Once (Pearl Jam song)
| "Once" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyPearl Jam | |
| from the albumTen | |
| Released | July 7, 1991 |
| Recorded | March 27 – April 26, 1991 atLondon Bridge Studios,Seattle,Washington |
| Genre | Alternative rock,grunge |
| Length | 3:51 |
| Label | Epic |
| Composer(s) | Stone Gossard |
| Lyricist(s) | Eddie Vedder |
| Producer(s) | Rick Parashar,Pearl Jam |
"Once"is a song by the AmericanrockbandPearl Jam.Featuring lyrics written by vocalistEddie Vedderand music written by guitaristStone Gossard,"Once" is the first track on the band's debut album,Ten(1991). OnTen,it is preceded by a brief interlude of the album's closing hidden track, "Master/Slave". BesidesTen,the song was also featured as aB-sideon the single for "Alive".Remixed versions of the song were included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album,Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003),and the 2009Tenreissue. The song is one of the band's heaviest compositions to date.
Origin and recording
[edit]"Once" features lyrics written by vocalistEddie Vedderand music written by guitaristStone Gossard.The song originated as an instrumental demo titled "Agyptian Crave" that was written by Gossard in 1990. The instrumental was one of five songs compiled onto a tape calledStone Gossard Demos '91that was circulated in the hopes of finding a singer and drummer for the group.[1]
The tape made its way into the hands of Vedder, who was working as agas stationattendant inSan Diego,Californiaat the time. He listened to the tape shortly before going surfing, where lyrics came to him.[2]Vedder recorded vocals for three of the songs on the demo tape, one of which was "Once", and mailed the tape back to Seattle. Upon hearing the tape, the band invited Vedder to come to Seattle and he was asked to join the band.[1]
Lyrics
[edit]"Once" is the middle chapter of a trilogy of songs in what Vedder later described as a "mini-opera" entitledMamasan,with it being preceded by "Alive"and followed by" Footsteps "." Once "tells the tale of a man's descent into madness which leads him into becoming a serial killer.[2]
During the bridge of the song, Vedder can be heard muttering. He is actually saying "You think I got my eyes closed/But I'm lookin' at you the whole fuckin' time..."
Reception
[edit]Stephen M. DeusnerofPitchfork Mediasaid, "On songs like 'Once', with its insistent breakdowns...there's a hardscrabble dynamic that the band would be unable to capture on subsequent releases."[3]"Once" has received considerable radio airplay as Pearl Jam's popularity has endured.
In March 2009, "Once" was made available as downloadable content for theRock Bandseries as a master track as part of the albumTen.[4]The song was featured in theCold Caseepisode "Into the Blue" in 2009.
Live performances
[edit]"Once" was first performed live at the band's October 22, 1990 concert inSeattle,Washingtonat the Off Ramp Café.[5]Live performances of "Once" can be found on the "Dissident"/Live in Atlantabox set, variousofficial bootlegs,theLive at the Gorge 05/06box set, and theDrop in the ParkLPincluded in the Super Deluxe edition of theTenreissue.
References
[edit]- ^abPearlman, Nina. "Black Days".Guitar World.December 2002.
- ^abCrowe, Cameron (October 28, 1993)."Five Against the World".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2007.RetrievedJune 23,2007.
- ^Deusner, Stephen M."Pearl Jam:Ten".Pitchfork Media.April 3, 2009.
- ^Faylor, Chris (December 14, 2008)."Rock Band Getting Full Pearl Jam Album".Shacknews.RetrievedDecember 14,2008.
- ^"Pearl Jam Songs:" Once ""ArchivedMay 23, 2009, at theWayback Machine.pearljam.com.
External links
[edit]
- 1991 songs
- Pearl Jam songs
- Songs written by Eddie Vedder
- Songs written by Stone Gossard
- Song recordings produced by Eddie Vedder
- Song recordings produced by Stone Gossard
- Song recordings produced by Jeff Ament
- Song recordings produced by Mike McCready
- Song recordings produced by Dave Krusen
- Song recordings produced by Rick Parashar
- Works about serial killers