Manic Street Preachers revisits The Holy Bible, pick their highlights

[Scarecrow]

It took me a decade of Manics gigs to hear a Bible single other than Faster. After the National Treasures gig, I'd still heard Ifwhiteamerica live more times than Revol. Frankly, I was gagging for Faster to be dropped for a different Bible single for just one tour. Looks like that wish finally came through.

[andy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbeQYDsZy28

love this version

[centralscrutiniser]

Originally Posted by andy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbeQYDsZy28

love this version

It's always good to hear another take on a song, and I'd never complain about having too much to listen to. Personally I think acoustic versions go one of two ways - either you'd never know that wasn't the definitive version and it fits beautifully (something like LNB I think) or they very much sound like an acoustic version - a sort of lite - version. The acoustic Faster just sounds like a pencil sketch to me, I want the full image.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by andy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbeQYDsZy28

love this version

you too? FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS !

If its so hard to play James why did you pick it? HMMMM???

[Dac X Lee]

I wanna hear James' thoughts on Masoleum and how he used to manage holding his breath for so long from "regain your self-control" to the last "your meaning".
That song makes me wanna start some kind of game amongst Manics fans. The one who manages to sing that part form the beginning until the end and without a pause and without messing up the lyrics wins prizes.

[Takk]

Today I would guess he would not sing all of it live, like he does with other tracks.

[Dac X Lee]

Originally Posted by Takk

Today I would guess he would not sing all of it live, like he does with other tracks.

Of course he wouldn't. He said it himself that even PCP was too difficult now, didn't he? I think PCP is "level easy" or "medium" compared to Masoleum, if we talk in terms of game difficulties.

[Takk]

Originally Posted by Dac X Lee

Of course he wouldn't. He said it himself that even PCP was too difficult now, didn't he? I think PCP is "level easy" or "medium" compared to Masoleum, if we talk in terms of game difficulties.

He seemed to miss a fair bit of revol and pcp these days. Whether for a one off gig he would push himself I don't know - I don't blame him though, some of those lyrics are practically impossible. Maybe we could throw oxygen on stage!

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Dac X Lee

I wanna hear James' thoughts on Masoleum and how he used to manage holding his breath for so long from "regain your self-control" to the last "your meaning".
That song makes me wanna start some kind of game amongst Manics fans. The one who manages to sing that part form the beginning until the end and without a pause and without messing up the lyrics wins prizes.

He briefly mentions it here.

You know, when I was a bit younger I used to listen to some bands with big sustained notes, high ranges, screamy parts... Didn't quite realise until recently how knackering it can be to sing like that. Only now am I realising that in 1994, James was a fucking machine. How did he not drop dead after the Bible tour?

[Dac X Lee]

Originally Posted by NasalScarecrow

He briefly mentions it here.

I see now, thank you. 55 seconds, heh....

Originally Posted by NasalScarecrow

You know, when I was a bit younger I used to listen to some bands with big sustained notes, high ranges, screamy parts... Didn't quite realise until recently how knackering it can be to sing like that. Only now am I realising that in 1994, James was a fucking machine. How did he not drop dead after the Bible tour?

I bet that's what he must be asking himself today....

[dolphin]

Faster was a mainstay of the set for years on end so really don't get the negativity.

It's OK to get fed up with it but that's not what they're saying.

[Europa Gluten Free]

This is BY FAR the best version of Faster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOUg3dcntJ0

"There goes a panda!"

[darkanddivine]

Originally Posted by Dac X Lee

I wanna hear James' thoughts on Masoleum and how he used to manage holding his breath for so long from "regain your self-control" to the last "your meaning".

The answer is, he didn't. Looks like a right bugger to play generally. Not so much the notes and the signing, but it's just relentless the whole way through.

[Suicide Aldi]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

This is BY FAR the best version of Faster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOUg3dcntJ0

"There goes a panda!"

Haha i love the singers facial expression when the music kicks in.

[Dac X Lee]

Originally Posted by darkanddivine

The answer is, he didn't. Looks like a right bugger to play generally. Not so much the notes and the signing, but it's just relentless the whole way through.

Thank you for this. I immagined something like this, actually. But the studio version really sounds like he's singing it all the way non-stop, so he must had been practising for it to be recorded the way it is, but gave himself some freedom at the concerts. I am well aware that studio versions aren't completely reliable because they're subject to modification and manipulation, though. Just like a magazine picture of a photo-model. You know he/she is pretty, but you also know that the picture isn't genuine.