Ramblings of a retiree in France
This is Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday Challenge, a man after my own heart as he posts the challenges well in advance giving us all time to choose an appropriate response. This week’s challenge is a song with a harmonica.
I’m wracking my brain for songs that have harmonica solos? What about Bad Obsession by American rockers Guns N’ Roses, a band I’ve seen live a couple of times.
The song is on Use Your Illusion I, the band’s third studio album, released in 1991 on the same day as its counterpart Use Your Illusion II. I have copies of both. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, selling 685,000 copies in its first week, behind Use Your Illusion II‘s first-week sales of 770,000. Both albums have been certified 7× Platinum and Use your Illusion I was nominated for a Grammy in 1992.
The Use Your Illusion albums represent a turning point in the sound of Guns N’ Roses. Although the band did not abandon the aggressive hard-rock sound it had become known for with 1987’s Appetite for Destruction, Use Your Illusion I demonstrated a new-found musical maturity, incorporating elements of blues, classical music, heavy metal, punk rock and classic rock and roll.
The track Bad Obsession is about tackling drug abuse and addiction, which had haunted the band since well before they had become famous. Michael Monroe, lead singer of Hanoi Rocks and a big influence on Guns N’ Roses, plays the harmonica and tenor saxophone on the studio version. A live version from the Tokyo Dome (featured below) was featured on the Use Your Illusion I DVD as song number six.
I can’t stop thinkin’ thinking ’bout sinkin’
Sinkin’ down into my bed
I call my mother
She’s just a **** now
She said I’m sick in the head
She said you ain’t special
So who you foolin’
Don’t try ta give me a line
But I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout seein’ ya one more time
(Oh no)
But I already left you and you’re better off left behind
It’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
It’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
Too bad you’re fucked up
I used to be wasted always tried to take it
Take it down into my vein
I call the doctor, he’s just another
He said I’m sick in the brain
He said you ain’t special
So who you foolin’
Don’t try ta give me a line
But I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout doin’ it one more time
(Oh no)
But I already left you and you’re better off left behind
(Oh yeah)
Aw it’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
It’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
So bad, boy
It’s a
It’s a
Heads up
It’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
Now it’s a bad obsession
It’s always messin’
It’s always messin’ my mind
But I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout doin’ it one more time
(Oh no)
See I already left you and you’re better off left behind
(Oh no, oh no)
It’s a bad obsession and you’re always messin’ my mind
See I already left you and you’re better off left behind
Uh huh no
Maybe you’ll do better next time
Punk
Source: Lyric Find
Songwriters: W. Axl Rose / West Arkeen / Saul Hudson / Duff Rose Mckagan / Izzy Stradlin / Darren A. Reed / Matt Sorum Matt Sorum
Bad Obsession lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sussman & Associates
Challenge Rules
Oh, but close your eyes and listen to this, let you imagination run… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtRxJDb3vlw
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Fantastic
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One of the all-time greats! Just close your eyes and feel it! 🙂
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This is more my style https://youtu.be/0pGOFX1D_jg
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Okay
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Yep another great tune featuring the harmonica! 🙂 Can’t go wrong listening to The Beatles! 🙂
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Thanks, Lisa
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But now I’ve heard Sonny Boy I go for him
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😎
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Nice music and thanks for participating. Your pingback should have went here.
https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2020/08/08/monica-and-veronica/
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Sorry, I set this up in advance before your post appeared in my timeline. I’ll correct it.
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Corrected!
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No problem.
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My, what short shorts you have on Axl!?! Hair was still quite big for this performance. Nice choice this week! 🙂
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Mournful harp playing here! Good tune and choice for the prompt!
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Thanks
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