The Start of Something - Premier

Loving it!  Thanks KB!

Beautiful. My favourite from the album. The harmonies between Neil and Liam are terrific here - it’s what I’d hoped for on Lightsleeper but that album seemed more like a collection of separate Neil and Liam songs with not a lot of  harmonising.

"Start of Something" should have been the first single from Dreamers Are Waiting. With the right promotion it could have been a radio hit.

Love it

Just meltingly gorgeous.  Their best song since reforming for the first time.

So what do you think it's about people?

I still don't like this song, though I have tried and tried to find a way to, especially as it seems to be a favourite on here.

I do think, though, that as a live performance, this is brilliant, those harmonies are fantastic.

What don't you like about it?

@Kittybear posted:

So what do you think it's about people?

It took a meltdown for a new beginning to commence. Whether it be between two people that love each other just never knew how to show it. Or two that were one but the meltdown was the beginning of the new path for both to breakaway. Better path. Ultimately good will come out of a dark situation.  I love the harmonies but wish I knew what they were saying during the overlaying.

@Kittybear posted:

So what do you think it's about people?

Traditional wisdom sees breakups as a failure and "the end" of something. Which is silly... just because you don't end up married doesn't mean there was no value to the relationship. You finish the relationship wiser and stronger and ready for what's next. It's the start of the next chapter of your life, a new beginning.

I wonder if some of it is a metaphor for having the new line up.

Wow! I just fell in love with the song, the album, the new lineup, and Crowded House, all over again!!!

What a great performance, beautiful mix and all round energy. I hope this is a glimpse of a future live release?

@Welsh Dan posted:

I wonder if some of it is a metaphor for having the new line up.

I Think this too.

Remembering that Neil Finn writes in metaphors and layers of understanding, I think it could be about Neil's feelings and response to the poor reception of Intriguer.  I also think it touches on his estranged relationship with Mark, maybe the doubts and the evolution of the idea of the new line up.

In a way the song has a similar attitude to Better be home, "I can start again you can depend on it".

Hope out of hopelessness.

Don’t forget, Liam co-wrote the song, so not sure if I’d read so much into Neil’s POV on the meaning.

But Liam is a part of new line up too, no? And he's more than capable of writing in metaphor also.

I take your point though. Which is why, when I first mentioned it might be about the the new line up, I suggested this might only account for part of the meaning of the song.

The song could quite easily be about more than one thing, Finn songs often are.

@Kittybear posted:

So what do you think it's about people?

Like so many of Neil's songs, many overlapping interpretations available here.  Along with individual relationships changing and evolving, Neil is displaying all of our changing relationships with each other and with the world, and the challenges that the inevitable new world is requiring of all of us.  The pacifist in me wants to agree with him and not fight the new the new world, just re-frame it and learn to embrace it.  The resistor in me says... not so fast.   On an individual level I do hope that Neil and Liam are still in solid relationships that are standing the test of time, but it must be challenging to be massively talented, love making music, and be regularly entrenched in the sometimes brutal music business.

Really love the harmonies and arrangement.  Easy to enjoy this song.

The song might also be about nothing specifically related to their lives, and more about a general sentiment. Neil’s said he often doesn’t think too much about the words.

@slowpogo posted:

Don’t forget, Liam co-wrote the song, so not sure if I’d read so much into Neil’s POV on the meaning.

I don't think it being a co-write detracts from the idea that this is a song could be about the evolution of the band and it's line up.

Neil often down plays his lyrics, probably because he doesn't want to analyse them but he know he has written songs about personal issues like death, suicide and uncomfortable events, for example in Mean to Me.

@Kittybear posted:

I don't think it being a co-write detracts from the idea that this is a song could be about the evolution of the band and it's line up.

Neil often down plays his lyrics, probably because he doesn't want to analyse them but he know he has written songs about personal issues like death, suicide and uncomfortable events, for example in Mean to Me.

Maybe, but I guess I resist what seems to be an obvious, topical reading of a song. I am not Neil by any stretch but I've written some songs and have been bemused several times when people say, "Is that about such and such?" (referring to a thing from my life). It's almost always like, no, I wasn't thinking about anything when I wrote it. Neil has expressed similar thoughts (about Distant Sun in particular) but says he prefers to let people hang onto whatever meaning resonates with them.

He's toyed with us a couple of times as to the meaning of his lyrics, worth remembering to that this is a musician who has said some of his favourite interviews have been those where he has not necessarily been truthful.

Sure, I wonder if some of the lyrics in the new album do have any meaning at all. Horses with their heads in the clouds? And how, exactly, does having a sweet toot equate to not having anyone to tell your troubles to?

I get the feeling SOS might be more earnest though.

Who knows though? And isn't that part of the fun? A writer (act) with a penchant for writing in metaphor - we'll probably never know the exact meaning of this song, if there is one. Part of the Finn genius too.

I meant sweet tooth, not sweet toot

@Welsh Dan posted:

He's toyed with us a couple of times as to the meaning of his lyrics, worth remembering to that this is a musician who has said some of his favourite interviews have been those where he has not necessarily been truthful.

Sure, I wonder if some of the lyrics in the new album do have any meaning at all. Horses with their heads in the clouds? And how, exactly, does having a sweet toot equate to not having anyone to tell your troubles to?

I get the feeling SOS might be more earnest though.

Who knows though? And isn't that part of the fun? A writer (act) with a penchant for writing in metaphor - we'll probably never know the exact meaning of this song, if there is one. Part of the Finn genius too.

While standing by what I wrote above, I have my pet theories for these. The horse with head in the clouds sounds like Native American lore to me (like something from Black Elk Speaks) which seems fitting for the song’s Western paperback storytelling.

Sweet Tooth…I think it’s about people who I’d call “energy vampires.” Those who have negativity and complaints galore and seek someone to indulge them.

I think most of Neil’s songs have some root inspiration even if they seem abstract. But very few strike me as directly inspired by true events (like Mean to Me)

And Hole in The River. And I think there are a quite a few where reverence for Sharon is a definite theme, love songs, if you like. 'Energy vampire' - I like that!