Song of the Moment: Who You Are

[stip]

old thread archived here

[WaitingForBluey]

Vacationing on the Olympic Peninsula. Sitting on the front porch of the little one room cottage my fam is renting for a few days, staring out at the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Half a bottle of red flowing and a pair of headphones on with the sun setting just perfectly over Dungeness Bay. Then it happens. This song just blows me away. Absolutely brilliant!

Although I have always liked this song and No Code is one of my favorite PJ albums it was always hard not to think of this song as the first single that flopped on the album that flopped. I have often times wondered whether NC would have been received more warmly if they chose a different first single, perhaps Red Mosquito or Smile. But now I realize that it was the perfect first single for NC. It really sets the tone for the whole album. It's got that great "we're gonna do whatever we feel like doing" feel to it, which is PJ at its best. Then the bass line from IMT comes rolling in which just confirms the greatness that I am witnessing. In fact, the whole side A of No Code might go down as PJ's finest moment ever.

[WaitingForBluey]

Just noticed the typo on this thread title. That's just disrespectful man!

[Thejambi]

I don't think the lyrics have anything to do with sex.

[epilogue]

I think that's very astute.

[darth_vedder]

Dammit stip! I know you hate No Code n' all, but

[Jorge]

cool title change

[stip]

fixed

[epilogue]

fixed

Missed opportunity.

[EJ]

Vacationing on the Olympic Peninsula. Sitting on the front porch of the little one room cottage my fam is renting for a few days, staring out at the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Half a bottle of red flowing and a pair of headphones on with the sun setting just perfectly over Dungeness Bay. Then it happens. This song just blows me away. Absolutely brilliant!

Although I have always liked this song and No Code is one of my favorite PJ albums it was always hard not to think of this song as the first single that flopped on the album that flopped. I have often times wondered whether NC would have been received more warmly if they chose a different first single, perhaps Red Mosquito or Smile. But now I realize that it was the perfect first single for NC. It really sets the tone for the whole album. It's got that great "we're gonna do whatever we feel like doing" feel to it, which is PJ at its best. Then the bass line from IMT comes rolling in which just confirms the greatness that I am witnessing. In fact, the whole side A of No Code might go down as PJ's finest moment ever.

Nice post. Jealous of your trip.

When this was released I thought they'd gone off the deep end. I was really upset. Took me awhile to accept this new Pearl Jam. At the time, I would've given this 1 star.

This is now a 5 star PJ song for me. I love everything about it. Quite simply, it makes me feel good. I was shocked and psyched to see this at both 2008 MSG shows. Never thought I'd see this one live.

[WaitingForBluey]

Yea, I was at one of the MSG '08 shows too. Totally stoked when they played this and WMA. Never thought I would ever see both live. Probably my favorite setlist ever. And the backup singers added a nice vibe to those songs.

[mkay0]

Like others, I didn't 'get it' when this first came out. The band being intentional weird and wanting to shrink their audience was annoying to 15 year old me. Now, its possibly the coolest thing they have done. 1996-2003 is unquestionably the stretch of music by the band I enjoy the most now, but I didn't get it when it first started.

'Who You Are' is so weird and fun, and makes the most of their weird, fun drummer they had at the time. Outstanding song, and extra points for the balls it must have taken to put this out as a lead single.

[WaitingForBluey]

When Ed begins his post-PJ solo career he should seriously consider working with Jack Irons again. They brought out the best in each other.

[chewm]

Well, as a new Pearl Jam fan, I didnt even knew about it when it came out so I dont know how it felt to hear something so different as their new single.
Anyways, just like most of no code, I love it, its a really unique song. And it deserves 5 stars from me.

[Kevin Davis]

Listening to the Moline version of this today -- Ed briefly loses his place during the first verse and his attempt to regain his footing sounds amusingly like, "come to send, not condescend, cock in hand, to consequence..."

[Coach]

5 stars....just one of those tunes I love and so unexpected at the time when I heard it first on the radio of all places, but then again it was the 90s.

Yeah, haven't been impressed with the 2014 version....but when they revived this tune a few years back (maybe 2010 or 2012?) I did like the changes made and the tag added.

[Jorge]

that's the moss, en-fucking verse

[tragabigzanda]

Love this song, four stars. Totally flipped for it when it first debuted on the radio, and here's an example of Eddie's spiritual ponderings that still hold up (probably because it's less heavy handed than something like Present Tense).

Too bad Matt overplays on it.

[Chris_H_2]

The last 2 times I've seen this live (Moline and PJ 20) sadly have been complete abortions.

[Pie]

The last 2 times I've seen this live (Moline and PJ 20) sadly have been complete abortions.

Still as pro-choice as ever