The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn): Difference between revisions
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In [[2004]], [[Rivers Cuomo]] began taking private music composition lessons from Bruce Reich at UCLA.<ref name="avclub">Rizov, Vadim. "Rivers Cuomo" ''A.V. Club''. 27 January 2009. https://www.avclub.com/rivers-cuomo-1798215593</ref> Some of the vocal harmonies written for "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" were originally composed for a focal counterpoint excercise from these lessons. Cuomo excitedly contacted Reich after the release of ''The Red Album'', but was dismayed to learn that Reich had recently passed away.<ref name="avclub" /><ref>Cuomo, Rivers. ''Mister Rivers' Neighborhood''. 6 September 2020. Archived by ''Wayback Machine'' 15 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715183154/https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Bruce%20Reich</ref><ref name="ytgreatestman">Rivers Cuomo interview with [[KROQ]], "Rivers Cuomo - Greatest Man" ''YouTube'' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx4mX-rDPIQ Archived from original: http://www.kroq-data.com/wah/wah/dcvideo/avc-view.aspx?v=3446</ref> | In [[2004]], [[Rivers Cuomo]] began taking private music composition lessons from Bruce Reich at UCLA.<ref name="avclub">Rizov, Vadim. "Rivers Cuomo" ''A.V. Club''. 27 January 2009. https://www.avclub.com/rivers-cuomo-1798215593</ref> Some of the vocal harmonies written for "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" were originally composed for a focal counterpoint excercise from these lessons. Cuomo excitedly contacted Reich after the release of ''The Red Album'', but was dismayed to learn that Reich had recently passed away.<ref name="avclub" /><ref>Cuomo, Rivers. ''Mister Rivers' Neighborhood''. 6 September 2020. Archived by ''Wayback Machine'' 15 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715183154/https://books-r-fun.herokuapp.com/wiki/Bruce%20Reich</ref><ref name="ytgreatestman">Rivers Cuomo interview with [[KROQ]], "Rivers Cuomo - Greatest Man" ''YouTube'' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx4mX-rDPIQ Archived from original: http://www.kroq-data.com/wah/wah/dcvideo/avc-view.aspx?v=3446</ref> | ||
In describing his initial inspiration for the song, Cuomo has said, "I just had this really strong and kind of sudden conviction that I am sick of writing verse-chorus-verse songs. I've been doing it for so many years, that's what everyone else does; I wanna do something completely different."<ref name="ytgreatestman" /> Cuomo decided to instead write a song using the musical structure of [https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/understanding-music/theme-and-variations/ theme and variations], as used in classical music, using different bands and musician styles (Slipknot, Jeff Buckley, Aerosmith, etc.) as the different variations. Cuomo intially also attempted to utilize different lyrical perspectives for each variation, but found the results too disjointed, and resolved to maintain the same persona throughout. Early alternate song titles in consideration included "Mack Daddy," "The Player," "Player 4 Life," and "The Ballad of | In describing his initial inspiration for the song, Cuomo has said, "I just had this really strong and kind of sudden conviction that I am sick of writing verse-chorus-verse songs. I've been doing it for so many years, that's what everyone else does; I wanna do something completely different."<ref name="ytgreatestman" /> Cuomo decided to instead write a song using the musical structure of [https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/understanding-music/theme-and-variations/ theme and variations], as used in classical music, using different bands and musician styles (Slipknot, Jeff Buckley, Aerosmith, etc.) as the different variations. Cuomo intially also attempted to utilize different lyrical perspectives for each variation, but found the results too disjointed, and resolved to maintain the same persona throughout. Early alternate song titles in consideration included "Mack Daddy," "The Player," "Player 4 Life," and "The Ballad of {{Wikipedia|Oswaldo Sánchez}}" (named for the Mexican soccer goalie). Cuomo was inspired by Sánchez after seeing him play [[Wikipedia:2006 FIFA World Cup|the World Cup]] in 2006 despite Sánchez having just lost his father to a heart attack.<ref name="ytgreatestman" /> | ||
Cuomo had difficulty writing the spoken word section of "The Greatest Man", and so contacted [[Rick Rubin]] to get examples of spoken word sections in pop songs. Rubin suggested [[Wikipedia:Elvis Presley|Elvis Presley's]] rendition of "[[Wikipedia:Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)|Are You Loneseome Tonight?]]," which Cuomo studied.<ref name="ytgreatestman" /> The lyrics for the spoken word section from "The Greatest Man" is derived from similar lyrics in Presley's song (which itself was partially derived from the play [[Wikipedia:As You Like It|''As You Like It'']] by | Cuomo had difficulty writing the spoken word section of "The Greatest Man", and so contacted [[Rick Rubin]] to get examples of spoken word sections in pop songs. Rubin suggested [[Wikipedia:Elvis Presley|Elvis Presley's]] rendition of "[[Wikipedia:Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)|Are You Loneseome Tonight?]]," which Cuomo studied.<ref name="ytgreatestman" /> The lyrics for the spoken word section from "The Greatest Man" is derived from similar lyrics in Presley's song (which itself was partially derived from the play [[Wikipedia:As You Like It|''As You Like It'']] by {{Wikipedia|William Shakespeare}}). | ||
At the time of the release of ''The Red Album'', Cuomo called the song his favorite song on the album, and one of his favorite songs he's ever written.<ref name="ytgreatestman2">Rivers Cuomo interview with [[KROQ]], "Rivers Cuomo - Greatest Man 2" ''YouTube'' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIj6RRXtGX0 Archived from original: http://www.kroq-data.com/wah/wah/dcvideo/avc-view.aspx?v=3446</ref> Bassist [[Scott Shriner]], in [[WarwickBass.com interview with Scott Shriner - June 2008|an interview]], called the song "a masterpiece that includes ten different styles of music based around a common theme. It's awesome."<ref>Titus, Dale. ''Warwick Bass Survival 101''. 2008. Archived by ''Wayback Machine'' https://web.archive.org/web/20080507095906/http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/artist_ScottShriner.htm</ref> | At the time of the release of ''The Red Album'', Cuomo called the song his favorite song on the album, and one of his favorite songs he's ever written.<ref name="ytgreatestman2">Rivers Cuomo interview with [[KROQ]], "Rivers Cuomo - Greatest Man 2" ''YouTube'' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIj6RRXtGX0 Archived from original: http://www.kroq-data.com/wah/wah/dcvideo/avc-view.aspx?v=3446</ref> Bassist [[Scott Shriner]], in [[WarwickBass.com interview with Scott Shriner - June 2008|an interview]], called the song "a masterpiece that includes ten different styles of music based around a common theme. It's awesome."<ref>Titus, Dale. ''Warwick Bass Survival 101''. 2008. Archived by ''Wayback Machine'' https://web.archive.org/web/20080507095906/http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/artist_ScottShriner.htm</ref> | ||
The song's title includes the parenthetical "Variations on a Shaker Hymn," referring to the 1848 [[Wikipedia:Shakers|Shaker]] song " | The song's title includes the parenthetical "Variations on a Shaker Hymn," referring to the 1848 [[Wikipedia:Shakers|Shaker]] song "{{Wikipedia|Simple Gifts}}," generally attributed to {{Wikipedia|Joseph Brackett}}. As explained in the liner notes for the deluxe edition of ''The Red Album'': | ||
{{Red liner notes|'''''The subtitle of the song for "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" is "Variations on a Shaker Hymn."'''''<br> | {{Red liner notes|'''''The subtitle of the song for "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" is "Variations on a Shaker Hymn."'''''<br> | ||
{{#tag:span style="color:#990000"|''Rivers:}} Yes, actually, I didn't realize I was ripping off a shaker hymn. It wasn't until we were in the studio and Brian's mom came by one day and she heard us play "Greatest Man" and said afterward, "You know that melody sounds like this hymn we sing in church." So indeed we checked it out and it's very similar. I knew people were going to come at us after and say, hey you guys ripped off that hymn. So I put the credit in there off the bat.''}} | {{#tag:span style="color:#990000"|''Rivers:}} Yes, actually, I didn't realize I was ripping off a shaker hymn. It wasn't until we were in the studio and Brian's mom came by one day and she heard us play "Greatest Man" and said afterward, "You know that melody sounds like this hymn we sing in church." So indeed we checked it out and it's very similar. I knew people were going to come at us after and say, hey you guys ripped off that hymn. So I put the credit in there off the bat.''}} | ||
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# Rap (0:35) | # Rap (0:35) | ||
# [[Wikipedia:Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] (1:00) | # [[Wikipedia:Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] (1:00) | ||
# | # {{Wikipedia|Jeff Buckley}} (1:26) | ||
# Chorale (1:51) | # Chorale (1:51) | ||
# | # {{Wikipedia|Aerosmith}} (2:17) | ||
# [[Nirvana]] (2:43) | # [[Nirvana]] (2:43) | ||
# | # {{Wikipedia|The Andrews Sisters}} (3:08) | ||
# [[Green Day]] (3:33) | # [[Green Day]] (3:33) | ||
# Spoken word (4:06) | # Spoken word (4:06) | ||
# | # {{Wikipedia|Johann Sebastian Bach}} (4:37) | ||
# | # {{Wikipedia|Ludwig van Beethoven}} (4:54) | ||
# [[Weezer]] (5:11) | # [[Weezer]] (5:11) | ||
===Release=== | ===Release=== | ||
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The song was released as a downloadable track for [[List_of_Weezer_song_appearances_in_rhythm_video_games#Rock_Band_downloadable_songs|the rhythm video game ''Rock Band'']] on [[June 24]], [[2008]], along with the songs "[[Troublemaker]]" and "[[Dreamin']]." | The song was released as a downloadable track for [[List_of_Weezer_song_appearances_in_rhythm_video_games#Rock_Band_downloadable_songs|the rhythm video game ''Rock Band'']] on [[June 24]], [[2008]], along with the songs "[[Troublemaker]]" and "[[Dreamin']]." | ||
The song was performed live as the finale of the [[Weezer TV appearance: 12/14/2008 - Spike Video Game Awards|Spike Video Game Awards]], which aired on [[December 14]], [[2008]]. The performance featured a marching band drummer, a women's choir, and musician | The song was performed live as the finale of the [[Weezer TV appearance: 12/14/2008 - Spike Video Game Awards|Spike Video Game Awards]], which aired on [[December 14]], [[2008]]. The performance featured a marching band drummer, a women's choir, and musician {{Wikipedia|Dave Kushner}} (formerly of Velvet Revolver) on rhythm guitar. Rivers Cuomo wore a white suit with no shoes. | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
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{{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Weezer]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||April-October [[2007]]|Malibu Performing Arts Center, Malibu, CA|5:52|''[[Weezer (The Red Album)]]''|}} | {{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Weezer]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||April-October [[2007]]|Malibu Performing Arts Center, Malibu, CA|5:52|''[[Weezer (The Red Album)]]''|}} | ||
{{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Rivers Cuomo]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||[[November 25]], [[2008]]|Fingerprints, Long Beach CA|8:02|''[[Not Alone: Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints]]''|}} | {{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Rivers Cuomo]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||[[November 25]], [[2008]]|Fingerprints, Long Beach CA|8:02|''[[Not Alone: Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints]]''|}} | ||
{{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Weezer]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||[[December 14]], [[2008]]|Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City CA|5:41|Performed live at [[Weezer TV appearance: 12/14/2008 - Spike Video Game Awards|Spike Video Game Awards]]| | {{Known recordings entry|aaffaa|[[Weezer]]|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived||[[December 14]], [[2008]]|Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City CA|5:41|Performed live at [[Weezer TV appearance: 12/14/2008 - Spike Video Game Awards|Spike Video Game Awards]]|{{Wikipedia|Dave Kushner}} on rhythm guitar.}} | ||
{{Known recordings footer}} | {{Known recordings footer}} | ||