"Who would you rather be
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?" i mean, the beatles were certainly not a blip or anything, but they were active for a much shorter time than the rolling stones. a common reaction to the current activity of the rolling stones is that they were great in their prime but are now dinosaurs and should probably give it a rest, whereas people regret that the beatles were around for such a short time and consider their oeuvre to be pretty sacrosanct.
the rest of the lyrics fit into this mold, too. "We're so close to something better left unknown" -- should they just quit while they're in their prime, or should they keep going to see if they reach something better? "Get hot, Get too close to the flame" -- how can you judge when you've hit your apex? is it possible to get just close enough to the flame without burning?
in the end, i'm not sure which she chooses. "Stay with all the unknown" sounds like they decide to keep moving until they fade out, but the fact that she says "stay" instead of "go" makes me unsure. "Gimme sympathy" is clearly a rolling stones reference, but the fact that the chorus ends with "Play me 'Here Comes the Sun'" makes me think she wants to go the beatles burning-out route.
i don't know what the "they" i keep referring to is, haha. possibly the band, possibly a relationship, maybe just a person's life in general. also, i've only listened to this song once so my interpretation might change, but this idea really struck me so i thought i'd share it here :]
I agree with your interpretation of this song. "Would you rather burn out or fade away?"
"Stay with the all unknown...Stay away from the hooks” I think this is meaning don't sell out...stay original, a common theme to much of her writing.
I agree with your interpretation of this song. "Would you rather burn out or fade away?"
"Stay with the all unknown...Stay away from the hooks” I think this is meaning don't sell out...stay original, a common theme to much of her writing.
@angelofthesilence "Who would you rather be
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
@angelofthesilence "Who would you rather be
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?"
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Your reaction to this line is way out of left field. Emily Haines met Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, and they would later become friends. He once asked her "Would you rather be The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" and she shot back "Velvet Underground" You can read the article about their relationship here: rollingstone.com/music/news/metrics-emily-haines-pays-tribute-to-lou-reeds-integrity-and-humor-20131028
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Your reaction to this line is way out of left field. Emily Haines met Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, and they would later become friends. He once asked her "Would you rather be The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" and she shot back "Velvet Underground" You can read the article about their relationship here: rollingstone.com/music/news/metrics-emily-haines-pays-tribute-to-lou-reeds-integrity-and-humor-20131028
Those lines in this song are just a tribute to one of her closest friends, and one of her favorite musicians, not some kind of tongue in cheek comment about the has beens of yesteryear.
"Who would you rather be The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?" i mean, the beatles were certainly not a blip or anything, but they were active for a much shorter time than the rolling stones. a common reaction to the current activity of the rolling stones is that they were great in their prime but are now dinosaurs and should probably give it a rest, whereas people regret that the beatles were around for such a short time and consider their oeuvre to be pretty sacrosanct.
the rest of the lyrics fit into this mold, too. "We're so close to something better left unknown" -- should they just quit while they're in their prime, or should they keep going to see if they reach something better? "Get hot, Get too close to the flame" -- how can you judge when you've hit your apex? is it possible to get just close enough to the flame without burning?
in the end, i'm not sure which she chooses. "Stay with all the unknown" sounds like they decide to keep moving until they fade out, but the fact that she says "stay" instead of "go" makes me unsure. "Gimme sympathy" is clearly a rolling stones reference, but the fact that the chorus ends with "Play me 'Here Comes the Sun'" makes me think she wants to go the beatles burning-out route.
i don't know what the "they" i keep referring to is, haha. possibly the band, possibly a relationship, maybe just a person's life in general. also, i've only listened to this song once so my interpretation might change, but this idea really struck me so i thought i'd share it here :]
I agree with your interpretation of this song. "Would you rather burn out or fade away?" "Stay with the all unknown...Stay away from the hooks” I think this is meaning don't sell out...stay original, a common theme to much of her writing.
I agree with your interpretation of this song. "Would you rather burn out or fade away?" "Stay with the all unknown...Stay away from the hooks” I think this is meaning don't sell out...stay original, a common theme to much of her writing.
I agree.
I agree.
I think that the decision to burn out or fade away has not been chosen and the song is only about being torn between these options.
I think that the decision to burn out or fade away has not been chosen and the song is only about being torn between these options.
@angelofthesilence "Who would you rather be The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
@angelofthesilence "Who would you rather be The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?"
my first reaction to this line was that she is asking "would you rather burn out or fade away?"
/>
Your reaction to this line is way out of left field. Emily Haines met Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, and they would later become friends. He once asked her "Would you rather be The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" and she shot back "Velvet Underground" You can read the article about their relationship here: rollingstone.com/music/news/metrics-emily-haines-pays-tribute-to-lou-reeds-integrity-and-humor-20131028
/>
Your reaction to this line is way out of left field. Emily Haines met Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground, and they would later become friends. He once asked her "Would you rather be The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" and she shot back "Velvet Underground" You can read the article about their relationship here: rollingstone.com/music/news/metrics-emily-haines-pays-tribute-to-lou-reeds-integrity-and-humor-20131028
Those lines in this song are just a tribute to one of her closest friends, and one of her favorite musicians, not some kind of tongue in cheek comment about the has beens of yesteryear.