- The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
Single infobox
Name = The Greatest Man That Ever Lived
Artist =Weezer
from Album = Weezer
Released =May 13 ,2008
Format =Digital download
Recorded = 2008
Genre =Alternative rock
Length = 5:51
Label = Geffen
Writer =Rivers Cuomo
Producer =Rick Rubin "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" is a song released as an iTunes single from alternative rock band
Weezer 's self-titled album, " Weezer". It was released in digital form on May 13, 2008. [ [http://weezer.com/comments/default.aspx/cid/363/tid/140637 Weezer : 05/14/08 the greatest man that ever lived - iTunes single! ] ]The song includes piano, police sirens, and Cuomo singing in falsetto. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/19830818/page/39 Spring '08 LPs From Madonna, Coldplay, The Roots, Mudcrutch, Elvis Costello : Rolling Stone ] ] Bass player
Scott Shriner was particularly proud of the song saying, "The song 'The Greatest Man That Ever Lived' is a masterpiece that includes ten different styles of music based around a common theme." [ [http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/artist_ScottShriner.htm WARWICK'S Bass Survival 101 Featured Artist - Scott Shriner ] ]In the liner notes of the deluxe edition of the "The Red Album", Rivers stated that the song did not originally have the subtitle "Variations on a Shaker Hymn," however when guitarist
Brian Bell 's mom came into the studio to see them she mentioned a melody from the song sounded similar to a hymn that the choir would sing in church. As a result the band looked up the hymn and indeed the melody was so similar toJoseph Brackett 's "Simple Gifts " that they credited the hymn with the subtitle.The song was released as a downloadable song for the game "Rock Band" along with the songs "
Troublemaker " and "Dreamin' ."Personnel
*
Rivers Cuomo –lead guitar ,lead vocals
*Patrick Wilson – percussion,backing vocals
*Brian Bell –rhythm guitar ,backing vocals
*Scott Shriner –bass guitar ,backing vocals References
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