my sweet lord vs give me love(give me peace on earth)

[matt5]

I always found it strange how my sweet lord became harrisons 'signature' song. Whenever I hear a Harrison solo song on the radio 90% of the time its sweet lord and I never hear give me love which is strange since it was a big hit in its own right and on I personal level I think its lyrically and melodically much better than lord which I find redundant.

[FPSHOT]

Matt5, the good thing about music and songs is that you can have an opinion about it and discuss it.

I tend to believe that "My Sweet Lord" is not really George's signature song. Maybe it depends on airplay in a certain country or part of the world.

"My Sweet Lord" may be seen as a start of a new period, whereas it was the opening single to the album, but for a 'signature' I personally would have many choises, also based on for instance live performances. There, the famous three show up, being "Here Comes The Sun" - which even futures in tv commercials and tv programs - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something". And there are plenty more, so the comparison in your question does not really meet me.

As for the lyrics, ouch http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/afraid1.gif if you find the lyrics redundant, then either you haven't really read them - whereas George can say "I really want to see you" and half the Western world would read over the actual meaning, and a part of the other half will understand - or it's just not your thing. But it is a lot of the real George.

Now, the melody of "My Sweet Lord" ; well there may be a point when it comes to playing it in 1970 or in 2004, also when we know that George himself had some remarks about it and therefore recorded a new version which in respect of 'melody' may suit you better?

"Give Me Love" .... yeah Matt5, some beautiful precious song http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif oh yes

I can't think of a 'signature' song for George... in his life there have been so many changes, there isn't one I can think of because when I do, or someone else does, I immediately have plenty of arguments to pick another one.

And that is great huh http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

A musician which this long a career having a signature song.... I wonder if that is a good thing http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[sourmilkpinky]

I don't like the idea of 'signature songs', not for musicians/bands that have gone through many changes in their careers.

I agree with FPSHOT as far as the songs that I think of when I think of George's career. Then again I would probably add some from even later in his career as well.

However, even tho both 'Give Me Love' and 'My Sweet Lord' are beautiful, I also prefer 'Give Me Love'.

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
sourmilkpinky Posted:

I agree with FPSHOT as far as the songs that I think of when I think of George's career. Then again I would probably add some from even later in his career as well.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just for the record, and the Palace http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif those three songs are those which often is thought about in general when it comes to George.

Personally I have others in mind when I think of his career.

[sourmilkpinky]

ok FPSHOT, if you had to pick just three, which one's would you think of?

[FPSHOT]

only 3? http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/afraid1.gif

That is so difficultm with me it changes all the time, however two are solid and they are

This Is Love
The Inner Light

which is based on my preference, and the third one is really changing all the time... but lemme see

Run Of The Mill

Ask me in an hour and that will be different

[darkhorse]

I do believe that when people in the radio stations remember George, they do remember "My Sweet Lord", but I think it's because of a much simpler reason: it was his biggest hit. Yes, "Give Me Love" was also a #1 song, but "My Sweet Lord" did get much more airplay, and keeps on getting it. The reasons could be very variated - you never really know what's in a song that makes it a hit. 95% of my favorite songs haven't been hits at all, and a good percentage of the total hit songs haven't been good songs at all, so it's really weird to try to understand that.

I do not find the lyrics or the melody redundant, since "My Sweet Lord" is a prayer, and its formula of desperation in the process of seeking God (and the anxiety for finding Him) is reflected in the repetitions. I do believe that they are very melodic, though. "Give Me Love" is a very beautiful song, too... but if you make me choose, "My Sweet Lord" is my favorite between the two.

None of those two are in my top 5 favorite George songs, either! The world is very complex! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Hari's Chick]

Putting the two songs opposite each other is interesting since both were from the early solo years, and each the perspective hit off the two different lp's.

My Sweet Lord is precious, but as far as the lyric goes, it's interesting how it all came together. Inspiration came from Srila Prabhupad's sharing the poetry of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. http://www.scsmath.com/docs/bhaktivinod_thakur.html
He was known for writing poems of longing for Krishna. Often, we have the impulse to fall head over heels in love, and this love colors our days with joy and longing, but nothing can be compared to the longing and love for the Lord, and the purity of love inherent in it....when we are in love/longing for Krishna. Well, Bhaktivinoda Thakur was a poet who wrote of this deep longing. Prabhupad instructed George to write something similar, and George composed the lines indicating longing/separation from Lord Krishna. In truth, of course, we are not separate from Him ever...but we get cloudy vision which prevents us from knowing this.

Well, at the same time, George wanted to let people know that hallelujah and Hare Krishna 'were essentially the same'. So, he later half dismissed the poetry of the verse, saying there was some 'scat singing' there in essence to fill the song, while people might sing along or notice what was actually happening in the background!

This to me, really comes through beautifully in the 2000 version.

All these aspects make My Sweet Lord very special~ the inspiration behind it, the cleverness and ingenuity of George's getting the unsuspecting crowds to go from hallelujah to Hare Krishna http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and especially the prayer also at the end... Oh, beautiful.

But Give Me Love is precious because it is one of four places, I believe, we hear George chanting/singing the sacred syllable OM: Gopala Krishna (boot), Give Me Love, My Sweet Lord 2000, and My Sweet Lord (live in Japan).

Give Me Love has an amazing peace, and the length, love, and duration of the OM always gives me chills, it is so so so beautiful. It's like this amazing gift within the song.

It is hard to assign a signiture song to someone like George though, who was so multifaceted. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[motherTheresa]

[ QUOTE ]
matt5 Posted:
I always found it strange how my sweet lord became harrisons 'signature' song. Whenever I hear a Harrison solo song on the radio

[/ QUOTE ]


i am not certain how things work at radio stations, perhaps
it varies...but maybe the program director at your radio
station happens to LOVE that song more than the
other....
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead3.gif

based upon your statement, i could wonder why "yesterday"
is the beatles' signature song, as opposed to, "a hard
days' night", which i prefer. why? because the radio
station (in its infinite wisdom) has decided to play
"yesterday" 50 bazillion times!

sometimes, matt, the people at the radio station just
stick to the tried & true, instead of exhibiting some
creativity in their choices of material.

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
darkhorse Posted:
I do believe that when people in the radio stations remember George, they do remember "My Sweet Lord", but I think it's because of a much simpler reason: it

95% of my favorite songs [i]haven't been hits at all, and a good percentage of the total hit songs haven't been good songs at all, so it's really weird to try to understand that.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that for DJ's etc. this song will be the first reference, but in a way I don't mind too, because of the meaning of the song.

Also my favorite songs are not those which are the obvious ones, not only with George.

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
Hari's Chick Posted:
All these aspects make My Sweet Lord very special~ the inspiration behind it, the cleverness and ingenuity of George's getting the unsuspecting crowds to go from hallelujah to Hare Krishna http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and especially the prayer also at the end... Oh, beautiful.



[/ QUOTE ]

A great interesting description about My Sweet Lord, thanks .

And yes, George was tactfull leading the world from the West to the East on a spiritual trip which he started by My Sweet Lord and for the moment ended with the spoken words together with Dhani on "Brainwashed"

[FPSHOT]

[ QUOTE ]
motherTheresa Posted:sometimes, matt, the people at the radio station just
stick to the tried & true, instead of exhibiting some
creativity in their choices of material.

[/ QUOTE ]
This very much made up for mentioning the song about the day before today http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It is so true, often radio stations are 'overexposed, computerised'

[motherTheresa]

[ QUOTE ]
FPSHOT Posted:
[ QUOTE ]
motherTheresa Posted:sometimes, matt, the people at the radio station just
stick to the tried & true, instead of exhibiting some
creativity in their choices of material.

[/ QUOTE ]
This very much made up for mentioning the song about the day before today http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh5.gif