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Elbow — Magnificent (She Says)
Album: Little Fictions
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3588









Released: 2017
Length: 4:22
Plays (last 30 days): 3
This is where, this is where the bottle lands
Where all the biggest questions meet
With little feet stood in the sand

This is where the echoes swell to nothing on the tide
And where a tiny pair of hands
Finds a sea-worn piece of glass
And sets it as a sapphire in her mind

And there she stands
Throwing both her arms around the world
The world that doesn't even know
How much it needs this little girl

It's all gonna be magnificent, she says
It's all gonna be magnificent

This is where it all began
To light your mother's cigarette
And I got to touch her hand
And my heart, there defrosting in a gaze
Wasn't built to be that way
Suddenly I understand

There on the sand
Throwing both her arms around the world
The world that doesn't even know
How much it needs this little girl

It's all gonna be magnificent, she says
It's all gonna be magnificent
It's all gonna be magnificent, she says
It's all gonna be magnificent

The echoes slow, the bottle lands
The echoes slow, and there she stands
Comments (146)add comment
 Devaplan wrote:

Got to be one of the best bands ever. Guys lyrics and singing are quite exceptional. A thinking man's (Person's to be fashionably woke) band


My partner's a woman and she loves Elbow.  She's also a thinker.
I'm hit and miss with this band....
Got to be one of the best bands ever. Guys lyrics and singing are quite exceptional. A thinking man's (Person's to be fashionably woke) band
 ayohn wrote:  

Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================


I think this is one of the most beautiful and inspiring comments I have ever read on Radio Paradise.  Thank you Erika.  And please  update us on your musical journey.
My favorite song from this decade. It's beautiful. A perfect blend of the finest lyrics with a complex musical arrangement.

It's my go to song when I miss my daughters when I am traveling for work.
Didn't I hear it in this "Annette" movie, from leo Carax, starring Adam Driver?
I LOVE this. What a wonderful song.
WTF! Only had this @ 9   . now corrected to a Magnificent 10.
First Elbow song I ever heard. Hated it. Since then I've really learned to appreciate the band. Still not in love with this, though. 
awesome soundscape
Es unas de las mejores letras esperanzadoras, para estas tan oscuras y malevolas epocas, dondo estan queriendo aniquilar a la poblacion mundial, con FALSOS virus, Epidemias (mal llamada Pandemia) Y asesinando gente con pseudo vacunas que nos estan LITERALMENTE matando. Pero yo tambien tengo esperanzas, que todo pueda revertirse y ser un futuro "MAGNIFICO" pues ya a esta altura de mi vida, tengo hijos y nietos, y no quiero este mundo distopico para ellos. ¡¡LA VERDAD NOS HARA LIBRES!! ¡¡Y ya está empezando a fluir!!
Ya know, my step-daughter and I were like oil and water for a while.  Now she texts me from university just to say "Love you" and it is all truly Magnificent.
love it  more on every listen - up to 9 now
The strings on this song. My goodness. This is a rip-roaring tune and one of my favorite songs from the band.


While growing up, my 3 adult daughters frequently visited my parents who live a hundred yards from a beautiful Puget Sound Washington beach.
They each began combing that beach not long after beginning to walk and do so to this day on occasion.
It reflects in their taste in things like art, decor, vacation destinations, recreational activities etc.
Here in this song, the line - "Where a tiny pair of hands finds a sea-worn piece of glass and sets it as a sapphire in her mind " , clearly and perfectly describes my girls growing up.
It's Magnificent, I love it.



What a voice!
The bass guitar here is impeccable...  magnificent even.
 radioparadise9 wrote:

TL;DR

dick 

 ayohn wrote:

Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================


TL;DR
 cob427uk1 wrote:

Guy has it all - even his late mother-in-law (Diana Rigg)  who was Emma Peel in the Avengers  a British 1960 adventure series who corrupted many a young man in her leather catsuit.




I love almost everything Elbow puts out. Thank you for the reminder of my corruption. I had no idea there was a connection
 cob427uk1 wrote:

Guy has it all - even his late mother-in-law (Diana Rigg)  who was Emma Peel in the Avengers  a British 1960 adventure series who corrupted many a young man in her leather catsuit.

i wanted to be Emma Peel when I was a youngster. Not for the leather suit.

 graycoach wrote:

I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.




I'm totaly with you. Every time I hear this song it makes me long for the time my daughter who is 19 at this moment was still a child. Time flies...
Wonderful song. I'd hazard a guess this is in Bill's top 10 bands.
The beauty and complexity of the string section makes you realized once more how music is art for the ears...
Guy has it all - even his late mother-in-law (Diana Rigg)  who was Emma Peel in the Avengers  a British 1960 adventure series who corrupted many a young man in her leather catsuit.
 graycoach wrote:

I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.




I'm doubling my monthly contribution..great curation by real disc jockeys, not Bob Radio!
Great! One more band that I never heard of before! Thanx RP!
One of the best songwriters of the last 25 years…
Love the lyrics Mr Guy.
8 ==> 9

I'm trying to save my 10s for iconic, influential songs like 'Strange Fruit', otherwise this is a solid 10 for me. I'm not taking anything away from Elbow - I think GG would agree Billie Holiday is on another level.
c.
One of those few songs where everything is right (and one wished for a 10+ rating)
Saw them twice at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto which is a smallish converted theatre venue. They were magnificent. I've seen a lot of shows over the years and both those shows stand out. Guy is such a charismatic front man.
I keep thinking the little girl = Greta Thunberg. 
There’s something about this song.. I have no clue what. I start tearing every time I hear it. Really strikes a chord in my heart. Maybe it captures something beyond words. Magnificent, thanks Elbow.
Elbow's drummer is really great. Really, really great. 
Gives me chills every time I hear this song. Lyrics, arrangement, composition, all brilliant...magnificent.
 ayohn wrote:

Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================



So Erica - how is is coming along three years later?  Wishing you the best of luck in what I understand is a tough industry!
Cheers,
-Dave
Magnificent.  New to me, I ~like~ this.
Beautiful optimism.   Just what the doctor called for in these trying times.
The composition and talent on this song is absolutely brilliant!  Outstanding musicians.


I love the melodramatic feel to it . . .. . some awe and joy for a change! 

 joshfm wrote:
More melodramatic sap from the Old World. Cool album cover, though. 
 
Don't forget mate, time marches on for you too.
 sfyi2001 wrote:
A tiny pair of hands
Finds a sea-worn piece of glass
And sets it as a sapphire in her mind

And there she stands
Throwing both her arms around the world
The world that doesn't even know
How much it needs this little girl
 
What beautiful songwriting. This, and 'Scattered Black and Whites', are Mr. Garvey at his best. Chills every time.

RP turned me on to Elbow, for that I am eternally grateful.
c.
A tiny pair of hands Finds a sea-worn piece of glass
And sets it as a sapphire in her mind

And there she stands
Throwing both her arms around the world
The world that doesn't even know
How much it needs this little girl


Anybody just read the comments about how much this song means to people and just cry? Yeah. That's me. I love music. And Elbow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...I love the video to this also!
 TerrorGovernor wrote:
Gotta love Elbow. Knee is pretty good too.
 
:-)

Which album of Knee do you recommend?
More melodramatic sap from the Old World. Cool album cover, though. 
 graycoach wrote:
I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.
 
I'm with you. I'm a new dad and this song makes me misty 
Wonderful arrangement, the strings crescendo leading to the chorus is spot on.
 graycoach wrote:
I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.
 
I've always liked this song, but until today never caught the lyrics in detail. What a great, uplifting message!
Great song. Great album. Great band. 
One of the best ...ever
Love this song.
This song reminds me that there is beauty and wonder to be had, if we just stop to look for it.
love, love, LOVE this song and this band. 
 graycoach wrote:
I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.
 Congratulations!  I'm a new grandmother aka CiCi of a little girl named Maude   When I heard this song for the first time before she was born, I thought:  Can't wait to tell Maude this is her song!

Another Elbow tune I like.

Liking this band more and more.
 Dave_Mack wrote:
I saw Elbow play this on Monday (1/20/2020). It was, I dare say, magnificent. Excellent concert in Oakland. They also played "Station Approach" which was awesome. I'm still hoping I'll hear them play "Any Day Now", but that's not really their style anymore.
  

I saw Elbow play this on Monday (1/20/2020). It was, I dare say, magnificent. Excellent concert in Oakland. They also played "Station Approach" which was awesome. I'm still hoping I'll hear them play "Any Day Now", but that's not really their style anymore.
Love everything about this track!
Bravo, Elbow. Very interesting tune, with some unexpected movements and melodies.
J'aime ça.
 Roguewarer wrote:
Thx, Bill & Rebecca, for turning me onto Elbow!! I've shared them (and from where I first heard them) countless times.

I simply HAVE to see these 'Magnificent' musicians before I pass on. Please?

I'm hoping they come to the U.S. again soon, but it looks like they're touring Europe from Nov '19 - Apr '20.

What's so great about Europe, anyway? Does anyone actually live there?
 
I do, and I may have just imagined this but thought I noticed a half-starved creature scurrying off into one of those dark and dank cobblestoned back alleys just before darkness on a dreadful mid-winter evening... Cheers from Hamburg (Home of the Burger - NOT!)
4→6

I must have been in a really bad mood when I rated this originally.
I reckon this song is rather magnificent.
gross, just threw up a bit.  
Wow. I loved this song because of the beat but listening to the lyrics makes this song amazing for me!
🧡🧡🧡
Thx, Bill & Rebecca, for turning me onto Elbow!! I've shared them (and from where I first heard them) countless times.

I simply HAVE to see these 'Magnificent' musicians before I pass on. Please?

I'm hoping they come to the U.S. again soon, but it looks like they're touring Europe from Nov '19 - Apr '20.

What's so great about Europe, anyway? Does anyone actually live there?
The strings are killing it on this song.
gosh, I love how it can carry his voice out so far and end in the slightest vibrato against the phrenetic strings...
 TerrorGovernor wrote:
Gotta love Elbow. Knee is pretty good too.
 
Yes, but I prefer Xiphoid Process.
I am a new grandpa of a little girl and the lyrics of this song are magnificent.
Magnificent....nothing less.
Like the song and the video taken in beautiful Myanmar
Just now, painting my bedroom while listening to RP on my tablet. 

I stop to pause the song for a minute.  Stabbing the Pause button with the end of my arm to avoid getting paint on the screen.  Accidentally hit the Forward button. 

What starts playing?  This song by Elbow.  

You can't fight fate.
The thing is about Elbow... in my opinion they lack a certain 'je ne sais quoi'. By that I mean they are great at what they do but... there is a potential for something more.

Compare this to U2's song of the same name 'Magnificent'.

The Elbow one is very good but the U2 one has "cahonas" and I think that is what I like about U2 and what some others dislike - a front man who has braggadocio.

Another example is Perry Farrell of Janes Addiction - have a look at their video on Youtube called "Just Because" from the album Strays - for me that is what I want a front man to be like - loud and proud.
I realise not every front man (or woman) wants or can be like that but just stating my preferences {#Dancingbanana_2}

 
Seriously regretting not having been exposed to Elbow sooner but then that's exactly why I camp on RP all day. Never too late to experience the joy of beautiful music.
-Thank you, Bill.
Have seem Elbow 4 times now and haven't been disappointed yet. Guy's solo album is pretty awesome too!
OMG I've been Elbowed!
I keep hearing facets of Peter Gabriel
Very beautiful song and very beautiful music video !!!

                                              
One nine then two 8's on my list in a row. Excellent Bill!  Time to contribute.
Gotta love Elbow. Knee is pretty good too.
this song has serious earworm capability.
{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}
Does the pre-vocal opening of this track constitute sampling? 
 ayohn wrote:
Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================

 
Yes. Lovely.  Do it.  
 maxjboxer wrote:
Thanks for introducing me to Elbow.  4 or 5 years ago my son's friend in collage said he had this cool new band's record and my son said yeah my dad likes them. lol

 
Hilarious!  
 
This one is growing on me.
 expatlar wrote:
Stop saying that. No it's not.

 
I was hearing 'It's all going to be like a movie set' before I noted the song title.  Seems more likely....
Stop saying that. No it's not.
{#Clap}

Live Music is Better, Bumper Stickers Should Be issued.

They are indeed a very good live band....
{#Clap}
  ayohn wrote:
Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert. ....

... I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.


====================

(Read full below in comments)
 
And this, folks, is what these boards are for.  The love of the music and appreciation of the music.  Sharing positive experiences with the music.  Thanks ayohn!
 ayohn wrote:
Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================

 
Wow, that is a nice piece of writing that really resonated with me. Thanks for sharing!
 ayohn wrote:
Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================

 
Thank you for sharing this... My eldest daughter has really latched on to a lot of my music. It's such a wonderful experience to be able to share closely with one's offspring. She absolutely loves Elbow and in particular, Little Fictions.
Their show at a small Portland venue was magnificent as well. A very engaging and interactive performance, if you like that sort of thing. 
Something about this song really grabs me. It's one of my favorite tracks of 2017, and it's a 9 for me.
Magnifique !!!!
Saw them 11/3 at the 9:30 in DC...phenomenal concert, casual, entertaining, great sound, and full on audience participation!  Overall great live show!  (This was the second song played.)

Sometimes, it is wonderful to understand the effect music and good live shows have on a person...

===================================

Distinguished New Communication Major Acceptance Speech

Erika Yohn

I can remember my first time at a concert.

My dad is an avid music junkie, and bombarded my tiny little ears with 80s rock, 90s British underground, and the like since before I could walk. So, naturally, he took me to an Elbow concert. Elbow is a British band of 40-year-old men that was (and still is) pretty popular across the ocean. As a 14-year-old, I was the youngest one in the club. It was a Tuesday night in Washington D.C., three hours from home. Not the prime place for me to be during my bedtime on a school night.

But it was a night I will never forget.

I sang my tiny lungs out, knowing every word by heart. I even wore shoes I colored in the spirit of the band (I still wear them to every concert to this day). The most magical part of the night was when they played my favorite song of all time. My dad had a bruise from the excited pushing and squeezing he endured when I heard the first notes.

I cried a little, I will admit. It was such a pivotal night in my life, and in more ways than I

thought at the time. I kept thinking to myself, like most young kids, wanted to be on stage.

I wanted to give others the same experience. I wanted to be the reason someone buys show tickets months in advance and keeps a countdown calendar like I did.

But I had one slight issue. I could not sing, or play an instrument well enough. And honestly, I had little motivation to learn. 

Music still had a hold on me, though. I realized that there is so much more that goes into making someone's favorite song. There is more than just the instruments or singers. There are sound engineers, and record labels, and producers.

That is what I wanted. I wanted a hand in making the music, without overpowering  the initial creativity of the songwriter. I wanted to be a maker and a listener. And I decided I was going to be a producer.

Throughout high school, I did as much as was possible to learn what was needed to pursue my dream. I did a sound engineering and production workshop, and went to more concerts than I can count. I fell in love with the technology and software in the studio. I found my niche.

College is just a steppingstone to more opportunity. And learning the ins and outs of a multitude of media industries now gives me the chance to bring ingenuity to the table in the future. I finally get to spend time learning about exactly what I love. And to me, that is the greatest part about studying communication. 

I love what I am studying, and the material just ignites my passions further. Degree in hand, I will get to fulfill the original dream of sharing the experience of music with others. The little girl screaming in the crowd will not be me anymore, but someone else. And I will be the one responsible for the favorite song, for the bruises on Dad's shoulder.

I will create the unforgettable night for someone else.

====================

 maxjboxer wrote:
Thanks for introducing me to Elbow.  4 or 5 years ago my son's friend in collage said he had this cool new band's record and my son said yeah my dad likes them. lol

 
I had a similar small triumph: I came into the kitchen a couple years ago and heard my then preteen daughter listening to "Mirror Ball." She'd added it to her ITunes list.  

Nov. 6th I'm going to their concert in Oakland.  Can't wait
God they are dreadful. 
Quickly becoming my fav Elbow tune. A uniquely tuneful and thoughtful piece. 
Modern classics.  I love a bit of Elbow.
Thanks for introducing me to Elbow.  4 or 5 years ago my son's friend in collage said he had this cool new band's record and my son said yeah my dad likes them. lol
Nice song.

'Tis interesting and amusing to see the spontaneous handwringing and hair-pulling about the new 'tiny hands' president back in January 2017.

Still a nice song. 
8
 fredriley wrote:

How the feck did US-centric political comment appear in the board for a song by a Yorkshire band? I've scrolled down and can't see where the thread started, and what justification it has (or, more likely, doesn't have). Neither is the song content in any degree political.

I'm no stranger to political rants, but there's a time and a place, bags*.

* boys and girls (after Iain M Banks)

 
It started (mildly) with the sixth post up from the bottom, then took on a more noxious aspect on the next post.  After that it quickly festered into something that should've been excised with a heated scalpel.  Anyhow, cool tune.
 SmackDaddy wrote:

The problem with an assassination of Trump is that it would feed the beast that is his support. They'd get to rightfully claim the violence of the left as the true enemy of the country and would feel very empowered. We already are dealing with 40% of the population that live their lives in fear and they don't know it. They live in fear of their god, in fear of change, in fear of outsiders, in fear of science, in fear of knowledge, and in fear of the future. It's been scientifically shown that the fear center of the brain is larger in conservatives while the part of the brain that controls empathy is larger in liberals. It explains a lot.

 
How the feck did US-centric political comment appear in the board for a song by a Yorkshire band? I've scrolled down and can't see where the thread started, and what justification it has (or, more likely, doesn't have). Neither is the song content in any degree political.

I'm no stranger to political rants, but there's a time and a place, bags*.

* boys and girls (after Iain M Banks)
 ericeobrien wrote:

It's not "political" to wish for the assassination of a President—it's violent. I abhor most all of President Trump's campaign rhetoric, cabinet appointments, tweets, and executive orders, but I more highly value the processes of free elections and advocacy / dissent.  These power systems MUST be based on speech and nonviolent action. If we start advocating for regime change through either private or military violence, representative democracy is over.

 
The problem with an assassination of Trump is that it would feed the beast that is his support. They'd get to rightfully claim the violence of the left as the true enemy of the country and would feel very empowered. We already are dealing with 40% of the population that live their lives in fear and they don't know it. They live in fear of their god, in fear of change, in fear of outsiders, in fear of science, in fear of knowledge, and in fear of the future. It's been scientifically shown that the fear center of the brain is larger in conservatives while the part of the brain that controls empathy is larger in liberals. It explains a lot.
Awesome BillG! Thanks for resolving the preceding 'sadness' (impending death and divorce) with this beautiful gem.
 AbileneTexas wrote:
Very nice tune.  Bumped from 7 to 8 with this listen. 

 
Likewise, I just bumped all the way to 10, I find myself humming this all day, damn ear worms!
 Dave_Mack wrote:
These guys are still doing good stuff! I'll have to pick up the album.

 
Also, Build a Rocket Boys is worth having.
These guys are still doing good stuff! I'll have to pick up the album.
Very nice tune.  Bumped from 7 to 8 with this listen. 
I'm liking this!  Thanks for the new Elbow!
 Proclivities wrote:
Cool tune.  The rhythm section is especially engaging on this number.

 
They lost the drummer, so I think it's all programming. Annoys me, throughout the album.
 ShamanManu wrote:
liking it more and more with each new listening... magnificently uplifting {#Good-vibes}

 
I second that emotion!
 Proclivities wrote:
Cool tune.  The rhythm section is especially engaging on this number.

 
I totally agree. 9

Those corporations are just so naughty!

Hedges and Sacco remind me of the endless blather I used to hear from the Marxists in college. Long on slogans and short on facts.

 

 

Michael_Dean wrote:

Mister Kingart, representative democracy died 20 years ago.  I'd like to hear some sad music in the time between these paragraphs.  The Slow Show - God Only Knows is pretty good here. 

In Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt by Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco, inverted totalitarianism is described as a system where corporations have corrupted and subverted democracy and where economics trumps politics.  In inverted totalitarianism, every natural resource and every living being is commodified and exploited to collapse as the citizenry is lulled and manipulated into surrendering their liberties and their participation in government through excess consumerism and sensationalism.

Inverted totalitarianism - unlike classical totalitarianism, does not find it's expression through a demagogue or a charismatic leader, but through the anonymity of the corporate state.  A system by which corporate forces purport to pay loyalty to the constitution, electoral politics, the iconography  and language of American patriotism, and yet have so corrupted the levers of power as to have rendered the citizenry powerless.