"Please allow me to introduce myself". What a great opening line. The prolific master songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards penned a real diamond with this song, "Sympathy For The Devil", an homage, of sorts, to the Devil's role throughout history. It's a perfect combination of music and lyrics. This is a song that starts out strong, and just gets stronger until it's exploding climax.
First, samba-like drum rhythms , then the power chords on the piano, next enters the "woo-woo's", and by now the listener knows he's in for quite a ride. Mick starts the vocal by "introducing" himself, or rather his character, the devil, in the first person. I really love this idea, of writing in first person. It makes the song more personal and intimate; he's singing to you, not at you. He's just having a conversation with you, even if he is the Devil.
The first two verses set the stage by going back more than 2000 years in history. Then the guitars come in on the first chorus as the song cranks up a notch. You can almost see the Devil offering his hand on that first line of the chorus, "Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guess my name". This is just great songwriting.
The song more or less continues that way: two verses that take us through various periods of time, touching on such subjects as the Czar's, the World War's, the Crusades, the Kennedy's and more, then followed by a chorus, where we're reminded who is singing to us.
Musically, the drums, keys, guitars, and woo-woo's continue to build to almost a frenzied pace. Of course we are also treated to Keith Richards' perfect guitar solo's with his trademark Fender Telecaster sound, that of a single coil pickup combined with a vintage P-90 creating that wonderfully addictive raunchy "Stones" sound.
Again, as with so many great songs, there's nothing overly complicated here. No one is trying to dazzle you with involved or convoluted chord structures, this song is basic power chords ( E, A, D, with a B thrown into the chorus). Keith Richards isn't trying to show off pyro-techincal prowess on the riffs and leads, there's no need to. And they'd be highly inappropriate. Sure, there are tons of guitarists that can play 100 notes in 5 seconds, but what's the point? That kind of guitar playing seldom, if ever, adds to the song. In fact, it usually detracts.The mark of a great guitarist is to know what to play when. This is what make Keith a great guitarist.
This is a songwriting team that knows each other's strength's. That's what makes for great creativity. Jagger and Richards (below) have obviously written tons of songs, and a bunch of really good ones. But what sets "Sympathy For The Devil" apart are the lyrics, they tell an unusual story, in first person, in a very clever way. This is not the usual rock song fare of drag racing, babes with boobs, partying, dancing the night away, or getting laid. Nor is it the fare of getting dumped, cheating, being lied to, or being angry about whatever.
Musically, this song constructed brilliantly. It builds and builds and builds. The rhythms continue throughout providing that pulsing, hypnotic like infectious trance that sucks the listener in completely, from inception to finale, and never lets go. And Mick Jagger is probably the only vocalist that could pull this song off. He delivers just the right combination of matter of factness, with a touch of arrogance. Again, utilizing each's talents to their fullest; Richards' guitar and Jagger's voice. It's interesting to note that this song was recorded almost 50 years ago, in 1968, and has more than held up to the test of time. Yet another testament to this classic rock anthem.
Below is a performance from the 2006 tour, one that I was lucky enough to attend. The Rolling Stones, are, without a doubt, the consummate professional rock band performers. Enjoy.
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