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| released = November 12, 2002
| released = November 12, 2002
| format =
| format =
| recorded = February–May 2002 at [[Bad Animals Studio|Studio X]], [[Seattle]]
| recorded = February–May 2002
| studio =
| studio = [[Studio X]], Seattle, Washington
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Folk rock]]
| genre = [[Folk rock]]
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==Origin and recording==
==Origin and recording==
"Thumbing My Way" was written by vocalist [[Eddie Vedder]]. Drummer [[Matt Cameron]] revealed to Vedder that he considers it the nicest [[chord progression]] Vedder has come up with.<ref>Scaggs, Austin. [https://www.rollingstone.com/news/qa/story/9961927/eddie_vedder_addicted_to_rock "Eddie Vedder: Addicted to Rock"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. April 21, 2006.</ref> Vedder on the song:
"Thumbing My Way" was written by vocalist [[Eddie Vedder]]. Drummer [[Matt Cameron]] revealed to Vedder that he considers it the nicest [[chord progression]] Vedder has come up with.<ref>Scaggs, Austin. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060423003619/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/qa/story/9961927/eddie_vedder_addicted_to_rock "Eddie Vedder: Addicted to Rock"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. April 21, 2006.</ref> Vedder on the song:
<blockquote>"Thumbing My Way" was written real quick. There's something about writing real quickly that keeps the music in a nice pure state. You don't think of it as homework. You think, "Wow, that was a good half hour spent." There is a tangible joy about creating something that wasn't there before.<ref>Fricke, David. [https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eddievedder/articles/story/5940075/eddie_unabridged "Eddie Unabridged"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. May 29, 2003.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>"Thumbing My Way" was written real quick. There's something about writing real quickly that keeps the music in a nice pure state. You don't think of it as homework. You think, "Wow, that was a good half hour spent." There is a tangible joy about creating something that wasn't there before.<ref>Fricke, David. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071028193946/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eddievedder/articles/story/5940075/eddie_unabridged "Eddie Unabridged"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. May 29, 2003.</ref></blockquote>


Bassist [[Jeff Ament]] on the song:
Bassist [[Jeff Ament]] on the song:
<blockquote>We were out in the room playing the song and learning it. In the process, [producer [[Adam Kasper]]] went and re-miked everything very covertly. So all of the sudden when we were ready to play it, it was up and he captured it. Nailed it. That to me was really critical and kind of how the record sounds. A lot of times, there's that cool thing when you don't quite know the song and everybody is really concentrating. It lasts for four or five takes and then it's gone. After that, it's all cerebral.<ref name="inciting">Cohen, Jonathan. {{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/billboard/specialreport/pearl_jam/pearl_jam2.jsp |title="Inciting a 'Riot': Pearl Jam's New Album" |accessdate=2017-04-08 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021030103829/http://www.billboard.com/billboard/specialreport/pearl_jam/pearl_jam2.jsp |archivedate=October 30, 2002 |df=mdy-all }}. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. November 2002.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>We were out in the room playing the song and learning it. In the process, [producer [[Adam Kasper]]] went and re-miked everything very covertly. So all of the sudden when we were ready to play it, it was up and he captured it. Nailed it. That to me was really critical and kind of how the record sounds. A lot of times, there's that cool thing when you don't quite know the song and everybody is really concentrating. It lasts for four or five takes and then it's gone. After that, it's all cerebral.<ref name="inciting">Cohen, Jonathan. {{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/billboard/specialreport/pearl_jam/pearl_jam2.jsp |title="Inciting a 'Riot': Pearl Jam's New Album" |access-date=2017-04-08 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021030103829/http://www.billboard.com/billboard/specialreport/pearl_jam/pearl_jam2.jsp |archive-date=October 30, 2002 |df=mdy-all }}. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. November 2002.</ref></blockquote>


Guitarist [[Stone Gossard]] about the song:
Guitarist [[Stone Gossard]] about the song:
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==Lyrics==
==Lyrics==
The lyrics for "Thumbing My Way" are about a person in turmoil.<ref name="Kaufman">Kaufman, Gil. [http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1458559/11072002/pearl_jam.jhtml "Pearl Jam: Readin' The Riot Act"]. [[VH1|VH1.com]]. November 7, 2002.</ref> In an interview, Vedder stated that the song is not about himself. He elaborated by saying, "I'm pretty good at removing myself from most of the songs. One thing about writing songs is, they don't always have to be about you. When they are always about someone, I lose interest after a while."<ref name="Kaufman"/> The song includes several references to [[hitchhiking]]. At the band's February 14, 2003 concert in [[Sydney]], Australia at the [[Sydney Entertainment Centre]], Vedder said, "This song's about hitchhiking your way through a broken heart."<ref>Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2003). ''2/14/03, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia ''. [Audio Recording]. Epic.</ref>
The lyrics for "Thumbing My Way" are about a person in turmoil.<ref name="Kaufman">Kaufman, Gil. [https://web.archive.org/web/20021119054015/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1458559/11072002/pearl_jam.jhtml "Pearl Jam: Readin' The Riot Act"]. [[VH1|VH1.com]]. November 7, 2002.</ref> In an interview, Vedder stated that the song is not about himself. He elaborated by saying, "I'm pretty good at removing myself from most of the songs. One thing about writing songs is, they don't always have to be about you. When they are always about someone, I lose interest after a while."<ref name="Kaufman"/> The song includes several references to [[hitchhiking]]. At the band's February 14, 2003 concert in [[Sydney]], Australia at the [[Sydney Entertainment Centre]], Vedder said, "This song's about hitchhiking your way through a broken heart."<ref>Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2003). ''2/14/03, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia ''. [Audio Recording]. Epic.</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
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==Live performances==
==Live performances==
"Thumbing My Way" was first performed live by Vedder during a solo performance at the [[Wiltern Theatre]] in Los Angeles on February 26, 2002.<ref name="fivehorizons">[http://www.fivehorizons.com/tour/cc/t2002.shtml Pearl Jam: 2002 Concert Chronology]. fivehorizons.com.</ref> The first performance of the song with the full band took place at the band's December 6, 2002 concert in [[Seattle]] at The Showbox.<ref>[https://www.pearljam.com/song/thumbing-my-way "Pearl Jam Songs: "Thumbing My Way""]. [[Pearl Jam|pearljam.com]].</ref> Live performances of "Thumbing My Way" can be found on various [[Pearl Jam Official Bootlegs|official bootlegs]] and the live album ''[[Live at Benaroya Hall]]''. Performances of the song are also included on the DVDs ''[[Live at the Showbox]]'' and ''[[Live at the Garden]]''.
"Thumbing My Way" was first performed live by Vedder during a solo performance at the [[Wiltern Theatre]] in Los Angeles on February 26, 2002.<ref name="fivehorizons">[http://www.fivehorizons.com/tour/cc/t2002.shtml Pearl Jam: 2002 Concert Chronology]. fivehorizons.com.</ref> The first performance of the song with the full band took place at the band's December 6, 2002 concert in [[Seattle]] at The Showbox.<ref>[https://www.pearljam.com/song/thumbing-my-way "Pearl Jam Songs: "Thumbing My Way""] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520134222/http://www.pearljam.com/song/thumbing-my-way |date=May 20, 2009 }}. [[Pearl Jam|pearljam.com]].</ref> Live performances of "Thumbing My Way" can be found on various [[Pearl Jam Official Bootlegs|official bootlegs]] and the live album ''[[Live at Benaroya Hall]]''. Performances of the song are also included on the DVDs ''[[Live at the Showbox]]'' and ''[[Live at the Garden]]''.


==References==
==References==
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{{Pearl Jam}}
{{Pearl Jam}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2002 songs]]
[[Category:2002 songs]]

Latest revision as of 16:35, 13 June 2024

"Thumbing My Way"
Song by Pearl Jam
from the album Riot Act
ReleasedNovember 12, 2002
RecordedFebruary–May 2002
StudioStudio X, Seattle, Washington
GenreFolk rock
Length4:10
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Eddie Vedder
Producer(s)Adam Kasper, Pearl Jam

"Thumbing My Way" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Thumbing My Way" is the seventh track on the band's seventh studio album, Riot Act (2002).

Origin and recording

[edit]

"Thumbing My Way" was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. Drummer Matt Cameron revealed to Vedder that he considers it the nicest chord progression Vedder has come up with.[1] Vedder on the song:

"Thumbing My Way" was written real quick. There's something about writing real quickly that keeps the music in a nice pure state. You don't think of it as homework. You think, "Wow, that was a good half hour spent." There is a tangible joy about creating something that wasn't there before.[2]

Bassist Jeff Ament on the song:

We were out in the room playing the song and learning it. In the process, [producer Adam Kasper] went and re-miked everything very covertly. So all of the sudden when we were ready to play it, it was up and he captured it. Nailed it. That to me was really critical and kind of how the record sounds. A lot of times, there's that cool thing when you don't quite know the song and everybody is really concentrating. It lasts for four or five takes and then it's gone. After that, it's all cerebral.[3]

Guitarist Stone Gossard about the song:

That's a real live performance with lots of room ambience. It's us trying to keep up with the chord changes! There are some nice drums and bass. The sentiment of the song is amazing.[3]

Lyrics

[edit]

The lyrics for "Thumbing My Way" are about a person in turmoil.[4] In an interview, Vedder stated that the song is not about himself. He elaborated by saying, "I'm pretty good at removing myself from most of the songs. One thing about writing songs is, they don't always have to be about you. When they are always about someone, I lose interest after a while."[4] The song includes several references to hitchhiking. At the band's February 14, 2003 concert in Sydney, Australia at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Vedder said, "This song's about hitchhiking your way through a broken heart."[5]

Reception

[edit]

In its review of Riot Act, The Guardian stated that "Thumbing My Way" "resembles an acoustic 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'" and called it one of the album's "best moments."[6] Brett Hickman of Stylus said, "Never a band to make their quieter forays really work, the band deliver their best one with "Thumbing My Way". Through its muted organ, acoustic guitars, brushed drums and Vedder's semi-coherent line readings, the band matches intent with mood perfectly."[7]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Thumbing My Way" was directed by James Frost.[8] The video was filmed at Seattle's Chop Suey club in September 2002.[9] The video consists of a filmed live performance of the band rather than a conceptual video. It was one of five videos shot at the club to promote Riot Act (including "I Am Mine", "Save You", "Love Boat Captain", and "1/2 Full"). Up to that point the band had not made any music videos since 1998's "Do the Evolution". The video was released in late 2002.

Live performances

[edit]

"Thumbing My Way" was first performed live by Vedder during a solo performance at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on February 26, 2002.[9] The first performance of the song with the full band took place at the band's December 6, 2002 concert in Seattle at The Showbox.[10] Live performances of "Thumbing My Way" can be found on various official bootlegs and the live album Live at Benaroya Hall. Performances of the song are also included on the DVDs Live at the Showbox and Live at the Garden.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Scaggs, Austin. "Eddie Vedder: Addicted to Rock". Rolling Stone. April 21, 2006.
  2. ^ Fricke, David. "Eddie Unabridged". Rolling Stone. May 29, 2003.
  3. ^ a b Cohen, Jonathan. ""Inciting a 'Riot': Pearl Jam's New Album"". Archived from the original on October 30, 2002. Retrieved April 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Billboard. November 2002.
  4. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil. "Pearl Jam: Readin' The Riot Act". VH1.com. November 7, 2002.
  5. ^ Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2003). 2/14/03, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia . [Audio Recording]. Epic.
  6. ^ Sweeting, Adam. "Pearl Jam: Riot Act". The Guardian. November 8, 2002.
  7. ^ Hickman, Brett. Pearl Jam: Riot Act. Stylus. September 1, 2003.
  8. ^ Mills, Fred. "Yield Not". Seattle Weekly. November 6, 2002.
  9. ^ a b Pearl Jam: 2002 Concert Chronology. fivehorizons.com.
  10. ^ "Pearl Jam Songs: "Thumbing My Way"" Archived May 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. pearljam.com.
[edit]