re: Civil War best GNR Song

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Civil War best GNR Song

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It's undebateably top 5.

Rocket Queen and My Michelle.

I still say the first 60 seconds of Locomotive is some of the finest riffage every laid down. It is utterly pummeling.

Not even top 3 on that ALBUM.

1. Estranged
2. Yesterdays
3. Get in the Ring
4. Civil War
5. You Could Be Mine

Why the ?

Get in the Ring was heavy, groovy, and ballsy. It's not every artist nor album that takes specific shots at their worst critics. GNR did that and it was a very Sex Pistols-like heavy rock track.

Civil War is good. It's not like I think it sucks as UYI II is one of the most fantastic albums ever created. BUT, how many songs preach the same message -- over and over and over again? It's a good acoustic turned hard-hitting ballad to no one in particular. That said, it did not become part of the three-year long numerous videos GNR did off of both albums. Yes, it's better than "Garden of Eden" and "Don't Cry" and the remake of McCartney's "Live and Let Die"...but it did not hold a candle to Estranged or November Rain or You Could Be Mine. Just no way. "Civil War" is a memorable intro with solid social commentary, but it does not have that "IT" factor, to me.

"Get in the Ring", in my opinion, would have been a huge hit but the profanity and the call-outs at wealthy individuals at Spin Magazine and Hit Parader would have been too much. It reminds me of the "frick Martinez" song that 2 Live Crew did back in '91.

That said, "Rocket Queen" and "Mr. Brownstone" are my picks. No one, without the internet's help, would have known was the former was about and while they're plenty of songs about heroin and partying, it was cool to personify it. I think along with "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode, it's the best song about abusing heroin...and it's not in a down-trodden Phil Anslemo type of way. I just remember buying the album in 4th grade and listening to "Mr. Brownstone" and thinking, "Man...this guy loves to party. He parties so much that Axl wants him to leave him alone."

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Get in the Ring was heavy, groovy, and ballsy. It's not every artist nor album that takes specific shots at their worst critics. GNR did that and it was a very Sex Pistols-like heavy rock track.

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I like Get in the Ring but it just didn't fit well on UYI II. It belonged on Appetite.

Civil War is great. The stretch of Locomotive, So Fine, Estranged, and You Could be Mine is the best GNR had with Estranged at the top.

I'll take Coma from UYI1 and It's So Easy>Nighttrain combo from Appetite.

Get in the Ring

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I would have excluded from both albums:

My World
Coma
Back off Bitch
Bad Obssession
Double Talkin' Jive

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Damn, I'm glad you didn't have final say then

My World is crap, I don't think anyone but Axl knew it was going on the album. Coma and Double Talkin' Jive are 2 of my favorites from UYI1

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You, sir, are wrong.

Nearly every track on Appetite for Destruction is better.

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If you are choosing a song not on Appetite that isn't One in a Million, you're probably doing it wrong. I do feel bad that a song so racist and homophobic is so damn good. One in a Million would be my clear #1, but it's got so much baggage. In a way, that makes it an even better choice for the best G'nR song. What would they be without controversy?

But give me Mr. Brownstone. Or My Michelle. Or Rocket Queen. Or Out ta Get Me. Or Sweet Child O Mine. Or It's So Easy. Or Nighttrain... you get the idea.

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I do feel bad that a song so racist and homophobic is so damn good.

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The song is neither racist nor homophobic. The story - from the standpoint of its narrator - is one of marginalization and isolation. The message neither elevates whites to a position of superiority, nor condemns homosexuals/homosexuality. The "small town white boy" is expressing anger and uses offensive terms. The song is about recognizing and hearing that anger, without necessarily endorsing or approving the racist and homophobic undertones.

Just my humble opinion, as always.

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The song is neither racist nor homophobic. The story - from the standpoint of it's narrator - is one of marginalization and isolation. The message neither elevates whites to a position of superiority, nor condemns homosexuals/homosexuality. The "small town white boy" is expressing anger and uses offensive terms. The song is about recognizing and hearing that anger, without necessarily endorsing or approving the racist and homophobic undertones.

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I agree with this. I would compare it to rap lyrics which supposedly don't "endorse" but attempt to portray reality on the street.