Extreme - More Than Words

TERRIBLE!!

This has got to be the worst song, slow or fast, ever written! This song ruined extreme's career. Never should have released this song as a single. It's sad when people think of this band, they think of this song...it's horrible! Should've put out Get the funk out...that's more what extreme is about. Or Kid Ego, Mutha, Wind me up from the first album. A lot of people didn't even know they had an album before pornograffitti...a great first album! Hope 2008 is a better year for extreme and they learn from the past...don't release ballads as singles! Hopefully lots of fast, funky, metal from nuno and the boys...no ballads! March 10, 2008

perfect for me

this single must have been released especially for me since it contains the only two songs that i like from this otherwise untalented, noisy band. March 24, 2007

I wish I had the words

The first time this song filtered into my consciousness, I was in a Taxi in London. Because of the situation - the taxi driver was a bit impatient, conversation was rather stilted and he decided to switch the radio on - I am not likely to forget the time and place when I took notice of this song.

If I could term a song as being perfect - this would be the one. How does one describe it...haunting, sublime, and breathtaking?

Even so I do not have the words or vocabulary to describe it in a way that would do it justice. The song has to be felt and then it makes a connection to the soul.

The simplicity of just one accompanying guitar leaves the song uncluttered and so the listener is able to focus on the lyrics and the voices.

When I listened to it on the radio, I had thought that the music consisted of the guitar accompanied by hand drums. Having recently watched the video - and again quite by accident - I realise that the only instrument was a guitar. The style is an unusual - the guitarist taps on the guitar with perfect timing almost as if it is a drum and does this whilst strumming on the guitar.

It could have something to do with his Portuguese heritage or possibly because he is a drummer that he uses this style. Nevertheless, it is faultless and fits the lyrics and the singing to perfection.

The voices are beautifully harmonious and able to deliver all the emotion and the longing that the lyrics should convey.

It is difficult to describe the genre - it is not pop music, it stands on its own as being the central point at which soul joins country music. I know it sounds a bit odd to even suggest that these two styles could ever marry. The only other artist who has a song close to this in terms of the delivery and sound is Tony Rich with `Nobody Knows' - it is only an opinion, it does not mean that I am right.

My idea of hell would be for someone to do a remake of this song. Some songs are made to be left alone; a remake of songs by certain artists is a sacrilege and that would be the case if an artist tried a remake of this song.

Some hellish remakes include `Tragedy' by Steps and `Lady Marmalade' by All Saints (both British Bands). Somebody should have said `No, no, no...!. To these groups it should have been said - 'You have neither the capacity for delivery, the voice to hold the audience captive, or that certain something make that song!!!!'

Horror of horrors: can anyone imagine Mariah Carey doing a remake of 'More than Words'?

She would probably have a dress cut so low and leave her bosom unfettered such that the M11 could pass through the middle of her chest. And since Mariah has not got the ability to sing a song in a simple fashion, she is likely to pepper it with so many vocal gymnastics. The one that still tickles me pink is that she artfully points her finger upwards just to let her audience know that she wants to take the falsetto even higher. It would be an awful experience to hear her remake this song.

These songs are not common; they come along like little gems every few years or so, please buy the single, press the repeat button, sit down and savour the music.
February 17, 2006

What about the words?

Dave Matthews was asked once about his distinctive singing style, and he said that the sad fact was that people didn't listen to the lyrics of a song. They just didn't he said, so it behooved artists to make the presentation of the lyrics as interesting as possible, because no one was going to listen to it. I am sad to admit that, as cynicle as that sounds, I think Dave was right.

Take this song. This is a song that I only heard in fragments. Friends of mine would play it. Rock compilation comercials would play a snippet. Great Love Songs. Heavy Metal Ballads. Stuff like that. And it always sounded great, the singing, the harmony, the simple guitar, pretty much what people here have been raving about it. And judging from the little bit I heard, I imagined the gist of the lyrics to be something like, "I love you more than words can say." Nice sentiment, huh?

Finally, I decided to learn how to play the song on the guitar, which forced me to learn the music AND the words. Boy! Was I in for a surprise. Here's the first verse into the refrain.

Saying, "I love you."
Is not the words I want to hear from you.
It's not that I want you
Not to say. But if you only knew
How easy, it would be to should me how you feel!

More than words
Is all you have to do to make it real.
Then you wouldn't have to say
That you love me
'Cause I'd already know.

It's a booty song! It's "A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action." It's "Let's Get It On." The whole point of the song is, "Don't tell me you love me ... show me!" And yes, it's pretty. Yes, it's haunting. Yes, it's produced well and goes down so easy. But in essence, the song is some guy trying to sweet talk you out of your pants.

So when I hear people talk about this song as their favorite love song, I'm led to think about Sting talking about "Every Breath You Take". Sting wrote that song thinking about _1984_ and the type or totalitarian oppresive surveilance that Orwell. At the same time, he gets people saying this is their favorite love song. Sad, in a way. October 18, 2004

The song that killed rock....

At the moment Extreme sat on stools and strummed the opening bars to this drivel for all the sentimental fools that were gullable enough to but this, they put the final nail into the rock scene coffin. Sure, other bands played ballads, but MTW was the final straw. How could good time, long haired, fun rock n' roll ever be able to show it's face in public after this drivel? We were having a tough enough time with Seattle Grunge making us all miserable and wanting to shoot ourselves, but once this went mainstream we had had it. If you had long hair and tatoos people equated you with Extreme and More Than Words. Extreme had such promise and their first two albums showed that there was life after Van Halen, but then they got greedy and ruined it. If Gary Cherone claimed to have meant even one of those words, he is a liar. He was a great performer and one of the best front men of the era, but he sold us all out and for that reason I will never forgive him June 14, 2004

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