Guns N’ Roses is without doubt one of the most influential and successful rock band from the late eighties to early nineties. Songs like “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Paradise City”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, “Patience”, “Don’t Cry”, and “November Rain” – just to name a few – are classic to those who enjoy listening to heavy rock music.
From 1994 onwards, the band started to fall apart. In 1997, with the departure of the legendary lead guitarist Slash, Axl Rose was the only one left in the band. Since then, Axl Rose continued the recruitment effort and there has been talks that a new album called “Chinese Democracy” is in the making. Every year, I am hoping to see the album in store and every year, I have been disappointed. Plagued by all sort of issues such as the further departure of band members, the cancellation of tour dates (some due to Axl Rose failed to show up that resulted in riots), and the disagreement with the management and the record company, at times I doubt if this new album “Chinese Democracy” will ever see daylight. According to Axl Rose, he has cancelled the North America leg of the World Tour in order to focus on the post-production of “Chinese Democracy”. He promised his fans that the album will be out by mid March this year. I am not that hopeful.
While “Chinese Democracy” may or may not sees its days selling at the record stores, some tracks are leaked out to the Internet via Guns N’ Roses fan sites. Gunsnroses.us, for instance, has made a video out of the song “There Was A Time” (pretty interesting that the capitals of the title form a word that gives new meaning to the lyrics) and that is the song that I wish to share with you all here.
The images from the video is powerful. The music is inspirational. My emotion was high during the first listen. Here I am looking at a man who has been the band’s lead vocalist for 22 years, never gives up and his fighting spirit is simply inspiring. Axl Rose may have his character flaw that pushed most of his friend and allies away but his driving force is amazing. Current lead guitarist Robin Finck is one of the only few artists who has played in two different bands that are listed on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”: Nine Inch Nails and Guns N’ Roses.
Do note that this video is not the official Gun N’ Roses video and I suspect that the song still requires further post-production. Nevertheless, a good preview of what “Chinese Democracy” will be.
[LYRICS] Broken glass and cigarettes . writing on the wall . it was a bargain for the summer . and I thought I had it all . I was the one who gave you everything . the one who took the fall . you were the one who would do anything . the one who can’t recall . where she was while she was sleeping . in another woman’s bed . or the doctors or the lawyers . or a stranger that she met . If there’s nothing I can gain from this . or anything at all . it’d be the knowledge that ya gave me . when I thought I’d heard it all :: It was a long time with you . it was a long time with me . it’d be a long time for anyone . but looks like it’s meant to be :: Social class and registers . cocaine in the hall . all the way from California . on the way beyond that stall . to those non-negotiations . to simulate a call . all the bad of learning evils and . your ways around the laws . that keep you up and sitting pretty . on a pedestal of men . and now you’re sleeping like an angel . near the man who reaped it in :: If there’s something I can make of this . or anything at all . it’d be the devil hates a loser and . you thought you had it all :: It was a wrong time for you . it was a wrong time for me . it was the wrong time for everyone . but looks like I’m about to see for myself :: If I could go back in time to the place . in my soul, there all alone . lonely tear drops . ooh, are calling you . but I don’t wanna know it now . ’cause knowing you, it won’t change a damn thing . but there was a time :: yeah, there was a time . didn’t wanna know it all . didn’t wanna know it all and . I don’t wanna know it now :: yeah, there was a time . didn’t wanna know it all . didn’t wanna know it all and . I don’t wanna know it now :: Oh, I would do anything for you . there was a time . I would do anything for you . Oh, I would do anything for you . there was a time :: There was a time . I would do anything for you . yeah there was a time . didn’t wanna know it all . didn’t wanna know it all . and I don’t wanna know it now . didn’t wanna know it all . didn’t wanna know it all . and I don’t wanna know it now (to this love) . There was a time
Related Readings: Guns N’ Roses at Wikipedia, Guns N’ Roses at RollingStone.com, Official Website.
Lately, there aren’t many good English albums around and though you may see Japanese albums keep popping up in my website, Japanese CDs only contribute to less then 5% of my CD collection, believe it or not.
