The Hands that Built America

[Annie Hall]

Am I the only person who is completely moved by this song, even though I haven't seen GONY? It's absolutely gorgeous, and is unlike a lot of U2's other stuff. Somehow it's softer and more melodic. What do you guys think of this song?

[paul calf]

i am not a big u2 fan but really thought it went with the film,it is a very good song.

[Nate6]

I think it's a beautiful song, it perfectly captures the spirit of the film, and it's one of U2's best. I thought it deserved its GG win and I hope it takes the Oscar as well.

It's better than that piece of crap "Lose Yourself," anyway. I still don't understand the praise that song's getting :confused:

[syxxpac]

Originally posted by Nate6
It's better than that piece of crap "Lose Yourself," anyway. I still don't understand the praise that song's getting :confused:

Maybe the same reason you feel U2 deserved to win. It perfectly captures the spirit of the film...

[Nate6]

Originally posted by syxxpac
Maybe the same reason you feel U2 deserved to win. It perfectly captures the spirit of the film...

That's not the only reason I liked the U2 song, I feel it is a terrifically lyrical, moving, involving, important song.

I think "Lose Yourself" is rife with clichés and fails to rise above most other rap songs that try to be important. Maybe people are shocked that this song shows that Eminem knows what real musical instruments are?

But anyway, whatever floats your boat.

[Annie Hall]

Originally posted by Nate6
I think it's a beautiful song, it perfectly captures the spirit of the film, and it's one of U2's best. I thought it deserved its GG win and I hope it takes the Oscar as well.

It's better than that piece of crap "Lose Yourself," anyway. I still don't understand the praise that song's getting :confused:

I hope it takes home the Oscar too, I love the song more every time I listen to it.

As for Lose Yourself, I think that it has a better "message" than most rap out there, and it really is catchy. I'm not a rap fan at all, but this song has charisma and an enjoyable beat that I'm sure a lot of people really enjoy.

[electriclite]

This is gonna be very weird. I am the biggest U2 fan and I find this song to be their weakest.

For a song about the multicultural melting pot that America, New York especially, was back in the 1800s, it's remarkably vacant of any ethnicity. I mean if you listen to other songs that the band have done like "In the Name of the Father" or Bono and Adam Clayton's re-imagining of the old U2 song "Tomorrow" for the Common Ground compilation CD there is an infusion of Irish instrumentation and style, which is what I was expecting with "The Hands that Built America".

But then of course this isn't a U2 song written for U2, its a U2 song written for a Martn Scorcese movie, so the end result might've been less of their decision than Marty's.

[BadCoverVersion]

I actually believe that this is one of U2's weakest tunes...

I'm just hoping that Bono gives himself a kick up the arse pretty soon. The boys just don't seem to have that edge any more. It's not a bad song, but it's certainly not a patch on some of their previous efforts...

Mind you, I luuuurve POP...So I'm probably talking out of my arse;).

They just seem to be aiming to please at the moment. A swift "re-invention" is in order methinks.

As for "Lose Yourself", I think it deserves the praise. It's a killer song...and it gets better with each listen. It's moody, melodic, fierce and bloody catchy. I think Eminem has proved he has staying-power...and he's an inventive lyricist.

I wouldn't be fucked off if U2 took the Oscar (I personally don't rate this particular tune, but I can see the appeal), but I believe that Eminem is also a very deserving candidate.

[BadCoverVersion]

http://www.max.rcs.it/040mus/01cd/0211/02/strillo-index.jpg

My personal pick would be either "Silent Sigh" or "Something to talk about" (About a Boy ST) by Badly Drawn Boy. Call me cynical, but somehow I can't see Mr Gough up on that podium...

[Psychocandy]

Silent Sigh is a wonderful, beautiful song. One of the finest of last year.

I haven't heard The Hands That Built America yet but i'll rectify the situation asap and report back.

As for Lose Yourself. It's a fucking amazing song both lyrically and musically. Everyone is waiting for Eminem to prove that he's a spent talent and to fade into obscurity. I think with his performance in 8 Mile and particularly his contributions to the soundtrack he's proven once and for all that he's a force to be reckoned with and will remain so for some time.

[Nate6]

Well, despite the strong arguments from you guys on "Lose Yourself," it isn't enough to change this Schmoe's mind. For an artist who's supposed to be so original and groundbreaking, this is not much more than an conventional rap tune with a little bit of keyboard and an "inspirational" message. In fact, it reminds me in some ways of his own "Stan" and "Cleaning Out my Closet," both better songs than this. I'm not disputing the man's a talented rapper (although that's an oxymoron in itself), but as a song, it has the feeling of old hat.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by Nate6
I'm not disputing the man's a talented rapper (although that's an oxymoron in itself)

Soooo, basically you don't appreciate rap music!? You don't believe that rap musicians are talented!?

It's not necessarily the song, it's the entire musical genre. If you don't even appreciate the genre, well, you're certainly not going to appreciate the one bloke who is currently representative of this particular musical field.

I don't think "Lose Yourself" is even remotely similar to "Stan", or "Cleaning out my closet"...apart from the fact that they are all Eminem tunes.

[BakeTheMooCow]

I don't like the song. U2's best work was in the past ~ The Sweetest Thing, Sunday Bloody Sunday, One, With Or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, etc.
This song just doesn't have the magic of their older stuff.

I read this story on the internet about when KISS announced they're going to stop making music, the guitarist said "I think it's better to retire now and have people ask "Why are you retiring?" than do it ten years from now and have them ask "Why don't you retire already?"

Hear that Bono? Still, I appreciate the charity work the guy does, so I'll continue to buy their albums and any soundtrack they have a song on.

Lose Yourself deserved the Globe, thats for sure. It isn't the greatest rap song, not even Eminem's best.. but its a damn good one. Nate6, to say all rappers are untalented is being unreasonable. You can't deny it takes talent to do what they do.

[Nate6]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
You can't deny it takes talent to do what they do.

And I won't. I shouldn't have used a blanket statement like that. I just don't think Eminem is very talented. How much talent does it really take to scream about your wife, blast your mother, talk smack about other celebrities, and basically act like a big moron, saying it's all "satirical", "original", and "intelligent"?

I'll admit, in multiple cases, rap/hip-hop can be good music. I think such people as Nas and OutKast are, occasionally, great entertainment, and have great substance. But Eminem? He can shove his "talent" up my ass. He can rhyme. OK, good. He can rhyme fast. Oohh, I'm impressed. But is he anything more than an insulting poet? Not in my books.

Sorry guys, but we differ in opinion, and that's the way it is.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Originally posted by Nate6
Sorry guys, but we differ in opinion, and that's the way it is.

Yeah we do differ in opinion, and I have no problem with that.

I like the way Eminem thinks. I don't relate to him in any way, but I still enjoy listening to what he has to say.

Most rappers that I hear on the radio or on TV, I can't make out most of what they're saying and when I can make it out, it doesn't strike a chord and I ultimately forget about it. Same goes for rock and metal. Although I love rock music, there are so many generic rock bands with predictable angst-ridden lyrics that I don't care for at all.

To put it into a movie perspective, a lot of scenes in The Shining were there for shock effect (the woman in the bath tub).. but did it scare me? Yes. On the other hand, a "horror" movie like Jason X didn't have any effect on me whatsoever and I forgot most of the film a few weeks later.

Not only do I think Eminem is talented in the way he writes his songs and sings them, I like the way his lyrics stay in my head long after I've heard the song. I can see how anyone would dismiss him for what he sings about, but I honestly see a talented rapper and I can't say otherwise.