Knievel

[Barty]

Just got the new album through the door....first impressions are that I'm going to love it. A special mention for the song Knievel - it's just made me fill up....I hardly EVER cry but it set something off - my word, what a stunning piece of music.

Right, back to the CD player 

[Guido]

This song for me is among the very best NMA has ever done. It's so stripped down and simple but at the same time so amazingly touching both musically and lyrically. I just learned how to play it on my accoustic and I can't stop playing along
There's only one problem with Knievel - it's much too short


Btw, fantastic album - already love it.

[Fatalist]

It is a great song and gets you first listen, which is rare in any song by any artist so some achievement I think

[MARKXE]

Pleased it wasn't just me who shed a tear Barty, first listen made me well up instantly.
An incredible song.
Had me Googling Evel Knievel to find out the significance of "gone for 29 days", which was the number of days spent in a coma following the Caesars Palace Crash.

[Stoney]

Definately a stand out track.... Right up there with Marrakesh...........

[Shush]

Thought provoking lyrics in that song. I remember watching Evel Knievel doing his London bus jump at Wembley Stadium in May 1975 on telly. I was only four at the time, but for lads of that age it was a big thing. A very 1970s event, especially with Evel dressed in Elvis Presley type clothing.

You were watching to see him do the spectacular massive jump, but you kind of did want to see he fail and crash at the same time. I think there would have been a collective sense of disappointment if he had cleared the ramp and landed upright. I suppose the same can be said when watching similar stunts and dangerous magic tricks. Remember the News showing his crash repeatedly in slow motion, and regular updates on how many bones broken.

here is the London jump.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkbD4P6pTFA

Still have fond memories of my Mattel Evel Knievel doll, bike, and launcher.

[Toronto Popular Front]

he does get a good thump from the bike right at the end, oooooooouch   

(one of each so you'll never know if i watched it to see him fall or fly)

[Guillaume]

Here it is...a GREAT video for "Knievel":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuqE8rWeE6Y

[Brian-DC]

Wow, very cool video, thanks for the link!

[MerseyExile]

Yes let's celebrate a song about a thug.
From wiki...
"According to a witness to the attack, Knievel struck repeated blows at Saltman's head, with Saltman blocking the blows with his left arm. Saltman's arm and wrist were shattered in several places before he fell to the ground unconscious. It took numerous surgeries and permanent metal plates in his arm to eventually give Saltman back the use of his arm.
After the assault of Saltman and time served in jail, Knievel lost most marketing endorsements and deals, including Harley-Davidson and Ideal Toys. In 1981, Saltman was awarded a $13 million judgment against Knievel in a civil trial, but never received money from Knievel or Knievel's estate."

[el tel]

Indeed, thx for the link Guillaume - one of my many fave's from the new album.

Had me Googling Evel Knievel to find out the significance of "gone for 29 days", which was the number of days spent in a coma following the Caesars Palace Crash.

And cheers MARKXE, that brings it all together now.

[MerseyExile]

So NMA do a song about a thug that uses a baseball bat for vengeance. Sorry but my sympathies are with Shelly Saltman.

[Toronto Popular Front]

Mersey, can't help but agree with you on this one. At first I really liked the song but the more I listened the more I remembered the actual man he was shown to be. While the song does not exactly glorify the man neither does it vilify him. Also watching the recent live videos i heard it said he was an interesting man, not a nice man but an interesting man - slight understatement. I also believe he was a poacher who would guide hunting parties onto Yellowstone National park.

[Guillaume]

So NMA do a song about a thug that uses a baseball bat for vengeance.

come on

JS said many times that the song wasn't neither praise nor bashing of Knievel, JS was interested by a particular part of Knievel's life, his daredevil attitude to life i guess ("the money i've won, the money i've lost"), the way Knievel put his life on map each time for his "job"...
what i want to say is that you can make songs on "not so cool" people if you want, all depends of your point of view and the angle/side the writer chooses for his own song.
Myself i quite like songs like the ones written by Faith No More and Trust starring Hitler and the french public enemy Jacques Mesrine ( "Crack Hitler" and "Le mitard")...are they really "dodgy" songs because of their subjects?
depends on your point of view...and the writer's point of view!

[DannySan]

Whilst I agree that Knievel was not a particularly nice man there are other songs written about controversial subjects and people who were controversial and not neccessarily "nice" people. I think it shouldn't detract from how good or bad the song is. If a song is good... it's good whereas if it is bad then it is bad. This particular song is really good in my opinion. 

Nearly all people however good or bad have good and bad traits and aspects to their character. I don't know who said it but I remember hearing the phrase "Good people do bad things and bad people do good things" I think the song is really more about the showman side of Knievel's character and less about the deeper darker side of his personality that is less well known.