State Of The Nation

Okseriously now. This is probably the most hated NO song according to these threads. I want to know who along with me actually enjoys this track? Stand up, be proud. lol

i honestly have nothing against this song.

i dont like it much, but i dont hate it

ive always enjoyed this track. However, i probably enjoy "shame of nation" even more so.

i don't mind it that much. i just don't listen to the lyrics that closely.

Who is Joe Gill? wrote: i honestly have nothing against this song.

i dont like it much, but i dont hate it

Pretty much my opinion too. I do like it when the drums kick in at the beginning too for some reason.

i think of a lot of people have an aversion to the female vocals, but they don't bother me.

i do rather like the intro.

It's alright, although I do like Shell-Shock and Sub-Culture.

*stands up .............

Yeah I truly enjoy State of the nation so shoot me, haha

*blushes

Always fucking hated it, both live and on record. Waste of six minutes of valuable gig time!

It's a great track live! AS someone said here I also prefer Shame of the Nation instead.

ghost rider wrote: I probably enjoy "shame of nation" even more so.

Sounds right to me.

I dont have a problem with it. I actually like it; especially the way it was remixed in Hindsight II (or I).

It's not one of my favourites, but I like SotN as well! I'm not crazy about Shame of the Nation, though, because of the aforementioned female vocals.

I used to work in a bookstore that sold a book called Shame of the Nation--guess what started playing in my head every time I walked by it?

I like Shame of the Nation, but this ain't such a bad single.

Never particuarly liked or hated it...I esp. like the instrumetnation towards the end, when the bass sequencer comes to the forefront.

at the time I wasn't at that excited by the single, definitely a below average track.

they were trying to do too much with State of the Nation... a dance song that isn't very good, a pop song with crappy female vocals that isn't very catchy, and a rock song too, and political lyrics without any humor... what the hell does the female singers have to do with the theme of the song? the song just doesnt work... the only part i remember liking is the instru break with the bass more than half way thru, which they rehashed on Mr Disco from Technique

This was the one song that I used to always skip when I listened to Substance...but over the last few years, I've been listening to it more, and I'll admit that I actually like the song (although it's probably my second to least favorite track on the album besides Shellshock). While we're at it, I guess I should admit that I also like Subculture (the Substance version)

It's ok, like a few other folks prefer Shame... The production and some of the instrumentation does sound dated, but there are enough nice bits (the piano in Shame, the guitar at the end, etc.) for me not to skip it... Not their strongest moment, but still miles ahead of a lot of bands finest moments...

SHEDi xxx

I actually like this song. In fact, I don't really care what other New Order fans like...I mean, we all have our tastes in songs, don't we?

i never paid any attention to it... until i heard the 7"-version on "Singles", which is, ACE! short, effective, a cracker methinks!

Great intro. It's not my favourite but it's alright.

I liked it at the time. Took so long for it to be released as a single though. I first heard it on a tape from Womad 85 the week after. Preferred this to Shellshock and the crappy Sub Culture version previously. Shame Of The Nation was even worse however. They might open Liverpool with this one.

[magenta]Missy Jem[/magenta] wrote: Great intro.

You have a point. It's OK I suppose until it gets to the chorus, and it never quite develops into the song it threatens to be at the start.

its shite. everyone knows it.

along with Fine Time & Shellshock, its defo the worst they've done.

never play SOTN.

I really like Shellshock.

I'm so glad we have nothing in common.

yeah me too.

you don't wash. i occasionally do.

great innit

better than fine time, worse than shellshock.

I think by the time this comes on Substance, I'm a little bored with NO...and this is the only time I get bored with them unless Movement is on and I'm finding Hannett's production too claustrophobic.

Someone here said the Singles version was enjoyable. I concur to a limited degree, and feel the same could be said for those versions of Subculture of and Shellshock. Nonetheless, as a single, it encompasses everything NO could have devolved into had they succumbed to typical 80s pop excess. As a composition, it's subpar, but not absolutely awful.

pumped full of drugs wrote: trying to do too much with State of the Nation... a dance song that isn't

Too many things going on with this tune, is a horrible chorus, and it's timing is off. .is too fast without giving importance to say- Peter Hook's bass through the lowest area. The mix is off. being NO is ahead of other bands but is almost 1/2 finished for them. good vocal through 'My brother said that he was dead I saw his face and shook my head / If that's the case then who could tell . Where my story had begun. ' When it was first released was still trying to accept that this was the same amazing Steve Morris drumming from JD who had a hand on this though..

AgentWood wrote: better than fine time, worse than shellshock.

some day you will appreciate fine time.:D

The song isn't bad, but the video makes it better. Honestly, it's better than Chemical, Fine Time, and Run.

wEll, I like the singles version, before i just met Substance version and don´t like it. The video is really good, when Barney sings and the audience jump!!!!

I like this song, especially the Substance version. The lyrics might be a bit trite, but the music is very enjoyable. A good dance tune.

[brown]Ally[/brown] wrote: I gave it a few listens recently to see if it could be redeemed in any sort of "well it's a grower" way but it still sounds as horribly dated as the first time I heard it; especially with that "shrieky" synth intro. I also think Barney's guitar and some of the keyboard elements were far too high in the mix... it was just a crap production IMO :\ohwell:

It's ironic how when New Order released one of their (if not) best albums they followed it up with three shitty singles (my opinion of course); a triple whammy of Sub-culture, Shell-shock and State of the Nation. Those three were definitely below par for a band of NO's calibre. Future singles like BLT and True Faith more than made up for those three blips of course.

SOTN should've been stuck on BLT's b-side and Way of Life put out as a single in it's place. Qwest obviously thought so too as they produced a US 12" promo for Way of Life. I'm not sure how well WOL would've done in the charts but for me it's definitely a far superior song and does have a pretty strong chorus.

Was SOTN the first New Order song to feature the dreaded female backing vocals? Probably another reason it's hated so much! I don't mind some of the backing vox such as on World or Guilt but on SOTN I just find them irritating...

Oooo-oooo-uhhhh-uh-uh-uhhh

Way of Life is the worse song No have ever done (except for Murder). The way the verse goes into the chorus is a mess, the bass is too loud, the chorus is boring, the piano is too far down in the mix, the guitar solo is rubbish. Urgh I hate it!!!

SOTN is a great track. Its got some corny lyrics but then what NO song doesnt? Its got a great instrumentation. I love the guitar riff and solo, and its the best produced track on Brotherhood.

Right, thats my rant over. I feel much better now.

ondes_martenot wrote:

I used to work in a bookstore that sold a book called Shame of the Nation--guess what started playing in my head every time I walked by it?

Walk On By?

ghost rider wrote:

AgentWood wrote: better than fine time, worse than shellshock.

some day you will appreciate fine time.:D

i really liked it when technique was first released; now i can barely listen to it. it sounds like the band are playing the wrong notes half the time.

AgentWood wrote:

ghost rider wrote:

AgentWood wrote: better than fine time, worse than shellshock.

some day you will appreciate fine time.:D

i really liked it when technique was first released; now i can barely listen to it. it sounds like the band are playing the wrong notes half the time.

Eh? Technique is (musically and vocally) the most tuneful album NO have produced. Where are the wrong notes?

PCL has Age of Consent and We All Stand with offkey singing. Low-Life has half the songs sung off key. Brotherhood has messy production on As It Was When It Was, Broken Promise, Way of Life, Angel Dust and Every Second Counts.

Sorry, I just had to say my piece.