You have to understand what this album did to us when it came out. I was a sophomore in high school and we'd grown up on the excess-fueled debauchery of the hair metal of the 80's. Those songs were all about partying, drinking, drugs, and girls...living the "good life." But that wasn't the world we were inheriting. AIDS was becoming a huge issue, the economy was on a downturn, the excess and "me, me, me" of the 80's was giving way to a new consciousness of the world and all its problems in the nation's youth. We were starkly aware of famine, genocide, war, and all of the terrible things happening around the world. We just couldn't connect with the music of the 80's anymore. Everything wasn't alright. Our lives weren't about partying and doing coke. We saw ourselves inheriting a much more sobering future and we didn't want to listen to rock stars sing about lives that we knew we'd never lead. Then 3 seminal albums dropped..."Nevermind" by Nirvana, "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden, and "Ten" by Pearl Jam. All of a sudden we had songs which were representing the world we knew. A lot of us were children of divorced parents. Abuse was starting to be something that was talked about and the illusion of the perfect family was no longer something you had to maintain. We were angry, scared, worried, and felt voiceless. Then we received the gift of this music and it suddenly felt like we weren't alone and we had ways of expressing ourselves that we couldn't have imagined. You have to have seen 17 year-olds belting out "I'm still alive!" at the tops of their lungs to know how much this album resonated with us. It still does.
I was about to get on here and say the same thing, be sure to do the Uncensored official music video. Don't get me wrong the performance they do on unplugged is great but the video is very powerful and and it will be much easier for you to understand what he's talking about.
@@thistlestalk3289 Yes. And a possible follow up with a similar theme, P.O.D's Youth of the Nation. Think she would love it, considering her hip hop background.
Eddie’s father did die when he was 13, but he didn’t find out that he was his father until after his death. He thought he was a family friend. The part of the incestuous relationship is not true. That was a fantasy part of the story. In fact, there’s a trilogy to it. “Alive” is the first, “Once” is the second (I highly recommend you watching the Pinkpop ‘92 version for that) and “Footsteps” is the final chapter of the story. They are ALL great songs! “Jeremy” is a must for you! It is based on a true story and is also a GREAT song!
You can hear them play it live if you search for "Pearl Jam - "Momma-Son" Trilogy (Zurich 6.18.1992)" I had a bootleg of this concert on cassette... I need to reclaim it if anybody knows how to get it... I'll be forever grateful!! :)
He's dropped hints along the way that the incestuous part was actually real. Hints here and there on the bootlegs. I remember one time he was commenting on a shirt he was wearing and he said, "I (effed) my mother and all I got was this lousy shirt." I'm of the opinion that it really happened. I don't think he was thinking about how many people were going to be hearing the lyrics when he wrote it. Once it came out and people started asking about that part, he didn't want to admit the truth. Just my opinion.
@@artvandelay19 it's entirely possible that he was taken advantage of by an older woman. Maybe even a friend of his mom's. And if she knew about it, that could also explain the shirt because he maybe at that age couldn't differentiate
Pearl Jam - Ten is one of the greatest albums of all time imo. Eddie brought to life exactly what was needed for the time. Grunge was a special part of music and Pearl Jam was a pillar.
Subbed purely because of how quick you caught on to the meaning of this song, and how absolutely rightfully angry you got at the idea of the topic of the song being real. Truly a beautiful human to have that kind of empathy
Yes this is a song about his real life. Eddie has confirmed this in many occasions. There is another song called "release" which he is singing to his real father which you should DEFINITELY listen to. It's a very beautiful song. You SHOULD DEFINITELY react to Pearl jam - Release live in Holland 92. You can DEFINITELY see and hear the emotion he has during his performance of this song.
No. The only part of the song that is true and autobiographical is the beginning when he finds out that the man he thought was his father was really his stepfather and his real father had passed without his knowledge. The rest is shit he made up lol
@@derekclark254 Dude, i don't care what you say. I've seen interviews where he has said this song was about his real life. So I'm gonna take his word over yours. Period, END OF THE STORY.
@@derekclark254 have you ever seen him preform live or actually had a chance to talked to him ? Well i have. I've seen him preform with his band pearl jam and I've seen him preform solo. And in a couple of occasions i had the chance to actually speak with him. The last show of his I've been to is when he alone held a concert in chris Cornell's honor. Where he preformed songs from Soundgarden and audio slave. All bands that chris was a part of. He is one of my favorite singers and performers of all time.
Jeremy is probably the most important and impactful song that brings light to bullying before social media time. I would react first to song, then look up the history behind the song.
For me, by far, most impactfull song to me by Pearl Jam is "Release"... a GREAT live performance from Holland around '91 is perfect to see Eddie and the band 🙏🤟
I literally just came to the comments to say the exact same thing. Unplugged "Black" is amazing but before all that, "Release" from the album was my all time favorite. The live version 👆is even better.
I love how this song has different meanings for everyone. For me personally it reminds me of my own Childhood Trauma and Abandonment, my PTSD, putting my own life on the line and facing death head on in service of the community. Later in life my depression and Suicide attempt… yet I overcame it all and well I’m Still alive. Very much a song of introspection for me.
I saw Pearl Jam right when 10 came out. This is my “I was there” show. They were the opening act for Red Hot Chili Peppers, the second band was the Smashing Pumpkins who had recently released Gish. Those three bands for $16 dollars at Peony Park. Unbelievable memory, when the 3000 people that were there and some started to push to the stage. Eddie stops the show and tells all to relax and to hold onto all that energy, that “Anthony was way more exciting than we are.”
Seen PJ over 20 tomes live now, most recently 4 shows on their latest (2023) tour. This song is still killer and emotional live. One of the most impactful bands ever, especially live. Their newer stuff doesn't get enough credit or play for sure, but there's no denying that Ten and Vs changed music forever.
Their MUSIC is incredible, but their LYRICS are HAUNTING... Jeremy, Alive, Black... This entire Album, Ten, resonated with the my Generation. I graduated High School in 1991.... Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam are also Badasses for taking on Ticketmaster about gounging ticket prices...
7:32 I saw them in concert back in '95...twice. It wasn't until years later that Eddie would tell the audience that we changed the song into something positive. That we lifted the curse. This was sometime around 2013 when I saw them again. So yes, the song is now a positive experience for everyone. That is the magic of Pearl Jam's music and Eddie's song writing.
This song means a lot to me. I grew up in a bad family. Booze, DV, abuse. The lyrics hit me hard. But mostly the chorus to me was a cry of defiance. I'm still alive! You didn't break me! You can't break me! I seen your worst...and I'm still alive.
Yep, that's an autobiographic song about what happened when he was a kid. His bio dad was a family friend, so at least he did know him albeit superficially. It even led to him changing his last name. Whether the second verse is based on something that actually happened or not has, to my knowledge, never actually been confirmed, but he has said that his mother did treat him not so great when he started growing up because, though he didn't even know or realize it, he started physically resembling his biological father and his mother struggled to deal with that and took out her frustrations on him, though he only realized it much later.
One of my favorite things is I think it was during their Storytellers performance Eddie said when he wrote this song the chorus was angry and full of sarcastic resentment, but over the years, after thousands of performances with the crowd singing along, the fans actually changed the meaning of the song from sadness and anger into a positive affirmation. So now when Eddie sings the chorus to Alive it's a celebration.
The extacy in your face says it all. 1990 to 2000 was an apex for pearl jam. Their prime and there has never been a leader like Edward James vedder. He molded that band. And simply Eddie vedder is the greatest rock star of all time. The way he projects his barratone voice with an organic release of emotion is unparalleled. The doors asked him to induct them into the hall of fame and perform with them on that night. John densmore said they would not perform without him. he has earned the respect , love and graced the stage with The who, bruce springsteen, stevie nicks, glen hansard, tom petty, neil young, coldplay, chris cornell, the rolling stones, R.E.M to name just a few and there are many more and in these moments he delivers earth shattering performances. He covered u2s elevation and One at their kennedy center honors ceremony and left the band speachless. he was asked to induct the Ramones, R.E.M. , neil young and the doors as mentioned earlier into the hall of fame. He has done all of this while climbing and jumping off scaffolds singing porch and gave the greatest unplugged perfomance to boot. If you doubt any of this you are just hating on reality. look it all up on UA-cam its right here✌ children
As far as impactful performance of a song..not just the song, but Come Back from Berlin 2010 is so so emotional. You have to watch the speech leading up to it but it was the 10 yr anniversary of Roskilde, a festival where 9 PJ fans were crushed to death. Doesn't get more real than that performance
Its worth watching VH1 Storytellers with Pearl Jam, Eddie explains this song was very painful and a cruse. He thought he shouldn't be alive, but the crowd changed the meaning for him into a declaration of defiance and yes I am still alive!!!
It's 100% true. I could write a book about this song, but, since you are new to PJ, this song is actually part of a trilogy. It goes Alive/Once/Footsteps and is known as the MAMASAN trilogy. The premise is that the realization in Alive, turns the narrator into a serial killer, and then mom visits him in prison. Check them out. Also, Eddie's birth name (Edward Louis Severson III) appears in the original liner lyrics on the TEN album.
Also of note, Ed wrote this around the age of 25-26. So the lines "You're still alive she says. But do I deserve to be? Is that the question? And if so, if so, who answers?" was at the time not only a question Eddie had, but all of us that were young and going through shit. I can say now, the person who answers that question is YOU. Which is why when it plays now, it's a celebration.
He explained during a concert "I'm still alive" was originally meant to be said in disgust. But over time when the audience sang along they totally changed the meaning to him to be a shout of survival.
Btw, all the MTV Unplugged performances are supposed to be all acoustic, no electric guitars and so on. But they're still "plugged" into amps and mixers and stuff of course. Thanks for the reaction!
If you dug this song please oh please react to the song Release… such an amazing song about the same topic being released from the pain of longing for the relationship he didn’t get to have with his father.
Eddie used to sing the song like this with the bitterness and anger towards his life but as he grew and matured he sang it with more grace and dignity to be humble and really glad to be ALIVE
He explained during a concert "I'm still alive" was originally meant to be said in disgust. But when the audience sang along they totally changed the meaning to him to be a shout of survival.
1:54 Yes, it is; sorta. Alive is autobiographical, but his mom never came onto him. He’s explained the lyric since then as him being shocked that she could lie to him like that, given that he came from her and this other guy. FWIW: Alive, Release, and Footsteps are a three-part story. The first two made it onto Ten’s original release, with Footsteps released later on an extended version. Release is one of the best songs they’ve ever written.
You need to listen to the Mama trilogy! Alive, how his Mother really messed him up, the song Once, where goes on killing spree, and then footsteps, where he is in jail about to get executed but in the very end will not see his Mother in the end! All of the songs are related!
This is the 1st song of a trilogy. Alive - about a woman sleeping with her son because he looks like his dead father. Once - the same young man's descent into madness, going on a killing spree because of it Footsteps - the same young man sitting in prison awaiting his execution because of his crimes
I've been a fan since they started. There's way too many to list as far as songs that have moved me. The entire band is great, but what really gets me is that, even now, when Eddie sings a song from the early 90's, he doesn't just go through the motions. He still feels it, and I think that, above all else, is the hallmark of a great song. I suggest you listen to "Invincible", which is new from Eddie's new album with the band "The Earthlings". Also, Eddie's performance of U2's "One" at the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors tribute from 2022. Eddie still got it 😋
Great reaction, Lilly. The part of the lyrics that says he never knew his biological father is actually based on Eddie Vedder's life story but the part of the lyrics that talks about the 1nc3$t where the mother tries to $3duc3 her own son is completely fictional.
Yes it is connected to his life. I think he thought someone else was his real dad for a large part of his life. I remember this album just hit me upside the head and I was in. This one particularly was a song we knew all the words to but at the same time had no clue how they went together and what it meant.
this is the first part of mamasan, Alive then Footsteps, I hate to tell the story as I loved figuring it out when I was 16. I had to buy a bootleg CD just to hear Footsteps. Had soo many of those
Huge kudos for picking up so quickly on the darkness of this song, and why it resonates with SO MANY people who have had dark childhoods. One a side note: Pearl Jam 25 years later performing "Release", one of the first songs Eddie wrote with the band, and sounding just as incredible as when he made it. ua-cam.com/video/Y2vwLBkA4vg/v-deo.htmlsi=HRqeAmNEzuH8lxSe
Also Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder one time band was called Temple of The Dog. You have to check them out. Most popular song is Say Hellow 2 Heaven and Hunger Strike. Halestorm also did a Hunger Strike cover of the song
Pearl Jam has the best songs about dark things. Find the video where ed talks about this song and the curse and how being able to play this song lifted a burden he carried.
One of the most powerful Pearl Jam songs is definitely, "Jeremy." But you are going to need to do the official video for Jeremy. The video is a powerful work of art for a powerful song. The song was inspired by the incident concerning 15 year old Jeremy Delle and what happened in his Texas classroom.
Love you’re reacting to PJ & Alice! Love both! Metallica & Tool are my top 2 but love them as well! Try some Type-O Negative, Primus, Highly Suspect, & The Amity Affliction
The music in the late eighties had turned manufactured, soulless. The grunge movement was about restoring the artistry and passion to music. Pearl Jam’s album Ten, defined the decade for me. Absolute perfection
The song is part of a trilogy of songs first wrote by Eddie when he heard the music for the first time. Look up something called the Mama San. It’s a mini opera about a child who was molested by his mother because he reminder her of his father.
I believe it is truly Eddie's story from what I heard. He was really hurt by it. I don't know about the mom coming on to him but I know his father dying. I read it as looking at his mom and dad when he was conceived. She said they hid it from him believing his step dad was his father, and he only found out after his real father died.
This song is about Eddie Vedder's story, when he was 13 years old and found out his what he thought was father was step father and that his biological father already passed away
I hope you react to the whole set of Pearl Jam MTV unplugged, the whole set is amazing!! "Oceans, "State Love and Trust" and "Even Flow" and "Jeremy". All incredible performances. "Do The Evolution " video is amazing!! Awesome reaction Lilly!! Thank You! 😊💓🤘✌️Ooh dont forget the song "Porch" MTV unplugged or at the 1992 Pinkpop and witness Crazy Eddie!!
This is definitely one of the best Unplugged albums. Nirvana's was amazing, too. Other Pearl Jam songs you need to check out: 'Indifference', 'Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town', 'Immortality', 'Nothing As It Seems', and 'Parting Ways' (at least the the first half of it).
It's about Eddie being told a family friend was actually his father but only after he had died. The I'm still alive has a double meaning. His father alive in his memory and the fact that the news of his real fathers death didn't destroy him....I'm still Alive
As others have said you're right about the meaning. I just wanted to add that Eddie has said that this was written from the point of view of seeing life as a curse, when he sings "I'm still alive" there's an unspoken "Why am" there. But Eddie has also stated that the meaning transformed as audiences would sing along with him it became a celebration, that we're the survivors and owe it to those who didn't survive to make ourselves worthy of it.
Hey Lily, I'm new to your channel and I absolutely love your reactions because they seem really genuine. If it's alright, I'd like to make a request. Could you please react to the group Heilung and their song In Maidjan. However, listen to the live version from Castle Fest 2017. This will be unlike anything you may have ever heard before. Take care!
It is literally my hype song whenever I doubt myself. Check out the full song "Land of the Grey" by Ryan Caraveo. I also have a link to it in my video description.
ALIVE, on the TEN album is also a live recording, so is EVEN FLOW, they are an Excellent LIVE band/ performers, I saw them 3 times in the early to mid 90's
Eddie would often climb to the rafters during live performances of this song in the 90’s. Taking his life in his hands. The lyrics as an adult father sounding more horrific with every listen through.
You have to understand what this album did to us when it came out. I was a sophomore in high school and we'd grown up on the excess-fueled debauchery of the hair metal of the 80's. Those songs were all about partying, drinking, drugs, and girls...living the "good life." But that wasn't the world we were inheriting. AIDS was becoming a huge issue, the economy was on a downturn, the excess and "me, me, me" of the 80's was giving way to a new consciousness of the world and all its problems in the nation's youth. We were starkly aware of famine, genocide, war, and all of the terrible things happening around the world. We just couldn't connect with the music of the 80's anymore. Everything wasn't alright. Our lives weren't about partying and doing coke. We saw ourselves inheriting a much more sobering future and we didn't want to listen to rock stars sing about lives that we knew we'd never lead. Then 3 seminal albums dropped..."Nevermind" by Nirvana, "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden, and "Ten" by Pearl Jam. All of a sudden we had songs which were representing the world we knew. A lot of us were children of divorced parents. Abuse was starting to be something that was talked about and the illusion of the perfect family was no longer something you had to maintain. We were angry, scared, worried, and felt voiceless. Then we received the gift of this music and it suddenly felt like we weren't alone and we had ways of expressing ourselves that we couldn't have imagined. You have to have seen 17 year-olds belting out "I'm still alive!" at the tops of their lungs to know how much this album resonated with us. It still does.
I'm 47 now and this album still resounds to me after trauma that I experienced over 30 years ago.
Well said man.
Well said. For me it was their song rearviewmirror that really did it.
Great comment. Totally agree and still get goose bumps and watery eyes when I hear 90's rock
Just turned 50. Perfectly said.
Jeremy needs to be a must react at some point. The official video.
😊Yes! official "UNCENSORED" music vid is a must on a PJ journey!!! It's so important .❤
I was about to get on here and say the same thing, be sure to do the Uncensored official music video. Don't get me wrong the performance they do on unplugged is great but the video is very powerful and and it will be much easier for you to understand what he's talking about.
@@thistlestalk3289 Yes. And a possible follow up with a similar theme, P.O.D's Youth of the Nation. Think she would love it, considering her hip hop background.
Up
Jeremy the song is based on true events Lilly. Have a read about it after you react to the official Uncensored video. Hits hard.
Eddie’s father did die when he was 13, but he didn’t find out that he was his father until after his death. He thought he was a family friend.
The part of the incestuous relationship is not true. That was a fantasy part of the story. In fact, there’s a trilogy to it.
“Alive” is the first, “Once” is the second (I highly recommend you watching the Pinkpop ‘92 version for that) and “Footsteps” is the final chapter of the story.
They are ALL great songs!
“Jeremy” is a must for you! It is based on a true story and is also a GREAT song!
You can hear them play it live if you search for "Pearl Jam - "Momma-Son" Trilogy (Zurich 6.18.1992)" I had a bootleg of this concert on cassette... I need to reclaim it if anybody knows how to get it... I'll be forever grateful!! :)
It's the Mamasan trilogy I am happy you wrote this reply. I'm a PJ nerd....😊
He's dropped hints along the way that the incestuous part was actually real. Hints here and there on the bootlegs. I remember one time he was commenting on a shirt he was wearing and he said, "I (effed) my mother and all I got was this lousy shirt."
I'm of the opinion that it really happened. I don't think he was thinking about how many people were going to be hearing the lyrics when he wrote it. Once it came out and people started asking about that part, he didn't want to admit the truth. Just my opinion.
@@artvandelay19 God I hope not, but also considering it's a trilogy where he turns into a serial killer I'm pretty sure only the beginning is true.
@@artvandelay19 it's entirely possible that he was taken advantage of by an older woman. Maybe even a friend of his mom's. And if she knew about it, that could also explain the shirt because he maybe at that age couldn't differentiate
Just love Ed and pearl jam..there's nothing like the TEN album 👍😎👌🤘
So true!
Pearl Jam - Ten is one of the greatest albums of all time imo. Eddie brought to life exactly what was needed for the time. Grunge was a special part of music and Pearl Jam was a pillar.
@@dsggoodbaragreed
Subbed purely because of how quick you caught on to the meaning of this song, and how absolutely rightfully angry you got at the idea of the topic of the song being real. Truly a beautiful human to have that kind of empathy
Yes this is a song about his real life. Eddie has confirmed this in many occasions. There is another song called "release" which he is singing to his real father which you should DEFINITELY listen to. It's a very beautiful song.
You SHOULD DEFINITELY react to Pearl jam - Release live in Holland 92. You can DEFINITELY see and hear the emotion he has during his performance of this song.
Agreed
No. The only part of the song that is true and autobiographical is the beginning when he finds out that the man he thought was his father was really his stepfather and his real father had passed without his knowledge. The rest is shit he made up lol
@@derekclark254 Dude, i don't care what you say. I've seen interviews where he has said this song was about his real life. So I'm gonna take his word over yours. Period, END OF THE STORY.
@@derekclark254 have you ever seen him preform live or actually had a chance to talked to him ? Well i have. I've seen him preform with his band pearl jam and I've seen him preform solo. And in a couple of occasions i had the chance to actually speak with him. The last show of his I've been to is when he alone held a concert in chris Cornell's honor. Where he preformed songs from Soundgarden and audio slave. All bands that chris was a part of. He is one of my favorite singers and performers of all time.
wrigley field live version was better in my opinion but either way Release is one of the best songs ever.
There are so many meaningful and touching pearl jam songs, one that holds a special place in my heart is Sirens ❤
Amazing song
Jeremy is probably the most important and impactful song that brings light to bullying before social media time. I would react first to song, then look up the history behind the song.
“Porch” from this show is 🔥
It’s all amazing. Enjoy the journey!
"Alive" is an anthem of an era
Yeah, that and even Flo
For me, by far, most impactfull song to me by Pearl Jam is "Release"... a GREAT live performance from Holland around '91 is perfect to see Eddie and the band 🙏🤟
I literally just came to the comments to say the exact same thing. Unplugged "Black" is amazing but before all that, "Release" from the album was my all time favorite. The live version 👆is even better.
It's ACTUALLY 1992 not 91. But i DEFINITELY agree with you.
@@johnryder2878way too many reactions to Black. It’s kind of sad. There’s more to PJ thank just that one Black oerformance!!
I love how this song has different meanings for everyone. For me personally it reminds me of my own Childhood Trauma and Abandonment, my PTSD, putting my own life on the line and facing death head on in service of the community. Later in life my depression and Suicide attempt… yet I overcame it all and well I’m Still alive. Very much a song of introspection for me.
You're interpretation of the lyrics is DEEPER than I ever imagined, or thought, I just always liked/ loved the sound, etc. 😊
She's correct. That's what the song is about
You got that song spot on!
I saw Pearl Jam right when 10 came out. This is my “I was there” show. They were the opening act for Red Hot Chili Peppers, the second band was the Smashing Pumpkins who had recently released Gish. Those three bands for $16 dollars at Peony Park. Unbelievable memory, when the 3000 people that were there and some started to push to the stage. Eddie stops the show and tells all to relax and to hold onto all that energy, that “Anthony was way more exciting than we are.”
I discovered this album in 1992 and i've adored PJ ever since. So good. Great reaction!
Amazing what You actually understand of the song! A lot of people just don't understand a word tough, but You really dig dig deep on this. Love You!
MTV Unplugged was an amazing series. I will say that the guitar solo is so much better on the album but damn can they rock!🤘❤️🔥🤘
This album is freaking amazing
In case you didn't know, Ten was nothing but amazing songs from start to finish. Check out the whole album!
Seen PJ over 20 tomes live now, most recently 4 shows on their latest (2023) tour. This song is still killer and emotional live. One of the most impactful bands ever, especially live. Their newer stuff doesn't get enough credit or play for sure, but there's no denying that Ten and Vs changed music forever.
Their live performance of "Rearviewmirror" on SNL is their best work.
Not even close. You SHOULD see their performance of Release live in Holland 1992. Thet is by far there best performance.
@@starknight2262 guys, no one pearl jam song is the best. it's up to the person
"Rearviewmirror" is one long, beautiful crescendo. It's a great song.
Their MUSIC is incredible, but their LYRICS are HAUNTING... Jeremy, Alive, Black... This entire Album, Ten, resonated with the my Generation. I graduated High School in 1991.... Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam are also Badasses for taking on Ticketmaster about gounging ticket prices...
The best MTV acoustic set ever in my mind bloody awesome
It’s a really great rhythm for special time at night
Jeremy the official and uncensored version... A must see......
7:32 I saw them in concert back in '95...twice. It wasn't until years later that Eddie would tell the audience that we changed the song into something positive. That we lifted the curse. This was sometime around 2013 when I saw them again. So yes, the song is now a positive experience for everyone. That is the magic of Pearl Jam's music and Eddie's song writing.
This song means a lot to me. I grew up in a bad family. Booze, DV, abuse. The lyrics hit me hard. But mostly the chorus to me was a cry of defiance. I'm still alive! You didn't break me! You can't break me! I seen your worst...and I'm still alive.
Yep, that's an autobiographic song about what happened when he was a kid. His bio dad was a family friend, so at least he did know him albeit superficially. It even led to him changing his last name. Whether the second verse is based on something that actually happened or not has, to my knowledge, never actually been confirmed, but he has said that his mother did treat him not so great when he started growing up because, though he didn't even know or realize it, he started physically resembling his biological father and his mother struggled to deal with that and took out her frustrations on him, though he only realized it much later.
Did you see dude in the coolest hat ever looked at the the drummer to wrap it up? That is how real musicians speak.
Alive came out shortly before Smells Like Teen Spirit. It was a really emotional heavy ballad to come out at that time.
I LOVE your real reaction!
Alive, Once, and another song was from a book .
Jeremy was about a boy from Dallas
One of my favorite things is I think it was during their Storytellers performance Eddie said when he wrote this song the chorus was angry and full of sarcastic resentment, but over the years, after thousands of performances with the crowd singing along, the fans actually changed the meaning of the song from sadness and anger into a positive affirmation. So now when Eddie sings the chorus to Alive it's a celebration.
The extacy in your face says it all. 1990 to 2000 was an apex for pearl jam. Their prime and there has never been a leader like Edward James vedder. He molded that band. And simply Eddie vedder is the greatest rock star of all time. The way he projects his barratone voice with an organic release of emotion is unparalleled. The doors asked him to induct them into the hall of fame and perform with them on that night. John densmore said they would not perform without him. he has earned the respect , love and graced the stage with The who, bruce springsteen, stevie nicks, glen hansard, tom petty, neil young, coldplay, chris cornell, the rolling stones, R.E.M to name just a few and there are many more and in these moments he delivers earth shattering performances. He covered u2s elevation and One at their kennedy center honors ceremony and left the band speachless. he was asked to induct the Ramones, R.E.M. , neil young and the doors as mentioned earlier into the hall of fame. He has done all of this while climbing and jumping off scaffolds singing porch and gave the greatest unplugged perfomance to boot. If you doubt any of this you are just hating on reality. look it all up on UA-cam its right here✌ children
Jeremy is by far their most impactful song for me personally. It really hits home if you're someone who suffered severe bullying.
As far as impactful performance of a song..not just the song, but Come Back from Berlin 2010 is so so emotional. You have to watch the speech leading up to it but it was the 10 yr anniversary of Roskilde, a festival where 9 PJ fans were crushed to death. Doesn't get more real than that performance
You don't hear many people mention that song from that show. Color me impressed.
@@carpetbuddy I'm a PJ crazy that's why. 😆
Its worth watching VH1 Storytellers with Pearl Jam, Eddie explains this song was very painful and a cruse. He thought he shouldn't be alive, but the crowd changed the meaning for him into a declaration of defiance and yes I am still alive!!!
I miss MTV Unplugged. My favorite Unplugged is this, Nirvana and Alice In Chains
It's 100% true.
I could write a book about this song, but, since you are new to PJ, this song is actually part of a trilogy. It goes Alive/Once/Footsteps and is known as the MAMASAN trilogy. The premise is that the realization in Alive, turns the narrator into a serial killer, and then mom visits him in prison. Check them out.
Also, Eddie's birth name (Edward Louis Severson III) appears in the original liner lyrics on the TEN album.
Also of note, Ed wrote this around the age of 25-26. So the lines "You're still alive she says. But do I deserve to be? Is that the question? And if so, if so, who answers?" was at the time not only a question Eddie had, but all of us that were young and going through shit.
I can say now, the person who answers that question is YOU. Which is why when it plays now, it's a celebration.
Anyway, the most impactful PJ song for me is Seven O Clock. It came out in 2020. It's about being the guy in Alive 30 years later.
He explained during a concert "I'm still alive" was originally meant to be said in disgust. But over time when the audience sang along they totally changed the meaning to him to be a shout of survival.
There is a video from "storytellers" called the curse, where Eddie talks about this songs before they perform the song... It's a must watch
There is a plugged live version at pink pop festival. It was amazing, I especially loved the solo on that one. ☺️
Btw, all the MTV Unplugged performances are supposed to be all acoustic, no electric guitars and so on. But they're still "plugged" into amps and mixers and stuff of course. Thanks for the reaction!
Welcome to PJ world this is just a warmup for performances. You need to watch “Porch” at pink pop 1992.
If you dug this song please oh please react to the song Release… such an amazing song about the same topic being released from the pain of longing for the relationship he didn’t get to have with his father.
YES Release is amazing and when you add the visuals of Out of the Furnace…. Chills throughout my body!!!
Eddie used to sing the song like this with the bitterness and anger towards his life but as he grew and matured he sang it with more grace and dignity to be humble and really glad to be ALIVE
He explained during a concert "I'm still alive" was originally meant to be said in disgust. But when the audience sang along they totally changed the meaning to him to be a shout of survival.
reading all that took me back .... best time ever
Check out the video of Pearl Jam performing "Even Flow" in concert. That's a fun tune.
Thanks Lily Jane.
I think you understood the meaning well.
Nobody making songs like this no more... that's for sure.
1:54 Yes, it is; sorta. Alive is autobiographical, but his mom never came onto him. He’s explained the lyric since then as him being shocked that she could lie to him like that, given that he came from her and this other guy.
FWIW: Alive, Release, and Footsteps are a three-part story. The first two made it onto Ten’s original release, with Footsteps released later on an extended version.
Release is one of the best songs they’ve ever written.
Their first album reached out and touched a generation of wounded young adults and teenagers.
Do the evolution...the official music video! For me it's like Jeremy. Both hit hard! And both are masterpieces! 🫶🏼
You need to listen to the Mama trilogy! Alive, how his Mother really messed him up, the song Once, where goes on killing spree, and then footsteps, where he is in jail about to get executed but in the very end will not see his Mother in the end! All of the songs are related!
This is the 1st song of a trilogy.
Alive - about a woman sleeping with her son because he looks like his dead father.
Once - the same young man's descent into madness, going on a killing spree because of it
Footsteps - the same young man sitting in prison awaiting his execution because of his crimes
I've been a fan since they started. There's way too many to list as far as songs that have moved me. The entire band is great, but what really gets me is that, even now, when Eddie sings a song from the early 90's, he doesn't just go through the motions. He still feels it, and I think that, above all else, is the hallmark of a great song. I suggest you listen to "Invincible", which is new from Eddie's new album with the band "The Earthlings". Also, Eddie's performance of U2's "One" at the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors tribute from 2022. Eddie still got it 😋
Great reaction, Lilly. The part of the lyrics that says he never knew his biological father is actually based on Eddie Vedder's life story but the part of the lyrics that talks about the 1nc3$t where the mother tries to $3duc3 her own son is completely fictional.
Part of the awesome mommason trilogy
Yes it is connected to his life. I think he thought someone else was his real dad for a large part of his life. I remember this album just hit me upside the head and I was in. This one particularly was a song we knew all the words to but at the same time had no clue how they went together and what it meant.
Immortality is one my favs
State of Love and Trust is probably their most underrated song. They performed it at this concert and it's brilliant.
the whole concert is awesome but state of love and trust is proably the best one, the cracking of his voice, the passion, that song was surreal
love that song
this is the first part of mamasan, Alive then Footsteps, I hate to tell the story as I loved figuring it out when I was 16. I had to buy a bootleg CD just to hear Footsteps. Had soo many of those
Porch from pink pop, release-live in holland, state of love and trust and oceans from unplugged as well as Jeremy
Huge kudos for picking up so quickly on the darkness of this song, and why it resonates with SO MANY people who have had dark childhoods.
One a side note: Pearl Jam 25 years later performing "Release", one of the first songs Eddie wrote with the band, and sounding just as incredible as when he made it. ua-cam.com/video/Y2vwLBkA4vg/v-deo.htmlsi=HRqeAmNEzuH8lxSe
Also Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder one time band was called Temple of The Dog. You have to check them out. Most popular song is Say Hellow 2 Heaven and Hunger Strike. Halestorm also did a Hunger Strike cover of the song
i was born on the night the mtv music awards were on in 1992
Awesome reaction.
I enjoy ur reaction video and I enjoy you breaking them down. Ur freaking hott Lily.❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Pearl Jam has the best songs about dark things. Find the video where ed talks about this song and the curse and how being able to play this song lifted a burden he carried.
One of the most powerful Pearl Jam songs is definitely, "Jeremy." But you are going to need to do the official video for Jeremy. The video is a powerful work of art for a powerful song. The song was inspired by the incident concerning 15 year old Jeremy Delle and what happened in his Texas classroom.
Official video. Yes.
Love you’re reacting to PJ & Alice! Love both! Metallica & Tool are my top 2 but love them as well! Try some Type-O Negative, Primus, Highly Suspect, & The Amity Affliction
The music in the late eighties had turned manufactured, soulless. The grunge movement was about restoring the artistry and passion to music. Pearl Jam’s album Ten, defined the decade for me. Absolute perfection
The song is part of a trilogy of songs first wrote by Eddie when he heard the music for the first time. Look up something called the Mama San. It’s a mini opera about a child who was molested by his mother because he reminder her of his father.
I believe it is truly Eddie's story from what I heard. He was really hurt by it. I don't know about the mom coming on to him but I know his father dying. I read it as looking at his mom and dad when he was conceived. She said they hid it from him believing his step dad was his father, and he only found out after his real father died.
This song is about Eddie Vedder's story, when he was 13 years old and found out his what he thought was father was step father and that his biological father already passed away
Definitely listen to Release and Jeremy, Garden
"Garden" one of my favorites!! 😊💓🤘✌️
I love Lili-Jane's reactions...Hope she does something special when she reaches 100 thousand subscribers...
Great reaction
I hope you react to the whole set of Pearl Jam MTV unplugged, the whole set is amazing!! "Oceans, "State Love and Trust" and "Even Flow" and "Jeremy". All incredible performances. "Do The Evolution " video is amazing!! Awesome reaction Lilly!! Thank You! 😊💓🤘✌️Ooh dont forget the song "Porch" MTV unplugged or at the 1992 Pinkpop and witness Crazy Eddie!!
This is definitely one of the best Unplugged albums. Nirvana's was amazing, too. Other Pearl Jam songs you need to check out: 'Indifference', 'Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town', 'Immortality', 'Nothing As It Seems', and 'Parting Ways' (at least the the first half of it).
Not a huge REM fan but their performance was good
Yes this is a true story
Nice.. u so smart girl 👍
Grunge of the 90's is best music ever 🤟
It's about Eddie being told a family friend was actually his father but only after he had died. The I'm still alive has a double meaning. His father alive in his memory and the fact that the news of his real fathers death didn't destroy him....I'm still Alive
As others have said you're right about the meaning. I just wanted to add that Eddie has said that this was written from the point of view of seeing life as a curse, when he sings "I'm still alive" there's an unspoken "Why am" there. But Eddie has also stated that the meaning transformed as audiences would sing along with him it became a celebration, that we're the survivors and owe it to those who didn't survive to make ourselves worthy of it.
Love you Lili Funny fact about MTV unplugged. They have to stay on their tool or they can get sue.
Knowing that you must watch Porch unplugged 😊
Check out Release. It is one of the most powerful Pearl Jam songs.
The song "Indifference" off this album (Ten) hit me hard. Eddie's voice, and the band's music are truly unique to the music industry.
I love that song.
It’s off the second album Vs
RVM hands down.
Hey Lily, I'm new to your channel and I absolutely love your reactions because they seem really genuine. If it's alright, I'd like to make a request. Could you please react to the group Heilung and their song In Maidjan. However, listen to the live version from Castle Fest 2017. This will be unlike anything you may have ever heard before. Take care!
Please pearl Jam-porch live pink pop
So lucky this was the music of my twenties..
i LOVE YOUR INTRO:
"DON'T B SCARED OF THE CHANGE
Scared to be the new kid." 🎶🎵
It is literally my hype song whenever I doubt myself. Check out the full song "Land of the Grey" by Ryan Caraveo. I also have a link to it in my video description.
I do too…I think I’m getting looks, when I sing your intro🙃🤣!
ay that makes my soul happy. Keep vibin!! @@ReidandGracie
@@lillyjanereacts Totally.
I never even knew pearl jam did an unplugged
ALIVE, on the TEN album is also a live recording, so is EVEN FLOW, they are an Excellent LIVE band/ performers, I saw them 3 times in the early to mid 90's
Eddie would often climb to the rafters during live performances of this song in the 90’s. Taking his life in his hands. The lyrics as an adult father sounding more horrific with every listen through.
I'd suggest another Eddie Vedder classic in "hard sun". Really powerful song, great road trip song.
Yes! I love that song, and the entire Into the Wild soundtrack. ❤️
you need to listen to state of love and trust as well ;)
MTV unplugged trop bon 🎶🤘
You should react to jeremy its goning to blow your mind