Since we're talking about The Burning World I will never understand why their record label wanted "The Loudest Band In The World" to come out with a sensitive folk album.
I should sing this every time I beat somebody at something. I'm so glad I'm better than you! I'm so glad I'm better than you are! Great song, one of my Swans favorites.
@soflythelies all of SWANS considerable output has been remastered and re-released by Michael Gira on his own Young God label. Some are available on download either from iTunes or the label directly. You might be surprised at how they've developed over the years. The Children Of God / World Of Skin is particulrly good.
@soflythelies There is a website overseen by Jarboe.. Michael Gira has been compiling recordings for a live lp & a studio recording in in the process, too. After My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky, I can't wait ! Take care. N
Why are you people fighting? Swans sounds nothing like Joy Division in any of its different periods. Making a cover of a Joy Division song doesn't turn you into a JD cover band. "A drowned world" was a record label deman, and it might be the weakest Swans album, but albums such as "White light..." and "Love of Life" are great in their own right, not to mention The Great Annihilator.
@FractalBolt I agree with you on this one. Swans have already made this transition with their Children of God record introducing some acoustic numbers,"White Light...." and "Love of Life" are what the major label release should have been in my opinion.No mainstream edge at all in them
@FractalBolt Uh, Swans sounds like Joy Division, like any other bands: Editors, Interpol, The Cinematics, White Lies. Ewwww, isn't enough? Ian Curtis' voice is horrible and all these bands try to imitate him.
Um...Have you ever actually listened to early swans before? or more recent swans actually, neither of them are ANYTHING like joy division..Nor was Jarboe even in the band when it first began, and their first album was noise, nothing like joy division in any way....
@diedahero You know whaI love? Ignorant people. They make life so much more interesting and funny...and what a perfect song for you to postsuch a riduculous comment on. You obviously dont know anything about the Swans or how they started with just Micheal making noise loops and then jarboe joined and the band evolved in MANY directions after that...maybe you should know about what you spout before you spout it...or not because its pretty fucking funny!
@diedahero You know what love? Ignorant people. They make life so much more interesting and funny...and what a perfect song for you to post such a ridiculous comment on. You obviously dont know anything about the Swans or how they started with just Micheal making noise loops and then jarboe joined and the band evolved in MANY directions after that...maybe you should know about what you spout before you spout it...or not because its pretty fucking funny!
You know what I love, people who like a band they had no involvement with being legitimately offended by someone else's opinion. I'm fully aware of Noise/Drone aspect of the band, I'm also aware that this got Swans so little fan-fair they decided to make two LP's that sounded EXACTLY like Unknown Pleasures when Jarboe joined the band, hence the joke.
@diedahero You're wrong. Swans was born of the same mother as Sonic Youth. It was an outfit for detuned instruments and confrontational performance. The band changed over the years. At one point, they did try to sound like Joy Division. I agree with you there. My personal opinion is that the major label wanted this. A Burning World was an attempt to make a Joy Division record. Mr. Gira resisted this, but the major label won.
So first you say I'm wrong, then you agree that they did try to purposefully sound like Joy Division, then you blame a major label for wanting a sound that was beyond non-commercial?
@diedahero You are wrong because you imply Swans was somehow formed out of an attempt to copy Joy Division's sound. That is simply not true. You must not know a damn thing about the band.
I am not going to even attempt to respond to anything else you said. You are either unable to read carefully, or you are just trying to ruffle feathers.
The joke was about how Jarboe came into the band and they turned into Joy Division for two albums. Which is exactly what happened. I guess I coulda made a joke about how Michael Gira wanted to be Lou Reed until he met Jarboe and then wanted to become Ian Curtis, but I assumed that was too on the nose.
And for anyone else who wants to continue this stupid debate, just look at the links of this very page and see the cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart by, guess who, The Swans.
@diedahero Okay. You are making some valid points. I happen to agree with you. I misunderstood what you meant in your first comment.
Not to get too carried away but I am not a big fan of Jarboe. I did not like what the band became after she got involved. I would not be surprised if she just wanted to be a performer and she glommed on to Mr. Gira, who just wanted to get laid. She has a song on Soundtracks which is a tribute to Courtney Love, who is one of the most despicable people on earth.
It's cool man, the only reason I even had a hostile tone was because you started your post with the phrase, "You're wrong." Which is never the most friendly way to try and start a debate. I understand you probably didn't mean any harm by it, just explaining.
yes M. Gira was unhappy with the White Light, Love of Life albums, I don't know why I loved them both, but of course i didn't create them. I can't speak for him of course. The creator knows what he likes about his own music. Oh well. Still great music. I hope Jarboe does some surprise visits on the reunion tour. But I doubt that will happen. They don't seem to have a relationship at all now.
Swans tour dates 2010: Oct 21- Cork, Ireland Cyprus AvenueOct 22 Dublin, Ireland Button FactoryOct 23 Oct 24- Birmingham, UK - Supersonic FestivalOct 25 Glasgow, Scotland, ArchesOct 26 offOct 27 Brighton, UK , Concorde 2Oct 28 London, UK , Koko TheatreOct 29 Leeds, UK a, Uni StylusOct 30 Manchester UK , AcademyOct 21 thru Oct 30 support= James Blackshaw
Nov 23 Gronignen, Netherlands, VERANov 24 Utrecht, etc...
@HugoJanKanAl Hmm...biology was always one of my weaker points, so I'll take your word on that one. I don't ever seem to recall seeing birds with junk swingin around...
Is there anyone out there who have the lyrics for this extreme great song ?? I understand most of it, but not it all - lyrics will be highly appreciated !!
Google is a pretty powerful tool on the internet. Look up "Better than you" lyrics and you'll find about 20 thousand sites with the lyrics on there. Anyway, I'm so glad I'm better than you.
@slotgitt All the re-mastered & re-released lps on Young Gods Records have the lyrics on the sleeve. Even the downloads fro iTunes have an Adobe version.
i was searching for a video about birds, and i found this. i knew this band by name already, but never could never be arsed to listen to it. damn, aren't i glad i'm not watching a video about birds now?
yes, they all do for the most part.although i rebought mine on cassette because my silo record player didnt want to play the lp..........not altogether a bad move since it's a double.of course, so the whole thing could fit on cd.........don't know why gira isn't putting these classics out: they're just as good as and better produced than 'god (i.e. u can hear the bass)
@posthumanhero I also bought the LP and it was poorly mastered, crackly etc. I took it back to the record shop and exchanged it for the CD (though I kept the poster :-) ) If you read Gira's Young God records website he explains why he isn't that satisfied by this period of Swans and why he won't re-release the LPs between Children of God and The Great Annihilator. Oh well...
there is a baby trapped in my speakers. love this tune
TheCogre 3 weeks ago
Since we're talking about The Burning World I will never understand why their record label wanted "The Loudest Band In The World" to come out with a sensitive folk album.
lovewithanapparition 1 month ago 2
I should sing this every time I beat somebody at something. I'm so glad I'm better than you! I'm so glad I'm better than you are! Great song, one of my Swans favorites.
MissAutechre 1 month ago
What the hell is goin'on here? -.-
BTW Swans are amazing. Nothing to add to.
MissPurestFeeling 2 months ago
Comment removed
youknowyourrite1 2 months ago
We need more arrogance in music today...and not just showing of privilege.
seanfuckingjones 2 months ago
You should probably over-embelsish in order to call me an asshole and a prick you lonely piece of shit
and your not black.
Grey goofy inward man
MattyMattThing 3 months ago
Hey sam you still live with your mom like Ken did.
MattyMattThing 3 months ago
what? they stole my motto!!
1111hola 5 months ago
This was the first song I heard of Swans.
I wish I have the album, White Light from the Mouth of Infinity.
'Cause it's a masterpiece and the one i love the most.
soflythelies 7 months ago
@soflythelies all of SWANS considerable output has been remastered and re-released by Michael Gira on his own Young God label. Some are available on download either from iTunes or the label directly. You might be surprised at how they've developed over the years. The Children Of God / World Of Skin is particulrly good.
greymalkin100 6 months ago
@greymalkin100 Thanks for the tip, I have almost forgotten to check the Young God label.
Yes, the Children of God / World of Skin, the two are good too.
And so The Burning World.
Swans have done many good and higher things, when Jarbo was with
was Swans best year, a personally thing I feel.
But, thanks again for the tip again.
soflythelies 6 months ago
@soflythelies There is a website overseen by Jarboe.. Michael Gira has been compiling recordings for a live lp & a studio recording in in the process, too. After My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky, I can't wait ! Take care. N
greymalkin100 6 months ago
so glad
radicalmentalist 7 months ago
I disagree. I think the lyrics are precisely egocentric. Self talking to some intimate, unreachable second self (god?),
it's called dualism.
See Descartes, or Samuel Beckett.
spunkets 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
RANK MOIST VEGETATION, PUSSIES.
/watch?v=R0-Qu9ZnNbc
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
Comment removed
xtacy999 8 months ago
@xtacy999 do nt be a c unt you hip ster
you lame arrog ant prrrick
you r eally th in k you co oler than the sheep
fleecy f u c k
glowria666 8 months ago
Comment removed
xtacy999 8 months ago
@xtacy999 stupid fleecy fuck
Rankmoistmeat 8 months ago
Comment removed
xtacy999 7 months ago
@xtacy999 I don't have one.
Rankmoistmeat 7 months ago
Comment removed
xtacy999 7 months ago
Comment removed
xtacy999 7 months ago
The voice reminds me Death in June so much
cesareo12 9 months ago
Must confess, I'm not a huge Swans fan, I just couldn't get that into them, but this song is amazing
lukeisareilly 9 months ago
my god why are so many of you so stupid. fuck me
vars666 9 months ago 8
@vars666 I'll fuck you.
geetphuck 1 month ago
Why are you people fighting? Swans sounds nothing like Joy Division in any of its different periods. Making a cover of a Joy Division song doesn't turn you into a JD cover band. "A drowned world" was a record label deman, and it might be the weakest Swans album, but albums such as "White light..." and "Love of Life" are great in their own right, not to mention The Great Annihilator.
FractalBolt 10 months ago 14
@FractalBolt I agree with you on this one. Swans have already made this transition with their Children of God record introducing some acoustic numbers,"White Light...." and "Love of Life" are what the major label release should have been in my opinion.No mainstream edge at all in them
bloodyrockfire 10 months ago
@FractalBolt agreed
vars666 9 months ago
@FractalBolt
Amen, brother
SuperSquishface 6 months ago
@FractalBolt One word: T R U E !
Arjanajanath 5 months ago
@FractalBolt Uh, Swans sounds like Joy Division, like any other bands: Editors, Interpol, The Cinematics, White Lies. Ewwww, isn't enough? Ian Curtis' voice is horrible and all these bands try to imitate him.
Booorrrppph 5 months ago
@Booorrrppph I don't like Ian Curtis' voice, but I like M. Gira's ... weird, eh. These are "Goth" voices. Some are better than others.
Zoyxx 4 months ago
@Zoyxx Goth voices????? u need to fuckoff moron
SouthernCross33 4 months ago
@SouthernCross33 Yea, you're right. These are more like, "Bing Crosby Holiday Special" Voices.
Zoyxx 4 months ago
@Booorrrppph uh, no they don't.
roejogan8 4 months ago
i love listening to this song while taking a shit at grandmas
Iamcola65 11 months ago
Michael: I really like Joy Division.
Jarboe: Really, me too. We should start a band.
Thus Swans was born.
diedahero 11 months ago
@diedahero uh. no.
olneycapn 11 months ago
@olneycapn
lol
Sorry dude, this band is clearly going for Joy Division II.
diedahero 11 months ago
@diedahero
Um...Have you ever actually listened to early swans before? or more recent swans actually, neither of them are ANYTHING like joy division..Nor was Jarboe even in the band when it first began, and their first album was noise, nothing like joy division in any way....
therealmoomoomoomoo 10 months ago 2
@diedahero You know whaI love? Ignorant people. They make life so much more interesting and funny...and what a perfect song for you to postsuch a riduculous comment on. You obviously dont know anything about the Swans or how they started with just Micheal making noise loops and then jarboe joined and the band evolved in MANY directions after that...maybe you should know about what you spout before you spout it...or not because its pretty fucking funny!
crosssextion 10 months ago
@crosssextion AS i said...keep me laughing...thanks!
crosssextion 10 months ago
@diedahero You know what love? Ignorant people. They make life so much more interesting and funny...and what a perfect song for you to post such a ridiculous comment on. You obviously dont know anything about the Swans or how they started with just Micheal making noise loops and then jarboe joined and the band evolved in MANY directions after that...maybe you should know about what you spout before you spout it...or not because its pretty fucking funny!
crosssextion 10 months ago
@crosssextion
You know what I love, people who like a band they had no involvement with being legitimately offended by someone else's opinion. I'm fully aware of Noise/Drone aspect of the band, I'm also aware that this got Swans so little fan-fair they decided to make two LP's that sounded EXACTLY like Unknown Pleasures when Jarboe joined the band, hence the joke.
Sorry if I offended your favorite cover band.
diedahero 10 months ago
@diedahero You're wrong. Swans was born of the same mother as Sonic Youth. It was an outfit for detuned instruments and confrontational performance. The band changed over the years. At one point, they did try to sound like Joy Division. I agree with you there. My personal opinion is that the major label wanted this. A Burning World was an attempt to make a Joy Division record. Mr. Gira resisted this, but the major label won.
greedholymoney 10 months ago
@greedholymoney
So first you say I'm wrong, then you agree that they did try to purposefully sound like Joy Division, then you blame a major label for wanting a sound that was beyond non-commercial?
Way to make sense.
diedahero 10 months ago
@diedahero You are wrong because you imply Swans was somehow formed out of an attempt to copy Joy Division's sound. That is simply not true. You must not know a damn thing about the band.
I am not going to even attempt to respond to anything else you said. You are either unable to read carefully, or you are just trying to ruffle feathers.
greedholymoney 10 months ago
@greedholymoney
The joke was about how Jarboe came into the band and they turned into Joy Division for two albums. Which is exactly what happened. I guess I coulda made a joke about how Michael Gira wanted to be Lou Reed until he met Jarboe and then wanted to become Ian Curtis, but I assumed that was too on the nose.
And for anyone else who wants to continue this stupid debate, just look at the links of this very page and see the cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart by, guess who, The Swans.
diedahero 10 months ago
@diedahero Okay. You are making some valid points. I happen to agree with you. I misunderstood what you meant in your first comment.
Not to get too carried away but I am not a big fan of Jarboe. I did not like what the band became after she got involved. I would not be surprised if she just wanted to be a performer and she glommed on to Mr. Gira, who just wanted to get laid. She has a song on Soundtracks which is a tribute to Courtney Love, who is one of the most despicable people on earth.
greedholymoney 10 months ago
@greedholymoney
It's cool man, the only reason I even had a hostile tone was because you started your post with the phrase, "You're wrong." Which is never the most friendly way to try and start a debate. I understand you probably didn't mean any harm by it, just explaining.
diedahero 10 months ago
@diedahero Understood. My apologies.
greedholymoney 10 months ago
@greedholymoney
=)
word
diedahero 10 months ago
@diedahero You have never even bought a Swans LP - you have never seen Swans live - you are an idiot - you know nothing
xtacy999 8 months ago 2
@xtacy999
Very compelling argument, you must've taken debate.
diedahero 8 months ago
@diedahero nothing to debate here
xtacy999 8 months ago
@ xtacty999 > u r a c u n t
glowria666 8 months ago
@xtacy999 > u r a cu n t
glowria666 8 months ago
@glowria666 eh no eh your a cunt?
xtacy999 8 months ago
I like how clean and sparkly the instrumental bits compared to how murky and dark the verses sound.
RH98 11 months ago
Everybody knows this song is about necrophelia between two brothers right?
AVNewman 1 year ago
i'm gonna listen to this band tonight non-stops, in the hopes that i might actually kill myself along the way.
birdcagemind 1 year ago 3
@birdcagemind Good luck!
BlackBile13 1 year ago
@ramonesaudibert best comment ever
sleepyfish 1 year ago
@sleepyfish i second that shit.
shebop4331 1 year ago
listening to a swans song is like soaring ;)
stiggyh 1 year ago 8
@beowulven: faggot!
purplekittybun 1 year ago
@beowulven: piss off!
purplekittybun 1 year ago
I'm so glad I'm better than you... not that it really in any way alleviates the tiresome loneliness.
wintersthrall 1 year ago 5
i like the deepness of his voice and just all of this all together
shadowsnonconforming 1 year ago
Comment removed
TheEndofBeginnings 1 year ago
im so glad im better than you" hahaha so childish :)
stiggyh 1 year ago
yes M. Gira was unhappy with the White Light, Love of Life albums, I don't know why I loved them both, but of course i didn't create them. I can't speak for him of course. The creator knows what he likes about his own music. Oh well. Still great music. I hope Jarboe does some surprise visits on the reunion tour. But I doubt that will happen. They don't seem to have a relationship at all now.
gofuserect 1 year ago
Swans tour dates 2010: Oct 21- Cork, Ireland Cyprus AvenueOct 22 Dublin, Ireland Button FactoryOct 23 Oct 24- Birmingham, UK - Supersonic FestivalOct 25 Glasgow, Scotland, ArchesOct 26 offOct 27 Brighton, UK , Concorde 2Oct 28 London, UK , Koko TheatreOct 29 Leeds, UK a, Uni StylusOct 30 Manchester UK , AcademyOct 21 thru Oct 30 support= James Blackshaw
Nov 23 Gronignen, Netherlands, VERANov 24 Utrecht, etc...
andinoble 1 year ago
I wish Jarboe and Gira never stopped doing music together. Together they did things so magically:(
purplekittybun 1 year ago
@purplekittybun
Vagina is for pussies.
beowulven 1 year ago
@beowulven By that logic, penis is for roosters.
TheTasteOfReason 1 year ago
@TheTasteOfReason
Obviously.
beowulven 1 year ago
@beowulven Alright. Just wanted to be clear on that...
TheTasteOfReason 1 year ago
@TheTasteOfReason But roosters don't have penises! Pussies do have a vagina.
HugoJanKanAl 1 year ago
@HugoJanKanAl Hmm...biology was always one of my weaker points, so I'll take your word on that one. I don't ever seem to recall seeing birds with junk swingin around...
TheTasteOfReason 1 year ago
@TheTasteOfReason Hmm, not all birds. Ducks and swans do have penises. Check out the Argentine lake duck (Oxyura vittata). Huge junk swinging around!
HugoJanKanAl 1 year ago
@HugoJanKanAl no they have cocks
xtacy999 8 months ago
Owwww......!!!!!!
Rippostpunk 1 year ago
i miss the swans
kicksex 1 year ago
holy s*** it chocked me
DoubleDTwiceAsManyDs 1 year ago
Hi
Is there anyone out there who have the lyrics for this extreme great song ?? I understand most of it, but not it all - lyrics will be highly appreciated !!
slotgitt 2 years ago
Google is a pretty powerful tool on the internet. Look up "Better than you" lyrics and you'll find about 20 thousand sites with the lyrics on there. Anyway, I'm so glad I'm better than you.
zackjmack 2 years ago 12
@slotgitt All the re-mastered & re-released lps on Young Gods Records have the lyrics on the sleeve. Even the downloads fro iTunes have an Adobe version.
greymalkin100 6 months ago 2
I really don't think you have a range of life experience or emotional maturity adequate to fully comprehend or appreciate something like Swans
jnsnkshsbdb 2 years ago
El cielo se rasga en dos con este tema.
rongrelio 2 years ago
Micheal Gira IS better than me.
EMKTTHL 2 years ago 3
swans have saved my life! we are no better then anyone. though we like to think.
NachoNinja 2 years ago 3
im so glad im better than u r
shermant46 2 years ago 3
So great!!thanx!
psychoma13 2 years ago
i was searching for a video about birds, and i found this. i knew this band by name already, but never could never be arsed to listen to it. damn, aren't i glad i'm not watching a video about birds now?
ramonesaudibert 2 years ago 100
lol
deSadetheImpaler 2 years ago
Yes, you were glad you weren't watching a video about birds. :)
viralthings 2 years ago
@ramonesaudibert birds are cool too bro :)
stiggyh 1 year ago
@stiggyh Yeah, swans ARE cool - but Swans is better. ;]
ramonesaudibert 1 year ago
This is a great song.
nichelodeonband 2 years ago 4
this is song about sibling rivalry between two necrophiliacs.
greedholymoney 2 years ago 23
@greedholymoney You're stupid.
RyanTheWest 1 year ago
I've always been an advocate of "blue power," that is, the Blue Man Group gets the power in the world.
Swatsinger 2 years ago 8
???
urckrecords 2 years ago
any one else think this could be like a self dialogue like im turning into a better person not typical swans matterial but could be
polistyrenejassband 2 years ago
Im better than you
Laampjj 2 years ago 2
One of their most glorious songs, but I just HATE that gargling infant-intro.
rustinpieces 3 years ago 9
I can never get in to most of the stuff between Children of God and Soundtracks for the Blind
: /
svperstar 3 years ago
screw soundtrack for the blind.....i have 'white light' the lp and the ones which followed......awesome.......they're due for reissue.
posthumanhero 2 years ago
@posthumanhero i hope so cause they're 2 hard to find. I've wanted white light for years. Does it include lyrics or anything in the booklet?
kicksex 1 year ago
yes, they all do for the most part.although i rebought mine on cassette because my silo record player didnt want to play the lp..........not altogether a bad move since it's a double.of course, so the whole thing could fit on cd.........don't know why gira isn't putting these classics out: they're just as good as and better produced than 'god (i.e. u can hear the bass)
posthumanhero 1 year ago
@posthumanhero maybe it's record company problems. what label released all that 90's era Swans?
kicksex 1 year ago
young god records, actually..
posthumanhero 1 year ago
@posthumanhero I also bought the LP and it was poorly mastered, crackly etc. I took it back to the record shop and exchanged it for the CD (though I kept the poster :-) ) If you read Gira's Young God records website he explains why he isn't that satisfied by this period of Swans and why he won't re-release the LPs between Children of God and The Great Annihilator. Oh well...
andinoble 1 year ago
Love for The Swans. I has it.
Sterlingzap 3 years ago 2