4st 7lb

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"4st 7lb"
Song by Manic Street Preachers from the album The Holy Bible
Released August 29, 1994 (1994-08-29)
Recorded Sound Space Studios, Cardiff, Wales
Genre Alternative rock
Length 5:05
Label Epic
Writer Richey Edwards
Producer Manic Street Preachers
The Holy Bible track listing

Revol
(6)		 "4st 7lb"
(7)		 Mausoleum
(8)

"4st 7lb" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers, from the band's third album, The Holy Bible.

Music and lyrics

Musically, the song features the extensive addition of guitar reverb.[1] The verse riff in the first half of the song revolves around an arpeggiated diminished seventh chord. Then, the song slows down and becomes a more atmospheric, minimalist base.[2]

Lyrically, the song describes advanced-stage anorexia and prostitution;[3][4][5] it is about a teenage girl who wants "to be so skinny, that she rots from view."[6][7] It has been widely interpreted as a reflection of the band's guitarist and lyricist Richey Edwards' own personal struggle with the disease,[8][9] which was confirmed by the band's bass guitarist and co-lyricist Nicky Wire.[10]

The song was named after the 4 stones 7lbs, the weight below which death is medically unavoidable for anorexic.[2][11]

Reception

The song received highly positive reviews from the critics. Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic praised the song, referring it as "quite simply, genius." He also commented that the song "contains one of the best lyrics even written by anyone, replete with the awesome chorus," while describing the song's musical structure in detail.[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote: "the diary of anorexia "4st 7lb" is one of the most chilling songs in rock & roll."[3] Tim O'Neil of PopMatters described the song as "the most specifically evocative track on the album."[7] Mark Edwards of Stylus Magazine stated that the song, along with two other tracks, "Mausoleum" and "Faster", "takes your breath away," while commenting that the song is deeply disturbing. He also inferred that "it comes as close to glamourising anorexia as you can get."[6]

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers
Technical

References

  1. ↑ Tangari, Joe (January 17, 2005). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Butler, Nick (January 21, 2005). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Allmusic. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  4. ↑ Martin, Dan (December 13, 2004). "Manic Street Preachers : The Holy Bible (Tenth Anniversary Edition)". NME. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  5. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (February 4, 2005). "Manic Street Preachers, The Holy Bible 10th Anniversary Edition". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Edwards, Mark (December 14, 2004). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 O'Neil, Tim (May 20, 2005). "Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible -- 10th Anniversary Edition". PopMatters. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  8. ↑ Fricke, David (21 April 2005). "Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible: 10th Anniversary Edition". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  9. ↑ Pattison, Louis (November 20, 2008). "Manic Street Preachers - Holy Bible". BBC. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Manics New Testament". Melody Maker (IPC Media): 4. 27 August 1994. 
  11. ↑ Clarke 1997, p. 106.
Sources
  • Clarke, Martin (1997). Manic Street Preachers: Sweet Venom. London: Plexus. ISBN 0-85965-259-9. 

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.