Song of the Moonlight: In the Moonlight

[epilogue]

In The Moonlight is so... evocative. And sexy. And dark. And haunting. And dangerous. And alive. And covered in fog and promise. Every note just drips. Ed's voice is a play in and of itself. Some of the best lyrics and images in the back half of PJ's catalog, hell, in the entire catalog, for that matter. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I just love it. Sonic orgasms. Every particle of my body responds to In The Moonlight. And in the best way. GODDAMN, I love it so much.

[chewm]

There's something I love about the short solos and lead guitar work on this song. That's what really elevated it for me.

[Strat]

Its jagged. its sexy. The guitar work is so unique to them. Its so matt cameron and its wonderful. Vedder keeps this jagged crunch moving along with a sexy delivery.

[LoathedVermin72]

lol Joey and Strat actually tried to claim a PJ song is sexy

[Norris]

In The Moonlight is so... evocative. And sexy. And dark. And haunting. And dangerous. And alive. And covered in fog and promise. Every note just drips. Ed's voice is a play in and of itself. Some of the best lyrics and images in the back half of PJ's catalog, hell, in the entire catalog, for that matter. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I just love it. Sonic orgasms. Every particle of my body responds to In The Moonlight. And in the best way. GODDAMN, I love it so much.

God you're sexy.

[Strat]

lol Joey and Strat actually tried to claim a PJ song is sexy

I've never hated you more.

[LoathedVermin72]

lol Joey and Strat actually tried to claim a PJ song is sexy

I've never hated you more.

Everyone knows PJ is asexual, get real

[wease]

lol Joey and Strat actually tried to claim a PJ song is sexy

I've never hated you more.

Everyone knows PJ is asexual, get real

Pearl Jam is pangender.

[Kevin Davis]

As years go by this song seems more and more like the bell at the end of "The Polar Express": Many hear it and hear the generic sound of a rusty old bell, but those who can hear it, hear magic. It is one of a very few PJ songs that feels surrounded by a sort of tangible force to me. While there are some Matt Cameron compositional hallmarks throughout, unlike some of his other tunes I don't hear it and think "hmmm, these are interesting time signatures" or "wow, great bridge work," true though those things are; I'm just swept up by its total presence, overcome by all that entails, for better or worse.

This is what I had to say about this song a few years ago, and this is what I still say about it.

I still don't get "In the Moonlight". Why does everyone love it so much?

Magical. Evocative. Atmospheric. Sexy. Full of potent imagery. Ed sounds great. The band sounds great. I think it's a brilliant song.

I love how the slow, almost bluesy grind of the song plays against those ethereal multi-tracked vocals, all breaking in that tension-release chorus -- there's a duality to the song that causes you to feel like you're at once being stalked by something sinister and watched over by some kind of protective angelic force, and it stakes out a rare sonic and emotional space as a result. "A night bird is following you all the time" is one of my favorite images in the PJ canon.

One of my all-time favorite songs. The live version with Josh Homme is perfect.

Re: that last sentence, I'd encourage anyone still on the fence to check that version out for an earthier, less deliberate-sounding take on the song. Homme's ominous falsetto is the perfect foil to Eddie's low baritone, replicating the studio take's after-dark ambiance in a more natural setting. One of the few truly great post-2006 PJ live performances.

Last edited by Kevin Davis on Sat March 11, 2017 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[chewm]

I dont even like Josh Homme and I think that performance is fantastic.

[Jorge]

Its jagged. its sexy.

It makes me feel like a kid

[epilogue]

As years go by the song seems more and more like the bell at the end of "The Polar Express": Many hear it and hear the generic sound of a rusty old bell, but those who can hear it, hear magic. It is one of a very few PJ songs that feels surrounded by a sort of tangible force to me. While there are some Matt Cameron compositional hallmarks throughout, unlike some of his other tunes I don't hear it and think "hmmm, these are interesting time signatures" or "wow, great bridge work," true though those things are; I'm just swept up by its total presence, overcome by all that entails, for better or worse.

This is what I had to say about this song a few years ago, and this is what I still say about it.

I still don't get "In the Moonlight". Why does everyone love it so much?

Magical. Evocative. Atmospheric. Sexy. Full of potent imagery. Ed sounds great. The band sounds great. I think it's a brilliant song.

I love how the slow, almost bluesy grind of the song plays against those ethereal multi-tracked vocals, all breaking in that tension-release chorus -- there's a duality to the song that causes you to feel like you're at once being stalked by something sinister and watched over by some kind of protective angelic force, and it stakes out a rare sonic and emotional space as a result. "A night bird is following you all the time" is one of my favorite images in the PJ canon.

One of my all-time favorite songs. The live version with Josh Homme is perfect.

Re: that last sentence, I'd encourage anyone still on the fence to check that version out for an earthier, less deliberate-sounding take on the song. Homme's ominous falsetto is the perfect foil to Eddie's low baritone, replicating the studio take's after-dark ambiance in a more natural setting. One of the few truly great post-2006 PJ live performances.

YEEEES!

Thank you for this. I was trying to find that post but I couldn't. I hope Trag sees this.

[tragabigzanda]

Saw it. Typically nice writing from KD, and I appreciate the insight, but it's not changing my mind. I don't find the lyrics very interesting, nor the riff. That bridge, though...

[VinylGuy]

Great song...the studio version is flawless and that classic live version with Josh is just....SEXY.

[stip]

Saw it. Typically nice writing from KD, and I appreciate the insight, but it's not changing my mind. I don't find the lyrics very interesting, nor the riff. That bridge, though...

[LoathedVermin72]

Please stop saying sexy

[VinylGuy]

Please stop saying sexy

Man, i was there when they played it with Josh. I would know if it was sexy.

[epilogue]

Saw it. Typically nice writing from KD, and I appreciate the insight, but it's not changing my mind. I don't find the lyrics very interesting, nor the riff. That bridge, though...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

[epilogue]

Please stop saying sexy

Then come up with a more appropriate word.

[LoathedVermin72]

Please stop saying sexy

Then come up with a more appropriate word.

chuggy