"The General" | |
---|---|
File:The General.jpeg | |
Song by Guns N' Roses | |
A-side | Perhaps[1] |
Released | December 8, 2023 |
Recorded | 1999–2007, 2023 |
Genre | Rock · Psychedelic rock[2] |
Length | 4:24 |
Label | Geffen |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
Audio | |
"The General" on YouTube | |
Music video | |
"The General" on YouTube |
"The General" is a song by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses and was released as a B or "R-side" to their single Perhaps. It was released on December 8, 2023. Like the band's recent singles, it was also conceived during the Chinese Democracy recording sessions from the late '90s to 2000s.
Background
"The General" was recorded during the sessions for Chinese Democracy and was a track that never made the track listing. Orchestral arrangements in the song were played as an intro at the band's shows during the 2000s. The song features former Guns N’ Roses members Brain and Chris Pitman as well as composer Marco Beltrami and guitarist Marc Haggard.[3] Before the song was released, the band performed it live for the first time at the Hollywood Bowl on November 2, 2023.[4] It was later released on streaming platforms on December 8, 2023,[5] and a partially AI-generated music video for the track was released on January 24, 2024.[6] Of the song, Sebastian Bach said:
"I was at a Christmas party at [Axl Rose]'s house last year and he played me all of Chinese Democracy - Four Albums - worth of material. The heaviest song is called The General. It’s so demonic and evil. I’ve never heard Axl sing as high as he does on that - except for maybe on my record."[7]
Bach also said that Rose told him the song is a sequel to Use Your Illusion II's Estranged, and so part of the group consisting of November Rain, Don't Cry and Estranged. The meaning of the lyrics is speculated by fans as being memories from Axl Rose's childhood and the music video also features themes of abuse and traumatic childhood experiences.
Reception
Billboard described it as "bombastic".[8] NME described it as "slow-burning [and] soaring".[9] Louder Sound called it "epic" and described it as "a slow-burner" featuring "one of Axl Rose's more anguished vocals" [10]
Personnel
- Axl Rose – vocals, production
- Slash – guitar
- Duff McKagan – bass
- Chris Pitman – keyboards
- Marc Haggard – guitar
- Brain – drums
Additional credits
- Marco Beltrami - strings, composition
- Caram Costanzo – keyboards, production, engineer
- Eric Caudieux, Sean Beavan – additional engineering
- Joe Barresi – mixer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer
References
- ^ "Perhaps 7" Vinyl". Guns N' Roses. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (24 January 2024). "GUNS N' ROSES Releases Cinematic A.I.-Generated Animated Music Video For 'The General'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Lewrypublished, Fraser (December 8, 2023). "Guns N' Roses release anguished yet epic new recording of The General". louder.
- ^ "Watch: GUNS N' ROSES Perform 'The General' Live For First Time". Blabbermouth. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ the general debuts digital
- ^ The General MV
- ^ {{cite magazine|title=Axl Rose Penning Autobiography, Sequel to “Estranged”?|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/axl-rose-penning-autobiography-sequel-to-estranged-184435/%7Cmagazine=Rolling Stone|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=25 June 2008|
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (24 January 2024). "Guns N' Roses Welcome You To Their Animated A.I. Nightmare in Trippy 'The General' Video". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (8 December 2023). "Listen to Guns N' Roses soaring new single 'The General'". NME. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Lewry, Fraser (8 December 2023). "Guns N' Roses release anguished yet epic new recording of The General". Classic Rock. Retrieved 8 December 2023.