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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 16, 2004 21:33:00 GMT -5
After their first three studio releases, with generally upbeat material released as singles, the band returned to the studio in 1998 to record the follow-up to their seven-times platinum smash "Crash",
"Before These Crowded Streets" would be the album, revered as the bands strongest album to date among die-hard DMB fans. The album is much darker and haunted compared to their previous releases, and the first single was no exception.
"Don't Drink The Water", which generally flopped on the airwaves due to its longer duration and serious atmosphere, nevertheless remains a favorite among DMB fans and a concert staple. It delves deep into the politics of deforestation of the rainforest and the exodus of tribal communities and natives who live on the land.
Dave Matthews also expresses deep anger and despair for the first time in a radio single. The video, which was shot outside Los Angeles in a national park, dramatizes Dave's emotions as well as the sentiments of the natives of the land.
Sincerely,
Noah Eaton
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JCMF3
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Post by JCMF3 on Apr 16, 2004 21:46:12 GMT -5
This song is scary and just plain DREADFUL!
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jimmy74747
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Post by jimmy74747 on Apr 16, 2004 21:50:45 GMT -5
one of their worst
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Keith3000
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Post by Keith3000 on Apr 16, 2004 22:02:00 GMT -5
I love it.
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crash46
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Post by crash46 on Apr 17, 2004 1:51:17 GMT -5
I'd disagree that this would be considered a "general flop", being that it made the top 10 on all the rock charts in only 2 weeks. But this song happens to be the only single of theirs which I have not heard on the radio during this decade.
I happen to love the song, but it's songs like these that are the reason precisely 50% of the populations loves this band, and 50% hates them (no more, no less, no in-between). The pretenses that the song presents may seem powerful to some, but way too self-important to others. After this song, Dave Matthews started appearing on Politically Incorrect and in magazine interviews every other week to reveal his often-controversial opinions, and before too long, people had a choice of reasons to hate him. His music, his opinions, or the fact that it's the hippie-crowd that his message caters to. I never fell for any of it, but I know a lot of people who did.
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Rob64
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Post by Rob64 on Apr 17, 2004 6:21:23 GMT -5
Me and Singing Sparrow have close taste in music. LOL! I LOVE THIS SONG!!! It feels so epic. The final chorus gives me the chills. A lot of people don't like this song, but I think it's among their best songs.  To top it all off, Alanis is in this! |
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Post by chebingeo on Apr 17, 2004 9:45:27 GMT -5
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Post by reception on Apr 17, 2004 14:51:31 GMT -5
This song is scary and just plain DREADFUL! [/quote] |
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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 17, 2004 23:11:36 GMT -5
I'd disagree that this would be considered a "general flop", being that it made the top 10 on all the rock charts in only 2 weeks. But this song happens to be the only single of theirs which I have not heard on the radio during this decade. I happen to love the song, but it's songs like these that are the reason precisely 50% of the populations loves this band, and 50% hates them (no more, no less, no in-between). The pretenses that the song presents may seem powerful to some, but way too self-important to others. After this song, Dave Matthews started appearing on Politically Incorrect and in magazine interviews every other week to reveal his often-controversial opinions, and before too long, people had a choice of reasons to hate him. His music, his opinions, or the fact that it's the hippie-crowd that his message caters to. I never fell for any of it, but I know a lot of people who did. I agree with most of what you say here. However, I have to say that Dave's music has long catered the hippy-crowd from the beginning. He didn't just evolve into it, that's the general idea. "Tripping Billies" and "Jimi Thing" suggest smoking pot and hallucinogenics, "One Sweet World" and "The Best Of What's Around" suggest the yearning for world peace, and a much larger number of his songs have sexual overtones. All valued parts of their culture. The only thing I have noticed is that Dave's albums keep getting more depressing than the last, with the possible exception of "Everyday" after "Before These Crowded Streets" (which still was quite depressing with songs like "Mother, Father", "If I Had It All" and "Fool To Think"). "Bused Stuff" had very depressing songs like "Grey Street" and "Bartender", and "Gravedigger" was very hard off his solo album. If you've read his latest Rolling Stone article, he hints subconscious thoughts of suicide. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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WhySoSerious?
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Post by WhySoSerious? on Apr 18, 2004 9:02:50 GMT -5
Obviously love it.
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Radical347
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Post by Radical347 on Apr 18, 2004 12:25:02 GMT -5
This song is kinda creepy, but I love it.
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iceman
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Post by iceman on Apr 18, 2004 13:21:38 GMT -5
Love this song. Its among my top 3 favorite singles by them.
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halo19
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Post by halo19 on Apr 18, 2004 14:56:55 GMT -5
I think it's a really good song, although I hated it during the first two listens.
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Slinky
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Post by Slinky on Apr 18, 2004 17:33:31 GMT -5
Love it! Musically, this song was such a departure from their older stuff, but the band pulled it off perfectly. One of my favorite Dave Matthews tracks.
I disagree with Crash46's analysis though. I know quite a few people who like Dave Matthews's music, but don't necessarily identify with his politics (myself included). Matthews's core appeal may be "hippies", but he's reached out so much further than that, and he has fans of all political dispositions.
Similarly, I know "hippies" who consider Dave Matthews too preppy and trendy for them to listen to.
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crash46
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Post by crash46 on Apr 18, 2004 20:07:17 GMT -5
However, I have to say that Dave's music has long catered the hippy-crowd from the beginning. He didn't just evolve into it, that's the general idea. "Tripping Billies" and "Jimi Thing" suggest smoking pot and hallucinogenics, "One Sweet World" and "The Best Of What's Around" suggest the yearning for world peace, and a much larger number of his songs have sexual overtones. All valued parts of their culture. I agree with this, but what I was saying was that DDTW, and then subsequent interviews in magazines and PI, was what first brought those views into the mainstream. "Tripping Billies" was an under-the-radar fourth single, and the rest of those songs are album tracks that non-DMB fans have not heard. That's actually what I meant by "having a choice of reasons to hate him", as in disagreeing with his viewpoint, OR clashing with his "hippie crowd", OR disliking his music altogether. Maybe "hate him" was a bad choice of words. Yeah...those Phish fans... |
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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 18, 2004 21:16:51 GMT -5
I agree with this, but what I was saying was that DDTW, and then subsequent interviews in magazines and PI, was what first brought those views into the mainstream. "Tripping Billies" was an under-the-radar fourth single, and the rest of those songs are album tracks that non-DMB fans have not heard. That's actually what I meant by "having a choice of reasons to hate him", as in disagreeing with his viewpoint, OR clashing with his "hippie crowd", OR disliking his music altogether. Maybe "hate him" was a bad choice of words. Yeah...those Phish fans... I'd say "Don't Drink The Water" was definitely the single that made the isthmus between his true fans and his weaker fans. "Before These Crowded Streets" is considered unanimously the best Dave Matthews Band album among their most dedicated fans, while among outsiders it is considered perhaps their worst. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 18, 2004 21:20:48 GMT -5
I disagree with Crash46's analysis though. I know quite a few people who like Dave Matthews's music, but don't necessarily identify with his politics (myself included). Matthews's core appeal may be "hippies", but he's reached out so much further than that, and he has fans of all political dispositions. Similarly, I know "hippies" who consider Dave Matthews too preppy and trendy for them to listen to. If you're liberal that is! LOL! Others absolutely hate Dave's music since after the "Crash" era, even songs that have no political touch. And yes, the latter point you make is true. I think some "hippies" were turned off with his "Everyday" era. All the songs were around four minutes long on the record, all sounding radio-ready. Some were probably under the impression he was selling out from his rewarded image. Nevertheless, the Ben & Jerry's crowd is still dedicated to him, and I am very much too. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Rob64
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Post by Rob64 on Apr 18, 2004 21:22:33 GMT -5
I've listened to this song so many times, yet I still don't know what it's about...  It's a gower though. At first I didn't think much of it, but after hearing it a few times, it really grew on me. It's prolly among my top 100 songs of all time. |
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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 18, 2004 21:41:03 GMT -5
I've listened to this song so many times, yet I still don't know what it's about... It's a gower though. At first I didn't think much of it, but after hearing it a few times, it really grew on me. It's prolly among my top 100 songs of all time. This song is about destruction of the rainforest, and, ultimately, the removal of tribal people and indigneous tribes from their land due to it. Dave Matthews, who grew up in rural South Africa, was accustomed greatly to the scenic beauty around him, and obviously politically motivated, since South Africa has much civil unrest and is infamously known for its high volume of car bombings. He could only be so motivated, as the anger and rasp of his voice at the end of the song displays. If you see the video too, Dave is practically seething and growling, standing there below the canopy when he sings, "I live with my justice, I live with my greedy need, I live with no mercy, I live with my frenzied feeling..." Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Slinky
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Post by Slinky on Apr 19, 2004 8:23:18 GMT -5
That's actually what I meant by "having a choice of reasons to hate him", as in disagreeing with his viewpoint, OR clashing with his "hippie crowd", OR disliking his music altogether. Maybe "hate him" was a bad choice of words. Ah, OK, so you were saying that it just further polarized people into the "love" or "hate" crowd. Got it. For some reason, I thought you meant that his opinions were alienating people that otherwise liked his music, a la Dixie Chicks. Heh, true that. |
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Post by reception on Jan 25, 2007 18:58:11 GMT -5
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oscillations.
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Post by oscillations. on Jan 25, 2007 19:39:16 GMT -5
the only DMB song I can stand
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Post by areyoureadytojump on Jan 26, 2007 16:29:04 GMT -5
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JJ
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Post by JJ on Jan 25, 2007 0:17:25 GMT -5
I've been listening to this one a lot as of lately and this is a very weird song. I mean I like it a lot, but the lyrics and the whole mood are so dark and intense, it's just a heavy song. Alanis Morissette's contribution really adds some necessary twist to the song.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Does anyone truly gets the don't drink the water thing? I kinda have some thoughts about it, but I'd like to hear your opinions first.
Don't Drink the Water
Come out come out
No use in hiding
Come now come now
Can you not see?
There's no place here
What were you expecting
Not room for both
Just room for me
So you will lay your arms down
Yes I will call this home
Away away
You have been banished
Your land is gone
And given me
And here I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
What's this you say
You feel a right to remain
Then stay and I will bury you
What's that you say
Your father's spirit still lives in this place
I will silence you
Here's the hitch
Your horse is leaving
Don't miss your boat
It's leaving now
And as you go I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
I have no time to justify to you
Fool you're blind, move aside for me
All I can say to you my new neighbor
Is you must move on or I will bury you
Now as I rest my feet by this fire
Those hands once warmed here
I have retired them
I can breathe my own air
I can sleep more soundly
Upon these poor souls
I'll build heaven and call it home
'Cause you're all dead now
I live with my justice
I live with my greedy need
I live with no mercy
I live with my frenzied feeding
I live with my hatred
I live with my jealousy
I live with the notion
That I don't need anyone but me
Don't drink the water
Don't drink the water
There's blood in the water
Don't drink the water
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JCMF3
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Post by JCMF3 on Jan 25, 2007 8:58:36 GMT -5
Horrible.
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Post by reception on Jan 25, 2007 13:42:44 GMT -5
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Post by joker on Jan 25, 2007 18:31:59 GMT -5
It's alright.. not my favorite DMB track by a longshot.
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It's a gower though. At first I didn't think much of it, but after hearing it a few times, it really grew on me. It's prolly among my top 100 songs of all time.
