Alive (Pearl Jam song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Alive


Artist = Pearl Jam
from Album = Ten
B-side = "Once" / "Wash"
Released = 1991
Format = CD single, Cassette, Vinyl
Recorded = January 29, 1991 at London Bridge Studios, Seattle, Washington and June 1991 at Ridge Farm Studios, Dorking, England (Guitar Solo)
Genre = Grunge
Length = 5:40
Label = Epic
Producer = Pearl Jam, Rick Parashar
Writer = Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard
Chart position =
Last single =
This single = "Alive" (1991)
Next single = "Even Flow" (1992)Extra tracklisting
Album = Ten
Type = studio
prev_track = "Even Flow"
prev_no = Track 2
this_track = "Alive"
track_no = Track 3
next_track = "Why Go"
next_no = Track 4"Alive" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. "Alive" was Pearl Jam's first single, and appeared on the band's debut album "Ten" (1991). Written by guitarist Stone Gossard, "Alive" originated as an instrumental titled "Dollar Short" and was included on a demo tape circulated in hopes of finding a singer for the group. Singer Eddie Vedder obtained a copy of the tape and wrote lyrics that describe a fictionalized account of the time when he was told that the man he thought was his father was not actually his biological parent.

"Alive" charted at number 16 in the UK (the single was available only through import in the US). A remixed version of the song was included on Pearl Jam's greatest hits album, "". Although it was not a huge hit upon its release (peaking at number 16 on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart), it has endured as a fan favorite and a staple of rock radio since then, as well as one of the most requested songs at the band's concerts.

Origin and recording

Guitarist Stone Gossard wrote the music for the song, which he titled "Dollar Short", in 1990 when he was still a member of Mother Love Bone. According to Gossard in an interview for Pearl Jam's VH1 "Storytellers" special, Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood had even sang on it. After Wood died of a heroin overdose, Gossard and his bandmate Jeff Ament started playing with guitarist Mike McCready with the hope of starting a new band. "Dollar Short" was one of five tracks compiled onto a tape called "Stone Gossard Demos '91" that Gossard, Ament, and McCready circulated in the hopes of finding a singer and drummer for the group.Pearlman, Nina. "Black Days". "Guitar World". December 2002.]

The tape made its way into the hands of vocalist Eddie Vedder, who was working as a gas station attendant in San Diego, California at the time. He listened to the tape shortly before going surfing, where lyrics came to him.Crowe, Cameron. [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10560431/five_against_the_world "Five Against the World"] . "Rolling Stone". October 28, 1993. Retrieved on May 4, 2008.] "Alive" was the first song for which Vedder recorded vocals. [Neely, Kim. "Right Here, Right Now". "Rolling Stone". October 31, 1991.] Vedder mailed the tape back to Seattle. Upon hearing the tape, the band invited Vedder to come to Seattle and he was asked to join the band.

The band, then called Mookie Blaylock, recorded "Alive" during a demo session at London Bridge studio in January 1991. The version recorded during this session would later appear on the group's debut album "Ten" and on the promotional "Alive" EP. During album mixing sessions in England in June 1991, mixer Tim Palmer had McCready add to the song's outro solo. McCready recorded a number of attempts at the solo, and Palmer edited them into a composite version. The guitarist was unsatisfied with the result, so he made another attempt at the solo. "He had another go at it", Palmer recalled, "and got it right away. There was no piecing together to do; it was one take."

Composition

"Alive" features an extended guitar solo after its third chorus (3:38), which is likely one reason it's a favorite of so many fans. The solo for "Alive", performed by McCready, was ranked number 44 on "Guitar World"'s list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos", [http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatest.htm "100 Greatest Guitar Solos"] . "Guitar World". 2007.] and number 26 on "Total Guitar"'s list of the "100 Hottest Guitar Solos"."100 Hottest Guitar Solos". "Total Guitar". May 2006.] Interestingly, when interviewed about his famous solo, McCready was quick to disclaim creative credit for it, saying he basically "copied Ace Frehley's solo from 'She', which was copied from Robby Krieger's solo in The Doors' 'Five to One'." [Gilbert, Jeff. [http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/gs0595.shtml "Prime Cuts: Mike McCready - The Best of Pearl Jam!"] . "Guitar School". May 1995.] Aside from that influence, it strongly highlights the Hendrix influences on McCready's playing, including extensive wah pedal use, frequent whammy bar dips and vibrato, as well as the use of a battered Stratocaster guitar.

Lyrics

The song is the first piece to a trilogy of songs unofficially called "Mamasan". It comprises the songs "Alive", "Once", and "Footsteps". "Alive" tells the story of a young man discovering that his father is actually his stepfather, while his mother’s grief leads to an incestual relationship with the son, who strongly resembles the biological father. This leads to "Once" in which the man descends into madness and goes on a killing spree, and "Footsteps" in which the man is eventually looking back from a prison cell awaiting his execution.

It has been revealed by Vedder to be part autobiographical and part fiction. When Vedder was a teenager, his mother revealed to him that the man he thought was his father was actually his stepfather, and that his biological father was dead. The first and last verses detail the actual events described above, but the second verse is storytelling on Vedder's part. The lyrics read, "Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room/She said I'm ready...for you/I can't remember anything to this very day/'Cept the look, the look.../Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare...," and Vedder revealed that "she" was the mother, and "the look" referred to was not the look on her face, but "the look is between her "legs". Where do you go with "that"? That's where you came from."

Rather than being the inspirational song most interpret it as, Vedder had quite a different meaning in mind, stating, " [He's] still dealing with love, [he's] still dealing with the death of [his] father. All [he] knows is "I'm still alive"...that's totally out of burden." Vedder stated at Pearl Jam's VH1 "Storytellers" appearance that over the years the meaning has changed for him. He said, "In the original story, a teenager is being made aware of a shocking truth that leaves him plenty confused...It was a curse--"I'm still alive."" The audience's response to the song is what has brought about the change in meaning for Vedder. He added, "They lifted the curse. The audience changed the meaning for me." [Cohen, Jonathan. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002612367 "Pearl Jam Tells Its 'Story' At VH1 Taping"] . "Billboard". June 2, 2006.]

Release and reception

Prior to its commercial release, "Alive" was released as a promotional CD and cassette featuring different artwork and B-sides. While "Wash" was also a B-side to the commercial singles, "I've Got a Feeling" was only on this version of the single. The guitar solo at the end of "Alive" was also different from the "Ten" version, and there are a few other noticeable differences between the two. The B-side "Wash" can also be found on the compilation "Lost Dogs" (2003).

The song peaked at number 16 on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 18 on the "Billboard" Modern Rock Tracks chart. Although the album's follow-up singles would find more success on the rock charts, "Alive" was nevertheless important in bringing attention to the band.Huey, Steve. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:i1ua6o4171q0 "Alive > Review"] . Allmusic. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.]

Outside of the United States, the single was released in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. "Alive" reached the UK Top 20 and peaked at number nine on the Australian Singles Chart. It reached the top 50 in Germany and was a moderate top 20 success in Ireland.

Steve Huey of Allmusic said that while "Alive" has a "big, stadium-ready chorus," it also is "subtler, less macho, and less grandiose than true arena rock." Regarding the song's guitar solo, Huey said, "It adds a final epic touch to the song, as though the lyric-centered part of the song simply wasn't enough to achieve complete catharsis."

"Alive" is featured in the video game "SingStar Amped" for PlayStation 2. [Miller, Greg. [http://ps2.ign.com/articles/803/803987p1.html "E3 2007: SingStar Amped Hands-on"] . IGN.com. July 11, 2007.] It is also featured in the video game "Rock Band 2".cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/53595 | title = New Rock Band 2 Bands, Details Announced | first = Maarten | last = Goldstein | date = 2008-07-14 | accessdate =2008-07-14 | publisher = Shacknews]

Music video

. [cite web
url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/mtvvmas.htm
title = 1992 MTV Video Music Awards
publisher = Rockonthenet
accessdate = 2007-09-05]

Live performances

The song was premiered live at the band's October 22, 1990 concert in Seattle, Washington. [http://pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=Alive "Pearl Jam Songs: "Alive""] . pearljam.com.] Pearl Jam performed the song for its appearance on "MTV Unplugged" in 1992. The song was performed on "Saturday Night Live" in April 1992 in support of "Ten". "Alive" has gone on to become the band's second most performed live song at over 530 performances, behind only "Even Flow" which has been played over 600 times. Following the June 2000 Roskilde Festival tragedy in which nine people died during Pearl Jam's set, the band purposely omitted "Alive" from all shows on its 2000 North American tour until the final night in Seattle. Live performances of "Alive" can be found on the "Oceans" single, the "Dissident"/"Live in Atlanta" box set, and the "Live at the Gorge 05/06" box set. A performance of the song is also included on the DVD "Immagine in Cornice".

Track listing

;Compact Disc Single (US, Germany, UK, Australia, Austria, and Brazil), 12" Vinyl Single (The Netherlands), and Cassette Single (Australia)
#"Alive" (Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard) – 5:40
#"Once" (Vedder, Gossard) – 3:51
#"Wash" (Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, Dave Krusen, Vedder) – 3:34
#*Previously Unreleased;Compact Disc Single (Japan)
#"Alive" (live) (Vedder, Gossard) – 4:57
#*Recorded live on August 3, 1991 at RKCNDY in Seattle, Washington.
#"Even Flow" (re-recorded) (Vedder, Gossard) – 5:07
#"Wash" (Gossard, Ament, McCready, Krusen, Vedder) – 3:35
#*Previously Unreleased
#"Dirty Frank" (Vedder, Gossard, Ament, McCready, Dave Abbruzzese) – 5:39
#*Previously Unreleased

;7" Vinyl Single (UK and The Netherlands) and Cassette Single (UK and The Netherlands)
#"Alive" (Vedder, Gossard) – 5:40
#"Once" (Vedder, Gossard) – 3:51

Chart positions

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to "Alive" is adapted in part from AcclaimedMusic.net.Cite web|url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S167.htm|title="Alive" accolades|accessdate=2008-05-06|publisher=Acclaimed Music]

References

External links

*YouTube | id = KCgFYz7VX74 | title = Music video for "Alive"
* [http://www.pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=Alive Lyrics]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:i1ua6o4171q0 Allmusic review of "Alive"]