I interpreted the lyric, “the drugs don’t work, they just make you worse”, as a heartbreaking piece of advice from the POV of someone watching their loved one meet their demise. Ashcroft said it “was written as a love song” and is widely translated as a tale about succumbing to drug addiction. “The Drugs Don’t Work” has been known to make grown men cry. Another benefit to hearing it live is the crowd chanting “we’re gonna take you home now” as the song fades out is pure bliss. When it comes to its meaning, fans will tell you, “don’t ask why… we just know.” This track has all the feels and certainly could have kicked off Urban Hymns, but there was a little song called “Bitter Sweet Symphony” in its way. ![]() “The Rolling People” is a song that begs to be played live in front of thousands of fans because it can’t help but fit perfectly with lights blaring on stage. Just don’t draw a comparison to the new wave band Spandau Ballet. I hate it when singers take all the mystery away.” We do know that guitarist Nick McCabe had to “think cleverly” about what he added to the track and was inspired by Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach arrangements. We’re making music, we’re not making cheeseburgers, so I’m not about to give it up on a plate and say what exactly it’s about. In an interview with MTV, he said, “I don’t think the listener or fan needs to know anything more than the song. We were just building this great wall of sound.”Īshcroft lists “Sonnet” among the powerful collection of material in the Verve’s catalog and, like others that have resonated with fans, prefers listeners interpret it however they wish. Looking back to when the single and Ashcroft hit the streets of London in the music video, he recalled, “It’s such a mind-blowing piece of music. However, with the publishing rights in the hands of the Glimmer Twins, the track was licensed far and wide – heard everywhere, from a Nike commercial to the cult classic film, Cruel Intentions.Īlong with support from rock radio and MTV, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” received a Grammy nod and is cemented in 1990s Britpop culture as one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The captivating “symphony”, which samples orchestral arrangement from an Andrew Loog Oldham recording of the Rolling Stones‘ “The Last Time” recorded in 1966, would become a touchy subject between frontperson Richard Ashcroft, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards, considering Ashcroft would not have granted commercial use of his band’s material. A “bittersweet” symphony indeed, as the song about “beautiful, tragic moments of life” would serve as a reminder of such moments for over 20 years. ![]() ![]() Alternative rock band the Verve‘s critically acclaimed Urban Hymns, one of the best-selling records in UK history, is undeniably overshadowed by the legal battle following its lead single’s release in 1997.
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