The Birds (Reprise)

Thoughts, feelings...?

I think it's not a bad thing. On the other hand, it doesn't suit the album in the place where it actually is. Reprise should be a hidden track after ''The Birds'' or as the last track on the record.

Well it wouldn't be a reprise if it were immediately after the song it was reprising...

It's an odd one certainly, but not a bad one.

I liked it on the first few listens through the album. Now, I'm not so sure.

I dont mind it, it just seems abit out of place, it's probably my least favourite on there though

He's got SUCH a thespian voice, almost cliched...it's an enigmatic piece, to be sure

Have to say, I like it, it's alright - it seems though that it may be an excuse just to get the Halle included....

saferdrunk wrote:

I think it's not a bad thing. On the other hand, it doesn't suit the album in the place where it actually is. Reprise should be a hidden track after ''The Birds'' or as the last track on the record.

I agree. Really like it but not sure about it's place either.
Think it would have worked better as a 'bonus track' at the end of the album.
However, as this is my only (very minor) criticism of the entire album, I think I'm allowed to say it!

mmm. not that sure about it - don't particulary mind it.
seems kind of like the end of a story, the old guy looking back in a kind of
retrospective, lest us not forget type of thing. ?

ChrissyBoy wrote:

mmm. not that sure about it - don't particulary mind it.
seems kind of like the end of a story, the old guy looking back in a kind of
retrospective, lest us not forget type of thing. ?

i'd concur with what your saying...

i think it would have worked better as an interval before going into 'The night will always win' Personally i think that would have been the perfect place for it.

It has grown on me but I'm another one who's not sure on it's placement. I agree that I think it may have been better placed at the end, as a sort of "closing thought" type thing.

I just today thought of a way of interpreting this song which makes me extremely happy. Say that the man singing is the old man depicted in the birds, and we're now in the evening time after the events depicted in that (he's sat outside recollecting old times, then his staff get fed up and try to take him inside, but indignant, he resists and sings louder!). I like the idea that they finally do of course get him in because he's old and frail, and here we are now in the reprise with him, perhaps having been put into bed (approaching sleep is suggested by the dreamy backing vocals), and though in some ways defeated by the staff, here he is still remembering and looking back, and they can't take that away from him

Personally I think it's in exactly the right place. Have to say it does make me well up a bit, it's the fragility of the old man's voice combined with the beautiful music, so I'm glad it's not the very last song and we get the happy ending of Dear Friends afterwards.

While I agree that the placement is a bit iffy, I can't say I would like it at the very end of the album, for two reasons:

1. The feel of the reprise is a bit too dark for an album all about, as Guy said in his ShortList article, "encouraging people to give it a go."
2. "Dear Friends" is a damn good closer, and it belongs there.

As far as the song itself goes, I quite like it. It's full of the beautiful Hallé choir, and it serves its purpose as a reflection quite well.

It's an odd one. I don't find much skippable about elbow after all this time, but I do think about skipping the Reprise. Thankfully it's short so by the time I've thought about it, it's over and Dear Friends has started. The choir is beautiful.

NeonChoir wrote:

...I agree that the placement is a bit iffy...

I've thought about this, and I take back what I said in terms of this.

After some reflection, I realized that, honestly, the Reprise doesn't really make sense anywhere else. It's basically a wrap-up of the album before the closer. That's how I see it, anyway.

NeonChoir wrote:

NeonChoir wrote:

...I agree that the placement is a bit iffy...

I've thought about this, and I take back what I said in terms of this.

After some reflection, I realized that, honestly, the Reprise doesn't really make sense anywhere else. It's basically a wrap-up of the album before the closer. That's how I see it, anyway.

yes, exactly that!

I'm actually quite taken with it. It's a real oddity; but for me, within the context of the album as a whole, I think it works.

Also I like the way he says "springtime", so I'm sold.

When I heard the Reprise the first time my eyes got wet on "do they keep those final kisses in their tiny racing hearts"

I do like it; it's a lovely atmosphere and closing chapter so to speak of The Birds, and think it's fine where it is - sort of a closer but with Dear Friends as the final closer (if that makes sense!)

The choir part really reminds me of the harmony vocals on My Very Best - anyone else get that?

My mom and me were caught at once. It makes us tearful. Me, because of that fragile ol' pal. Me mom because of the fragileness of lonely ol' pals...