Another week is at it's end, time to hang out with family and friends. The summer is hot and the days are long so sip a cool one and check out this weeks song.
The Rock Anthem this week is a little different. While most of the songs are big, bold, celebrations of life this one has a serious message. Still, it's bold statement and emotion makes this song a true rock anthem.
This weeks Rock Anthem of the Week is Jeremy by Pearl Jam
Jeremy, off the 1992 release Ten took this band from Seattle to superstar status. One of the most recognizable bass riffs in rock music opens the song. The angst filled lyrics of the verse tell a story of a boy who's home life is anything but happy. The song escalates as the band kicks into high gear resulting in the chorus "Jeremy spoke in class today", an understatement to be sure, but an attention getting statement none the less.
The dark content of the lyrics is disturbing. What's more disturbing is that these lyrics were inspired by a true story of a high school student who killed himself in class. The song tells the story remarkably well yet never sounds like it is preaching. The guitar parts crafted by Mike McCready and Stone Gossard compliment the song and each other. The guitars never get in the way of the message yet still weave and intricate fabric of sound.
The song crescendo's with the Vedder painfully screaming "try to erase this from the black board", whether it is meant in a literal sense that the blood could not be cleaned off or whether it was meant to say that you cannot ignore this, it will not go away, this powerful song was a wake up call for parents and educators across the nation.
A powerful song with a message is a true rock anthem in my opinion. Rock and Roll is about standing up for what you believe in and Pearl Jam presented us with a controversial song that made a statement about society and made people think.
Uncensored Version of the video
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