"If You Tolerate This..." is definitely one of their songs you should check out. A Welsh band - quite big in the 90s whose guitarist, Ritchie, famously vanished by a bridge. Did well commercially in the Uk but were also really critically acclaimed in the music papers
You guys are finding some proper UK talent this week. The Manics had one of the massive 90s anthems with "A Design for Life" which is a must for newbies to the band. And yes you need a lot of umbrellas in Wales! Another deceptive band name is Massive Attack who released two the most hauntingly brilliant atmospheric 90s songs with "Teardrop" and "Angel" which you may well have heard on TV or the movies. The "Teardrop" video is one of the most oddly compelling I've seen. Both songs are right at the top of my wish list for you to react to along with "Pyramid Song" from Radiohead.
@@DavidAston-bn9bz Many great song suggestions here 👏. Jose Gonzales Teardrop cover is also really superb which was surprising as I usually dislike covers of such high quality tunes like Teardrop most certainly is.
@@KevinKaffy Thanks Kevin. I was only aware of the Aurora version but it seems not only has Jose Gonzales has covered it but also Hayley Williams and Newton Faulkner. Flattery indeed for such a great song and I'm sure the guys would be captivated by it.
@@DewiSant-o3y Hi. Not disagreeing at all. I had praised the guys for reacting to Kate Bush a day or two earlier so it was combination of the two that was the context of the comment. I'm from BIrkenhead close to the Welsh border so you are preaching to the converted but hopefully our American/Canadian brethren won't call the Manics, Tom Jones, Stereophonics and many more English ever again!
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh band who were fairly big in the UK in the 90s. They never managed to crack the US but they are still going today, I saw them perform at Edinburgh Castle last month. They also have a fascinating, if fairly tragic history. Their main lyricist, Richard Edwards, disappeared in 1995 and has never been seen since. They have a load of great songs and the vocalist/lead guitarist James Dean Bradfield is criminally underrated in my opinion. Their third album "The Holy Bible" is regarded as their masterpiece but it is an incredibly bleak album due to the subject matter of the songs. I've been a fan since the late 90s and as I said, still go see them when they tour.
Oh, I so don't want to sound insulting, but I'll never forget a headline I read years ago; "The Manic Street Preachers; Still too smart for America" They were 17 when they wrote this song, 17!!!
Finally!! I've been waiting for this moment. I love this band and have done since they appeared. They are a pretty popular band over here in the UK, well respected too. I hope you guys enjoy this and check out a few more from them. La Tristessa Durera, Life Becoming a Landslide, Australia, From Despair to Where...any of these are great ❤
They wrote probably one of the darkest albums in rock, THE HOLY BIBLE. it’s an absolute masterpiece but it’s heavy, raw and deals with some fucked up subject matters.
Wow The Manics, something I did not expect! They are a Welsh band and big in the UK but like many other bands they just never get big in the USA. It's an anti-capitalist song as was much of their early stuff They have such an interesting story they were quite a rebellious band and quite political. Their song writer / guitarist disappeared and is assumed to have committed suicide but his body has never been found.
So so so happy to see this. Genuinely one of my favorite bands of all time. Their 3rd album is a masterpiece and one of the most haunting and harrowing album ever. Brilliant band
They are deeply political and hit on topics of death, life, culture, alienation, and consumerism. Not well known in the US but huge in Wales and England
I used to go to technical college in Newport, South Wales on the bus with Richie. Told me one day his band were going to make it big soon. Yeah yeah yeah, I said. 😢
Faster, Motown Junk, Orwellian, Kevin Carter, you stole the sun from my heart, of walking aborti*n, If you tolerate this you’re children will be next and A design for life. Are considered their best so you should definitely give them a go, lyric videos should definitely help because he does say a lot quite quickly in some of those songs! Thanks for reacting to my suggestion :) and I’ve comments some information about the manics on the Patreon
"Survival is as natural as sorrow. " It works both ways. You can feel guilty for being able to afford what others cant have, or when it comes down to survival, if you wasted your meager earnings on something that can only bring temporary satisfaction. It was a valid point to bring up that it was a vehicle for one person usually. Feeding the ego with such distractions leads to emptiness. I agree, it is so brilliant with the soaring chorus and wonderful guitar riff, that outside of the UK this song should have been huge.
I love that you guys thought this might be a novelty band. They are regarded as one of the most intelligent bands of the last 30 years. They write music with deep lyrics. They have a lot of louder rock songs and some mellow songs. Do check out more from them.
Two lads in the band used to busk in Cardiff basically shouting Clash songs at tourists & snarling at anyone who gave them money. A bemused homeless man said "What are you boyo, some sort of manic street preacher...?"
Manic Street Preachers have been popular in the UK (and pretty much everywhere except the US) since the early 90s. They weren't a Britpop band but their popularity soared during that era. They wrote this song when they were 16.
One of the best live bands you could hope to see. You mentioned profound lyrics in jest before you heard them, try ‘if you tolerate this’. Alternatively they did my favourite cover ever when they did suicide is painless (theme from MASH)
Met them in the early 2000,s after they have just performed at the V festival at Weston park UK . I was working the very late shift at a hotel behind the bar when they came in,very down to earth lads all of them. Another softly spoken Welsh lad came up to the bar and asked for a drink , he had shades on (2:30 in the morning this was). Didn’t realise it was Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics until I was watching highlights the next day 🥴🥶🫠🤣.
The song is a jab at consumerism. with video in the bright neon Tokyo lights where you can buy anything, & yet, its also the suicide capital of the world
Love the Manics - first saw them back in 1996 and saw them last in 2019. The whole of the Holy Bible album is incredible - well worth checking out. Huge British band from Wales - been super popular in UK for decades
My fav tune ever at the time. Understand the confusion about the lyrics because when I heard the song first without knowing the title I thought it wasn’t an English language song. When you dig into the meaning of the lyrics it’s very interesting actually.
As for the meaning of the song “The track is inspired by S.E. Hinton's book Rumble Fish, about biker gang culture. According to the band, the lyrics are an attack on the hollowness of a lifestyle centred around the consumerism which is offered by capitalism, describing how society expects young people to conform. The line "From feudal serf to spender" draws a direct parallel between slavery of peasants to the lord of their manor under the Feudal system in medieval times and the brand loyalty of people in modern capitalist societies, which the companies use to their advantage in pursuit of profit.”
I've seen them recently in Cardiff Wales 🏴 my favourite band. They are a band that make you reflect and ask questions. They aren't particularly bothered if anyone likes them. From Despair to Where is a great track.
It's an outrageously good song. Huge UK band that never quite got big in the US. There's a lot to say about the Manics but their original mission was to be like a cross between Public Enemy and Guns'n'Roses. They wanted to release a double album as their debut, sell 30 million copies and the split up. It didnt sell that many, they made lots more albums. A great song from their second album is La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh). Other great ones: A Design For Life, Faster, You Love Us. Great reaction!
the song is about Che Guevara's journey through south America to Cuba. Named after the book the motorcycle diaries I think. They have also met and played for Castro in Cuba.
This band had bad luck as to why they’re not popular in the United States compared to Europe. 1) it was like a week before their first tour in the west the original singer went missing and never found. 2)they released an album on 9/11 I’m 35 and only heard of them this year. Great band. They also did a cover to “suicide is painless” MASH theme song I’m sure I’m missing another account but there’s a documentary about them that explains a lot .
They got their band name from when the vocalist James Dean Bradfield used to busk in Wales. One day a man said look there's a manic street preacher! Apparently! Something I read.
Wow, great to see a reaction to the Manics! I saw them live early on (when Richey was still present) and they shaped much of my cultural and political thinking. Try Revol or If You Tolerate This... next.
"The memorable music video for “Motorcycle Emptiness,” was shot in Japan, a country where the group were cult heroes. Famous landmarks like Shibuya Crossing and Cosmo Clock 21 appear in the video. But it’s the shared melancholy of the band that is most poignant."
The band started out with an old school punk sound and appeared to be heavily influenced by The Clash, even in the way they looked. They quickly progressed to a more classic rock sound but always retained their lyrical bite. I recommend "Faster" as the next song of theirs you should react to.
I agree. I love their 90’s albums and The Holy Bible is their masterpiece but it’s not as widely known, maybe because it is so challenging. Everything Must Go is also top tier but over time The Holy Bible stands above.
Seen them live 18 times to date. Chatted to Sean Moore the drummer in 2020, and I know his mother! I also have many rare SIGNED stuff by them, including an EXTREMELY RARE Richey Edwards signed promotional photo from 1991 😮. Amazing band and song. ~ C 09 - 08 - 2024
How they never translated to America in the early 90's I'll never know? Can only guess their label didn't push them due to their absolute controversial character at the time. They made a lot of people. The end. They just MADE a lot of people 🙂
The Manics were fairly big in the 90's in the UK, as big as Stone Roses etc really. I think this is probably their best and most succesful song, I always liked it... it holds up a lot better than most of their contemporaries efforts. It wasn't really Americas thing back then, but I'm sure they had some success with it in the states.
Always wanted to try Bentley emptiness. Manic -- two syllables, btw. Cool, if, yes, somewhat generic track. Would be open to hearing more. Heard the name going back...but never explored 'em. 😊
The Manics are the biggest British band to never really make it in the US. The quality of their music is so high and they always deliver very thought provoking, political songs. Butthole Surfers and Barenaked Ladies are about as far removed from this as you can get.
Hello Hollywood & SmokeyR, I've always thought this band had a tragic backstory, albeit somewhat strange as well. Just as others have said, the lead vocalist disappeared. And their music is too depressing for my personal taste. So, I thought I'd suggest a new band to give a listen, if interested. "War - Slippin' Into Darkness" (by the channel: War) --War is an American progressive soul, funk-rock band. They formed in 1969 and are from Long Beach, California. This song is from their album called "All Day Music" released in 1971. They have even more groovy tunes to explore in future, if interested. It's always enjoyable hearing you two banter over those somewhat questionable Q/A cards. lol And as always, I enjoyed rocking with you both. Thanks for sharing. peace out~
Come on guys, you know I love you but how about spending a bit more time reacting to the song and less on the band name or who they look like! It is heavy lyrically and not easy to make out so maybe having a look afterwards would help your dicscussion and make it more enjoyable for the viewers. The song (which I love) is an anthem against consumerism and materialism which like all 'protest' songs is a tricky position to take for artists who are in the midst of the corporate music industry, especially when you're from Wales and making big budget videos in Japan, anyone see the irony? Cheers
