The Flashback: #9 - Riad N' The Bedouins

[Spirit]

I know I'm in the minority judging by the comments I've seen about this song over the years, but I think this one kicks ass!

First heard it from the 2001 HOB bootleg, but wasn't such a huge fan of it then, after hearing that version.

The album version I love however, especially the guitar riff and the drumming. Not sure why this song often gets a lot of flack (I'm sure some of you will tell me in this thread ).

Not played live in the 2009-2014 tour run, don't remember if it was ever played in 2006-7... don't think so.

[jazjme]

Wasn't there a copy-write issue , that prevented them from playing it?



* When at the Brooklyn Bowl a bunch of us started yelling Riad, and Ron played the opening riff for us! Does that count!! I actually love the song.

[draguns]

I hated this song.  This is where I don't like the departure of the classic Guns sound.  Too much going on in the song.

[LIGuns]

First heard it at the HOB and felt the beginning was a nod to Immigrant Song...The lyrics were hard to understand due to the fast vocal delivery and being an unfamiliar song, but after listening to this version after CD was released I realized Axl nailed it that night..Cool song overall and should appease those looking froward to straightforward rock tracks..

[hRob]

First heard it at the HOB and felt the beginning was a nod to Immigrant Song...

That's funny, because I always felt like it has sort of a LedZep vibe..maybe the long "aaah"s or something...anyway, it's a pretty good rocker on an album that's full with mid tempo tracks and I have to say I quite like it.

[NaturalLight]

This song is awful

[AdZ]

I wasn't instantly the biggest fan of this track.  I didn't hate it, but at the same time I didn't revisit it that much, but listening on headphones definitely made me appreciate it more.  The amount of guitars on it alone is awesome - my favourite being the phased guitars which are panned really hard left and right.  I also really like the end of the solo which sounds like lasers being fired.

[EmilyGNR]

I know I'm in the minority judging by the comments I've seen about this song over the years, but I think this one kicks ass!

First heard it from the 2001 HOB bootleg, but wasn't such a huge fan of it then, after hearing that version.

The album version I love however, especially the guitar riff and the drumming. Not sure why this song often gets a lot of flack (I'm sure some of you will tell me in this thread ).

Not played live in the 2009-2014 tour run, don't remember if it was ever played in 2006-7... don't think so.

Loving these flashback threads taking it song by song Spirit, was such a good idea for discussion.   

[GNR2014]

The most ambitious track ever released by GNR.
Other-worldly lyrics, complex production, insane guitars everywhere and insane, amazing scream-o vocals from Red.
"Somewhere in time where only Axl can tell" 

[D-GenerationX]

This song is awful

Pretty much.  I think its the weakest track on the album, easily.

It's all over the place.  There is a decent riff in there, I suppose.  But not of it meshes.

This is a Frankenstein Monster tune.  Seems haphazardly cobbled together with spare parts.

[mortismurphy]

Worse than Scraped?

I prefer the version at the house of blues.

[rebelhipi]

First time i heard it was when chinese came out. I was my favourite track of the album for a long time. Today it is in the top 3. And one of my alltime fav gnr tracks. One of the heaviest track too!

The intro is really great. Sampled or not. Sets the mood perfectly. Then the nasty riff. Powerfull drums. Best drum track of the album if you ask me. Great vocals. Then the best part is the synth and the funny guitar noise at 2:43. Then the solo where the band is one fire underneath the solo.

This is great to break in pieces with the rock band multitracks.

My favourite live version is Pukklepop 2002. Last time it was played live was in november 2002.

The riffs are genius i think.

For me its the perfect emotional angry rocker. Ala Zeppelins Achilles Last Stand.

[AdZ]

The intro is really great. Sampled or not. Sets the mood perfectly. Then the nasty riff. Powerfull drums. Best drum track of the album if you ask me. Great vocals. Then the best part is the synth and the funny guitar noise at 2:43. Then the solo where the band is one fire underneath the solo.

Agreed, the drums and the band under the solo are particularly awesome.

[russkwtx]

I am with the majority on this one, or maybe the majority is with me (lol): this song does absolutely nothing for me and although I tried to like it, I cannot. I now hit the skip button every time it plays.

[HBK]

Is Good Song, Live Was Killer