Review: Eskimo Joe – Foreign Land [Single]
Posted on 19 April 2009 by admin
Foreign Land [Single]
Warner Music
On the surface Eskimo Joe’s new single, Foreign Land, is more than impressive.
Eskimo Joe
The Perth band has stepped it up a gear from Black Fingernails, Red Wine, with a sonic boom of power chords and the introduction of Eastern flair.
As well as Foreign Land sounding incredible, just below the surface lurks something a little darker.
After a few listens I was struck by a few of the song’s lyrics.
I searched for lyrics of the song and was surprised by how political the song appears to be.
“Even when you’re all alone
When it’s not your home
I smell the blood of an Australian
Try to understand this if you can
If you can
If you can”
While the track doesn’t directly speak about any international conflict, and such a suggestion may be well of the mark, with such interesting lyrics it does beg the question – What are they referring to?
In an interesting twist, the song seems to call out to the listener, as though relinquishing any preaching duties and simply asking for answers of those around them.
Politics aside, Eskimo Joe has chosen a stellar single to lead off with. Bring on the full album, Inshalla.
Four and a half
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Tags | album review, Eskimo Joe, Foreign Land
April 20th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I agree; the song could well be about being a lonely Aussie in a foreign land, with all kinds of predatory corporate types sniffing menacingly around.
The lyrics are vague, and could mean anything you want them too. But there is plenty of emotion coming thru the song, and the guitar patterns are killer. Harks back to the era when rock was still king.
April 20th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Actually the song was written as a reaction to Heath Ledger’s death, as quoted by Kavyen Temperley (Lead Singer/Bass)
http://www.yourgigs.com.au/news/?i=157793
April 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Who cares what the song is about – I wan’t to know what foreign,musical instrument is playing through it, I can’t get that rift out of my head !! Sounds like a cross betwen a clarinet and a set of bag – pipes ( he he !)Great, tight guitar work – hope this song gets to No;1 in the charts, as it deserves to be.Fantastic guys, keep up the great work – can’t wait to listen to the album.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Wow Benn, thankyou for the info, that certainly sheds some light on it for me!!! I originally got the feeling that this single may have been politically influenced. Seeing it was released close to ANZAC day, I was the impression that it was reflective of the diggers in Gallipoli. Particularly with the almost pipe beginning of the song. I still believe this despite Heath unfortunately perishing overseas.
Either way this is a brilliant single and hopefully it is a sedgeway into what the rest of the albun can bring. On a negative note, May 29 release of the album is too far away!!! What’s up with that? I can’t wait that long….
Cheers Esky lovers,
Michelle
May 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Apparently the wind instrument in this single is called a Zurna. It’s Turkish in origin and is also known as a surnay, birbynė, lettish horn, surla, sornai, zournas and zurma.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
@ pickles Thanks! i love the hornting sounds they produce
June 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
The instrument used at the start is a Turkish flute(Zurna), the dance also at the start of the clip is a ‘Mevlana’ dance. It is a spiritual song about foreigners in other land just like Heath Ledger.Peace be upon him…
June 28th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The instrument played is a turkish instrument “zurna”
The whirling dervishes in the beginning of the clip represents all a mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent through love, finding the truth and arriving to the “Perfect”. Then he returns from this spiritual journeys as a man who reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole creation, to all creatures without discriminating in regard to belief, class, or race.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Thanks for that info, Pickles. It’s been driving me crazy so I’m glad to finally know.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
“Who cares what the song is about” I do other wise the song has no meaning
How can you say that when a songs meaning is everything it inspires the way we feel and listen to music
The meaning to a song is everything
If music had no meaning it would be uninspired, obviously meaningless, and pointless
Being a singer i like to know what the song i am singing is about if i can relaate to it in some way i can put more passion into it there for the song sounding alot better and reaching people on a deeper level
This songs meaning is so deep in so many ways
You can take it as An Australian at war in a foreign land or at war with him self and alone But knowing its about heath ledger and Eskimo being in new york at the same time as his death gives the lyrics even more meaning and making the song deeper
The Instruments they have used gives it that extra depth
Personally I absolutely love this song and the lyrics