@Penderyn But Great Britain is a geographical term and not the name of the country. It refers to the island that contains the mainland parts of Wales, Scotland and England. It excludes Northern Ireland hence why UK is used. Or more specifically the full name of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland but that's a mouthful.
I’ve heard the song a million times and still get goosebumps on my arms at certain points. I think the bass line is criminally underrated, especially the fills late in the song.
The fuck you talking about? The bass literally plays the same one bar the whole song, it doesn't change at all, no fills, no runs, nothing. 3 notes, the whole song.
This song is like a Merry-Go-Round. It gives you this feeling of going up and down, round and round, moving through time and space. But it keeps bringing you around to the same place and seamlessly starting over. It creates a perfect motif for overlaying a commentary on the repetitive, bittersweet nature of life.
My ex and I had this whole album on repeat anytime we were in the car (until it became overplayed). There are some incredible tracks on this album. Really became a soundtrack for that relationship for us. I received the news last year that she left this world and now it's difficult to listen to this without it bringing a tear. A lot of that stuff feels more relevant to that relationship now than it did then. It's amazing how powerfully music can pull you back in time and bring up all the things...
This is one of those songs that I have to stop and listen to every time it comes up. The music makes me want to spread my arms and face a wind and the lyrics speaks to my gen-x heart. I love it so much.
Great comment. And it reminds me of "The Checks" episode on Seinfeld....when Elaine's new boyfriend is enthralled every time he hears "Desperado" by the Eagles and can't function until it's over. Check it out it's hilarious.
The violins are a sample of an orchestral adaptation of The Rolling Stones' song The Last Time. They were sued over the sample by The Rolling Stones' old manager (who owned the rights to early Stones songs) and lost songwriting credits for around 20 years, also losing out on many millions of dollars. They only got the rights back a few years ago, after the manager died.
The orchestral adaptation of The Last Time (inc. the famous violin flourish used in the Verve's sample) was actually composed the Rolling Stones's first manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. He was replaced as their manager by the more business-savvy, Allen Klein who then set about swindling Mick Jagger and Keith Richards out of their songwriting royalties for all of their 1960's songs.
Either way they ripped off the original arrangement and faded into nothing - ever hear of them in the last decade plus? Nope. 1/2 hit wonder since they stole part of the song😂
@@flyingburritobro68 Not really. They actually bought the rights to the sample from the label, not knowing that Klein had acquired the rights. They didn't find out about it until they were sued.
@@Mark-sc9iu they bought the rights to sample, which is like 10 seconds, not to use the whole song. This was not a sample, it was a basically a cover, which Ashcroft them claimed to have written. The Stones said they didn’t care, but the owner of the publishing rights did. That is what got the, sued.
My son was born in '97 which is an impressive year for albums....Radiohead, Supergrass, Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Catherine Wheel, The Charlatans, The Sundays, Blur, Oasis, Belle and Sebastian, and Chemical Brothers, to name a few. Love the channel.
Wow, I’m a boomer who thought she had a passing knowledge of 90’s groups. I thought wrong. I only know three of the bands you mentioned. … Radiohead, Depeche Mode and Oasis. They must have been the monster groups? The rest were second tier?
@@helenespaulding7562 They're all first tier, but many different styles. Catherine Wheel is very guitar heavy, The Sundays closer to The Cranberries (but pre-Cranberries), Blur rivaled Oasis in Britpop, and The Chemical Brothers are electronic' big beat' (synths and computers) dance/rave artists. You should try out all the ones Raygun mentions!
@@Skeezer66 I just might. Didn’t mean to imply that others were not excellent. Only that I, as a 50 year old woman at the time who didn’t follow popular music much at all, was aware and had heard the names of those three bands.
As someone who lives about 20 miles from where the Verve are from, this warms my cockles! I was 11 when this song came out and I've never got bored of it. Glad you boys enjoyed it.
One of the best songs. Fantastic lyrics and I think the repetitiveness is deliberate to reflect the mundane, monotonous repetitiveness in life - adding more meaning in line with the lyrics without actually stating this as lyrics
@@jgsrhythm100, it appears you've subsequently backed down from stating this as fact to now owning that any connection between the songs is merely your opinion.
@@sirajaxl, I started to respond that I hadn't asked any question. Then I re-read his comment, and noticed he included a question mark. I move to strike my opening statement and move that we take an hour recess.
This song feels like its been with me my whole life even though that’s not the case. It’s always been good but it hits differently depending on your mood. I never get tired of it. “The Drugs Don’t Work” is another song that takes you into another headspace. I’d recommend checking that one out.
I know what you mean. I felt that way with this song and - a decade or two earlier, with The Jam's "That's Entertainment". It's like they've always been there.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 The impact music has on us is so powerful. This song gives me The Smiths vibes. My favorite band is The Smiths and Morrissey (solo career). Everyone says their music is depressing but I feel like they took sadness and loneliness and elevated into beautiful art. Whenever I’m down, sad or lost I immerse myself in their music and I ALWAYS feel better. And when I’m happy I enjoy it just as much. Morrissey says the things that people think but would never say out loud. He’s an amazing lyricist. “It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind.” The man is a genius! I’m so grateful for the artists that get us through this crazy thing called life.
@@scambammer6102 Similar ,tempo, instrumentation, vocal delivery, orchestration mood. , lyrical and video concept. Both great tracks, just saying the Verve were likely inspired by it. Verve are from UK so different accent
This is, to me, a perfect song, but one I don't always need. When I DO need it, though, it's an amazing piece of music. Nighttime driving, the last third of a workout on the treadmill...that's when I'm always grateful for this song to appear, and fall in love with it all over again.
I really enjoyed this song....that's from a 1960 kid. I quit listening to pop and rock by the time this song came out but heard it later on. It's one of those I'll stop and listen to because of the violins melody ... its light and easy feeling. Great observations and analysis.
This song is on the work radio overhead at my gig. It is easily my favorite song that I am forced to listen to 3-5 times per day. I never, never, get tired of hearing it. Maybe it's because it is a stream in a desert of other crappy music or because it is just that good. I don't know, probably an 81.5% chance that it is that good. Anyway, I was so happy that it won, was excited to see it show up in my feed today and so glad that you guys loved it.
Radio's narrowed playlists are exactly why I can't stand it anymore--and I grew up wanting to work in radio, and then I did!! Even with a song this good, I would hate it by the end of one week.
I feel ya. I was in construction for many years and was forced to listen to "country" music for much of that time. There were always one or two songs that were kinda good (Don Williams, Jolene) that I would look forward to.
I've always really liked this song and still do - it's never got old for me. Now watch the video as it complements the song perfectly and takes it to another dimension.
Richard Ashcroft is my 2nd favorite male vocalist of all time (only behind Chris Cornell). He is also a brilliant song writer. Check out more Verve and his solo material in the future
1288 is my guess. As a Gen Xer I always felt this song would be timeless, as iconic then as it is today. The lyrics and melody are perfectly matched, and though Jagger and Richards came up with the ‘riff’ - Last Time was a catchy early 60s pop tune with fairly throw away lyrics. This song is in another category altogether.
It was a lot more than a riff that Ashcroft stole. The entire melody of the song is just a repeat of a unique chord progression in the Stones' song. Pure plagiarism. And to to the DJH weirdo who also responded to this, if Oldham had published the string arrangement under his own name, it would have been plagiarism on his part, too. But he was working for the Stones and got a paycheck from them to arrange one of their songs. Please don't talk about things you don't understand. Richards and Jagger got (and deserved) full publishing rights to the song after a court found Ashcroft didn't have a leg to stand on. It was nice of them to give the rights back 20 years later, no matter how stupid Ashcroft was when talking about them "stealing" from him. He's a complete joke.
@@djhrecordhound4391 Not even a little. It's a fine song and well-produced...hard to go wrong with ripping off such a great song. Facts bother babies, I understand. Arrangers know their jobs and understand that arranging isn't the same thing as writing/composing. Maybe someday you'll be a big boy and understand that.
Love that you all got up on this. So much of this era coming from the OG rave scene and DnB/Trance is all about the long slow ride. Hit a space and just ride it out. ✌️❤️ BTW... I've heard this a thousand times since the release and it never get old. It's a timeless vibe. Like many if this era.
1128; - Loved this song when it first came out - Got sick of it being overplayed - Lost respect for all sides when I found out about stealing the sample and the severity of the lawsuit - Didn't listen to it for like 15 years - Heard it here today and remembered why I loved it at first The song, it's own history, and the experience with it are like their own condensed metaphor for it's own subject matter. Life is long...
They didn't steal it. They bought the rights from Decca. Allen Klein, the a hole who screwed both the Stones and the Beatles, is the one who declined rights to the Verve. After he died in 2009, the Stones gave the rights to the Verve.
This song has amazing lyrics and has one of the greatest openings. Always has the melancoly upbeat sound (like a cloudy day) which the video perfectly reflects that.
I think when this was first played on the radio the dj played it 8 times in a row because he liked it so much which would absolutely never happen today
Whenever I've heard this on the radio throughout the years, I've cranked it up all the way. Still have the album on cassette (snort) from the 90's and play it now and then.
827. After refusing to listen to this for twenty years, I can appreciate it again! Worked at MTV at it’s height. We had screens all over the building (and in our offices!) playing the channel, so if something was in heavy, heavy rotation, you heard it multiple times daily! Much better now! 😂
I was going through a bad breakup when it came out. A bittersweet breakup so this song still makes me cry good and bad tears every time I hear it. I wish I had seen this performed live.
@@alrivers2297There boh great , but my guess is the Verve were inspired by the Collective Soul track. The Colkective Soul Track was based on a man who commit Suicide in NYC. They have a very similar tone and feel. Both great
I first heard this song during the movie "Cruel Intentions." I think it was one of the best song/scene pairings in movie history. When I hear it, it takes me right back to that climactic scene at the end of the film.
I first heard this song during the TV ads for the 2000 Tokyo Olympics, if memory serves me right. It's was the Verve's only mainstream hit in the US. They were a lot more successful in the UK. This is a very cool song.
This song is just pure musical genius! Has been on my playlist since I heard it for the first time when it came out. Symphony, incredible vocals and the lyrics! All around WOW!
The whole album is fantastic! The four singles are all catchy as F. Lucky Man being my favorite. But there are some harder edged bangers on there as well.
At 6 yrs old, Urban Hymns was the very first album I ever owned. I absolutely loved this band as a kid and I still do. Richard Ashcroft has influenced so much of my life.
Bunch of Brit pop/Madchester songs deserve to be covered. Maybe start with The Stone Roses’ best couple songs, like Fool’s Gold, She Bangs the Drums or Love Spreads.
The Verve are such a great band who first emerged doing dreamy pop melodies and shoegazy material with A Storm In Heaven (which is a great album) then they turned more Britpop and rocking with A Northern Soul. Urban Hymns is what i think the peak of their creativity and its such a great album. A massive seller when it came out. I love the Verve and i feel like you guys would love them if you dived into more of their songs such as: The drugs dont work, Slide away, Northern Soul, History, Sonnet, Theyre a great band!!!
When the Rolling Stones sued the Verve for plagiarism on this song and won, the catalyst was their first manager Allen Klein who ripped Mick and Keef off so bad that to this day they have not gotten a penny in royalties on some of their biggest hits.
They had permission to use the sample, but Alan Klein claimed they used more than they agreed to. The Verve couldn't do anything at that point without pulling the album. Mick and Keith had nothing to do with the suit, and they finally made it right by giving the songwriting royalties back.
@@loosilu Jagger, Richards and Andrew Oldham received the royalties for more than 20 years. The two Stones tried to give some back but Oldham kept all of his.
I was college age when this album came out. Remember it through a bit of a euphoric blur... getting stoned with good friends in the autumn in this old wooden house with a beautiful wild garden with apple trees that had been turned into a dormitory, spacing out on a mattress next to a girl I never had the guts to make a move on while this music was blasting through the speakers.
My number guess is 1305. I've never heard this song before. Stuff like this makes me realize I basically missed the 90s. I listened mostly to classic rock radio (60s-80s), and it seemed every time I explored stations playing current music it was either R&B/rap, boy bands or other pop, or grunge (which I like now but didn't then). Didn't know stuff like this was out there, lol.
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is based on a sample from a 1965 version of the Rolling Stones song "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. The Verve added strings, guitar, percussion and vocals. They obtained rights to use the "Last Time" sample from the copyright holder, Decca . 1952 guy loves this song
Andy nailed it. Excellent groove to this brain candy song. Speaking of brain candy: XTC ("Senses Working Overtime" or "Complicated Game") and GUIDED BY VOICES ("Enemy" or "Space Gun") would be EPIC.
Your friend is wrong, the Stones didn't sue them, it was their old manager who owned all the rights to the Stone's songs pre 70s. He screwed over the Stones because of that as well. Once the Stones got the rights back for all their 60s work, Ashcroft's manager contacted them and Richards and Jagger signed all rights and royalties over to them. The Stones had no say in the lawsuit whatsoever.
This song gives me all the feelzzz, so easy to get lost in the sawce. Have always had this gem on the top of my list, it's cool, beautiful and the lyrics are beyond. Happy Friday guys!!!
THE VERVE’S 1997 hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is one of the finest songs of the Britpop era, a classically Nineties expression of world-weary cool with just the right amount of English self-regard. It’s a song that only Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft could have written - except that he didn’t, according to a notorious copyright ruling. Ashcroft’s song famously sampled an orchestral cover of the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time,” and a lawsuit from former Stones manager Allen Klein shortly after its release forced him to hand over 100 percent of the royalties from “Bitter Sweet Symphony” to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
That same article calls the argument that the Stones should get full writing credit "patently absurd." The original deal was to give half credit, since Ashcroft wrote everything except the string sample.
Allen Klein's company ABKCO owns the publishing rights to the Rolling Stones 1960's catalog, including "The Last Time", a version of which spawned the sample used by The Verve. Klein did not sue so that Mick & Keef could have 100% of the royalties. He sued so HE could get the money.
To be clear it wasn’t the stones who sued them, it was the stones’ publisher, the infamous Allen Klein, who sued them, for sampling an orchestral arrangement of The Last Time from an obscure record by the stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham. And… it’s not a sample. If you listen to the original, you can hear that the Verve rearranged and re-recorded it so it isn’t note for note. They still got sued, not at the stones wishes, and lost.
Professor of Rock just did a video about the background of this song and how it basically destroyed the artist and it involves The Rolling Stones if you don’t know. You should definitely check it out because the story is pretty insane. Horrible injustice was done imo.
Love this song. The year before this was released, Primitive Radio Gods had a song with sampling from BB King. It also had a sentence for the title, "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand". Not a common practice. Pearl Jam's, "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town", is another example. Comment others you know of, please.
I really like how it takes it’s time at the beginning. You’re almost lost in the sauce from the very start because it spends so long just building up the music and the rhythm, in absolutely no rush to get to the vocals. It was already a hit for us angsty teenagers and then Cruel Intentions came out and it blew up again.
From what I've heard , the Verve did discuss with Rolling stones' manager Allen Klein . Seeing the song go big , Allen Klein accused the Verve of copying more than what was agreed. This was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy's , where Richard Aschcroft said "This is the best song Keith and Mick have recorded in the last 25 years". Richard Aschcroft is a legend
One of our national anthems here in the UK, it’s a MASSIVE song here 👍
It's big in the US also.
I was living in London in 1997, this song reminds me so much of that crazy time. I also associate it with Diana.
This and Wonderwall'
My condolences
@Penderyn But Great Britain is a geographical term and not the name of the country. It refers to the island that contains the mainland parts of Wales, Scotland and England. It excludes Northern Ireland hence why UK is used. Or more specifically the full name of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland but that's a mouthful.
This song…… hits me hard EVERY TIME. It’s meant to be felt emotionally.
the album too!
Every time. EVERY TIME!❤
I am a Boomer that loves the 60's thru the 80's in particular, but I absolutely love this song. Love those strings
Have you heard the original 60s instrumental by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra? Check it out..you'll love it!
@@karlsinclair9918 If you're recommending the song, it might help to give its title--
"The Last Time"
@@djhrecordhound4391 yeah, I did elsewhere and linked the video below but it must have been allowed. Cheers.
The whole album is fantastic. This is the only song with strings, but the other songs have the same mood.
Same here. Sixty years old and 90+% of my music is from 60s-80s, but I love this.
Not only one of the best songs of its time, but also one of the best videos: a must watch!!!!
I’ve heard the song a million times and still get goosebumps on my arms at certain points. I think the bass line is criminally underrated, especially the fills late in the song.
It's been asserted this song's riff was stolen from the Rolling Stones "The Last Time."
The fuck you talking about? The bass literally plays the same one bar the whole song, it doesn't change at all, no fills, no runs, nothing. 3 notes, the whole song.
@@mrsleep0000 I’m talking about the transition fills that you can clearly hear in the back half of the song. If in doubt, take a look at the bass tab.
I agree, criminally underrated. This song will give me goosebumps no matter how many times I hear it. ❤
@@surfrunnerd8457 You're a full-blown idlot.
This song is like a Merry-Go-Round. It gives you this feeling of going up and down, round and round, moving through time and space. But it keeps bringing you around to the same place and seamlessly starting over. It creates a perfect motif for overlaying a commentary on the repetitive, bittersweet nature of life.
They have a great song called “Space & Time” 👍
what a perfect metaphor!
What's up John
A merry-go-round is the perfect image for the energy and motion of this song.🎠
This was played at the funeral of a much loved friend last year. It summed up him and his too short life so much. RIP my brother.
The entire album “Urban Hymns” is amazing.
Their entire collection is pretty amazing
Yup. Must do Drugs Don't Work or Lucky Man next.
Absolutely Yes
Seconded!
I was going to buy the CD online. But before I did I found it for 10p at a church fundraiser. It’s great.
My ex and I had this whole album on repeat anytime we were in the car (until it became overplayed). There are some incredible tracks on this album. Really became a soundtrack for that relationship for us. I received the news last year that she left this world and now it's difficult to listen to this without it bringing a tear. A lot of that stuff feels more relevant to that relationship now than it did then. It's amazing how powerfully music can pull you back in time and bring up all the things...
Nothing slaps you upside the head with your memories like music. 😁 I wish you the very best of them.
I second that. All the best.
Sorry for your loss. I hope you are somehow also able to find comfort in the song. Life is indeed bittersweet.
Amen to that.
I'm sorry to hear that, man... The people we care for never really leave us.
The video for this song was iconic and really helped propel the songs impact at the time. IMO
1954
I totally agree with you about the video. It fits perfectly with the song.
Yes, the video is legendary. Based of the iconic and legendary Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy" video which came out in 1991.
Little fun fact:
The woman being angry about him climbing over her car ist Richard Ashcroft's wife 🙂
@@Missylife-t7mA homage to that original video
This is one of those songs that I have to stop and listen to every time it comes up. The music makes me want to spread my arms and face a wind and the lyrics speaks to my gen-x heart. I love it so much.
Absolutely the same reaction for me, a fellow Gen Xer!
Great comment. And it reminds me of "The Checks" episode on Seinfeld....when Elaine's new boyfriend is enthralled every time he hears "Desperado" by the Eagles and can't function until it's over. Check it out it's hilarious.
If life's a circle, this song epitomises it.
A real shame you guys weren’t able to react while watching the official video for this song, well worth a visit if you are able..👍
The violins are a sample of an orchestral adaptation of The Rolling Stones' song The Last Time. They were sued over the sample by The Rolling Stones' old manager (who owned the rights to early Stones songs) and lost songwriting credits for around 20 years, also losing out on many millions of dollars. They only got the rights back a few years ago, after the manager died.
The orchestral adaptation of The Last Time (inc. the famous violin flourish used in the Verve's sample) was actually composed the Rolling Stones's first manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. He was replaced as their manager by the more business-savvy, Allen Klein who then set about swindling Mick Jagger and Keith Richards out of their songwriting royalties for all of their 1960's songs.
The story i heard is that it was Mick's decision, after his heart attack, to give the band back their rights (as well as all back royalties).
Either way they ripped off the original arrangement and faded into nothing - ever hear of them in the last decade plus? Nope. 1/2 hit wonder since they stole part of the song😂
@@flyingburritobro68 Not really. They actually bought the rights to the sample from the label, not knowing that Klein had acquired the rights. They didn't find out about it until they were sued.
@@Mark-sc9iu they bought the rights to sample, which is like 10 seconds, not to use the whole song. This was not a sample, it was a basically a cover, which Ashcroft them claimed to have written. The Stones said they didn’t care, but the owner of the publishing rights did. That is what got the, sued.
This is one of those songs that is (even) better with its (iconic) video💜👍🎩
oh yeah way better
I bumped into the lead singer in the street the other day
@@chrisshepherd3361 😂
And I bumped into his girlfriend, she weren’t too happy!..
My son was born in '97 which is an impressive year for albums....Radiohead, Supergrass, Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Catherine Wheel, The Charlatans, The Sundays, Blur, Oasis, Belle and Sebastian, and Chemical Brothers, to name a few. Love the channel.
Wow, I’m a boomer who thought she had a passing knowledge of 90’s groups. I thought wrong. I only know three of the bands you mentioned. … Radiohead, Depeche Mode and Oasis. They must have been the monster groups? The rest were second tier?
I was born in 78, the 90's was my era, the last great decade of music, so many bands, so many artists, so many genre's
McCartney's Flaming Pie, which IMO is his best solo album in the last 25 years.
@@helenespaulding7562 They're all first tier, but many different styles. Catherine Wheel is very guitar heavy, The Sundays closer to The Cranberries (but pre-Cranberries), Blur rivaled Oasis in Britpop, and The Chemical Brothers are electronic' big beat' (synths and computers) dance/rave artists. You should try out all the ones Raygun mentions!
@@Skeezer66 I just might. Didn’t mean to imply that others were not excellent. Only that I, as a 50 year old woman at the time who didn’t follow popular music much at all, was aware and had heard the names of those three bands.
Andy is a emotion/mood guy. Alex is a tech/lyrics guy.
As someone who lives about 20 miles from where the Verve are from, this warms my cockles! I was 11 when this song came out and I've never got bored of it. Glad you boys enjoyed it.
One of the best songs. Fantastic lyrics and I think the repetitiveness is deliberate to reflect the mundane, monotonous repetitiveness in life - adding more meaning in line with the lyrics without actually stating this as lyrics
Inspired by "Collective Soul's
"The World I Know" ( released 2 yrs prior)? Very similar(even video and lyric concept similar).
Well said. ❤✌
@@jgsrhythm100, it appears you've subsequently backed down from stating this as fact to now owning that any connection between the songs is merely your opinion.
@@jimreadey4837
Shouldn’t you swear the witness in before you start your questions Counselor?
@@sirajaxl, I started to respond that I hadn't asked any question. Then I re-read his comment, and noticed he included a question mark. I move to strike my opening statement and move that we take an hour recess.
This song feels like its been with me my whole life even though that’s not the case. It’s always been good but it hits differently depending on your mood. I never get tired of it.
“The Drugs Don’t Work” is another song that takes you into another headspace. I’d recommend checking that one out.
I know what you mean. I felt that way with this song and - a decade or two earlier, with The Jam's "That's Entertainment". It's like they've always been there.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 The impact music has on us is so powerful. This song gives me The Smiths vibes. My favorite band is The Smiths and Morrissey (solo career). Everyone says their music is depressing but I feel like they took sadness and loneliness and elevated into beautiful art. Whenever I’m down, sad or lost I immerse myself in their music and I ALWAYS feel better. And when I’m happy I enjoy it just as much.
Morrissey says the things that people think but would never say out loud. He’s an amazing lyricist. “It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind.” The man is a genius! I’m so grateful for the artists that get us through this crazy thing called life.
Born in 1993, so basically grew up listening to this song. This is a generation-defining S-tier track for me.
Inspired by "Collective Soul's
"The World I Know" ( released 2 yrs prior)? Very similar(even video and lyric concept similar).
Born in 91 here, so I feel that.
@@jgsrhythm100 don't sound very similar
@@scambammer6102 Similar ,tempo, instrumentation, vocal delivery, orchestration mood. , lyrical and video concept. Both great tracks, just saying the Verve were likely inspired by it.
Verve are from UK so different accent
The 90's were my 30's and I liked the vibe, it was far better than the 80's in my opinion.
A decade defining song for sure. You guys should watch the video - Richard Ashcroft just oozing attitude with every step.
Definitely an S tier song for me. Great 90s track
Inspired by "Collective Soul's
"The World I Know" ( released 2 yrs prior)? Very similar(even the video concept similar).
The whole album (Urban Hymns) is soooo good. Richard Ashcroft is a genius and this is a definite "S" tier for me!
This is, to me, a perfect song, but one I don't always need. When I DO need it, though, it's an amazing piece of music. Nighttime driving, the last third of a workout on the treadmill...that's when I'm always grateful for this song to appear, and fall in love with it all over again.
"The Drugs Don't Work" is my fave cut from The Verve. Hard to fault this album. Timeless, really.
I really enjoyed this song....that's from a 1960 kid. I quit listening to pop and rock by the time this song came out but heard it later on. It's one of those I'll stop and listen to because of the violins melody ... its light and easy feeling. Great observations and analysis.
I'm always amazed that this song has the same notes over and over with no changes and yet it doesn't get boring.
It's the subtle changes in the background and gradual increase in vocal intensity that keep it interesting for me.
If you're interested , in music that's called an "ostinato".
@@Murdo2112 thanks love facts
Great song! Love that you did it. A magical track to just leap into and let it take you somewhere. So powerful.
This song is on the work radio overhead at my gig. It is easily my favorite song that I am forced to listen to 3-5 times per day. I never, never, get tired of hearing it. Maybe it's because it is a stream in a desert of other crappy music or because it is just that good. I don't know, probably an 81.5% chance that it is that good. Anyway, I was so happy that it won, was excited to see it show up in my feed today and so glad that you guys loved it.
Radio's narrowed playlists are exactly why I can't stand it anymore--and I grew up wanting to work in radio, and then I did!!
Even with a song this good, I would hate it by the end of one week.
I feel ya. I was in construction for many years and was forced to listen to "country" music for much of that time. There were always one or two songs that were kinda good (Don Williams, Jolene) that I would look forward to.
I haven't engaged with these boys for some days, but at last they react to this hypnotic masterpiece..........
I've always really liked this song and still do - it's never got old for me.
Now watch the video as it complements the song perfectly and takes it to another dimension.
I love this whole album.
The Rolling People and Catching the Butterfly are bangers.
Same
@@wolflarson71 Love both! Catching the Butterfly is my favorite song on the album.
Richard Ashcroft is my 2nd favorite male vocalist of all time (only behind Chris Cornell). He is also a brilliant song writer. Check out more Verve and his solo material in the future
Whenever I need something consistent and positive, I listen to Richard Ashcroft's solo stuff.
Yes. His first solo album "Alone With Everybody" is excellent from beginning to end.
This song plays at the end of Cruel Intentions, where I heard it first. One of my top 5 all time fave songs.
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Exactly! It was so perfect for the end of that movie! I ended up buying the CD after watching it.
Every musical era has songs that are defining moments upon their release. Songs that resonate with an entire generation. This was one of those songs.
1288 is my guess. As a Gen Xer I always felt this song would be timeless, as iconic then as it is today. The lyrics and melody are perfectly matched, and though Jagger and Richards came up with the ‘riff’ - Last Time was a catchy early 60s pop tune with fairly throw away lyrics. This song is in another category altogether.
Really the orchestra's "riffing" wasn't Jagger's or Richards' doing. It was arranged for Andrew Loog Oldham's Orchestra to play.
It was a lot more than a riff that Ashcroft stole. The entire melody of the song is just a repeat of a unique chord progression in the Stones' song. Pure plagiarism. And to to the DJH weirdo who also responded to this, if Oldham had published the string arrangement under his own name, it would have been plagiarism on his part, too. But he was working for the Stones and got a paycheck from them to arrange one of their songs. Please don't talk about things you don't understand. Richards and Jagger got (and deserved) full publishing rights to the song after a court found Ashcroft didn't have a leg to stand on. It was nice of them to give the rights back 20 years later, no matter how stupid Ashcroft was when talking about them "stealing" from him. He's a complete joke.
@@facts2741 Bitter much...?
@@djhrecordhound4391 Not even a little. It's a fine song and well-produced...hard to go wrong with ripping off such a great song. Facts bother babies, I understand. Arrangers know their jobs and understand that arranging isn't the same thing as writing/composing. Maybe someday you'll be a big boy and understand that.
@@facts2741 -Troll alert
Love that you all got up on this. So much of this era coming from the OG rave scene and DnB/Trance is all about the long slow ride. Hit a space and just ride it out. ✌️❤️
BTW... I've heard this a thousand times since the release and it never get old. It's a timeless vibe. Like many if this era.
You can't overplay this song. I have been listening to this regularly since 1997. I just listen, and let it cleanse my mind 😘
Gotta go with Andy on this. It's overplayed for a reason. It's phenomenal and Richard Ashcroft lost out on millions.
The Stones returned the money they had got from the song in 2019.
"Sonnet" and "The drugs don't work", two more great songs by the Verve
The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything: 42!
I could listen to this song everyday. A classic for sure!
This is one song I never get bored of listening to
1128;
- Loved this song when it first came out
- Got sick of it being overplayed
- Lost respect for all sides when I found out about stealing the sample and the severity of the lawsuit
- Didn't listen to it for like 15 years
- Heard it here today and remembered why I loved it at first
The song, it's own history, and the experience with it are like their own condensed metaphor for it's own subject matter. Life is long...
They didn't steal it. They bought the rights from Decca. Allen Klein, the a hole who screwed both the Stones and the Beatles, is the one who declined rights to the Verve. After he died in 2009, the Stones gave the rights to the Verve.
This is arguably one of the greatest songs ever written.
This song has amazing lyrics and has one of the greatest openings. Always has the melancoly upbeat sound (like a cloudy day) which the video perfectly reflects that.
I think when this was first played on the radio the dj played it 8 times in a row because he liked it so much which would absolutely never happen today
Gotta react to “Lucky Man” & “The Drugs Don’t Work” next by them 👍
Whenever I've heard this on the radio throughout the years, I've cranked it up all the way. Still have the album on cassette (snort) from the 90's and play it now and then.
827. After refusing to listen to this for twenty years, I can appreciate it again! Worked at MTV at it’s height. We had screens all over the building (and in our offices!) playing the channel, so if something was in heavy, heavy rotation, you heard it multiple times daily! Much better now! 😂
I would love to hear what that was all like! Jealous
The video adds to this songs impact in my opinion
The video that went with this song was amazing, but for me it's the whole album...even when I play the album now it feels both like a friend & new.
I was going through a bad breakup when it came out. A bittersweet breakup so this song still makes me cry good and bad tears every time I hear it. I wish I had seen this performed live.
Rockin' 1000 did a great version of this in Italy a few years back. If you enjoyed this, you'll probably enjoy that.
Nah, I've heard it a million times and it's still a S tier song; it's just THAT iconic.
This whole album is incredible, very musically and emotionally rich. "Weeping Willow" would be a good song to go back to.
Weeping Willow is actually my favorite from the album
This one NEVER tires. Best 90's song, easily. If you haven't seen the video be sure to check it out.
Richard Ashcroft went on to solo stuff that showed his songwriting genius off even more
I never knew this. Thank you!
The video to this song is amazing. The world is moving but the attitude in this song is in your face.
love this song. so memorizing and is an a+ to me. one of the best 90s songs. possible s tier.
Inspired by "Collective Soul's
"The World I Know" ( released 2 yrs prior)? Very similar(even the video concept similar).
@@jgsrhythm100 Actually it's taken from an old Stone's song
@@alrivers2297 Just the Orchestra sample is.. How about everything else?
Or even the idea of using orchestration ?
Coincidence?
@@jgsrhythm100 I like this song and the video for it more the the Collective Soul ones.
@@alrivers2297There boh great , but my guess is the Verve were inspired by the Collective Soul track. The Colkective Soul Track was based on a man who commit Suicide in NYC. They have a very similar tone and feel. Both great
I first heard this song during the movie "Cruel Intentions." I think it was one of the best song/scene pairings in movie history. When I hear it, it takes me right back to that climactic scene at the end of the film.
I first heard this song during the TV ads for the 2000 Tokyo Olympics, if memory serves me right. It's was the Verve's only mainstream hit in the US. They were a lot more successful in the UK. This is a very cool song.
This song is just pure musical genius! Has been on my playlist since I heard it for the first time when it came out. Symphony, incredible vocals and the lyrics! All around WOW!
Takes me back to the mid to late 90s 😉 brilliant times all 👍
I will always love this song. It hits different depending on what's going on in your life at the time you listen to it.
The whole album is fantastic! The four singles are all catchy as F. Lucky Man being my favorite. But there are some harder edged bangers on there as well.
At 6 yrs old, Urban Hymns was the very first album I ever owned. I absolutely loved this band as a kid and I still do. Richard Ashcroft has influenced so much of my life.
Bunch of Brit pop/Madchester songs deserve to be covered. Maybe start with The Stone Roses’ best couple songs, like Fool’s Gold, She Bangs the Drums or Love Spreads.
It's like riding a wave in the ocean & you never want it to stop. Love love this song.💋✌🌻🌻
Definitely should react to NO RAIN by BLIND MELON, another 90's hit
I seem to remember this song being in the U.K. top 40 for over a year. An amazing song
The Verve are such a great band who first emerged doing dreamy pop melodies and shoegazy material with A Storm In Heaven (which is a great album) then they turned more Britpop and rocking with A Northern Soul. Urban Hymns is what i think the peak of their creativity and its such a great album. A massive seller when it came out. I love the Verve and i feel like you guys would love them if you dived into more of their songs such as: The drugs dont work, Slide away, Northern Soul, History, Sonnet, Theyre a great band!!!
Catching the Butterfly is my favorite.
My father used to play this song When I was a kid. And a few months ago I listened again. IT gives me emotional vibes everytime I hear it.
When the Rolling Stones sued the Verve for plagiarism on this song and won, the catalyst was their first manager Allen Klein who ripped Mick and Keef off so bad that to this day they have not gotten a penny in royalties on some of their biggest hits.
They had permission to use the sample, but Alan Klein claimed they used more than they agreed to. The Verve couldn't do anything at that point without pulling the album. Mick and Keith had nothing to do with the suit, and they finally made it right by giving the songwriting royalties back.
Didn't the Stones end up paying them?
@@loosilu Jagger, Richards and Andrew Oldham received the royalties for more than 20 years. The two Stones tried to give some back but Oldham kept all of his.
The same Allen Kline that screwed the Beatles.
The Stones dropped their lawsuit like a year or so ago and gave royalties to the Verve.
I was college age when this album came out. Remember it through a bit of a euphoric blur... getting stoned with good friends in the autumn in this old wooden house with a beautiful wild garden with apple trees that had been turned into a dormitory, spacing out on a mattress next to a girl I never had the guts to make a move on while this music was blasting through the speakers.
If “Blah” was a song, it’d be this.
C to C- to me.
I'll always remember, being a kid in 1997 and hearing this blasting out of everyone's houses. This song lit people on fire.
My number guess is 1305. I've never heard this song before. Stuff like this makes me realize I basically missed the 90s. I listened mostly to classic rock radio (60s-80s), and it seemed every time I explored stations playing current music it was either R&B/rap, boy bands or other pop, or grunge (which I like now but didn't then). Didn't know stuff like this was out there, lol.
You've got to check out the video for this song, with the lead singer walking down the street not letting anyone get in his way.
👍 “I can’t change …”
I always feel this song Adam. S TIER.
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is based on a sample from a 1965 version of the Rolling Stones song "The Last Time" by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. The Verve added strings, guitar, percussion and vocals. They obtained rights to use the "Last Time" sample from the copyright holder, Decca . 1952 guy loves this song
Andy nailed it. Excellent groove to this brain candy song.
Speaking of brain candy: XTC ("Senses Working Overtime" or "Complicated Game") and GUIDED BY VOICES ("Enemy" or "Space Gun") would be EPIC.
Xtc is soooo underrated
Complicated game is one of my favorite songs
It's like the world forgets XTC, which is a HUGE shame.
@@KozmikZootz Totally agree. XTC was absolute genius.
If Guided By Voices ever makes it to this channel I will literally pass out. Going to see them in December.
Agree with every single thing said here. You both are so good at this, and it's extremely gratifying to watch.
Your friend is wrong, the Stones didn't sue them, it was their old manager who owned all the rights to the Stone's songs pre 70s. He screwed over the Stones because of that as well. Once the Stones got the rights back for all their 60s work, Ashcroft's manager contacted them and Richards and Jagger signed all rights and royalties over to them. The Stones had no say in the lawsuit whatsoever.
This song gives me all the feelzzz, so easy to get lost in the sawce. Have always had this gem on the top of my list, it's cool, beautiful and the lyrics are beyond. Happy Friday guys!!!
THE VERVE’S 1997 hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is one of the finest songs of the Britpop era, a classically Nineties expression of world-weary cool with just the right amount of English self-regard. It’s a song that only Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft could have written - except that he didn’t, according to a notorious copyright ruling. Ashcroft’s song famously sampled an orchestral cover of the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time,” and a lawsuit from former Stones manager Allen Klein shortly after its release forced him to hand over 100 percent of the royalties from “Bitter Sweet Symphony” to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
That same article calls the argument that the Stones should get full writing credit "patently absurd." The original deal was to give half credit, since Ashcroft wrote everything except the string sample.
Allen Klein's company ABKCO owns the publishing rights to the Rolling Stones 1960's catalog, including "The Last Time", a version of which spawned the sample used by The Verve. Klein did not sue so that Mick & Keef could have 100% of the royalties. He sued so HE could get the money.
To be clear it wasn’t the stones who sued them, it was the stones’ publisher, the infamous Allen Klein, who sued them, for sampling an orchestral arrangement of The Last Time from an obscure record by the stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham. And… it’s not a sample. If you listen to the original, you can hear that the Verve rearranged and re-recorded it so it isn’t note for note. They still got sued, not at the stones wishes, and lost.
This was in a movie called Cruel Intentions which is like the perfect movie I highly suggest you watch it it's REALLY good.
I was about to ask which version, but then I realized it has to be the second one, lol.
Yes with Ryan Phillipe you even get to see his really cute ass.
Remember when you were exited to here songs in the Top 10? That period probably ended around 2011.
Professor of Rock just did a video about the background of this song and how it basically destroyed the artist and it involves The Rolling Stones if you don’t know. You should definitely check it out because the story is pretty insane. Horrible injustice was done imo.
I love the lyrics & whole vibe of this song. And the drums hit so hard. 🔥❤️
Love this song. The year before this was released, Primitive Radio Gods had a song with sampling from BB King. It also had a sentence for the title, "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand". Not a common practice. Pearl Jam's, "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town", is another example. Comment others you know of, please.
Good call. I was just about to recommend PRG for similar 90s chill.
Standing Outside a Broken Phonebooth with Money in my Hand is an amazing song.
"Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" Pink Floyd.
Fiona Apple's 2nd Album title is a whole poem! LOL!!
You guys are like a wine tasting for music, and I love it.
Try "Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen
This song has one of the best music videos ever
I really like how it takes it’s time at the beginning. You’re almost lost in the sauce from the very start because it spends so long just building up the music and the rhythm, in absolutely no rush to get to the vocals. It was already a hit for us angsty teenagers and then Cruel Intentions came out and it blew up again.
I’m HS Class of ‘97 which totally weirds me out that that is the year you were born 🤯 and have super strong memories of this song! Happy Birthday 🎉
From what I've heard , the Verve did discuss with Rolling stones' manager Allen Klein . Seeing the song go big , Allen Klein accused the Verve of copying more than what was agreed. This was nominated for song of the year at the Grammy's , where Richard Aschcroft said "This is the best song Keith and Mick have recorded in the last 25 years". Richard Aschcroft is a legend
Klein stopped being the band’s manager in the 60s. As good as this song is, that quip was not accurate in 1997 and it isn’t now 😂
One of my favorite songs of the mid ‘90s. Up there with ‘Live Forever’ by Oasis, ‘This is a Low’ by blur, ‘Sunflower’ by Paul Weller