Son Song
"Son Song" is a song, played as the sixth track of the Soulfly album Primitive. Roadrunner Records released this song in the form of single in 2001, but the album containing this song was released a year before. It is the sixth single released by Soulfly and second from Primitive.
"Son Song" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Soulfly featuring Sean Lennon | ||||
from the album Primitive | ||||
Released | January 30, 2001 | |||
Recorded | 1999–2000 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:17 | |||
Label | Roadrunner | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Soulfly singles chronology | ||||
|
Song proposal
This Soulfly song was proposed when Max Cavalera met Sean Lennon in 1999 during Big Day Out festival in Australia. Max said that Gloria Cavalera, Max's wife, suggested him to form duet with Sean to sing song.
She thought it would be cool if we sang together; [that] both voices would be amazing. I called Sean, and he was into it. We spent four days on that song; he came to my house, we scribbled around a little bit with the acoustic guitar, then we wrote the lyrics. We took more time on that song, and took it to the studio, and saw the whole thing really come to life, from scratch.
Max said that collaborating with Sean was not necessarily expected by fans, but he is kind enough due to his unique speech.[1]
Lyrics and tribute
In this song, co-writers Max Cavalera and Sean Lennon sing about everything turning to dust by screaming at the sky or looking at the sun. Before the song begins, Sean counts to four as first line of lyrics, and then sings the first verse after the song begins. Max sings the choruses starting with 'Dust myself up' while Sean sings the verses containing 'Every moment is precious'.[2]
Despite the song title, the lyrics does not contain 'Son Song', but so-named because it involves sons paying tribute to their deceased fathers by writing and singing the song together. Sean's father, John Lennon, one of the world's most famous singers and songwriters, was murdered at age 40,[3] while Max prays for his father, who died of a heart attack also at age 40 while Max was 9.
Composition
"Son Song" lasts 4:17, but the single version lasts 23 seconds shorter.[4] The first 2½ minutes of this song plays grungy metal riff, with all of the lyrics being sung in this part, and then to mostly vocalless world music part with synthesizers and keyboards, except when Sean talking to Max about how he hurt his fingertip by plucking heavy-gauge guitar strings. Berimbau is playing during the final 11 seconds of the song. The intro and verses are written in uncommon time signatures: the first compass is in 7
4, while the second is in 6
4. The rest of the verses (chorus and ending) are in 4
4. This may suggest that may be influenced by a progressive metal oriented sound.
This Soulfly song is noted for having elements similar to Alice in Chains songs due to Sean's similar vocals to Layne Staley, thus with influences of grunge.[5]
Appearance in the film
"Son Song" appears on the Valentine soundtrack as track No. 14, but the only one of 18 songs listed on the track that can't be heard in the film.[6]
Track listing
US promo CD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Son Song" | 3:55 |
UK promo CD
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Son Song" | |
2. | "In Memory Of..." |
Personnel
- Soulfly
- Max Cavalera – vocals, guitar, producer
- Marcelo "Cello" Dias – bass guitar, percussions, drums on "In Memory Of..."
- Mikey Doling – guitar
- Joe Nunez – drums
- Additional personnel
- Sean Lennon – vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer and producer on "Son Song"
- Babatunde Rabouin – vocals on "In Memory Of..."
- Deonte Perry – vocals on "In Memory Of...", additional drum programming on "Son Song" and "In Memory Of..."
- Justus Olbert – vocals on "In Memory Of..."
- Larry McDonald – percussions
- Meia Noite – percussions
- Toby Wright – keyboards and drum programming on "In Memory Of...", producer
- Andy Wallace – mixing
- George Marino – mastering
References
- Gary Graff (October 19, 1999). "Soulfly, Sean Lennon Collaborate". Entertainment. ABC News. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- "Son Song Lyrics – Soulfly". LyricsFreak.
- Erik Gamlem. "Soulfy: Primitive". Review. PopMatters. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- "Soulfly – Son Song". Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- "Soulfly : Son Song (featuring Sean Lennon) : Lyrics". The Music Made Me Do It (MMMDI). Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- Joe D'Angelo (December 27, 2000). "Rob Zombie, Filter Rarities On 'Valentine' Soundtrack". News. MTV.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013.