4st 7lb
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| "4st 7lb" | |
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| Song |
"4st 7lb" is a song by Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers, from the band's third album, The Holy Bible.
Music and lyrics
Musically, the song features the extensive addition of guitar reverb.[1] The verse riff in the first half of the song revolves around an arpeggiated diminished seventh chord. Then, the song slows down and becomes a more atmospheric, minimalist base.[2]
Lyrically, the song describes advanced-stage anorexia;[3][4][5] it is about a teenage girl who wants "to be so skinny, that she rots from view".[6][7] It has been widely interpreted as a reflection of the band's guitarist and lyricist Richey Edwards' own personal struggle with the disease,[8][9] which was confirmed by the band's bass guitarist and co-lyricist Nicky Wire.[10]
The song was named after 4 stones 7 pounds , or 63 pounds (29 kg), the weight below which death is said to be medically unavoidable for an anorexic sufferer.[2][11]
Reception
The song received highly positive reviews from the critics. Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic praised the song, referring it as "quite simply, genius". He also commented that the song "contains one of the best lyrics even written by anyone, replete with the awesome chorus", while describing the song's musical structure in detail.[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote: "the diary of anorexia '4st 7lb' is one of the most chilling songs in rock & roll".[3] Tim O'Neil of PopMatters described the song as "the most specifically evocative track on the album".[7] Mark Edwards of Stylus Magazine stated that the song, along with two other tracks, "Mausoleum" and "Faster", "takes your breath away", while commenting that the song is deeply disturbing. He also inferred that "it comes as close to glamourising anorexia as you can get".[6]
Personnel
- Manic Street Preachers
- James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, production
- Richey Edwards – lyrics, production
- Nicky Wire – bass guitar, production
- Sean Moore – drums, production
- Technical
- Alex Silva – engineering
- Mark Freegard – mixing
References
- ^ Tangari, Joe (17 January 2005). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b c Butler, Nick (21 January 2005). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Martin, Dan (13 December 2004). "Manic Street Preachers : The Holy Bible (Tenth Anniversary Edition)". NME. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (4 February 2005). "Manic Street Preachers, The Holy Bible 10th Anniversary Edition". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b Edwards, Mark (14 December 2004). "Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b O'Neil, Tim (20 May 2005). "Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible -- 10th Anniversary Edition". PopMatters. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Fricke, David (21 April 2005). "Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible: 10th Anniversary Edition". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Pattison, Louis (20 November 2008). "Manic Street Preachers - Holy Bible". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "Manics New Testament". Melody Maker. IPC Media: 4. 27 August 1994.
- ^ Clarke 1997, p. 106.
- Sources
- Clarke, Martin (1997). Manic Street Preachers: Sweet Venom. London: Plexus. ISBN 0-85965-259-9.
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