Saliva: 50 Best Songs From Their Career (So Far)

2. "Weight Of The World" - Back Into Your System

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9GUotJf7-o I've been waiting 48 countdown slots to talk about this particular Saliva song. In most cases I'd label this #1, but another legendary song already earned that spot, which knocked "Weight Of The World" down to #2. But to me, as a fan, this is my personal favorite Saliva song of all time. And while it's not a single it still remains Saliva's most coveted song to date (to me at least). "Weight Of The World" had the same profound story as "Click Click Boom", where it was the first time I ever run across Saliva. In fact, "Weight Of The World" is how I first heard of the band. And here's the irony: where some people fall in love with bands by hearing their singles played on national radio stations, I heard Saliva's first song (that's not even a single) on a CD player at a friend's house. Right then I knew I was hearing one of my favorite songs of all time. "Weight Of The World" is also important for it's dedicated sound; with Back Into Your System comes Saliva's heaviest album to date, easily settling in to their hard rock roots and dishing out the heaviest riffs, drumbeats, and traumatizing vocal choruses in the band's history. "Weight Of The World" is, from my point of view, Saliva's heaviest song ever produced and released; The sheer power of Paul Crosby hitting those drums and percussion, to D'Abaldo completely rocking the opening solo with Novotny and Swinny on guitar, is pure utter enjoyment on a massive scale. But let's not forget Josey Scott, who lends his voice with such quiet, enthusiastic emotion throughout each lyrical line. Interpretations are always open, and this is no different. I do believe that Scott is opening his heart to a former love interest from back in his early days; it's how he personally describes some of the lyrics as if almost in pain, and he uses that pain to make a statement: being in a one-sided relationship where all the effort comes from him but not from his significant other, and how the world seems to be crashing down on him. But he holds back on what he wants to say, carrying "the weight of the world as the world falls down." And all that pain he feels of rejection and lovelessness makes him seem like "the last in line", as said in the song, and he must carry on to another day to see what the future holds. A complete rock song at heart and design, it's almost ironic that Scott pulls a page from Every Six Seconds and does a brief rap-rock piece at the very end, almost like the proverbial explanation mark on a personal statement. "Weight Of The World" should be #1. It should be with all its accolades. But, alas, it's seconded by Saliva's trump card, their definitive track and perhaps one of the most well known alternative rock songs of all time.....