(filming of music video Only Love - Fall 2023)
I haven’t been ready to write this post. Some of you will understand. It involves you, and me, and a section of the eighties, early nineties.
And. Well.
Let’s ease into it. We are considering the music culture at the time.
Appreciating people’s journey’s and not holding grudges.
Sometimes we carry the baggage of the past. Sometimes it is ours. Sometimes it is others.
When Guns N Roses burst through the ether in March of 1985, I was nine years old.
I’ll just say it.
What most people don’t know, is that the final album that was released in 2008, is without question, one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
But by the year 2000, many people had moved on from Axl and the band. I know I had.
With member changes, delays in release dates, and concert cancellations resulting in disappointed and disgruntled fans, the 6 year reign of GNR, for many, if not most, had faded black.
But an unwavering commitment from a devout, if not underground fanbase, coupled with the advent of music streaming platforms that created targeted listening, and in some ways, siloed online communities - resulted in the opportunity for cross-pollination and rebirth.
Chinese Democracy, the name of GNR’s 2008 release, is Axl and the surrounding casts’ most poignant achievement.
It weaves. It whines. It wails.
It’s layered. Rich in texture.
It compels. It reveals.
It composes storytelling as if a cinematic popup book is emerging in front of you.
It is raw.
And poetic. And beautiful.
Partly political, depending on how much stock you give to certain elements of the album (certainly the album title and title track Chinese Democracy).
(Image clipped from Spotify)
But vocally, Axl is super galactic on this album. The emotion conveyed by his sounds…
The tracks on the album are arranged in such a way as to have been spiritually designed to envelope a culture. But, they didn’t. Not when they came out.
The world had moved on.
Why do I feel the need to bring Axl back, in my own way, at this time?
Because I see Axl. I believe in ways, I understand him.
And I’ve let go of the baggage of frustration I might have been carrying.
Let’s face it - Axl and the boys were egoic, frantically famous, indignant to everything beyond the stage.
We know it.
They now know it.
However, we must heal.
Their album from 2008 should be listened to. It wasn’t meant to be more fully appreciated back then, for whatever reason. But now it must be. It must.
(Image clipped from Spotify)
The title track Chinese Democracy feels to me like it should be called Steel Cheeseburger because of its combustion, juice and swagger.
There Was a Time is as equally heartbreaking as it is invigorating. Cultural-defining sound, ‘audio cinema’ on display.
Madagascar is experimental. Uncharacteristic. But if you give it a chance you will see why it earned its way onto the album.
Prostitute is simple, perhaps unimpressive on the surface, but the ending instrumental hangs in the breeze, inviting reflection, affirmation, healing. One could say this final chapter of the song, of the story, drags on too long. But it doesn’t. It’s intentional.
There may even be several songs that you can only listen to a handful of times, while a few catch and stick.
Shackler’s Revenge is jarring. Its entry and exit cadence is fascinating, edgy, bouncy.
If the World is melodic, gritty. One of my favourites.
You may not want to forgive Axl and the boys for their antics and detours, but this album is a cultural moment. It will continue to grow into one. I know that’s a big statement from a little dude, but I said it. I’m expressing it like I see it.
The depth and beauty in the album Chinese Democracy must be relished and honoured.
The same year Chinese Democracy came out (2008), I experienced alot of change in my life and went through a very stressful period.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Physically.
Spiritually.
It took a while.
But the point is, it wasn’t until 2020 that I discovered the album.
I’ve studied it for the past 3 years.
Breathtaking. Intense. Majestic.
Axl wasn’t perfect. He made hurtful comments at times. Perhaps it was part of his energy. His charm.
I believe he made amends for some of his views and pop culture assessments. All of us say and do things we’d like to take back.
Axl continuously flipped a bird to the establishment, the greedy, even fans. He was beholden to no one.
Rough around the edges at times? Sure.
But Axl, his voice, and his performances were a musical marvel.
He has slowed, and simply doesn’t have the stamina he once had, but he and Slash and Duff are still making music that is in the spirit of early GNR. Commendable and exciting if you can fully open to them and their craft.
Baggage limits.
Choose only love.
In the coming posts about a selection of tracks from the album, I will take you on a journey that I hope is rich and satisfying.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this feature.
FG
Twenty years as a counsellor and educator in a variety of capacities working with people who trust me with their story has enabled me to transition easily into working with people who want to express a story through film and media.
Is there someone in your life that you would love to honour, through story and film?
Do you want to bring an arts or media project to life?
Need a short promotional video?
Let’s talk.
Contact
Tel: 613-532-8464
Email: info@fgmm.ca
Website: www.fgmm.ca