As others have said, "Digging In The Dirt" is one of the highlights on Us. It's intense and obviously very personal, and unlike most rock songs written about psychotherapy, it's compelling and doesn't resort to platitudes. The title is a wonderful metaphor and the lyrics clue in the listener that this is not going to be an easy ride. One of the essential Gabriel songs.
The more I think about it, "Digging..." really is a pretty solid song. Granted, it's a song I probably need to be in the right mood to take in properly, but I think you nailed it. This is the Freudian "I love it/I hate it" reaction to the self in play. It may also resonate differently with me as someone who has performed as a vocalist before. There's a headspace I get into where I "become" the character in the song - not too far from an actor inhabiting a role, just not for as long. That being the case, starting to sing this song would put me into a headspace of almost celebrating one's own awfulness at points. The critique I'd probably still hold to is that the switch between moods is pretty abrupt between this dark revelry bit and the acknowledgement of, "I'm really digging into my ugly side and this is pretty painful." There's not much middle ground between those two attitudes, which can be a bit jarring (at least for me).
Fourteen Black Paintings We start here with a very middle eastern sound. It is quite evocative and moves into a soundscape that is a synth bed, with some very nice sliding note sounds. Gabriel put a particularly emotive and effective vocal in here. From the pain come the dream From the dream come the vision From the vision come the people From the people come the power From this power come the change Songwriters: Peter Gabriel Fourteen Black Paintings lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC What a beautiful concise lyric. What a beautiful soundscape. There isn't that much to say about this song, but I think it is extremely effective. It may not be a single, or even anything like a hit, but it is an excellent piece of art that works really well in the context of this album.
Fourteen Black Paintings isn't radio-material, but it really works well within the structure of this album. I think it fits the mood and atmosphere. Does anyone else want another line "From the change comes the pain" to complete the circle? Or is it just me and my OCD?
I like 14 Black Paintings a lot. The musical bed is another one that sounds like it could have come from Passion. Lyrically it's in the same mold as Biko or Wallflower, but with more hope. It would have been a great song for the Amnesty International tour if it had existed then!
"Fourteen Black Paintings" is the kind of interlude it seemed like PG had left behind after Security. While it's more organic than the Fairlight-powered recordings of the past, it's definitely cut from a similar cloth in terms of construction and conveyance of "vibe." I wouldn't put this on any mix CDs, but within the context of the album, it's great and proves this wasn't an attempt at So II.
Not much to add. "Fourteen Black Paintings" is a powerful piece, with lyrics that present fundamental truth. Oddly enough, this is probably my fourth favorite track on Us (after some of the more obvious ones). It's both chilling and optimistic at once. Did Gabriel ever comment on the source/meaning of the song's title? Makes me think of the American painter Clyfford Still, but I doubt there's any connection.
Peter wrote it after going here: Rothko Chapel - Wikipedia There’s also a series of 14 paintings by Goya called the Black Paintings.
So remains one of my all-time favourite albums (often #1, depending on my mood), so...(excuse the pun) I was massively excited when US finally arrived six years later. I didn't feel disappointed by it, quite the contrary....with the shift in pop/rock music away from luxurious sounds and pristine production, US felt very contemporary....like a scuffed up sibling to So, that had possibly been a painful experience to create. Again, with its (even) more direct emotional approach and raw vocals, it fitted alongside Achtung Baby and also Automatic For The People (released the same day!) in the zeitgeist. Yet I hardly listen to it these days, which is strange. Maybe because despite shunning the glossy sheen of So, it almost too slavishly follows its formula in every other aspect; for Sledgehammer read Steam, for Don't Give Up see Blood Of Eden, Kiss That Frog is the new Big Time. It felt like almost every song on US fulfilled an identical role to a song on So. In itself that really wasn't a problem for me - I loved the sound of his records, and the new material was (overall) strong enough not to care too much. But perhaps that explains why it's drifted out of my mind as a great album after only a decade, whereas So remains a regular favourite that I turn to. Digging In The Dirt is just brilliant, though.
I always loved this song Peter a peaceful man expressing rage outside of the Lamb, Modern Love, I Don't Remember, No One of Us. To hear Shut Your Mouth - just drive the car..... This song really explodes live - if he tours again you must see this in person. What I like in the anger anger pulling back to inter child (find the places we got hurt) dirt - ground, roots, past also the situations - flare up relationships (individual or more likely couples psychologists office) Dirt also has the least amount of over-produced musical backing with So and "more So" US - the song craft was done to a point of meticulously tweeking that it takes the spontaneity out of it live in the studio run thrus with minimal added sonic palettes would be something I would love to hear DitD comes as close to that as this album offers
Kiss That Frog I still don't hear any correlation with So personally ... I hear perhaps a furthering of direction in some songs, but this album isn't particularly a repeated formula to my ears. I just hear Gabriel doing what he does. Someone said this track sounds like a re do of Big Time .... I just don't hear it. Although some may see this as a little silly lyrically, it ties in thematically with the album in terms of relationships. This is obviously a direct reference to the Frog Prince, and in a somewhat self deprecating way Gabriel is trying to convince the girl that he may look like the frog but he is the prince ... A "come on and give me a try" kind of thing. I personally don't dislike this songs at all. The arrangement is very good. We get an interesting melange of music from all sorts of styles. Some modern styles mixed with some older styles and lots of rhythmic interplay. Certainly not my favourite song on the album, but a good song none the less.
Kiss that Frog is a pretty good song, I like the opening guitar riff that kind of sounds like a bullfrog croak, which Peter drives home later in the song with the line "get your prince". Peter's first line "jump in the water" works on several levels here, and repeating it near the end is very clever. And like so many of his lyrics, it's not to be taken literally. I see it as advice to take chances when you're looking for true love, you may find it in the most unsuspecting places and people. The song doesn't always work and tries a bit too hard to be single material, but writing it off as a re-write of Big Time is just lazy criticism. A big draw of the song is the "jump in the water, come on babe get wet with me" part in the last third of the song. Excellent!
Easy Reference Guide The Gap Years 75-76 https://connyolivetti.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/gaabriel-prog.pdf thanks @fRa Before The Flood Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel/Car 1977 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel 1 - Car » Real World Galleries - thanks @Jeff Kent track 1 Moribund The Burgermeister Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 Solsbury Hill Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Modern Love Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 Excuse Me Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 Humdrum Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Slow Burn Peter Gabriel Album by Album alt. version Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Waiting For The Big one Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 Down The Dolce Vita Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 Here Comes The Flood Peter Gabriel Album by Album from Exposure album Peter Gabriel Album by Album from Shaking The Tree album Peter Gabriel Album by Album live Growing up tour Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album interview Montreal 1978 Peter Gabriel Album by Album Scratches 1978 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 On The Air Peter Gabriel Album by Album live 77 Peter Gabriel Album by Album live 09 Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 DIY Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Mother Of Violence Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 A Wonderful Day In a One Way World Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 White Shadow Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Indigo Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Animal Magic Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 Exposure Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 Flotsam And Jetsam Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 10 Perspective Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 11 Home Sweet home Peter Gabriel Album by Album Melt 1980 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 Intruder Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 No Self Control Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Start Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 I Don't Remember Peter Gabriel Album by Album I Don't Remember 12" Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 Family Snapshot Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 And Through The Wire Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Games Without Frontiers Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 Not One Of Us Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 Lead A Normal Life Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 10 Biko Peter Gabriel Album by Album Bully For You Peter Gabriel Album by Album Security 1982 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 Rhythm Of The Heat Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 San Jacinto Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 I Have The Touch Peter Gabriel Album by Album extended Peter Gabriel Album by Album Across The River b-side Peter Gabriel Album by Album Across The River live Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 The Family And The Fishing Net Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 Peter Gabriel Album by Album Shock/Soft Dog 12" Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Lay Your Hands On Me Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Wallflower Peter Gabriel Album by Album Track 8 Kiss Of Life Peter Gabriel Album by Album Dog 1,2,3, live improv Peter Gabriel Album by Album Indian Melody improv Peter Gabriel Album by Album Plays Live 1983 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album Track 1 Rhythm Of The Heat Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 I Have The Touch Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Not One Of Us Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 Family Snapshot Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 D I Y Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Family And The Fishing Net Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Intruder Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 I Go Swimming Peter Gabriel Album by Album I Go Swimming Demo Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 San Jacinto Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 10 Solsbury Hill Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 11 No Self Control Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 12 I Don't Remember Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 13 Shock The Monkey Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 14 Humdrum Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 15 On The Air Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 16 Biko Peter Gabriel Album by Album Kiss Of Life live 83 Peter Gabriel Album by Album Walk Through Fire Peter Gabriel Album by Album Out Out Peter Gabriel Album by Album No More Apartheid Peter Gabriel Album by Album Birdy 1985 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 At Night Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 Floating Dogs Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Quiet And Alone Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 Close Up Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 Slow Water Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Dressing The Wound Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Birdy's Flight Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 Slow Marimbas Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 Heat Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 10 Sketch Pad With Trumpet and Voice Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 11 Under Lock And Key Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 12 Powerhouse At The Foot Of The Mountain Peter Gabriel Album by Album So 1986 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 Red Rain Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Don't Give up Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 That Voice Again Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Mercy street Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Big time Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 We Do What We're Told Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 This Is The Picture Peter Gabriel Album by Album b-side Curtains Peter Gabriel Album by Album Don't Break This Rhythm Peter Gabriel Album by Album Red Rain Dna Peter Gabriel Album by Album 1989 Shakin The Tree (with Youssou N'dour) Peter Gabriel Album by Album Passion 1989 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album side one Peter Gabriel Album by Album side two Peter Gabriel Album by Album side three Peter Gabriel Album by Album side four Peter Gabriel Album by Album Us 1992 - Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 1 Come Talk To Me Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 2 Love to Be Loved Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 3 Blood Of Eden Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 4 Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 5 Only us Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 6 Washing Of The Water Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 7 Digging In The Dirt Peter Gabriel Album by Album Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 8 Fourteen Black Paintings Peter Gabriel Album by Album track 9 Kiss That Frog Peter Gabriel Album by Album b-side Games Without Frontiers remix Peter Gabriel Album by Album b-side Quiet Steam Peter Gabriel Album by Album b-side Bashi -Bazouk Peter Gabriel Album by Album
US in general has that "furthering of direction", taking the template of the So material and taking it into less slick territory both sonically and lyrically. It works, because the general fashion in music was going that way as well by 1992. When I compare it to Big Time, I mean that this song fulfils the same role on US as that did on So....it's the jokey track, with some innuendo and playfulness. None of the US tracks are direct rewrites of old songs, but the way the album is sequenced, and the singles that were chosen, it plays out in a familiar way.
After listening to it again, I like “Kiss That Frog” more than I ever remember liking it in the past. I actually quite like the music, particularly the harmonica and the organ — it’s nice to hear something more organic sounding than synths on a Gabriel track. I still have a problem with the lyrics, especially coming right after the simple eloquence of “Fourteen Black Paintings”. The same music set to better words would probably move this one way up in my ratings.
I like the music and rhythm of Kiss That Frog but the fellatio metaphors seem juvenile and silly to me, especially in the midst of so many other serious songs about relationships . The music is great though. I like how the different versions have different rhythms. The William Orbit "Mindblender Mix" might flow a bit more smoothly than the album version (Orbit did some awesome mixes for this album), and the live version from SW Live is the most danceable of all thanks to the less cluttered beat and Tony Levin's phat bass line. It's a fun song and a catchy song, and I'm certainly no prude, but I just don't think it fits very well with the other themes on Us.
Until mentioned earlier, I had never even considered that particular interpretation.... and I do have a dirty mind ... so it surprises me a fair bit.
I have seen it mentioned in a couple of professional reviews, and I think I even remember PG himself joking about it on one of the video clips for the X-Plora 1 CD-ROM.
I can see the double entendre now, but it had eluded me to be honest. I really just associated with the frog prince idea. The guy is saying I look like a frog, but I really am a Prince, kind of idea... Oh well lol
I wanted to jump in and make all sorts of logical/rational statements about how silly this song is and how PG's voice really couldn't pull off the lyric... And then I realized how stupid that would have been (due respect given to those who have no time for this song, naturally). Where PG's voice doesn't carry off quirky as it did in his youth, the music steps up to carry the playful vibe, almost rendering the frontman the straight man in the gag. Thinking on the live version of this track, it becomes really obvious how much fun this song is (both to hear and, I'd imagine, to play). And yes, I'm just crass enough to find the fellatio references hilarious. Yeah, thumbs up for this one!
