Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object)

"Irresistible Force" is the second single from American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction's fourth studio album, The Great Escape Artist. The song was released on August 3, 2011.[1]

"Irresistible Force"
Single by Jane's Addiction
from the album The Great Escape Artist
ReleasedAugust 3, 2011 (2011-08-03)
Length3:59
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Dave Sitek
Producer(s)Rich Costey
Jane's Addiction singles chronology
"End to the Lies"
(2011)
"Irresistible Force"
(2011)
"Underground"
(2011)

Musical style and lyrics

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The song features TV on the Radio member and multi-instrumentalist Dave Sitek on guitar and bass guitar. It is less rock-laden than the previous Jane's Addiction single, "End to the Lies", and focuses more on synth-aided textures and atmospheric soundscapes.[2] The song starts with a spoken word intro and continues on verse-chorus form, which is accompanied by a guitar solo by Dave Navarro.[2][3] The verses, which were built around "droning funk" and "the rubbery basslines" were also noted.[3]

Lyrically, the song contains references to the irresistible force paradox.[2] In an interview with CNN, the lyricist Perry Farrell indicated that "the song chronicles how the universe was created", while the drummer Stephen Perkins described it as "what pulls him, Dave and Perry together".[4] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone also commented on the song's lyrics, describing it as "Perry Farrell sounding like Carl Sagan in an episode of Cosmos, musing ominously about the stars and some sort of big bang."[3]

Reception and release

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The critical reception for the song was positive.[2][3][5]

A music video for the song was produced.[4][6]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Irresistible Force"3:59

Charts

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Chart (2011) Peak
position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[7] 15
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[8] 9
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] 16

References

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  1. ^ "Jane's Addiction - Irresistible Force". janesaddicition.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jane's Addiction- Irresistible Force". Billboard. Vol. 123, no. 35. October–December 2011. p. 29.
  3. ^ a b c d Hermes, Will. "Jane's Addiction - "Irresistible Force"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Quan, Denise (October 11, 2011). "'Irresistible Force' brings Jane's Addiction back together". CNN. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (August 2, 2011). "Jane's Addiction, 'Irresistible Force' – song review". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. ^ Jane's Addiction - "Irresistible Force" on Youtube
  7. ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  8. ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
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