Peacekeeper

[Lala]

Hi,

I kind of like this song although it's not all that great live and I know some of you don't really like it. Seeing FM do it on the AMA's last night got me thinking about it. The studio version has quite good harmonies and I enjoy Lindsey on it. But...what exactly is it about?

I've been waiting for the indepth lyric explanation and it doesn't seem to be coming. Could anyone tell me in just a few sentences (if possible) what the song is about. Is Lindsey being literal about war and peacekeeping and stuff or is it like a metaphor for life or love or something. Those are the two explanations I seem to be able to come up with. Any other ideas or cold hard facts?

Thanks

[strandinthewind]

For what it is worth, although LB has never denied it is about the current wars (Iraq Afganistan). Instead he has waxed poetic saying the great thing about music is it can mean anything to anyone and it probably could be applied to the wars. He has said, however, the song is about personal relationships, which many have taken to mean his relationship with his wife Kristin or his tumultuous relationship with Stevie (who for years has referred to herself as the "Peacekeeper" or "Keeper of the Peace" in FM.) Also, the song was released in its original final form (LB only), which is stellar, way before the wars started and we all know it took LB at least two or more years to produce it.

[Les]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
For what it is worth, although LB has never denied it is about the current wars (Iraq Afganistan).

Well, he kind of has actually. He's said that it's eerie how the song seems to fit some of the world circumstances of today, but he didn't intend it that way as it was written before those things happened.

At the risk of a little crass self-promotion, I've got a Peacekeeper page on my site that reviews several of the things he's said about the concept for the song:

http://www.madnessfades.net/Peacekeeper.htm

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by Les
Well, he kind of has actually. He's said that it's eerie how the song seems to fit some of the world circumstances of today, but he didn't intend it that way as it was written before those things happened.

At the risk of a little crass self-promotion, I've got a Peacekeeper page on my site that reviews several of the things he's said about the concept for the song:

http://www.madnessfades.net/Peacekeeper.htm

Self -promote all you want - I am in awe of you web page BTW!!!!!!!!!!

[Les]

Hey, thanks!

[stefan]

Originally posted by Lala
Hi,

I kind of like this song although it's not all that great live and I know some of you don't really like it. Seeing FM do it on the AMA's last night got me thinking about it. The studio version has quite good harmonies and I enjoy Lindsey on it.

That makes me wonder too... Imo Peacekeeper is by far the most obvious single on the album. It's not my favourite song, because I like Red rover or Come even more but from the pure pop tunes it is my no.1! And neither RR nor Come can be regarded/discussed as possible singles. Of course the LB solo version of PK is better than the album version but it still is a great one with the harmonies, the little details all around and the sound of Lindseys voice on that, which fits perfectly, especially on the verses. Comparing it to the song SYW- it's by far superior imo as SYW is just a very simple and monotonous endless repetitional song. The second choice for me would have been Thrown down- this is a fine radio pop tune.
From the new album PK is the only song that got attention over here in my region. It was played on my softpop radio station WDR 2 (reaching a region of ca 20 million people) for several months and was the most requested song on their weekly list for some time.

[CarneVaca]

Les, I had no idea that was your site. Nice job. It's very aesthetically pleasing and I use it as a quick-reference tool to find out what Lindsey was thinking about when he wrote a certain song or worked on a certain album. Keep it coming.

As for the trouble with Peacekeeper as a live song, I've noticed that too. Some songs simply do not translate well to a live performance. But I believe it could be remedied. First, speed up the tempo to about what it was in the solo version of the song, and maybe even a little more. Second, that riff Lindsey plays throughout the verses is key, but live, it seems to leave a lot of sonic space that makes the song sound kind of hollow. If I were he, I would have one of the backup guitarists do the riff and just strum the crap out of the Turner (or at least play the power chords a la Steal Your Heart Away) to beef up the sound.

Lastly, he seems to have trouble singing that song on stage. It may have to do with the change of key to fit Stevie's voice. He always seems to be trying to belt out the words with his "head voice." Instead, he should take a deep breath and sing it more from his chest at a lower register.

[Les]

Thanks Carne, I appreciate that.

[Lala]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
Les, I had no idea that was your site. Nice job. It's very aesthetically pleasing and I use it as a quick-reference tool to find out what Lindsey was thinking about when he wrote a certain song or worked on a certain album. Keep it coming.

As for the trouble with Peacekeeper as a live song, I've noticed that too. Some songs simply do not translate well to a live performance. But I believe it could be remedied. First, speed up the tempo to about what it was in the solo version of the song, and maybe even a little more. Second, that riff Lindsey plays throughout the verses is key, but live, it seems to leave a lot of sonic space that makes the song sound kind of hollow. If I were he, I would have one of the backup guitarists do the riff and just strum the crap out of the Turner (or at least play the power chords a la Steal Your Heart Away) to beef up the sound.

Lastly, he seems to have trouble singing that song on stage. It may have to do with the change of key to fit Stevie's voice. He always seems to be trying to belt out the words with his "head voice." Instead, he should take a deep breath and sing it more from his chest at a lower register.

I agree. He sounded like he was struggling on the AMA's with the part in the chorus where they're singing it and then he kinda sings over it.

Anyways...thanks for all of the replies