Gotta be one of the top ten greatest songs ever written. Moves along with such an impassioned pace, sounding at first hopeful before sinking back down as he repeats his mantra: "Whatever you want, whatever you go, wherever you go, whatever you say..." He knows his life is supposed to be lived in subservience to his parents' wishes and he robotically recites those words with the hollowness he has learned. That's effecting enough...but the point of the song where he confronts them... "I've made my world of happiness to combat your...ne....gle...e...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeect"... His voice fading into tortured moans, as Bob Mould's signature guitar wash moves through a system of the most emotionally gut-wrenching chords I've ever heard. "Zen Arcade" is one of the most magnificent artistic achievements of all time, and "Whatever" is its highest point.
Gotta be one of the top ten greatest songs ever written. Moves along with such an impassioned pace, sounding at first hopeful before sinking back down as he repeats his mantra: "Whatever you want, whatever you go, wherever you go, whatever you say..." He knows his life is supposed to be lived in subservience to his parents' wishes and he robotically recites those words with the hollowness he has learned. That's effecting enough...but the point of the song where he confronts them... "I've made my world of happiness to combat your...ne....gle...e...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeect"... His voice fading into tortured moans, as Bob Mould's signature guitar wash moves through a system of the most emotionally gut-wrenching chords I've ever heard. "Zen Arcade" is one of the most magnificent artistic achievements of all time, and "Whatever" is its highest point.
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