I didn't see a dedicated In Sarnia thread ...
So, um, problem guys. After a solid week of listening to MMP, it has come to this: In Sarnia is my first skipper.
Don't get me wrong, still think it is good, but I'm just too anxious to get to the other stuff to wait. Here, in the Dark is just a tantalizing push of a button away.
I think the main problem is that it is incredibly difficult to sing along to.
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Its a difficult song in every sense of the word. I too am tempted to skip it but then the guitars come in keep me in it. They both sound amazing to me, the tone sounds like Tele or Strat through a VOX AC30. I don't think neither Paul nor Mr Baker play VOX but the sound is phenomenal.
This song has been stuck in my head all day.
The song I am tempted to skip is Man. Just can't get into that song.
chancellor Wrote:This song has been stuck in my head all day.
The song I am tempted to skip is Man. Just can't get into that song.
This.
You're doing a really huge injustice to your ears, your soul, and your inner gord if you skip over in sarnia. It's perhaps the very essence of gord Downie and his runs thru a verse and chorus away from the obvious melody. It's a genius song in all facets. I think you will come around on it and look back and think "man how did I not get this song sooner?"
Looking at yer phone like a poker hand
Bi-cycling after herrr
His use of words and the runs are superb.
Classic gord and classic hip with this song.
Can't wait to see some vintage gord dance moves at the beginning of this tune.
I feel exactly the same way about In Sarnia; it doesn't grab me in any way, and I really hate the snare drum sound on it. It's mixed way too out in front and the triggering/sampling is terrible. Every single hit sounds exactly the same, and it is really unnatural sounding. I hate it when drums sound like that.
When Gord "nailed" this song in the first take (per the Rob Baker interview), I think it it was the emotional moment he nailed...not the pitch, phrasing or melody. I find it overwhelmingly emotional to listen too, and as a long time fan, greatly satisfying.
....that and I was born in Sarnia....
Sometimes the hardest songs to warm up to come to have the most staying power for me. I believe this to be the case for In Sarnia.
I love the song, so the only contribution I can think of to make to this thread is to point out a fun fact from the liner notes: The lyric (and title) was originally "Insomnia".
LOVE this track. One of my faves.
Another example of a Hip song that takes me well over 10 listens to start warming up to it. The vocal is still a little all over the place to me but the music is awesome.
Also does anyone else hear a little bit of "Stay" in the first 45 seconds?
Mr. Lahey Wrote:Another example of a Hip song that takes me well over 10 listens to start warming up to it. The vocal is still a little all over the place to me but the music is awesome.
Also does anyone else hear a little bit of "Stay" in the first 45 seconds?
Totally, very similar riff.
I've been thinking about this song lately. And my question is: does anyone else think that Gord would have been better-advised to go with the original title, 'Insomnia?'
Anyone who has ever had insomnia (which I tend to suffer from cyclically) would instantly connect to the song's scenario. He can't connect with the woman he loves; insomnia is the result. The frantic singing and harshly reverb-ed sound perfectly suit the mindset of someone thrashing around at night. By contrast, 'In Sarnia' - which obviously fulfilling the album's de rigeur CanCon requirements - doesn't seem to me to add much to the song. It gives it a location, OK. It raises the possibility that he is actually singing about the town of Sarnia, but honestly that seems a stretch to me; it doesn't make sense in the context of the verses. In effect, the new title spikes the song's universalism and ultimately makes it less resonant. So I think it's a case of Gord allowing a pun to get the better of his artistic judgement (punning was never his strong suit, but anyhow, that's another discussion).
Killer Whale Tank Wrote:I've been thinking about this song lately. And my question is: does anyone else think that Gord would have been better-advised to go with the original title, 'Insomnia?'
Anyone who has ever had insomnia (which I tend to suffer from cyclically) would instantly connect to the song's scenario. He can't connect with the woman he loves; insomnia is the result. The frantic singing and harshly reverb-ed sound perfectly suit the mindset of someone thrashing around at night. By contrast, 'In Sarnia' - which obviously fulfilling the album's de rigeur CanCon requirements - doesn't seem to me to add much to the song. It gives it a location, OK. It raises the possibility that he is actually singing about the town of Sarnia, but honestly that seems a stretch to me; it doesn't make sense in the context of the verses. In effect, the new title spikes the song's universalism and ultimately makes it less resonant. So I think it's a case of Gord allowing a pun to get the better of his artistic judgement (punning was never his strong suit, but anyhow, that's another discussion).
I like that he used Sarnia instead of insomnia. I enjoy the analogy of the City for a woman. I don't think it it would have been as effective if it was insomnia because then it would have seemed too literal. Just my 2 cents.
I think this has now become my favourite song on the album. I can't stop listening to it.
Love the song and prefer In Sarnia to insomnia. I don't think the Canadiana references ever get old.
I was one of the more vocal critics of GD's habit of singing out of meter, but I actually love it on this album. I think it's because Johnny's beat is higher in the mix, which takes the focus away from GD's counter-rhythm, so it's more of an accentuation as opposed to a distraction. Or I could just be a complete full of shit sentimental sap who's so sad about losing his favourite band that he has lost all objectivity.
I like to hear what others have to say on this tune. I need to "get" the melody... Obviously, there was a moment for GD where he dug what he did and left it be. I think some "policing" of the vocal might've benefited the song.... Gonna see if I can get it to grow on me (like others that took a while).