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| Author | Topic: Magazines? |
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DanPlaysKeys Member Posts: 3 |
posted September 27, 2002 01:24 AM
 
Anyone know, or have any guesses who "Magazines" is about. Maybe I'm not listening to the lyrics right or something, but from what I've heard it seems awfully specific. IP: Logged |
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yjr Senior Member Posts: 39 |
posted September 27, 2002 08:52 PM
There's a bit about the song on the webpage from his mgmt co at www.bighassle.com - hope that helps! IP: Logged |
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Rina316 Senior Member Posts: 101 |
posted October 09, 2002 12:02 AM
Dan, what do you mean awful specific? IP: Logged |
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tdoglovin Senior Member Posts: 275 |
posted October 09, 2002 12:06 AM
I think he means the fact that its plainly about and ex g/f who strips nude for a dirty mag as a form of revenge. IP: Logged |
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Rina316 Senior Member Posts: 101 |
posted October 09, 2002 01:21 AM
oh ok..lol guess I don't know all my duncan facts  IP: Logged |
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Carlos Member Posts: 12 |
posted October 09, 2002 02:29 AM
I think it's a great song, wonderful music with an original lyric, I mean the topic I've never heard it in another song. That guy thought that his ex posed nude in one of those magazines and he freaked out, he confronted and insulted her but at the end it wasn't her. I think it's a song for all those people who likes to talk before ask for the truth, there's nothing more to it, I love it. [This message has been edited by Carlos (edited October 09, 2002).] IP: Logged |
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dana p Member Posts: 25 |
posted October 18, 2002 08:54 PM
hmmm, yeah, this one makes you wonder if it is indeed autobiographical or merely a flight of fancy.... i can see how it could possibly be true: i'm sure it's possible he's dated a young actress or two, someone who finds herself in the position of "needing" to exploit her assets in that way 'cause the acting thing isn't taking off as planned. anyway, as carlos said, it's a really unique song subject. i don't think i've ever heard anything quite like it either. plus, just musically, it's a great song: clever, insightful lyrics; great lolling beat; and that bass line is just *excellent*. it would be a great single, but i bet the next one's gonna be "start again," which has alot going for it, too. i really like gerry's backup vocal. also, if i may, i think he just means that her ambition has changed her so much that, even though she's nude (and he's seen it all before), he doesn't see the former "her" anymore. it's not that it isn't her and he made a mistake in IDing this person--she's just changed so much. the "revenge" part is just really good back-story and adds another element to the very clever refrain, "now i know." anyway, IP: Logged |
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tdoglovin Senior Member Posts: 275 |
posted October 18, 2002 09:12 PM
at bthere.tv duncan commented about magazines. He sad that it was about how magazine images are not real..implying that it is about how we fool ourselves into relating to the contents. That seems to be a theme of the album...choosing to be fooled because life is easier that way. IP: Logged |
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cclee76 Senior Member Posts: 87 |
posted October 19, 2002 08:17 AM
I agree with you Dana. I thought it was about how what he see's there isnt really her in the sense that it isnt the woman that he used to know. "It's not really you I see, when I look real close"-- it's another person in a sense, some other personality or another side of her that has come out for whatever reason. I think physically it is her that he sees, but not her true spirit that he used to know. IP: Logged |
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CloudyEden Senior Member Posts: 93 |
posted October 20, 2002 03:25 AM
True, the question whether "Magazines" is based on fact or fiction is unclear. However, I myself try to take the song as a *metaphor* because it helps me connect with the song more. You see, I find that once I hear that a particular song is about a specific thing or situation, it immediately begins to lose a bit of its mysteriousness (and timelessness) because I (as a listener) feel left out of the loop. That's why I've always found "Nothing Special" - a song obviously about how Duncan dealt with his fame after his debut - to be by far the weakest track off of "Humming" (LYRICALLY, not musically), and, subsequently, I find that "Magazines" gets less and less interesting itself with repeat listening because of its lacking of the kind of impressionistic lyrics of Duncan's that I've always loved. As I said before, both "...Special" and "Magazines" are MUSICALLY great songs, but leave little to the imagination in the lyrical sense. ------------------------- Matthew M. "...You get laid because you're arty..." IP: Logged |
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cclee76 Senior Member Posts: 87 |
posted October 20, 2002 08:53 AM
I would have to disagree with you on that one Cloudy, but agree with you on another thing as well. The feeling you get from the lyrics is that it is about Duncan himself, which it probably is, but when I listen to the words I dont even think of Duncan. I think it applies to so many people-- the posers, the somewhat famous people who think they are all that , when they just were one of the thousands who got lucky and got that lucky break. I agree with you that the lyrics arent as strong as other songs, but musically I love it-- great beat, melodies, etc. It actually is one of my new favorites. Has a bit of a Jonatha Brooke sound in that drum beat (if you know who that is). Though he may have been inspired to write the song b/c of his own experience, I think it is still ambiguous enough to apply to anyone, even ourselves when we get a little big headed about how we look, etc. Oh, and let me tell you my little picture in my head when I listen to the song-- it's funny. Since he says "you should know you arent that PRETTY", I tend to envision a female. So my picture in my head is of a little thin blonde walking around on her cell phone, mingling at parties and being phonie (spelling?), who is somewhat cute, but "not that pretty". I also love the very last line "I am the snake who bite his own tail"-- I love the way musically it kind of draws out. SOmetimes if I like a song, ikt may just be the melody, harmonies and rhythm that entice me and I dont even really pay attention to the lyrics at first-- that is the case with this song. --"We see what we want to see" IP: Logged |
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dana p Member Posts: 25 |
posted October 20, 2002 02:52 PM
yeah, what i like *so much* about "magazines" is that he's making his point so damn cleverly. it's a multilayered deal. and it's funny, because this song sorta *is* like "nothing special" in that it deals with "being in the spotlight." only this time, he's pointing out that there's all this very real--and private--human stuff going on that no one else would know about. and then, of course, the metaphor of being "naked" is used really well here. he's flipped it around a few times. totally cool. [another reason i get such a charge outta this song is because, it seems to me, anyway, he's got this rep of being "a nice boy" and, ok, here he is saying, "yeah, i've bought a few of these mags.... so?" heee heeeeee... i sincerely hope this gets on the radio, know what i mean? i *so* love that idea....] plus, again, i like that it's not all bombastic or "important" sounding musically. it's real casual sounding. kudos to him. i get what you're saying about "nothing special," though. those "oh, it's hard being famous" songs usually make me cringe. but, as usual, he's got a slightly different take on the whole thing, so that's good. i'm on another digest and there's alot of people on there who, one way or another, know tons about the music business and what a complete fucking mess it is. it's a total snake pit, really soul crushing most of the time. hence, "good morning." but that's another post.... laters, IP: Logged |
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CloudyEden Senior Member Posts: 93 |
posted October 22, 2002 02:43 PM
Yeah, I see your point, cclee. It's true that I usually think of Duncan when I hear his music (in the sense of his *state of mind*, that is). However, this is because, as corny as it sounds, I've always felt - for the most part - as if I've been in the same boat as him (ie, the kind of overly sensitive & romantic guy in a cynical, game-playing world that can never quite find love; also, the kind of guy that detests commercialization). And, by this measure, I very much admire the *intention* of "Magazines" (as well as "Nothing Special" for that matter), because the song puts that very commercialization (in this case, of people) on his dinner plate and he bites hard (we need more gutsy, topical artists like him). The thing about both songs that rubs me the wrong way is that Duncan seems to choose not to trust that we could pick up on the songs' subject matter without lyrical help along the way. ("Now everyone can gaze upon your body/ its good for you, I guess you have no shame" is borderline laziness) I agree with you on another thing, cclee, that a song initially attracts me with the rhythm and beats, etc. However, what keeps me coming *back* to the song are the lyrics that puts my imagination to work. I find it kinda fun to try to decode complicated songs (believe you me, I haven't yet cracked a single code on an REM song, and love it!) Do I still sing along to "...Special" and "Magazines"? Absolutely. I haven't yet heard a Duncan song that doesn't make me want to open my car windows and scream out each stanza in pure delight (ok, maybe not scream, but you get the point ------------------------- Matthew M. "...And now I know, and you're in magazines..." IP: Logged |
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