Number 19
Song & Artist: Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses
Album & Date: Appetite For Destruction - 21st July 1987
Nationality of band: American
Members at release: Steven Adler (Drums - American), Saul Hudson (Slash) (Lead Guitar - English), Michael (Duff) McKagan (Bass Guitar - American), Willam (W. Axl Rose) Rose (Vocals - American), Jeffrey (Izzy Stradlin) Isbell (Rhythm Guitar - American)

YouTube:

My rant;

The most dangerous band in the world, with the most dangerous song of them all.....

Firstly, I got into Guns 'N Roses the same way everybody else did. It annoyed the shit out of my highly religious mother (sorry mum, RIP). My father and her made Chris and I join a music club (buying 1 CD every month) so for the first one we chose Use Your Illusion 1 simply to annoy them.

The discussion went a bit like this:

"Turn that off, they are disgusting lyrics'
"Hey, you made me join the club, anyway, I don't hear the words, I only the music..."

Now then, to the track in question. I had really liked the track for years but one rainy day at home, Chris and I were hunting through the VHS's (Yep, that long ago) for something to watch and came across a movie called Lean On Me. We watched the opening scene of the PC 70's classroom slightly bored. But to be honest, neither of us could be bothered getting up to eject the tape. Then the second scene appeared and blew my fucking mind wide open. I strongly suggest you watch it. There are clips on YouTube, but they are a bit shit quality and are cut to ribbons.

Anyway, we watched the movie from the finish and felt like becoming an activist for black education rights in America. (Which lasted until we watched Star Wars and I wanted to be an X-Wing pilot....)

This is a deep song, with power that builds from the very start with the rushing wind in the back ground. Then the main riff start and lyrics paint a picture of desperation and suffering that the music follows closely, only leaving from time to time.

There is a beautiful introspective moment that lasts for about 20 seconds that must parallel the brief moments of lucidity in the drug hazed world the song is all about. The song then launches back into the doom and depression and builds to an impressive, powerful end.

I can't lie and say this is one of my personal favourites, but it is a great song with a great story and history.

One word sums it up. POWERFUL.


Bands: (multiple band entrys ARE counted twice)

10 - America
9 - England

Band Members Country of Origin: (multiple band entrys ARE counted twice)

39 - England
36 - America
2 - Germany
1 - Tanzania
1 - Australia

Decade Released

11 - 90's
4 - 70's
2 - 60's
1 - 00's
1 - 80's

Year Released

3 - 1991
2 - 1994
2 - 1997
2 - 1993
2 - 1995
2 - 1971
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1979
1 - 1968
1 - 2006
1 - 1987


Genre:
6 - Alternative
4 - Grunge
4 - Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Post Grunge
1 - BritPop(Rock)
1 - Hard Rock