The Flashback: *BONUS* - Oh My God

[Spirit]

So, what can I say about this track...

To be honest, I couldn't quite know what to make of it when I first heard it. The guitar sound was waaay different and there was lots and lots of synth effects. Axl's voice was filtered and EQ'ed vastly different from traditional GN'R songs. I wasn't into it when I first heard it.

Some time after, when they performed it live, I think they got a little more rock sound out of it and I liked those performances. Sadly they haven't played it since the early 2000s.

Then, I must say for me personally and lots and lots of fans I believe, this song has grown slowly and steady towards being quite a popular GN'R song. It's not just the music and melody, but the lyrics... Yes, I don't think many will be shocked and outraged if I say that these are the greatest lyrics Axl's ever written, I think they're perfect.

So today, I would love to see a re-release. Maybe included on a single or a compilation album with both the first released version and the re-worked one, I think this one deserves another shot at being a popular song amongst the great masses of fans. I think many people listened to this one back in 1999 and didn't like it, and then totally discarded it and never listened again. I almost did the same, I'm glad I didn't.

[Bodhi]

Loved it the second I heard it.  First it was amazing because it was a new Guns N Roses song, and for those of us who were fans in the mid 90's I don't think I need to explain how awesome it was when this came out.

My favorite thing about it is that it is not a "rock n roll" song.  Been there, done that.   This was a whole new sound and it was a breath of fresh air.  That is also not a very popular opinion amongst GNR fans, but I was 10 when the "illusions" came out and those were the first CDs I ever owned.  So my generation of music is really late 90's into 2000's,  But the reason GNR are my favorite band is because their records while they probably fall under the same category of bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and AC/DC didn't sound anything like them to me.  Those bands as great as they are always sound a little old fashioned to me.  GNR's records on the other hand sound like they could have been recorded yesterday.  "Oh My God" was exciting to me because it was official proof the band was moving forward and it wasn't going to try to recreate what has already been done.

[LongGoneDay]

Love it.
Alone musically it doesn?t excite, but serves as the perfect vehicle for Axl?s most impressive post Illusions lyrics and vocals.
I?ve said it a few times, but always thought Oh My God was the song Trent Reznor has been trying his whole career to craft.
Doesn?t sound like Guns, but speaks to Axl?s brilliance that he could essentially delve into another genre and sound right at home.

[GnR-NOW]

I really enjoyed the live version from RIR 3

[norway]

The song that reignited my enthusiasm for gnr. I was so hyped lol

[jarmo]

It made me watch that awful movie, End Of Days...... 

Love the track. It was pretty perfect at the time. With all the rumors of GN'R going techno and all that.



/jarmo

[DeN]

very good Paul/Axl collaboration, solid track, it was surprising at the time for GNR
to turn Indus, well, less if you remembered My World.

I was surprised too when I see that the musical direction was very different on
CD, but well, different line-up, different songwriting and sound

hope to see a more recent version of this song one day

[Ginger King]

very good Paul/Axl collaboration, solid track, it was surprising at the time for GNR
to turn Indus, well, less if you remembered My World.

I was surprised too when I see that the musical direction was very different on
CD, but well, different line-up, different songwriting and sound

hope to see a more recent version of this song one day

I really like this song.  Perfect late 90's industrial rocker.  I think it captured Axl's vision for the new band, and it really shows the progression of Guns.  Wished it would've made it on the album (fingers crossed it makes the next one) and hope it gets added to the setlist. 

[reayj2003]

Love it! Who actually played on the track?

Wish they were dropping a new song into the new terminator film this year. That would of rocked.

[hunter80]

This track grew on me and I love it now. The lyrics are awesome and the band is on fire. I really hope someday we get to hear this era of the band.

[norway]

 

Who actually played on the track?

"Musically the song was primarily written by Paul Huge over two years ago, with Dizzy Reed writing the musical hook of the chorus. Former member Duff McKagan as well as former employee Matt Sorum failed to see its potential and showed no interest in exploring, let alone recording the piece. When the demos were played for the new band, Josh, Tommy and Robin were as they say 'all over it.'

"Once the opportunity was presented, the song was given priority in our recording process. As the verse, performance and lyrics were decided on, for us (that especially includes Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine) the choice became obvious. We were more than pleased Mr. Roswell (the film's music supervisor) agreed! Our thanks to Arnold and all for the consideration - it is an association in which we have always felt honored.

"Paul Huge, Gary Sunshine and Dave Navarro appear on the song as well as Robin Finck. Robin's part was written by Paul and extensively manipulated by our producer, Sean Beaven. Robin was not involved in the writing of the final recording though did participate in the arrangement. All lyrics were written by myself. Additional programming (jack boots, screeching tires, etc.) was by Stuart White.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=170

[TheBaconman]

It is a fun/cool track

I remember hearing it debuted on my local radio station to great hype and then to mixed reviews with people calling in.  Guns was very very huge still at the time.  And if a album came out around this tracks release jt would of sold huge

Love the rock n rio performance!!   Wish they would break out the song more!   Interested in any remix version of the song

[DeN]

there was a commercial at the MTV VMA 99 but I can't find it

[LIGuns]

Was so so about for many years..Than I heard it at the HOB New Years show and couldn't wait to get home to listen to he End of Days soundtrack...Been a fan since..

[GnR-NOW]

It made me watch that awful movie, End Of Days...... 

Love the track. It was pretty perfect at the time. With all the rumors of GN'R going techno and all that.



/jarmo

The film wasn't terrible, it was a 1999 Arnold action flick lol

[DeN]

yeah and you had to watch the whole thing + the end(less) credits to listen to the track 

[Rainfox]

I'll echo Jarmo. Absolutely love the track.

Everything about it really.

The melody is insanely cool - the instrumental by itself a thrill - and Axl is vocally perfect (effects and all). The lyrics are some of Axl's best (from a strong list).

I really hope they play this live again some day.

[AxlsMainMan]

It made me watch that awful movie, End Of Days...... 

Love the track. It was pretty perfect at the time. With all the rumors of GN'R going techno and all that.



/jarmo

The film was terrible, it was a 1999 Arnold action flick lol

It had it's moments. Gabriel Byrne as the Devil was pretty sweet

[GnR-NOW]

I re-edited my post, meant to say it wasn't terrible. I enjoyed it

[TheBaconman]

From the responses here I would put this song as one of the crowd favorites for the new era

The responce would probabably be even greater if the song was released again on a official album.

Either way

I would love to hear it live again   

In person

Or as the cheapos would say.......    On a bootleg