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10,000 Maniacs — These Are Days (live)
Album: MTV Unplugged
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1730








Released: 1993
Length: 4:41
Plays (last 30 days): 2
These are the days.

These are days you'll remember.
Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this.
And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days you'll remember.
When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in
Every hour.
You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days.

These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.
And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be.
Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you.
Comments (171)add comment
I had just turned 21 and finishing university when this song came out.  The world was my oyster and this song was its theme! 
This is for the Grobschnitt poster in the background:
https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/...
6.9? Y'all are on drugs. 
Crowd noise is turned up way too much and they're a bit noisy... I've always preferred the studio version.
 Highlowsel wrote:

I guess this is a very nice, polite even, way of pointing out how lucky many of us, especially American's, have been and are these days.  I suppose it beats...

"Hey...Asshole!  Wake the fuck up! (grabs you by your shirt)
Don't you (slap - across the face)...don't you (slap!)...don't you know how LUCKY (slap) you ARE!?  (slap SLAP!)"

Yeah...better to be greeted by this sort of song me thinks.  Because truly, we are all blessed ain't we?  Would that we recognize it , and express more gratitude, than we do.

Highlow
American Net'Zen



You expect anyone to take you seriously when you communicate like a 12 year old with stupid language?
Band is pretty good but she's not right in tune.
 andrew2112 wrote:

I think its really hard to write a song with a positive theme that isn't lame.  It's so much easier to induce feelings about a negative subject.  This song is one of the few good, uplifting tunes that I can think of, and I really appreciate it.



Amen.  I do prefer the studio version, but as this is a tuneful, melodic inspiring song, I'll take it any way it rolls.  She's always a fine vocalist 
I guess this is a very nice, polite even, way of pointing out how lucky many of us, especially American's, have been and are these days.  I suppose it beats...

"Hey...Asshole!  Wake the fuck up! (grabs you by your shirt)
Don't you (slap - across the face)...don't you (slap!)...don't you know how LUCKY (slap) you ARE!?  (slap SLAP!)"

Yeah...better to be greeted by this sort of song me thinks.  Because truly, we are all blessed ain't we?  Would that we recognize it , and express more gratitude, than we do.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 surfrider4life wrote:

Incredible the volume of "Tune police" haters posting here !
Sitting at home with their "tuner device "measuring pitch .
All along, lacking the inner sensibilities to discern the beautiful from the mundane when it comes to art! 



This cracks me up. Anyone who has elementary training as a singer listens to this and can tell she can't hit or hold a pure note. It's like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. If that's art to you . . . enjoy, I guess. 
Incredible the volume of "Tune police" haters posting here !
Sitting at home with their "tuner device "measuring pitch .
All along, lacking the inner sensibilities to discern the beautiful from the mundane when it comes to art! 
 wendorama wrote:

Can't stand it.  Her voice drives me up the wall.

 Eddy Vedder's also does similar to me. I have heard at least one hers where it is more tuneful and stable. 

 sirrus wrote:

#7,562 threw a fit and left in a maniacal tirade.

When the dust settled, the remaining maniacs consulted and decided that the name "9,999 Maniacs" didn't have the same ring to it, so they went their separate ways.

...That, and they all realized that Natalie Merchant only has a 75.6% note-hitting success rate.

 Brilliant !
So overplayed
If I had a car that made this repetitive howl noise, I'd set it on fire.  I typically like this band, the instrumentation on this is great, but the vocal style is horrific.
Sounds to me like the tuning issues aren't only in the vocal. It makes an already lacklustre song even drearier.
She can't seem to hit a single note in tune on this one. A rich, powerful voice badly misused. 
Most boring concert I've ever been to in my life was an outdoor 10K gig at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, IL. However, the opener, World Party, was most excellent. 
 nickshortie wrote:
yup.... {#Headache}
 
Agreed.
I think its really hard to write a song with a positive theme that isn't lame.  It's so much easier to induce feelings about a negative subject.  This song is one of the few good, uplifting tunes that I can think of, and I really appreciate it.
 rdo wrote:

The Fall  — it is coming, and you are our Jeremiah
  
But where is Cyrus the Great to defeat our present day Croesus?
 tompoll wrote:
I try to steer away from blatantly negative comments, but...

I can appreciate differences in taste, but to my ear Natalie is simply singing off-key. A lot. Yikes.

 
yup.... {#Headache}
My chair here at work just started "twirling" UNCONTROLLABLY!
I have this album.  It is very good.  Saw them over 23 years ago I think.  She danced all over the place.  Very enjoyable.  Surprised the song isn't rated higher.  9
I am just impressed with the weird contortionist ways women can sit comfortably, that shoulder dislocating ( for a male ) way they remove a T shirt, and how that towel wraps up and stays on the head after a shower. A song on these is overdue.  
Like Janis and Big Brother, Natalie should never have left the band.
I LOVED that. !
 TonyApuzzo wrote:
Great song, but Clear Channel has played this song to death on my local FM stations and I pretty much can't stand to listen to it anymore. PSD -> Click!

 
Pretty sure they haven't played this live version.  Listen and enjoy. 
I like the album version better, but this sure does take me back to junior year of college...good times!
 oldfart48 wrote:
and scary as it seems, these are the days...W be damned...........and all the other Nazi scum that think they can kill world wide music or freedom

 
The Fall  -- it is coming, and you are our Jeremiah
I've never hear this album but having seen the Maniacs several times from when Natalie was quite young it is not one of my favorite performances.  I did see them on this last tour and can still hear and picture in my head the end of "Stockton Gala Days"... "that summer fields grew high, we had wildflower fever..."  I want to say they extended the ending but I don't remember for sure.  I only remember I had tears as I became lost in the words and emotions being conveyed about the beauty of youth.  I was already nostalgic for my childhood at 20!
Great song, but Clear Channel has played this song to death on my local FM stations and I pretty much can't stand to listen to it anymore. PSD -> Click!
and scary as it seems, these are the days...W be damned...........and all the other Nazi scum that think they can kill world wide music or freedom
 Lazarus wrote:

Time flies when we're having fun...  sigh...  love this live version...
 

 
Time flies like an arrow....Fruit flies like a bananna
Indeed, something about that album cover draws a bit of a sigh from me too. Hopefully no one in the office heard.
 
Lazarus wrote:

Time flies when we're having fun...  sigh...  love this live version...
 

 



Time flies when we're having fun...  sigh...  love this live version...
 
Unplugged doesn't help......5
 RKeaton wrote:

You couldn't be more wrong. In My Tribe and Our Time in Eden are both absolutely perfect records. Blind Man's Zoo is also excellent. I'd advise you to listen again, but I have a feeling my advice would fall on deaf ears.
 
I've listened to all three records many times.  I'm just offering my opinion like you.  I'm glad you like the other songs more than I do. I will continue to pick out the gems because I like those two only and the others are rubbish.
Seems I am not one of the 10000 - I find it simply boring {#Think}
 terrapin52 wrote:
I love this song, too.  Here was my problem with 10,000 Maniacs:  Each album had one great song like this one on it.  That's it.  Just one.  The rest was very, very marginal.  So, my favorite 10,000 Maniacs songs are one per album and the top two are this song and "Like the Weather."
 
You couldn't be more wrong. In My Tribe and Our Time in Eden are both absolutely perfect records. Blind Man's Zoo is also excellent. I'd advise you to listen again, but I have a feeling my advice would fall on deaf ears.
I love this song, too.  Here was my problem with 10,000 Maniacs:  Each album had one great song like this one on it.  That's it.  Just one.  The rest was very, very marginal.  So, my favorite 10,000 Maniacs songs are one per album and the top two are this song and "Like the Weather."


Yay! The song my wife and I picked for our stroll down the aisle after exchanging our vows. It still chokes me up thinking about it.
Love this version.
Such a happy song. I've always loved this tune.
I love that you picked out the live version; better than the album version.
This song never gets old.
New song, old song...she is still a yawn...
 Hannio wrote:
I like the way she alternates singing flat with some sharp notes every now and then.  Very artistic.  Kind of like the opposite of Dave Matthews' tuneless singing.

 

Funny.
I like the way she alternates singing flat with some sharp notes every now and then.  Very artistic.  Kind of like the opposite of Dave Matthews' tuneless singing.

Studio version is better, but this song has popped up randomly @ wonderful times in my life. I love it.
SO out of tune, it hurts {#Sealed}

 drife wrote:
And the Mute button is engaged!
 

Interesting. I have the same instinct.
These WERE the days, when MTV still played music!
And the Mute button is engaged!
Not a fan.
I love the song, although this MTV Unplugged version is sorta... different.  Some of the harmonies don't hit simultaneously, which is painful.  Other than that, great song, lovely flow.
 tompoll wrote:
I try to steer away from blatantly negative comments, but...

I can appreciate differences in taste, but to my ear Natalie is simply singing off-key. A lot. Yikes.
 

Yikes, indeed.  This is painful. 
I try to steer away from blatantly negative comments, but...

I can appreciate differences in taste, but to my ear Natalie is simply singing off-key. A lot. Yikes.
136
 myrabrrz wrote:
definite classic. does anybody know what became of them?
 
#7,562 threw a fit and left in a maniacal tirade.

When the dust settled, the remaining maniacs consulted and decided that the name "9,999 Maniacs" didn't have the same ring to it, so they went their separate ways.

...That, and they all realized that Natalie Merchant only has a 75.6% note-hitting success rate.

 Vegivore wrote:
 sporkster wrote:
No no no no no!!  {#Beat}

So cheesy...  this is the ultimate prom/graduation song, and for that reason I absolutely hate it.  It's pure CHEESE.
 
a little whine with your cheese?

 
Can't stand it.  Her voice drives me up the wall.

 sporkster wrote:
No no no no no!!  {#Beat}

So cheesy...  this is the ultimate prom/graduation song, and for that reason I absolutely hate it.  It's pure CHEESE.
 
a little whine with your cheese?

Icicle Works into 10,000 Maniacs... if The English Beat comes up next I will be completely transported back to my college radio days!

https://www.theonion.com/content/news/college_radio_dj_thinks_he_has


No no no no no!!  {#Beat}

So cheesy...  this is the ultimate prom/graduation song, and for that reason I absolutely hate it.  It's pure CHEESE.
definite classic. does anybody know what became of them?
ekeyte wrote:
This is a classic.
I completely agree. This and "What's The Matter Here" are my favorite songs by them. This one always puts me in a good mood. A great song, in my opinion.
Lots to negativity here about NM. But I'm a fan. Somethng about their music just calls to me . So sue me....
This is the first time I think I've ever made a criticism but I do so because they are quite talented and could have done so much better. Phil Spector knew how to do this "wall of sound" with the Beach Boys. Someone should have taught this pop act how to do likewise. Good song-writing, great vocals, but not well put together.
DoctorHooey wrote:
I honestly don't have a problem with NM, but with the band - they all PLAY as much as possible ALL THE TIME. No wonder she sounds like she's bleating, always having to compete with these relentless, unimaginative arrangements.
I totally agree. I can't imagine why so many people are complaining about her singing when it's the band that sucks. I think the intonation problem isn't her, but that really loud, relentless, way out of tune banjo. It makes the whole song sound out of whack.
Misterfixit wrote:
Great Group and great song. NM's voice has an incredible range, 3-1/2 octaves I seem to recall. Anyway, I like them ..
3 1/2 octaves? More like 3 1/2 notes. Whiny, unimaginative boring. Not sure how she ever ended up on alternative music radio in the late 80's...kindof when alternative went above ground to "adult alternative".
coccyx wrote:
I don't like her voice. At all. Ever.
me either. puke. a lot.
This is a classic.
DoctorHooey wrote:
I honestly don't have a problem with NM, but with the band - they all PLAY as much as possible ALL THE TIME. No wonder she sounds like she's bleating, always having to compete with these relentless, unimaginative arrangements.
I think the old band was one of the best of its era. Fiji5555 wrote:
What's with all the hate posts? i think she sings really good.
She does. Ignore them.
I honestly don't have a problem with NM, but with the band - they all PLAY as much as possible ALL THE TIME. No wonder she sounds like she's bleating, always having to compete with these relentless, unimaginative arrangements.
This song is, for me, my own family song. Yes, I am "blessed and lucky."
Misterfixit wrote:
Try singing in front of a bank of amps and the sound guy has screwed up your in-ear system . . .
If that was the reason they would have just released a show where the electronics were fine and she was on pitch. If she can't do it in the studio she sure can't do it live. That being said,obviously there is something about her that makes a lot of people happy,so it's cool. I just can't enjoy it myself. It's like watching a carpenter bang himself in the thumb. She's got the tools. She just never learned how to use them.
mezzanine wrote:
I can't believe how pitchy she is live. Her voice is all over the place. Puke!!
Try singing in front of a bank of amps and the sound guy has screwed up your in-ear system ...
Great Group and great song. NM's voice has an incredible range, 3-1/2 octaves I seem to recall. Anyway, I like them ..
I always found this to be one of their weaker songs. Oh well.
I can't believe how pitchy she is live. Her voice is all over the place. Puke!!
lmic wrote:
Natalie Merchant is a genius. And as is well understood, few people appreciate genius in its own time. Thanks for continuing to play her - and 10,000 Maniacs, too, Bill. 9.
That is a favorable way of calling it. I find her coma-inducing
Ugghhhh MUTE
daveesh wrote:
now i understand... this was written as a theme for an after school special dealing the onset of puberty.
Yes, the lyrics are insipid, and I wouldn't call what she does "singing", it's "bleating"
Fiji5555 wrote:
What's with all the hate posts? i think she sings really good.
Not really. She is all over the place in this song, sometimes flat, sometimes sharp.
Fiji5555 wrote:
What's with all the hate posts? i think she sings really good.
I agree with you...don't understand why people "hate" her I saw her in concert with Sting and thought she was great...I like her voice a lot
bokey wrote:
This is harmless.It's not particularly good.Or any good for that matter.OK-I don't get it.
Me 2. A real yawner. I say "3-Ho Hum".
Ha Ha! I think this was my class song! Go Tigers!
This is harmless. It's not particularly good. Or any good for that matter. OK-I don't get it.
One of her best...she really does this well live. She's an eclectic gal - makes her great!
Fiji5555 wrote:
What's with all the hate posts? i think she sings really good.
Well. She sings really WELL...
I don't like her voice. At all. Ever.
What's with all the hate posts? i think she sings really good.
Hate.
AphidA wrote:
This is a steaming heap of feces.
Well yes. She think's she's hot shit. I can't stand her!
I take it back. Cracker and 10,000 Maniacs? Only an average performance from Bill.
FallOutOfWindow wrote:
I dunno. Ever since she started appearing out in that smoke-grey Bently.... with her new titjob. Covering Molly Hatchet and always armed.
I never watch music videos (I assume that is what you're referring to) so I can't relate. New tits? The old ones always looked quite nice.
Ranks as one of my most boring singers ever....Sorry people...does zilch for me..
Natalie Merchant is a genius. And as is well understood, few people appreciate genius in its own time. Thanks for continuing to play her - and 10,000 Maniacs, too, Bill. 9.
This is a steaming heap of feces.
meloman wrote:
You're not alone.
I dunno. Ever since she started appearing out in that smoke-grey Bently.... with her new titjob. Covering Molly Hatchet and always armed.
catmaven wrote:
Beautiful lyrics (and nice guitar): These are the days you'll remember. Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky. It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you. These are the days you'll remember. When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour. You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky. It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you. These are days. These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break. These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face. And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be. See the signs and know their meaning. It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be. Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you Too bad one must listen to Natalie Merchant "sing," though.
now i understand... this was written as a theme for an after school special dealing the onset of puberty.
Trustocity wrote:
Attack of the Warbling Merchant! This song sounds so great on the album, but this entire "Unglued" performance is OffKeyFest1996. I seriously think she was sniffing glue that night. Pick. A. Key. Pick one! Do it!
You say what I think. Thank you.
No, not alone. I've always liked this song.
SCprof wrote:
I seem to be alone here but I do love Natalie Merchant and this song in particular. I do miss the combination of her with 10,000 Maniacs.
You're not alone.
Yes! These Are The Daze!
her music is too freakin girlie...
Ok, I had to turn from 8 ->9 Seems that I am digging this song more than I thought
too often played! The more I hear, the less I like it!
she's got nice legs
ListeningClose wrote:
It seems like I used to like this song some years ago, but now it is painful to listen to. I actually turned my speakers down...
Those were the days. This song is over and done. Too much overplay and commercials.
Beautiful lyrics (and nice guitar): These are the days you'll remember. Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky. It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you. These are the days you'll remember. When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour. You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky. It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you. These are days. These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break. These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face. And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be. See the signs and know their meaning. It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be. Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you Too bad one must listen to Natalie Merchant "sing," though.
No you're not. I think Natalie Merchant has a great voice and combination, especially live, with 10 000 Maniacs is great. :) Cheer up! Oh and this is my favorite live by 10 000 Maniacs ;) So thanks for playing it. P.s. SCprof, how you like Natalie's "Thnak you"? In my opinion it is as good as Tori Amos' "A sorta fairytale" the best ever :) SCprof wrote:
I seem to be alone here but I do love Natalie Merchant and this song in particular. I do miss the combination of her with 10,000 Maniacs.
exactly Trustocity - shouldve been 10,000 voice lessons ;}
It seems like I used to like this song some years ago, but now it is painful to listen to. I actually turned my speakers down...
This is one of the 10,000 Maniacs songs I actually enjoy, but this performance is one of the (overwhelming number of) cases where I, too, would prefer the tight studio version over a "warm" live performance. That's a matter of taste, of course. I can understand people having a connection to recordings of live performances if they went to a particular concert or otherwise had matching, live performance memories to go with it, but in general I've found too much of a live, stage performance bleeds off into the margins, and the pacing too often takes such a turn towards the mellow as to become almost flaccid. One clue comes in the way people talk about concerts: "I went to see 10,000 Maniacs at the..." They're really much more events to go see and feel as if one's a part of than places to go and hear the music.
Brewski wrote:
Maybe she sits to hide a big butt?
Perhaps she was sitting down as she was recovering from spinal meningitis and still weak? This was one of her last 10,000 Maniac projects, done (so it's said) to take care of her band mates when she decided she'd had enough. Still and all ... probably a really nice person ... just not excited by her music.
serendipity_blue wrote:
Meh... The unplugged version is boring. Play the album version instead.
Wow. I've been using the word "boring" wrong all these years. Thanks for the "heads up."
Meh... The unplugged version is boring. Play the album version instead.
I seem to be alone here but I do love Natalie Merchant and this song in particular. I do miss the combination of her with 10,000 Maniacs.
Absolutely love 10,000 Maniacs. Absolutely hate the Unplugged CD.