TODD RUNDGREN COURAGE

[andy42x]

anyone able to get the chords to this? so far, for the progression, I've got B, E, F#, Abm, A, E... but I could be off. Anyone make some more progress than me? :) Thanks!

[hartistry1957]

Todd is a great composer, but his vocal quality(not the mixing) is faltering. He could use a great singer if he wasn't into the ego thing.

[sidbolero]

I think this might be the best song I ever heard by anyone ever.

[lancethrustworthy]

I love Todd Rundgren music...but I think this tune is poorly mixed. I don't think his voice is strong enough in the mix.

[sidbolero]

@lancethrustworthy yes the mix could have been better and I think the bass guitar should have been more clipped and funky but as a song it's a killer.

[andy42x]

@lancethrustworthy  good observation

[sidbolero]

This just blows me away.

[greasemonkey1228]

man this is a beauty, it grabs me in the chest like all his stuff does. why isn't he the world's most famous musician? ok, stupid question. i know why. the world is full of a-holes.

[funeguy2]

God to write a song like this.....I fight all the time for love..just in my family...But I Have The Courage Of my Convictions!!!!!!!way before this song.

[mojorisen74]

If you want the HQ versions just buy the CD, It's great all the way through

[Clayton139]

WOW! Thanks for this post of Courage..! I'd like to see his best songs put in [HQ] on here?? Please..? :)

[Synthcatt]

Melody/harmony oozing out each and every way. The driving strum and fast tempo hides it a little. But, I like what he's done with this. Love the song.

[grundyhome]

This is my favorite CD right now.

[walkerbrothersmusic]

Amazon must still have this cd. We have newbury comics in the boston area and they usually have it in stock along with most of the dvd's. ( except live in japan!!!)

I think I even saw it in my local FYE.

[walkerbrothersmusic]

I see this cd in stores quite often in my area. He needs to get a song like Weakness on a tv like "grey's anatomy' to expose it to the masses.

[mojorisen74]

@walkerbrothersmusic I'm surprised that you see this CD! It's very hard to find. Hell! HiFi can't even release TR's JOhnson here in the states but it's been available in New Zealand since June!

[misterbunko1976]

I find myself humming this tune all the time. Brilliant. You can really tell that TR was made to make music.

[UrbanGuerilla88]

This reminds me of the second side of Faithful,he does those songs which get to you. 1 million times better than the overhyped crap of today and its only 2 years old.

[NotOrdinaryInGames]

I'll buy it!

[mancmuso1]

Todd just "keeps on keeping on"! Brilliant!!

[0marigolds]

@mancmuso1 thank you. Shame there is little promotion aside from YT. Honest mature lyrics and as shown on the Gladiator album cover, Todd's aged well ;.)

[WomackPhotoKCMO]

Anyone know where I might might find the guitar tab for this?

[willywill200929]

any chance of putting up strike the cd version sounds different than when he was live on letterman

[caraphyllis]

One of the best songs on an album that has been growing on me. There's some screaming on ARENA, which I'm not crazy about, but as always, Todd is deep. There's not a throw-away track on the record, and some of them are downright profound and gorgeous, like this one.

[Jimothy10]

The mix on the official mySpace page is slightly different, at least the little echo of the tune eg at 0.37 is missing on there

[CraigG1960]

I've been a fan for over 30 years. I don't think that his new stuff is all that great to be honest. I don't care really, there's always the old stuff.

[janakayz1]

This is a Real Man. Love this song. Great music, great lyrics. Should be a hit. In a real world it would be.

[rjo921]

I am rediscovering his genius after years on focusing on jazz...Pat Metheny to be specific. Now I am obsessed....I am just hoping that he stops by the HOB in Myrtle Beach at some point soon so I can experience him live! Nothing like a live show!

[acdeucee]

Love this new album. saw him in Naperville il on the 4th. Todd never ceases to amaze me, no matter what He does. He is a musical genius. His Fans are the Best Fans in the world. He also has the best sense of humor ever...Thanks for posting. I was searching for his new record.

[kissed61]

going to see Todd tonite in Toronto.I'm a tad upset that he's mostly featuring the new album, but this tune isn't bad

[5victor7]

yep I agree

[Joseph03743]

I like his voice a lot. I agree - this sing is tops. Great harmonic backing vocals, guitars, chord changes, and everything else.

He seems to me to be in the prime of his music career right now. I like all his music but Arena and Liars in my opinion are the best he ever made. :)

[WomackPhotoKCMO]

There is just something wonderful going on at 00:16....listen real close and see if you hear the musical genius I do!

[Joseph03743]

The magic goes on clear throughout this song if you ask me. :)

[Teri702]

Such a stellar song, How can it get out there to the masses?

[JonP1961]

@Teri702

The irony of being stellar: far away from the masses.  Too bad, more cake for us :P

[Teri702]

I agree, this is the best song off of that CD. I wish it would get out there.....

[VILLESBELOVED666]

this is my fav song off of arena,,,i just saw todd lAST NIGHT IN CHICAGO AT THE Park west!!! it was great!!!

[tyrbol]

Todd's still got it.

[catgirl6717]

OO OOO my new fave/cool/new secret Todd find!!! Todd fans think of him as their PERSONAL musician ("secret society" so to speak)!!

[WomackPhotoKCMO]

This song has stellar chord progressions, and should have been a #1. That said, I really think the cover killed this cd.

[Joseph03743]

Why do you think the cover "killed this CD"?

[MGM12]

It looks like he's wearing a black Depends diaper.

[Joseph03743]

Oh, lol.

Great album in my book. :) I like it as much as Nazz Nazz from about 40 years ago.

[Joseph03743]

He probably wanted to look that way, knowing Todd and after seeing his "Liars" album cover. Maybe he's thumbiing hs nose at the critics.

[johnkirk4]

Supposedly there is a diferent mix of "Courage" with the vocals more up front in the mix. Has anyone heard this?

[mojorisen74]

No, I haven't, I know this wasn't released as a single so I don't think there would be a remix. As a matter of fact I think the only single that has been released is "Strike" and that was released in the U.K.

[johnkirk4]

The best part of this song is the distant background vocals between 3:32 and 3:38. I have listened to this song hundreds of times and just discovered this little bit of Todd bliss!

[johnkirk4]

Actually, it's between 3:34 and 3:36!

[johnkirk4]

And the background vocal at 2:29 during the first half of the guitar solo are good old fashioned TR goosbump moments for me.

[neorunt]

Yeah, he takes you to a crescendo, I know the feeling from some so many years of TR.

Many fond memories johnkirk4.

[DukeKaz]

Classic Todd , Fantastic !!!!!!

[neorunt]

Yeah, this is classic Todd.

Bittersweet.

Makes me yearn for ...

Love.

[headmark915]

I didn't like the Liars album much, and an album entitled Arena with Todd looking like Ted Nugent on the cover didn't seem too promising, either. But what a surprise!This is classic Todd as I know him and love him. I'll buy the album tomorrow!

[JackMcQuack]

Ha haaaa! I wonder what The Nuuuuge thinks about the line "I'm young, dumb, and I gotta gun!"

[runt00]

this is a great tune! why cant this be on the radio instead of the rap monkey shit they play? TODD IS GOD!!!

[bikefixer]

As a longtime fan, I realize the TR "hits" days are long past. When radio friendly tunes such as "Property," "Women's World," "Where Does The Time Go?" and "Stoodup" don't make the cut, I doubt "Courage" will fare any better (although Todd's last radio vocal was a mere 2 years ago with the New Cars song). Anyway, enjoy.

[mojorisen74]

Yes, I have to say that the U.K. side of promotions and Peter Noble has done an excellecnt job of promotion since the "Liars" album. I'm sorry i didn't clarify that. The U.S. side of things is pathetic. HiFi records doesn't even have a working website so you can find no info about Todd or the new album. It's a shame that not only can you not find the album in the stores, but the only promotion that has been put on this album has been through the Fans, designing our own posters and calling radio

[Jimothy10]

Excellent posting. The UK promoter, Peter Noble, does a good job and gets Todd featured in lots of magazines and newspapers but radio seems pretty resistant - a few selective plays on the BBC and a 30 min interview on a digital only station (host Tom Robinson), but nothing on any playlist. For a couple of initial weeks Arena featured in the BBC indie top 30, but that's about it. But the whole album is good and this song would sound terrific on the radio - if only.

[JeffWeavil]

way to promote what those paid to do it won't

MOJO RULES!

[mezatopia]

Its a shame about Hi-Fi.I live on Long Island NY, and had to go through Amazon to get this cd.This never happened to me in my life.Oh well, enjoy :-)

[mojorisen74]

There were ALOT of po'ed people on the release date wondering where the CD was and how to get it. Alot of them weren't able to get it until the middle of October. I fortunately was able to get it at my fave record store, but they always keep alot of Todd in stock, and the owner is a fan.

[Farriee]

someone want to chat

i liked this video :) JV

[mojorisen74]

Yes it is, however I don't think it represents the sound of the album. I would like it if he did Mad, Afraid, or Manup. Don't get me wrong, courage is all "Todd" No one else but Todd could write a song like that but if people think the whole album sounds that way they're in for a surprise.

[crimsonrush]

I am a Todd fan from 1972 onwards. My question is 'surprise' or 'disappointment'?

Fair question as 'Courage' is my fave, followed by 'Bardo' (I am a massive Trower fan). :)

[cubdukat]

Look at it this way: At least it's not "With a Twist."

This is the first new Rundgren stuff I've liked since "One Long Year."

[crimsonrush]

I actually liked 'With A Twist' although I did have a problem with the odd phrasing of the vocals. Arena is his best since 'Nearly Human' IMO. :)

[cubdukat]

That it it, although I suspect I was one of the five people in the US that actually bought "2nd Wind." It's a shame he has such a low opinion of it; it's really the last time until "One Long Year" I could even stomach his music. If he had submitted "No World Order" or "The Indvidiualist" to Warner Bros., that would explain them dumping him. But they should be beating down his door to distribute "Arena."

[cubdukat]

Actually, I take that back about "The Individualist." I finally got the chance to listen to it all the way through, and it's not half-bad. I wouldn't put it up there with "Arena" or even "2nd Wind," but it's definitely not "No World Order."

I really think some major label should have been behind "Arena." It's a shame that so few people will get to hear what a great album it was. This is the most radio-friendly thing TR's done in years, and barely anyone got to hear it there. That's so wrong.

[motorpsych0]

Yes, we must promote Todd if the label is not.

My guess is he will play this on Letterman on Dec 22nd. It the most "radio ready" tune on ARENA.

Thanks for posting, man!