Exploring Massive Attack & "Unfinished Sympathy" | New British Canon
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
- Influence is a strange thing. Just because a band is influential, doesn't necessarily mean the band is known because of their influence. People know Radiohead's OK Computer changed things. People are less aware of Massive Attack's Blue Lines and its aura of influence. Formed in Bristol in the late 80s, they made it so dance music didn't have to be all about speed, that it could be emotive and chilled. They made serious moves to make Hip-Hop outside of the US a legitimate thing. And most importantly, made it so Hip-Hop as a whole could seek to be introspective in its ideas rather than party-hard or political. While overall Massive Attack are more well known for their 1998 song “Teardrop”, their most important single was 1991's “Unfinished Sympathy”. While Its unusual structure and genre fusion are elements that get critics interested, its emotional resonance, its heartbroken vocal and those sweeping strings have made it resound with listeners since its release. But how did a bunch of, in their words, “lazy Bristol twats” create one of the most innovative songs of the 90s? How did one band change the course of two separate genres, and by chance create a completely new one? This is the story of “Unfinished Sympathy”.
#massiveattack #documentary #triphop
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Great stuff! Thanks!
didnt name morcheeva what a shame
Yes we need playlist!
This has nothin to do with this amazing song, but born in 1976, I feel also nostalgic for songs like I cant stand it ...by 24/7. Blond chick was so sexy & the music would put me in a jolly mood.
Hey, new subscriber, can you do a breakdown of COWBOY'S By Portishead? It just reminds me of the two lovers: Putin and trump...
Seriously, I'd appreciate it! Thanks🤣
I once went out with somebody who said Unfinished Sympathy was rubbish, I instantly knew the relationship was doomed.
Great & wise decision Cassandra Winona ! I'm dating a girl who loves this song & loves Jeff Buckley ( as do i ) now if she digs Nenah Cherry, i'm going to marry this woman.
wtf
@@beeboy6967 Aahh, congratulations in advance. I think shared passions are a huge part of making a long term relationship work. There are some things so close to one's heart that if your partner hates them it's like they don't understand an important part of you and you'll never really be that close, that was how I felt.
@@cassandrawinona8748 Well said Cassandra & i agree %100. Early days about my relationship though but thanks anyway ( it's a long complex situation ) I wish you well, health & happiness in life. Most importantly go with your gut instinct about others & of course their musical taste. There is a saying....Don't trust no one that doesn't collect music & read books. :=)
@@beeboy6967 Haha, I like that saying, and looking back at my previous relationships I would say it's sound! I think taste in music and art definitely says a lot about the values people do and don't have in common. And thanks btw, you too. 😀
Massive Attack’s first three albums are perfect and mandatory.
all albums!
Jonathan Miller 🔥🔥🔥🚀🚀🚀👍👍👍 totally agreed
Calm down
Hahaha so true. And this song is perfect
I just wish more people knew this
I never knew the amount of influence Neneh Cherry had on Massive Attack.
A very proud Bristolian here, Daddy G lives about a 15 minute walk from my house and Liz Frasier (singer on teardrop and other tracks, also in the Cocteau twins) made me a cup of tea once, a lovely person.
Liz made you tea?! I am so jealous.
Robert's Mum and Dad ran a pub called The Beehive on Wellington Hill, near Horfield 👍🏼
Jealous! I wish I was from Bristol ): you guys have some of the greatest artists..
@Kid Sunyata Haha, sorry - my mum and dad ran a pub in Westbury-on-Trym and knew them!
a few years ago me and my friend were visiting her (my friend's) sister in bristol. at some point we walked up to the clifton observatory, and on my way in i almost bumped into this guy that looked kinda familiar. later i mentioned this to my other friend (who's been to massive's mezzanine tour gig in prague with me in 1999), i was like "dude, i think i bumped into 3d while in bristol" and he was like "a rather short guy?" so yes, i believe it was him :)
"Unfinished Sympathy" is my number one single of all times. It gives me chills every single time.
Me too 👊
🖐🏻
Heard this on a soundtrack. Paid a dollar for the disc. Put on track five, repeat. There isn't a parental advisory sticker, either.
@Jérome Bastin That was where I first heard this song. On the soundtrack. Thought it sounded very good.
Trip-Hop is almost all I listened to for a decade. Massive Attack is the standard. Unkle and Portishead are up there too.
I too went down the trip hop rabbit hole recently ..
Lets share some of our favourite tracks?
I agree with the above, but for me Tricky's Maxinquaye was the greatest album of that period.
Edit: with the exception of Endtroducing of course
I’m with you guys. Kruger and Dorfmeister deserve a head nod as well
@@NotQuiteFirst Maxinquaye, Dummy and Mezzanine are masterpieces
Massive Attack's Blue Lines was at the forefront of a great movement, but there was so much going on in 90s music in Britain. There was Jungle / Drum n Bass. There was rave/ techno. There was Madchester dance / indie. Triphop. Britpop. Even the Indian people like Talvin Singh / Cornershop were getting their tablas out. Up north in Scotland, Boards of Canada was getting started. Other namechecks: Future Sound of London, Orb, Orbital.
It's a travesty that this only reached no 13 in the charts. This is one of the greatest tracks....EVER!
AGREE
I think it's amazing, the average public cant cope with complex music, look at the dribble that boy and girls bands put out, most people like nursery rhymes. It's amazing that enough of the fringe of society got out and bought this to get it into the charts.
Totally agree
Still my fave song ever
#1 in the Netherlands ;)
Robert del naja being Banksy is one of my favourite theories
I know Robert. Well i'm aquainted through my work.I used to play Lakota in Bristol and Robert came in a bit. He has that baligerance that could certainly make you think it could be him but he never gave anything away.
Banksy is robin gunningham not del Naja lol
Thank you so much for bringing some attention to Massive attack and trip hop.
One thing that's more unique to the UK electronic music scene is how it has a much a stronger crossover with rock/indie/punk than elsewhere. That's why you'll find a lot of electronic crossover groups either come from the UK or were most successful by far in the UK (ie Pendulum, Atari Teenage Riot The Prodigy). It's an interesting phenomenon that other places don't have.
I was 20 years old when this came out...I was living in England, East Anglia and as an American living there...I was fascinated by this song and heavily influenced my musical productions ever since. Driving along the english country side, Pete Tong radio show, in a ford cortina, in the summertime. This cannot be beat. Great music from 88-92.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS SONG. This song has been in my life for as long as I've been alive and I can't stress enough how much I feel this song should be included in the conversation of general music innovation greatness. Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I have to agree. This is the best tune.
That feeling when I tell people my favorite genre is trip hop and they've never heard of it.
This is my all time favourite song. Massive Attack have had such a positive impact on my music tastes. The 90’s was such an amazing time for all genres of UK music, not just Brit Pop or the Spice Girls
It's way up there for me too
this track will forever make me think of learning to drive in Sydney, crossing the Harbour Bridge for the first time at night during the rain.
I love crossing the Harbour Bridge to this tune too. If you pass a bright orange Commodore with this blasting out the windows give me a wave lol.
You have one of my favorite music channels. This was so good! I didn't know how involved Neneh Cherry was in getting that first album produced. At this time 30 years ago, she was all over top 40 radio here in the US (as was Soul II Soul), little did I know how involved she was with this record.
I've regularly listened to massive attack for about 25 years and always felt they were underappreciated. This video shows their originality and influence was deeper than I suspected.
‘Unfinished sympathy’ is a masterpiece.
28 years later Shara Nelson still looks like a time traveller in that video. Also great catch on Manchild's link to Unfinished Sympathy, how did I never notice that lol.
i would say "the pharcyde - drop" video deserves a breakdown... one of the most brilliant videos of that era.
yeees
One of my favorite songs of all time. Masterpiece
The scratching at the start, the strings, the production.. just amazing..
My tears welled up when hearing this masterpiece. Again. And still. After all these years. A true seminal, era-defining yet at the same time timeless perfection of a clip and composition: Nelson’s hauntingly beautiful voice, the poetry of the lyrics, the perfectly matching picked samples; the one-shot take, the absence of a chorus, that beat, full of tension and suspense - and then, those strings... 🥺
Thank you 🙏
A few weeks after the release of Blue Lines, I went to a night in Sydney, where DJ collective 'All Funked Up' played all the sample originals along side MA tunes with live MC's, continuing on in the ethic of the release, almost like a present time retrospective. A night that both got me hooked on MA and introduced me to a life of record collecting. Just a note, not the first UK accent rap, plenty before them. Great content, thanks.
YEEES! More people should talk about trip hop...Great vid. You can also talk more about bjork or if you want something kinda obscure Sneaker Pimps
@emmanuel de la cruz Yeah that's the thing, the genre is that well defined. there are a lot of acts that had a trip hop phase than acts who are trip hop specificaly. Obvious example being Everything but the girl. but even today, you can argue FKA TWIGS is kind of an updated form of trip hop.
massive attack is my favorite music group of all time, i never got bored of their songs and i can listen to them all day long for weeks because im not just enjoying the song, i feel something when i listen to it. im hooked to that feeling
i wasnt aware they were this big and influential but im not surprised too, if i can only listen to one music artist for the rest of my life its def massive attack
(sees video title).
(immediately gets that tin-percussion intro to the song stuck in head)
That song changed my life. I'd just started my first proper job as a journalist and was living near Bristol when it came out and it still sounds as fresh to my ears today as the first time I heard it. It's just pure west country class.
Bruh I remember being a toddler hearing this song on the radio during forced nap-time. Never knew who it was.
When i discovered Massive Attack as an adult and heard this song for the first time in 15 years i lost my mind. Powerful stuff.
Surprisingly enough, I had that feeling when I heard Paper Planes by MIA in like 2018.
Would hear it all the time while younger, completely forgot about it for a decade, and then finally heard it after ages.
Weird feeling. Like, spine tingling.
How old are you now?
Forced nap-time? Did you grow up in North Korea?
This might be obvious to TT and folks from the UK, but I just want to highlight how great Tricky’s first few albums are and how vital he was to Massive Attack early on. He’s such a raw dude in his interviews as well. Very passionate. You get the sense of how shit out of luck he might’ve been if he didn’t posses this copious amount of unique, natural talent. Hope he’s doing alright these days.
mans lost his daughter recently as well. i hope he gets through this. seeing him in concert in march.
Didn't know about Neneh Cherry's involvement. Interesting info, thanks.
My earliest music memory is this song. I was around 5 years old, playing with my mother's cassetteplayer, and this song came up and it has always captivated me. Took me more than a decade to learn it was from Massive Attack, whom I did love other songs from.
Great video again, keep it up!
You’re a very interesting UA-camr and am glad I stumbled across your channel, you’ve helped us understand more about music than what we could do by ourselves, keep making the good content
:)
One of my favorite songs of all time. Masterpiece
Thank you so much for bringing some attention to Massive attack and trip hop.
Oh, I know all about Blue Lines, and its aura of influence. "Unfinished Sympathy" is an unparalleled masterpiece.
m8 i never listened to much Massive but this was amazing - would love a breakdown of either The Streets ( Mike Skinner really paved the way for a lot of rap out of the UK) or Prodigy especially with the death of Keith, those dudes turned the scene on its axis. Keep up the amazing work.
I'd love to see Underworld's Born Slippy.NUXX in this series... feels right.
Rez and Bigmouth were better in my opinion although when that intro starts it lifts the roof off after that it gets a bit to handbaggy for me.
Who went to go and listen to 'unfinished sympathy' by Massive Attack straight after watching this video!?
Ya Got Me LOL
well, when talking about tunes that are british icons yet devoid of chart success i guess an episode on Underworld and Born Slippy is due (made it to number 2, would have been a 1 if charts were published on wednesday). and their odd history and permutations would make for a great story to explore in a video. keep up the great work, liking this series :)
True: they were underneath the radar.
Don't know if specifically Born Slippy, as great as it may be, but definitely an episode about Underworld altogether.
If you do an episode on Kate Bush I can die happy
SilentAssassin01234 search on UA-cam there’s an hour long bbc docs on her
@@kenrehill8775 I have seen it
It's incredible the influence she's had on people. I've watched that documentary on her so many times. It leaves you wanting more. We need more Kate Bush anything.
Rip
When Time past by, and alot of stuff get lost. Videos like this And channel like this, keep us reminded that, there was a great generation behind us and we have to move on, and try to make history again. But remember the past. Great work you do!
This song is the ultimate best of all time. Everything about it is just perfect. The composition, the combination of genres, the sampled beats, the title, the lyrics, the absence of chorus, Shara's vocals and of course the signature strings that elevate it all into the heavens. I doubt there will ever be another song of this calibre. This certainly is MASSIVE!
OMFG THIS IS MY #1 FAVORITE SONG BY MASSIVE ATTACK, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK FOR THIS VIDEO😭😭😭😭💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞
Edit: I've wanted to know the background, history, and breakdown of this song for the longest. Thank you🙏🏾💞
This song live along with ‘Black is the Colour of my true loves hair’ by Nina Simone. Glorious.
This is seriously my favorite "breakdown video essay" channel since "Every Frame a Painting". Well done.
Dude I've been obsessed with this song ever since I saw this special. Love it and love you!
hearing this for the first time ever must be amazing
Thank you so much for doing this video. I learned so much behind one of my favorite artists and tracks that I never knew!
Do an episode of talk talks discography, the way their albums progressed is really special.
YES!!! I second this. Talk Talk are vastly underrated and very influential. There would be no OK Computer or Post-Rock without 'Spirit of Eden' and 'Laughing Stock'. RIP Mark Hollis
Okay, now I have to go and watch the music video again
Hahah me too!
You appeared in my timeline and I hit play. No regrets. I subbed half way through because your synopsis was fantastic. Great video. Keep up the great work
Haunting, emotional, groovy, sexy, intelligent, Creative and timeless!
All this coming from the streets of Bristol.
This kind of alchemy in music you cannot create artificially or by accident. Masterpiece
Actually, this is my favourite song of all time, and this was a great analysis! Good job!
Omg! This is brilliant. Been in love with Massive Attack since ‘95! I love finding out more behind-the-scene info. They are criminally underrated... wish this was an hour long episode but I’m grateful for what we’ve got!
Im a 'yank' but 80% of the music I listen to is British.
Thank you so much for bringing some attention to Massive attack and trip hop.
Loving all you videos mate. Only just discovered you and have been binging all night. I've loved this track since it was released. Like many on here, it lets me feel my feels in a profound way but you've broken me, I've been calling it Unfinished Symphony. How have I missed that for so long.
Great vid mate.
Well...that was excellent. Had no idea that Neneh Cherry had been so instrumental and supportive in this album getting made. I take issue with the idea that US is less well-known than Teardrops...maybe it's my age but US was an instant top-tier classic that has never been bettered. Also, being picky, UK accents had been used in Hip Hop previous to Massive Attack - can't give you a name off the top of my head, but I know there were representations from as early as 85/86. Great video though, love it. Subbed.
London Posse as a quick example - 87 - ua-cam.com/video/ONrgFX7_NMI/v-deo.html
Ahhh Massive Attack. My absolute favourite :)))
"unfinished sympathy's bittersweet synthesis"
i see what you did there
This channel's great. Totally subbed. Massive Attack - elegant game changers!
Wow, just came across this! Love that all these years later, I’m just now finding out about Neneh Cherry (who I’ve loved since high school) was connected to Massive Attack! Consider me subscribed!
You're easily my favorite music youtuber, I think the direction you're going in is amazing and keep up the good work
After seeing your Eurythmics docu I'm hooked to your channel, excellent inside/behind the music docu's, great work!
This is an eye opener. Amazing work and research you’ve done. I love their music and this video really makes me appreciate them even more. Thanks!
As a Brostolian of a certain age, I love this vid. I would say you needed to include Smith and Mighty in the film and the influence they had.
I truly enjoy your videos and info.
It's like meeting my idols, but without ever being disenchanted, but rather have all their effort and talent be elevated.
cheers
It might initially sound like an insult, but the album in question is great to wind down to - with the light off and and an eye mask on. Dumbed down visual sense makes for a more attuned ear.Try it, hopefully you'll give it a go with others like it too.
I wouldn't be surprised that Mocheeba was hugely influenced by Massive Attack.
Great videos, gained another subscriber.
Cheers from France.
I was recommended your videos this morning and I'm so glad the UA-cam algorithm paid off today. Really starting off my New Years on a good foot.
You are doing the best job on youtube. You are number one for me when it comes to music.
holy shit man you keep pumping these amazing videos on oddly specific topics and im loving it so much
Thanks so much for this. This is one of the most significant tracks of our lives. Seriously. We can never downplay how significant 1991 was for music. It was massive for Grunge, Shoegaze, Rap, Indie Rock, Metal, Pop and this new thing called Trip Hop. I looked up at a street sign and saw a Massive Attack sicker in Amherst Massachusetts in September 1991, at the age of 18 days after I started at University. I sought out Blue Lines, and that album felt as momentous and word-changing as several other albums that came out in the second half of that year. A year before I had Internet access, I knew that Unfinished Sympathy was blowing people's minds on both sides of the Atlantic. Nearly 30 years later, this video explained how my reaction to it was very common.
Brillliant! I loved this documentary. well done
Big up Brissol! I was from the SE, but moved to the SW in the early 90's. Bristol was at the center of music innovation in the UK during that period, largely due to the influence of Massive Attack.
i grew up with the mind that massive attack and yello set the tone for this fusion of sound. i hear their influences everywhere to this day. bravo for paving the path. i love innovators.
Please do an episode on the specials or ghost town, they deserve so much more respect
I'm from the future to let you know that you got your wish! 😁
A friend of mine introduced me to Trip Hop through Portishead. I remember when Hooverphonic and The Sneaker Pimps were regularly played on the radio. I found Massive Attack by shear luck.
Loved the video, love Massive Attack, Love the series!!! Thanx!!
This is an excellent synopsis. Massive Attack's collaboration with reggae legend Horace 'Sleepy' Andy remains a highlight for me.
Massive Attack is well known to work with guest vocalists on all of their albums. Horace Andy is the only artist who has made a guest appearance on every Massive Attack album. My favorites with him are "Man Next Door", "Angel", "Everywhen" and "Girl I Love You". They're all great though. He's not a full member of the group but he seriously makes these songs his own. I seriously believe that Massive Attack is one of those groups that has not made a bad album.
Scottish composer Craig Armstrong helped arrange the strings for the orchestra, apparently.
Wow! Neneh made quite a contribution to this wonderful music. I never knew!!! Big ups! Great video!!
Very well done. May you never run out of topics.
Thank you so much for this video. So very interesting. WOW. I was 18 & there at the beginning of their careers (Dug Out, Bristol) but I’ve never ever seen Nellee Hooper til today (Sep 2020). I went on to be a big fan of Soul 2 Soul, seeing them live twice. I’d love to learn more about NH & the direction his musical journey has taken and who he’s influenced (it’s inevitable that he has). They are all a Wildly Talented Bunch & make me very proud🔥🔥🔥
Loved this video so much! One of my favourite songs, from one of my favourite albums and an absolutely amazing band.
I've been listening to Massive Attack for more than 20 years. I go back to them when I need to center myself. This is one my absolute favorite tracks from any artist. It deserves all the love. Thanks for this.
I just came across your channel. I’ve been bingeing on your videos! Your delivery, research and composition all come together so well! Kudos! Subscribed!!
Really knocked it out of the park on this one Trash Theory. I am a massive fan of trip-hop and own a lot of the records you mentioned here, so I will be sharing this with heaps of mates. Even when your vids are covering music I am not a fan of it is always worth a watch because of your consistently high quality of presentation. Keep it up!
Man, I love this channel. It is a hidden gem in the bowels of UA-cam. Keep it up guys
I'd also like to add that it's not just the human element that Massive Atack brought to the table which sparked interest, it's how good their bloody talent and beautiful compositions are
I've always loved this song. Thank you very much for doing this!
Unfinished Sympathy & Blue Lines Were the rare single & LP that were truly innovative & invented " Trip Hop " Came out of nowhere. Brilliant !
Unfinished Sympathy is one of the best songs I've ever heard. Shara sang her heart out. This is trip hop at it's best
Outstanding content. Answers all the right questions. Phenomenal
This song is definitely among those 10 songs. Would take to deserted island! Many thanks for this introduction to this song, it does deserve it! One of my alltime favorites!
It belongs in the same league as US3 and Vargo with very unique style of their own.
Great series, thanks for posting these!
Absolutely great vid. One of my all time favourite tracks and I learnt loads of stuff I didn’t know. New sub!
Finally i've got a decent explanation to my obsession. For some reason Massive attack's track "Unfinished Sympathy" still is on my mind, Big fan of Tricky Kid,( I've been to three live concert shows, "She makes me wanna cry" awsome song), still listen to Portishead and big fun of Radiohead (been twice to their concerts) since they were near grunge...Funny part i'm Chilean and i live in Chile, weird isn't it?
Outstandig the way you read the subtext and those elements hidden in plain sight. Regards from México mate...!
Spectacular video. Enjoyed it so much, thanks!!
If you do an episode on Kate Bush I can die happy
One of my favorite songs of all time. Masterpiece