pasalaska Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Song of the Week this week is the sombre Rotting, originally released in 1997 as a b-side to the Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) single, but better known as track 11 off 2002’s b-side compilation album Shenanigans. Looking at the lyrics, it’s unclear whether the narrator of Rotting is actually physically dying, or if they’re just at such an emotional low that it feels like they’re falling apart and “rotting inside”. Billie’s unusually low pitch in Rotting just adds to the dark, sombre lyrical content of the song. Musically however, Rotting gives off a lazy, surf-rock (not dissimilar to Last Ride In) sort of feel, which somehow doesn’t quite gel with the mood of the lyrics and vocals of the song. Sadly there doesn’t appear to be any live recordings of Rotting out there, so here’s the studio version for your listening pleasure: Lyrics: I'm rotting inside My flesh turns to dust Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear I'm so sick to death Tumours in my head Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear Black rose of death In my fist I clutch Thorns shred my finger tips And drips toxic blood Kiss me one last time Wipe off my sweat Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear As my bones they rust Read vows of trust Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear Black rose of death In my fist I clutch Thorns shred my finger tips And drips toxic blood I'm rotting inside My flesh turns to dust Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear Kiss me one last time Wipe off my sweat Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear Whisper “are you dying?” in my ear ********************************************************************************************************* You can nominate songs for discussion as Song of the Week in the SotW Nominations and Archive thread, which contains links to each previous Song of the Week in its first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colour_me_stupid_ Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Hmm, not the biggest fan of this song, it just makes me sad :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Potter. Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Even though I don't really like these lyrics, the melody of this song is just too awesome not to love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo. Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 cool choice. i love that song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie, get your gun Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Everything is perfect in this song, in the way that is named "Rotting", Billie Joe actually sings like if he were dying and the lyric is so depressing... for that is not of my favorites but I really enjoy the melody, it's beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artificial Idiot Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Decribes my life so much right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarcasm Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I love this song, it's probably one of my favorite Green Day songs! I want to say something cool and interpret the lyrics like a damn analyst, but pasalaska, you did a pretty good job about it. ._. Thanks for taking my request, though :3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A song for the lovers Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 good choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedwig Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 This song could have been really good, but I feel like something is missing. I can't seem to figure out what though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XxRedundantCastaway86xX Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Great song, I love how Billie's voice sounds in it. And as with every Green Day song, the melody is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Billiejoezee- Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I REALLY love this song. The lyrics, the way he sings it, the melody, EVERYTHING. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classof12 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 This song always make me sad, I like it but at the end I always end up thinking "Would somebody hold me and whisper me if I was so close to death?" I don't know why I think that, but it's always happened to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretty_and_demented Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I love this song SO MUCH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestboundSign! Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Such a great song. The lyrics seem so deep to me and the melody is gorgeous, I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eva Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I must say, this isn't one of my favourites. I think it might have something to do with Billie Joe's voice in this song, I'm just not used to him singing as low. I think it IS a pretty interesting track though, since both Billie Joe's singing and the instrumental music seem pretty different from what Green Day was doing around that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho Britney Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I like Billie's deep vocals on this song, and the actual music though I don't listen to this that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissawebster Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hmmm... not completely crazy about this song. Very dark. Very different from what I'm used to hearing from Green Day, even from their slow songs. I guess my problem with this song is that I feel nothing. The lyrics are so morbid, yet the music doesn't really show that emotion I'm used to hearing from a Green Day song, where every element is in sync, so it leaves me feeling empty and unemotional and indifferent to it. Not one of their best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJA TC MD Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 This is a cool song. Billie's voice is interesting, he doesn't usually sing that low. The melody and everything is just beautiful. It's always been a favorite of mine on guitar. I love that intro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VisionsofGreenDay115 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 It took me a while to like this song, and hell, all of Shenanigans. Its just an album I didnt have much interest in until like a couple months ago. Good song though, not my favorite, but good song. This song could have been really good, but I feel like something is missing. I can't seem to figure out what though. I think its missing the hard rocking chorus that we are used to hearing. Like in Whatsername, its all soft, but once the chorus hits, the song is at full rock. You can also say this for songs like Last of the American Girls and Prosthetic Head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny. Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 one of my favorites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigister Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I love this song just so much. Really helped me through a lot of hard times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedwig Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I think its missing the hard rocking chorus that we are used to hearing. Like in Whatsername, its all soft, but once the chorus hits, the song is at full rock. You can also say this for songs like Last of the American Girls and Prosthetic Head. Yes. I think that pretty much could be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VisionsofGreenDay115 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Yes. I think that pretty much could be it. The song is a slow, deep, rocking monotone. What I mean by that is you can hear songs like Macy's Day Parade and Last Night On Earth and the chords are simple and repetitive throughout. But the song just doesnt have the transition from those dark verses to the rocking chorus were used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeekStinkMe Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I love that song Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LChamp Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I've always felt this song seemed a bit out of place for GD. Billie is an amazing lyricist but for me these lyrics leave a lot to be desired. I especially dislike the "black rose of death" line. It feels a bit cheesy. That being said, I have always enjoyed the sound of the songso I do listen to it, I just sort of ignore the lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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