Brilliant, and I wish Beck did it this way a bit more often. It's one of those hypnotically stunning pieces of music, and this version could not be more different from the melodic orchestra arrangements on the record! Smokey played acoustic guitar, and Beck added a little keyboards at the end, but I think for the most part, he just sang. It was played very quietly, slowly, beautifully. "Paper Tiger" did too, though it was only played one time, on Augin Dallas. Most of the songs premiered in that month. 2002 pre-Sea Changeīefore Sea Change came out, but after it was recorded, Beck went on a month-long solo acoustic tour. It is absolutely one of his best stage songs. Earliest known live version: AugLatest known live version: JBeck has performed "Paper Tiger" many times since its release. Gainsbourg used strings in a way that they moved, not just as subtle flavor, but a real lead instrument, and that's what you're hearing here on "Paper Tiger" too.ĪugOctoOctoOctoOctoOctoOctoOctoOctoOcto.and 163 more. (James Gadson reminisced about how beautiful this was to play to in an interview on .)īeck has declared numerous times that Serge Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson album is a favorite, and "Paper Tiger"s instrumentation and subtle melody are almost certainly a tribute. The strings were recorded live with the rhythm section. Justin Meldal-Johnsen's funky and fancy bassline grooves, and I can't say enough about the lush, swooping strings. In leaving the future out of the song, he shows he is getting ready for it. Beck knows what happened, is in touch with reality, and that there is "no road back." A lot of the images fit this, as there's "no more ashes," idle hands have finished tearing apart, boats have capsized and washed up. None of the leftover "I barely get by, I don't even try" stuff here from the previous song. That whole orchestral section before the "one road" coda makes quite a statement by itself. Beck's voice is determined and sure, and he's punctuated with some extremely confident strings. Much of it, though, comes through the music. Much of this strength is somewhat unstated, but it's there if you listen for it. These feelings are weak, and from that, he can grow. That is a sad thing, but realizing a paper tiger is in charge takes away their power. A paper tiger refers to someone who appears to be in power, but actually is not (normally it is political). Realizing something is hopeless is the first step past it. On "Paper Tiger" however, Beck is realizing the situation and feeling hopeless, but it is in that realization, he finds strength. Much of the album has Beck feeling deeply lonesome (" Lonesome Tears"), or giving up (" Lost Cause"), or struggling with finding hope (" The Golden Age"). Both lyrically and musically it makes a strong statement, and without it, the album would have been a far more typical "break-up" album, emotionally speaking. The Song: I have come to view "Paper Tiger" as a key song on Sea Change.
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