The Flashback: #12 - Madagascar

[Spirit]

Heard the RIR III version first, and it quickly became my favorite of the new songs we had heard at that point.

This one got me really excited about what to come next for GNR, and I think the song itself held up good on the album.

It's been a while since they last played it live I think, hopefully this one returns to the set lists in the future. Got to hear it live myself though.

Bucket's solo is great, one of the highlights from RIR III imo. Last time we saw Axl with a guitar in hand as well...

Although I love Axl's backing vocals on the album, I think it would have been interesting to hear Robin doing them as he did live, a little rawer.

I still listen quite a lot to this one.

[D-GenerationX]

The RIR III version is still one of my most listened to GNR songs, period.

Really don't play the one from the album all that much.

Solid tune though.  A signature song for the new band, I think.

[TheBaconman]

The RIR III version is still one of my most listened to GNR songs, period.

Really don't play the one from the album all that much.

Solid tune though.  A signature song for the new band, I think.

I totally agree

Still one of my fav guns songs and it is my second fav from the album

But I do wish the album version came closer to the rnr version.

And yes.   More Robin on backing vocals is always a good thing

[HBK]

I Remember MTV 2002

 

[LIGuns]

Madagascar and TWAT are epic ballads that fit alongside much of the UYI set...Jot sure why "What we have here...." Was included...Great song though..

[sky dog]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

[D-GenerationX]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

[EmilyGNR]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

Playing guitar is awkward to you,  or is this just another case of you taking any opportunity to deride and demean any and all aspects of GNR in your desperate attempt to compensate for your sad little life?

[D-GenerationX]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

Playing guitar is awkward to you,  or is this just another case of you taking any opportunity to deride and demean any and all aspects of GNR in your desperate attempt to compensate for your sad little life?

So...anything on the song, or.....?

[Bodhi]

Was definitely my favorite new song when I first heard them play it at Rock N Rio and I also really enjoyed the album version.  One of my top 5 on CD for sure.

[EmilyGNR]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

Playing guitar is awkward to you,  or is this just another case of you taking any opportunity to deride and demean any and all aspects of GNR in your desperate attempt to compensate for your sad little life?

So...anything on the song, or.....?

Actually it is a favorite along with Sorry and Prostitute

[AtariLegend]

This was one of my favorite G'nR tracks the first time I heard it.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought there used to be a audio section with a small selection of downloads on the main page with Madagascar Rio or Boston listed. Either-way Madagascar was the reason I first registered to HTGTH many a year ago.

[rebelhipi]

This is the first Chinese track i have ever heard, this was around early 2006. And i think it was the live version from Boston 2002 which blew my mind and still i prefer that version over the studio one, or any other live version.

Anyway this is a track that works better live i think. This is the only song on the album that i was disappointed with the final product. I dont know what or why but its missing something.

My favorite part is the breakdown with the sampled beat, Martin Luther King speech, you know the deal.

I agree that Robins backing vocals were top notch stuff.

[mortismurphy]

It is one of the definite highlights but the Rio 3 version for me, or any other live version from 2002. They made an absolute mess of the released studio version. When Axl played it at Rio 3 it was the moment that boded so well for cd. This was the song everybody was talking about as I remember. I think it seemed to justify that statement about ''Physical Graffiti remixed by Trent Reznor'' best of all the leaked tracks. But I would only listen to the Rio 3 version these days.

[C0ma]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

Playing guitar is awkward to you,  or is this just another case of you taking any opportunity to deride and demean any and all aspects of GNR in your desperate attempt to compensate for your sad little life?

Who has the sad life that they need to immediately respond to every potentially negative comment made about a member of the band...Just because someone is a fan of the band that doesn't mean they need to blindly love everything. They can question decisions, question band members style, dislike songs, dislike members, dislike set lists.

If there wasn't debate of any kind (I agree some goes too far) this would be a pretty boring place. Personally I would rather a little debate than to have every one here act like the construction worker from the Lego Movie and sing 'Everything is Awesome' every time we get a sliver of news.

Back on topic 'sort of'... My first memory of Madagascar is also RIR, while I loved the song I took two things from that show:

1. Axl should have retired his guitar playing after Dead Horse (it did look awkward, No Emily plying guitar isn't awkward, Axl playing guitar while doing his signature snake dance is awkward).
2. I wasn't crazy about the overdub section of the song especially the recycling of the Cool Hand Luke audio. This became my one pet peeves on the album was what I felt was an overuse of 'filler audio'. One of the things in time that I would love to see is a re-release of CD that is done sort of like The Beatles album 'Let it Be Naked' where they stripped back a lot of the Phil Spector over production. 

[TheBaconman]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

I would say it was awkard, just in the sence we where not used to seeing Axl play guitar.

I get the same feeling when I watch old Queen footage and Freddie breaks out the guitar for a few songs....   Just seems out of place. 

But just because its looks different, doesnt make it a bad thing.  And I dont think you were saying it was a bad thing.

The only prpblem I have with Axl playing guitar on the live version of this song is, it really doesnt add anything to the song.  Where is in the start of the song Dead Horse you can tell what he is doing.   In this live version if you took his guitar work out, would it make a difference.

[rebelhipi]

My sentiments exactly Spirit.....however, I could have done without Axl's little guitar moment. 

Hahaha

That just looked so awkward.

I would say it was awkard, just in the sence we where not used to seeing Axl play guitar.

I get the same feeling when I watch old Queen footage and Freddie breaks out the guitar for a few songs....   Just seems out of place. 

But just because its looks different, doesnt make it a bad thing.  And I dont think you were saying it was a bad thing.

The only prpblem I have with Axl playing guitar on the live version of this song is, it really doesnt add anything to the song.  Where is in the start of the song Dead Horse you can tell what he is doing.   In this live version if you took his guitar work out, would it make a difference.

Yeah, the only thing that made it look awkward is that there was already three guitar players and  you couldnt hear Axls one.
Remember that Axl plays guitar on the studio version too.

[sky dog]

I think I may have a guitar part on the album version. 

[D-GenerationX]

I would say it was awkard, just in the sence we where not used to seeing Axl play guitar.

I get the same feeling when I watch old Queen footage and Freddie breaks out the guitar for a few songs....   Just seems out of place. 

But just because its looks different, doesnt make it a bad thing.  And I dont think you were saying it was a bad thing.

The only prpblem I have with Axl playing guitar on the live version of this song is, it really doesnt add anything to the song.  Where is in the start of the song Dead Horse you can tell what he is doing.   In this live version if you took his guitar work out, would it make a difference.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was getting at.

[rebelhipi]

I think Madagascar is a classic guns song.

If someone would put out a greatest hits album Madagascar should be in it.