Pay No Mind (Snoozer)

Infobox Single
Name = Pay No Mind (Snoozer)


Artist = Beck
from Album = Mellow Gold
B-side =
Released = April 1994
Format = CD
Recorded = 1993
Genre = Folk-rock
Length = 3:14
Label = Geffen Records
Writer =
Producer = Rob Schnapf, Tom Rothrock
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Loser"
(1994)
This single = "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)"
(1994)
Next single = "Beercan"
(1994)
Misc =

"Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" is a song by Beck, taken from his first major label album "Mellow Gold" and released as its second single. Early demos of the song are available on "We Like Folk... Who Cares... Destroy Us" and "Don't Get Bent Out Of Shape".

Track listing

# "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" [LP Version] - 3:17
# "Special People" - 1:43
# "Trouble All My Days" - 2:24
# "Super Golden Black Sunchild" - 2:26

History

Said to be one of the oldest songs on "Mellow Gold", Beck has claimed that he wrote it as a struggling musician, at the age of 18 or 19. A simple folk-rock song with an understated harmonica solo, the song's lyrical content explores Beck's attitudes towards the music industry. The first verse describes a city, which, despite being decrepit and dirty, is filled with shopping malls. In the second verse, he expresses resent towards what he sees as the commercialism of major record labels focused on record sales and money, rather than artistic creativity. In the third verse, he concludes that, despite his negative stance, he is looking for a change, which getting signed would provide.

Beck has claimed that the song originally had ten verses, which were cut down for commercial release. On a limited number of "Mellow Gold" 12" vinyl albums, one can hear a version with an added stanza, which is inserted between the first and second verses of the standard "Mellow Gold" version. It should also be noted "Got No Mind," a re-recorded, electric full-band arrangement of "Pay No Mind,", features three of the seven verses of "Pay No Mind" that were cut on "Mellow Gold" and is included on the single for "Beercan."

First known to be played live in 1993, "Pay No Mind" is still a fan-favorite and a staple of Beck's live shows. Beck is known for radically re-working the lyrics of the song while on stage to include commentary on things as diverse as Tom Petty and 99 cent stores.

In other media

The music video appeared on an episode of "Beavis and Butt-Head".

External links

* [http://www.whiskeyclone.net/ghost/songinfo.php?songID=218 Song Information on Whiskeyclone]