening to the album, I always commit to giving it another try, yet will often find myself moving on before the song is even over.

[HBK]

Not My Favorite,,, But, Guitar/Gypsy/Flemish, Great Point + Voice/Axl


 

[Ow-So7411501]

One of my (if not) favorite songs on CD. I think the songs that worked the best were the songs that didnt try to sound like Classic GNR. ITW wand Madagascar work because they sound completley unique.

[LIGuns]

It was one of he songs I originally didn't like..After a few listens, it finally hit me, and now I absolutely love it...The intro is a bit like the DTJ "outro"...

[draguns]

I liked it since it was quite different than the classic Guns sound.

[jarmo]

Just heard If The World played at a party. Very random.




/jarmo

[HBK]

Guns N' Roses - If The World - Porto Alegre 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbPiF8Qai94

kILLER !@!

 

[WaurioRocks]

A nice little song. Gets even better when it's mashed up with slither. 

[Lucky]

would have been sexier with female back vocals instead of axl

[ice cream sand pig]

I tend to show this track to people that have never heard cd yet first because it shows off the richly layered style of the album really well but still has a classic old school vibe to it. Perfect balance of new scool and old school. I don't think I've ever gotten a bad reaction out of this song. The nah nah nah nah part always trips people out ifthe sound system is good enough. Gots to have me some trippy stuff in my music or it ain't much fun for me. Could be because my first favorite album was the wall so that's just the way I was conditioned. Not counting return of the aquabats from when I was like seven.

[CheapJon]

I always find it better than I remember it. It's a pretty cool song actually.

[19AT5]

It's a strange one If The World, but I quite like it. Totally sounds like a Bond theme intro! Also the mash up that some clever dude did on YouTube with Slither by VR is amazing!

[Virolec]

I like it.  It certainly wasn't what I was expecting when I first heard it, but it's grown on me.  I don't think I could listen to an album of music that sounded like that, but it fits very well in Chinese Democracy. 

[Annie]

It's a great song. I actually really liked the movie Body Of Lies as well .Maybe cuz Leo fell in love with a nurse.

[ice cream sand pig]

Such a classic feeling song. Love the funk sounds. Axls voice was so perfect. The nah nah nah nah part that jumps around the speakers and plays with the volume is so trippy. Its priceless. I hope the next album has lots of that kind of thing. Trippy music takes a certain kind of talent to make that seperates the goods from the great in my opinion. Floyd could do it. Zeppelin too. GNR has been very good at it since UYI. Like dont cry... such a trippy song. Its as if it takes place in some ghostly realm. CD was like GNR meets the cosmos with key elements of human nature and the human struggle mixed in. Very full of spirit. Like music from another realm, but still familiar in ways. Reminds me of a forgotten painting from someone's past life sitting in an unknown cellar in the mountains somewhere. Brilliant and resonant with the human experience whether or not anyone is there to witness it. I dont actually believe in past lives, but hopefully you catch my drift.