Estranged is Guns N’ Roses' best song!

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

DanteSparda504 said:
I was so happy to hear it live in 2016. Never thought I'd get to see Axl/Slash/Duff together, and I never thought I would hear them play Estranged and This I Love at the same show. This I Love is another fantastic one, especially with Slash doing the solo. It has a way to tell a story and be really emotional and hit you, with very few lyrics, and not being as long.

EDIT: I want to add that Coma is probably their best song. It's so good and unique.

ha speaking of 2016 (yes... it was worth EVERY FRIGGIN PENNY)

They played Double Talkin Jive... eh....... fine. it's ok. not really sure why after 25 years they're playing this son......... HOLY SHIT THIS GUITAR SOLO IS FUCKING BALLS!!!!!

First time I learned (well, cared) that Double Talkin Jive has an amazing guitar solo/lead out in it.... was in awe of slash for the entire outro.

Rivenblade · Dec 20, 2018

John Dunbar said:
the best songs from use your illusion I and II make for a better album than appetite.

Has anyone actually done this? Put a mix together of the best tracks from the two that is accepted as "the master cut" or something like that from them both? Because I owned Use Your Illusion II and remember skipping a shit ton of tracks while loving the singles.

"Estranged" is indeed pretty great.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Rivenblade said:
Has anyone actually done this? Put a mix together of the best tracks from the two that is accepted as "the master cut" or something like that from them both? Because I owned Use Your Illusion II and remember skipping a shit ton of tracks while loving the singles.

"Estranged" is indeed pretty great.

I mean there would never be consensus. Honestly, GnR did it right. They had a lot of great songs written and ready to go.. released all of em. The same thing is done today.. only instead of two albums.. you end up with one album, and then 6-12 months later a deluxe album with the rest of the songs. At least they laid it out bare for us back in 91. Not every song is a winner... but (IMHO) both albums are still worth the price of admission. Unlike the deluxe/regular shenanigans of today.

edit - oh also remember vinyl releases were still real back in 91 (though nearing the end). Both albums were DOUBLE ALBUMS already. So even though it would have only been two CDs or two tapes to release a compilation.. it would have been AT LEAST 3 vinyl albums to merge the best of all of them together.. and to package it as one (which people were always asking why they didn't), it would have been a 4 album set on vinyl to release Use Your Illusion as a single album (though two CDs or cassettes).

Rivenblade · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
I mean there would never be consensus. Honestly, GnR did it right. They had a lot of great songs written and ready to go.. released all of em. The same thing is done today.. only instead of two albums.. you end up with one album, and then 6-12 months later a deluxe album with the rest of the songs. At least they laid it out bare for us back in 91. Not every song is a winner... but (IMHO) both albums are still worth the price of admission. Unlike the deluxe/regular shenanigans of today.

edit - oh also remember vinyl releases were still real back in 91 (though nearing the end). Both albums were DOUBLE ALBUMS already. So even though it would have only been two CDs or two tapes to release a compilation.. it would have been AT LEAST 3 vinyl albums to merge the best of all of them together.. and to package it as one (which people were always asking why they didn't), it would have been a 4 album set on vinyl to release Use Your Illusion as a single album (though two CDs or cassettes).

Fair enough. This thread has inspired me to re-listen to some of these tunes. Totally forgot about the greatness that is "Civil War."

DeliciousSunnyD! · Dec 20, 2018

It's hard, because I think on the whole, Appetite For Destruction as an album, perfectly defines the band.

Estranged might be their best single song though. I am definitely a fan and think it is a bit overlooked and not considered as much as it should be.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

DeliciousSunnyD! said:
It's hard, because I think on the whole, Appetite For Destruction as an album, perfectly defines the band.

Estranged might be their best single song though. I am definitely a fan and think it is a bit overlooked and not considered as much as it should be.

I mean it's the same as Nirvana.... both had their first mainstream albums that 100% define the essence of the bands.. and then sophomore followups that essentially proved the bands as legends. The initial mainstream albums though will always be the ones every associates with the de facto standard.. even though the followups are artistically better (and claimed their own insane commercial success)

Carolina Reaper · Dec 20, 2018

Blech. Use Your Illusion 1 and 2 are full of bloated songs that needed proper editing and a ton of filler shit that deserved no spot on the record. Between the two albums, there's probably a good album of music in there with proper production. From start to beginning, Appetite is better in pretty much every single way.

Mr. Poolman · Dec 20, 2018

Yes, it is known.

haxan · Dec 20, 2018

Mr. Brownstone. I prefer my G&R playing bluesy big dick rock and roll, not the proggy long stuff.

DanteSparda504 · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
ha speaking of 2016 (yes... it was worth EVERY FRIGGIN PENNY)

They played Double Talkin Jive... eh....... fine. it's ok. not really sure why after 25 years they're playing this son......... HOLY SHIT THIS GUITAR SOLO IS FUCKING BALLS!!!!!

First time I learned (well, cared) that Double Talkin Jive has an amazing guitar solo/lead out in it.... was in awe of slash for the entire outro.

Double Talkin Jive is fantastic! Especially live. I love the new trend at the shows of rolling right into DTJ right out of Welcome to the Jungle. A real nice 1-2 punch.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Carolina Reaper said:
Blech. Use Your Illusion 1 and 2 are full of bloated songs that needed proper editing and a ton of filler shit that deserved no spot on the record. Between the two albums, there's probably a good album of music in there with proper production. From start to beginning, Appetite is better in pretty much every single way.

I mean I disagree thoroughly on the editing/production part. The songs are intentional opuses and the better for it. Releasing Appetite for Destruction 2 would have been lazy and been met with the same sophomore slump that every act experiences when they release "Critically acclaimed mainstream success debut album Part 2"

UYI was the direction they needed to go to cement their legacy. Obviously the overall bloat and favorites will be argued about for eternity.. as well as if they could have/should have released it as a single album. But the direction change was exactly why we are still talking about them 30 years later. Without that we might as well be discussing Warrant (which I believe DRFSR had almost as many hit singles as Appetite)

Carolina Reaper · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
I mean I disagree thoroughly on the editing/production part. The songs are intentional opuses and the better for it. Releasing Appetite for Destruction 2 would have been lazy and been met with the same sophomore slump that every act experiences when they release "Critically acclaimed mainstream success debut album Part 2"

UYI was the direction they needed to go to cement their legacy. Obviously the overall bloat and favorites will be argued about for eternity.. as well as if they could have/should have released it as a single album. But the direction change was exactly why we are still talking about them 30 years later. Without that we might as well be discussing Warrant (which I believe DRFSR had almost as many hit singles as Appetite)

We'd still be discussing UYI if it had a tighter production and lacked stupid songs like Get in the Ring, which was nothing more than Axl being a complete asshole as usual. I'll always be a fan, but I'll never forget how much Axl's ego fucked what could have been a legendary band.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Carolina Reaper said:
We'd still be discussing UYI if it had a tighter production and lacked stupid songs like Get in the Ring, which was nothing more than Axl being a complete asshole as usual. I'll always be a fan, but I'll never forget how much Axl's ego fucked what could have been a legendary band.

well... I mean......... ....yeah.

they're still legendary. and I still recommend seeing them NOW... but yes. we ended up with 2.5 legendary albums. could have been more. still, go and see them now. the live sets of these albums somehow still hit. I don't think that will be the case within the next 5-10 years (with 5-10 years of age added to the band)

Carolina Reaper · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
well... I mean......... ....yeah.

they're still legendary. and I still recommend seeing them NOW... but yes. we ended up with 2.5 legendary albums. could have been more. still, go and see them now. the live sets of these albums somehow still hit. I don't think that will be the case within the next 5-10 years (with 5-10 years of age added to the band)

I saw them while they were testing songs for UYI 1 and 2. They played for 4 hours and it was awesome.

BlackFyre · Dec 20, 2018

Yes it is. Epic in every sense of the word.

Songs this epic doesn't get written anymore.

Landawng · Dec 20, 2018

Civil War>>>>

sleepnaught · Dec 20, 2018

UYI is packed full of great songs, but Paradise City will always be my favorite.

Youngfossil · Dec 20, 2018

Patience is like the only Guns N Roses song i like. No one likes it too apparently lol

Quikies83 · Dec 20, 2018

Good song.. but it's not COMA

kamineko · Dec 20, 2018

I like the stuff from Appetite & Lies way better

TheGrue · Dec 20, 2018

Pascal said:
That's not Coma. That's not Nightrain.

/brofist

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Youngfossil said:
Patience is like the only Guns N Roses song i like. No one likes it too apparently lol

nah... everyone "likes" it.. for those who lived through the era... it just ended up being the most played song by them during that era by a mile. so we got into the mid 90s sort of being sick of it. still a great song.

JG_Lionheart · Dec 20, 2018

Estranged is all right but Sweet Child O' Mine is currently my fave GNR song.

DanteSparda504 · Dec 20, 2018

Carolina Reaper said:
We'd still be discussing UYI if it had a tighter production and lacked stupid songs like Get in the Ring, which was nothing more than Axl being a complete asshole as usual. I'll always be a fan, but I'll never forget how much Axl's ego fucked what could have been a legendary band.

To be fair, it wasn't just Axls ego. The whole band led to the break up. Slashs massive drug problem. Duffs drinking. Izzy being a complete dick(just as much as Axl), Steven/Matt being non-factors in any decision making. It was just a full collective effort of shittiness from the entire band that eventually just lead to the split.

And the bad split lead to so many years of bad blood, even after they all got older and mellowed out and sobered up. I really wish we knew the full story of what lead to Axl reaching out to Slash a few years ago. What lead him to bury the hatchet and what was said on that phone call.

Youngfossil · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
nah... everyone "likes" it.. for those who lived through the era... it just ended up being the most played song by them during that era by a mile. so we got into the mid 90s sort of being sick of it. still a great song.

I was LTTP when it comes to Guns N Roses. So it was never played for me. I guess I lucked out lol

Marvie · Dec 20, 2018

TheGreatMightyPoo said:
Too many artsy fartsy picks.

Guns N Roses is at essence a filthy bluesy raw rock band.

It's So Easy and Nightrain are them at their peak.

This is correct.

Liquidsnake · Dec 20, 2018

Boy Wander said:
Rocket Queen is better.

Rocket queen is definitely top 3.

DustyVonErich · Dec 20, 2018

It's Rocket Queen
Then Mr Brownstone

metsallica · Dec 20, 2018

That's a really awkward typo, can I recommend Grammarly? Here's the correct spelling just so you don't embarrass yourself in the future: C-I-V-I-L W-A-R.

You're welcome!

Timeaisis · Dec 20, 2018

I don't like GNR, but I do like Patience.

Future Foundation · Dec 20, 2018

Good pick, OP. Estranged is fantastic. That and You Could Be Mine are some of my favorites from both Use Your Illusion records.

Timeaisis · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
nah... everyone "likes" it.. for those who lived through the era... it just ended up being the most played song by them during that era by a mile. so we got into the mid 90s sort of being sick of it. still a great song.

Well, it's got the crossover appeal. It's like that other one ballad from that hair metal band in the 80s...damn I forget. But they have like one super crossover adult contemporary track and the rest of their material is hair metal, which surprised a bunch of old middle aged people that showed up to their concerts lol. But it was a one hit wonder, effectively.

Still a great track, though. I was born in 88, so I didn't feel that overplayed to me.

subcutaneousphat · Dec 20, 2018

What even is this? It's clearly Mr Brownstone.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Timeaisis said:
Well, it's got the crossover appeal. It's like that other one ballad from that hair metal band in the 80s...damn I forget. But they have like one super crossover adult contemporary track and the rest of their material is hair metal, which surprised a bunch of old middle aged people that showed up to their concerts lol. But it was a one hit wonder, effectively.

Still a great track, though. I was born in 88, so I didn't feel that overplayed to me.

hahahahahahahahaha by "that other one ballad from that hair metal band in the 80s..", do you in fact mean "every ballad from every hair metal band in the 80s ever.."?

hahahahahahahahahahaha (for real laughing out loud) "quick guys we need to break into the billboard top 10. which one of you fuckers has a long time girlfriend that we can write about how much he loves? No one??? FUUUUUUUUU"

Deleted member 5159 · Dec 20, 2018

Its So Easy and Dust N Bones are my favs

TheGreatMightyPoo · Dec 20, 2018

Jarmusch said:
Its So Easy and Dust N Bones are my favs

Dust N Bones is great.

Izzy wrote a bunch of great GNR tunes.

Timeaisis · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
hahahahahahahahaha by "that other one ballad from that hair metal band in the 80s..", do you in fact mean "every ballad from every hair metal band in the 80s ever.."?

hahahahahahahahahahaha (for real laughing out loud) "quick guys we need to break into the billboard top 10. which one of you fuckers has a long time girlfriend that we can write about how much he loves? No one??? FUUUUUUUUU"

There's one specifically where the acoustic ballad was like the only hit they ever had, though. I know literally every band in the 80s did this.

borghe · Dec 20, 2018

Timeaisis said:
There's one specifically where the acoustic ballad was like the only hit they ever had, though. I know literally every band in the 80s did this.

Probably Extreme if I had to guess. A few others were slightly slightly slightly slightly less "one hit wonder" than that (Tesla, Damn Yankees, Cinderella, etc)

edit - Maybe Mr. Big, but that was way less of a hit than More than Words by Extreme (Be With You?)

edit 2 - maybe Saigon Kick (love is on the way)... but honestly Saigon Kick was awesome. Their followup album to The Lizard is seriously and shockingly great.

Deleted member 22750 · Dec 20, 2018

civil war
November rain
You could be mine
Nighttrain

m0therzer0 · Dec 20, 2018

TRUTH!

I can't remember, does Axel do the Axel Shuffle in the video?

Denamitea · Dec 20, 2018

I'm partial to Paradise City personally

MCN · Dec 20, 2018

It's definitely up there. Personally, November Rain edges it for me, though.

Morrigan · Dec 20, 2018

You know what? No lies detected, OP. It really is.

But Civil War, hmmm, close second probably.

Grug said:
OP is correct. Even as a teenager in the 90s I knew this to be true.

Ya

Pet · Dec 20, 2018

laminated said:
Don't Cry. Both the original and alternate lyrics.

Edit: haven't listened to it in years. Listening now. Still love it.

Hear, here.

Fiction · Dec 20, 2018

Estranged, November Rain, Sweet Child of Mine, Don't Cry (both, though I like alternative lyrics better) and Civil War are all correct

DJChuy · Dec 20, 2018

Paradise and You Could Be Mine are my favorites, but Estranged is a good song.

In terms of their slower jams, I prefer Knockin' On Heaven's Door, but I know many don't enjoy their cover. Appetite and UYI 1&2 are fantastic albums.

I went to a GnR show last year, and it was killer. 30 songs, 3 1/2 show with ZZ Top opening. It was awesome seeing Axl and Slash together.

31GhostsIV · Dec 20, 2018

Estranged isn't even the best song on Use Your Illusion II. Today I think it's Locomotive, but that opinion can change depending on the day.

I don't think I can choose my favourite G n' R song, I've always loved the shit out of the Lies version of You're Crazy though.

Also, obligatory : https://youtu.be/3xXRoEAvVro

Timeaisis · Dec 20, 2018

borghe said:
Probably Extreme if I had to guess. A few others were slightly slightly slightly slightly less "one hit wonder" than that (Tesla, Damn Yankees, Cinderella, etc)

edit - Maybe Mr. Big, but that was way less of a hit than More than Words by Extreme (Be With You?)

edit 2 - maybe Saigon Kick (love is on the way)... but honestly Saigon Kick was awesome. Their followup album to The Lizard is seriously and shockingly great.

Yup. More Than Words. Thanks!

Deleted member 5159 · Dec 20, 2018

TheGreatMightyPoo said:
Dust N Bones is great.

Izzy wrote a bunch of great GNR tunes.

Yeah, my tolerance for axl's voice has diminished with thr years, and like someone posted yearlier, i think that they're at their best when they play more bluesy raw rock n roll.

Mariachi507 · Dec 20, 2018

Isn't this some shit? I've known about Rocket Queen for a long time now, knew that Adler's GF is the one orgasming, and actually heard that part of the song before as well. Now I could have swore I've heard the entire song before too, but I just put it on and did not recognize it whatsoever! Now that I've heard it, that's the best GnR track after Sweet Child, it's that immediate.

Estranged is Guns N’ Roses' best song!

Linked the Fire

One Winged Slayer

User requested account closure

Deleted member 22750

Mobile Gaming Product Manager

Spear of the Metal Church

More helpful than the IRS

Fanthropologist

User requested account closure