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Daily Song Discussion #2: Cold Girl Fever (self.TheNational)

submitted by lemonhyacinthexiled and vilified 🍋

This is the second track from the National's eponymous debut album. How would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)? How do you feel about this song? Do you prefer the original or the remaster? What are some of your favorite lyrics? Do you have any memories/stories about this song?

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SUGGESTED SCALE:

  • 0: This is, like, one of the worst songs they could ever possibly release.
  • 1-2: Super below average. You skip this song nearly every time.
  • 3-4: Below average. It's not their worst, but you tend to skip it most of the time.
  • 5: The most middle of the road kind of song. You might not skip it, but you don't typically seek it out.
  • 6-7: Above average. It's not their best, but you enjoy it when it comes on.
  • 8-9: Super above average! You put this song on just to listen to it.
  • 10: This is, like, one of the best songs they could ever possibly release.

”The National” Average Song Rating:

  1. Beautiful Head: 7.13
  2. Cold Girl Fever:
  3. The Perfect Song:
  4. American Mary:
  5. Son:
  6. Pay for Me:
  7. Bitters and Absolut:
  8. John's Star:
  9. Watching You Well:
  10. Theory of the Crows:
  11. 29 Years:
  12. Anna Freud:
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[–]Rasmoss 6 points7 points  (3 children)

A couple of Matt lyrics that will be revisited motifs:

"Sky is white" - There is the "withering white sky" in Humiliation, and the "bright, white beautiful heaven hanging over me" in Don't swallow the Cap, for instance

"If I go into the sea, I will bring you down, down with me" - There's the people sliding to the sea in Sea of Love", and there are oceans and floods in other songs too.

There's being "terrified" of losing someone, which of course comes up again repeatedly, like in About Today.

[–]pjj165 2 points3 points  (1 child)

“Bottle eyes, glassy blue” and “Your eyes are broken bottles” in Wasp Nest

[–]Rasmoss 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, good call.

There will also be a lot of “arms” and “hands” in later songs like “break your arms around your love” and “we’ll throw out our golden arms”.

There’s also both “throats” and “necks” but I can’t remember if there is a mention of a “spine” in other songs.

[–]IsThatToastOverThere 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“The sky is turning white” from I’ll Still Destroy You.

[–]Shifty377 2 points3 points  (0 children)

6

[–]sebastianqt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

5

[–]pjj165 2 points3 points  (0 children)

7.5 - I couldn’t decide whether to put this in the “above average” or “super above average” category. A really great early song from them that I wish they played more. The whole second verse is devastating. “Don’t hold on to me when there’s nothing to hold”

[–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 2 points3 points  (5 children)

By the way I think you should do what the death cab one does where the daily song is randomized and not just in chronological order

[–]lemonhyacinthexiled and vilified 🍋[S] 1 point2 points  (4 children)

is that more interesting? i wasn’t sure what they were doing exactly which is why i went chronologically, but i can randomize it if that’s more fun.

[–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 3 points4 points  (2 children)

I meant to reply directly to this comment: Personally I think it’s more fun because every day is a surprise and also for people who may be more familiar with certain albums etc. you’ll probably get more engagement I would assume

[–]lemonhyacinthexiled and vilified 🍋[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

those are such fair points! i’ll see what i can put together to make randomizing easy and see if i can’t start that for tomorrow’s thread.

[–]BlankSlate40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn. Was getting psyched for The Perfect Song

[–]BlankSlate40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like the chronological order idea. That way we get to see the ratings for the whole album at once. Just my personal preference.

[–]Low_Repeat9699 2 points3 points  (0 children)

8

[–]Pink_Rabbits2012 1 point2 points  (0 children)

7

[–]Educational_Score700 1 point2 points  (0 children)

7

[–]tiotom92 1 point2 points  (0 children)

5.

[–]gsb2408 1 point2 points  (0 children)

5

[–]Objective_Project700 1 point2 points  (0 children)

6.2

[–]LooseBoysenberry7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of my favorite songs of theirs.

[–]coffee_and_flowersdaisy fresh and arrow straight 1 point2 points  (0 children)

6

[–]AllTheWine69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

7

[–]Low-Kaleidoscope-149 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally I think it’s more fun because every day is a surprise and also for people who may be more familiar with certain albums etc. you’ll probably get more engagement I would assume

[–]nick1894 1 point2 points  (0 children)

6

[–]Traditional-Tap-712 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really good lyrical song with solid instrumentals especially when enjoyed on the turntable. 8 for me!

[–]edgy_spaghetti53 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As far as this album goes, this one is an 8 for me. Its my favorite off this LP. The classic “Matt” lyrics, the electronics, the guitar, I love it. This is the most “National” sounding song off this record imo.

[–]nationalthief 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7

[–]graeme_1988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7

[–]cardinal_song 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Solid 7. A great song that I love dearly but the last line completely loses me.

[–]Guestkingenter your own text here 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always thought it was a joke. You have this whole song about a breakup-like situation, and then the punchline makes fun of it all: what are you for, now that I have hardcore? Except google says it's 'hard cold' and indeed that makes no sense.

[–]alwaysgone_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A predominant characteristic of hardcore punk is emotion, this would later be refined in a sub-genre, emo or emotional hardcore in the late 80’s. Hardcore is in essence all encompassing way of living, especially in the NYC scene during its time. I always loved that line because it offered an accessible alternative to dealing with heart break and more, the real word. Definitely an 8 for me!

[–]The_Grizzly_Bear_be brave and be kind 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7

[–]ResidualFox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7

[–]BlankSlate40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another 7 for me.

Love the line I promised to leave if you ever went cold. Then leave when I’m sleeping you told me.

In addition to those songs mentioned previously re:arms, I’ll add I’ll need my arms the rest of the night from Don’t Swallow the Cap.

And in addition to the obvious coat reference in Fashion Coat, we have the references in Val Jester and Lucky You and even Weird Goodbyes.

[–]bsismyinitialsWe're the heirs to the Glimmering World 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7.5