Classical Composer Reacts to BLACK SABBATH: PARANOID | The Daily Doug (Episode 619)

#blacksabbath #paranoid

In this #metalmonday edition of #thedailydoug, I'm coming back to Black Sabbath's second album with the title track, Paranoid. I didn't realize until the music started that I had heard the song previously. It's a classic metal song with a simple power-chord riff and a set of lyrics that really makes you think! I hope you enjoy!

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[CoffeeMatt]

This is a great example of ‘less is more’, it’s a very simple song, but it’s one of the most iconic songs not just in rock and metal, but even in mainstream media.

[earlgrey]

Planet Caravan from this same album is the Sabbs at their most languid.The sounds are haunting and vaguely ....lysergic.A masterpiece all told.

[paulfranklin]

I bought this after hearing in the local record shop, played it until it was virtually transparent & drove my father to yell the classic "turn that racket down"

[NeurodivergentMetal]

The effect on the guitar solo is called a Ring Modulator: Ring Modulation pedals are stompbox units designed for guitar and/or bass. They modulate the amplitude of the input signal with a carrier signal (typically a sine or square wave) in order to produce/output new frequencies, which are the sum and difference (sidebands) of the input and carrier signals.

[chrissimmons]

My first concert ever as a very young man was Black Sabbath in the early 70’s. They opened with Paranoid and it seriously kicked ass. Seeing Black Sabbath as it was originally great way to kickoff my history of going to rock concerts.

[rctin]

Doug, I love your analysis of all of this great music. Really love when you stop the track periodically to dive into each particular part. Please do more of that.

[stephenpowell]

It’s a privilege listening to you talking about music. Thank you.

[LuisGarcia-eetr]

Doug: I suggest "Megalomania" from the Sabotage album. 9 impressive minutes. A massive banger. It’s an obvious epic that goes through several perfect sections. The tone of it leaves an impression of being lost in a dark room with zero direction thanks to the haunting bass trickles, menacing leads, and echo-like vocal approach. Black Sabbath hit peak spooky vibes here. It goes from slow, dark and melancholic to a fast and upbeat song. Iommi's riff is always brilliant, and Ozzy displays his vocal arsenal. Monumental.

[dezmilad]

Very nice doug 👏👏👏👏 I actually didn't think this song had much to analyze but you still went deep and taught me new things about it 🙌🙌 I can't believe I never realized all these years that this song doesn't have a chorus 😂😂😂

[GrayNeko]

Depression is a deep, slippery pit. Digging yourself out feels impossible. The worst thing in the world you can do is to start to self-medicate. Sadly, most of us do. It doesn't help. Get help, people. Get help.
Great vid, Doug. Black Sabbath is the shizzle! !m!

[daredevildaryl]

Your face on the front of this was similar to my first reaction in 1974

[demoskratos]

I like the background...from the plain wall to the LPs of the masterpieces in metal music. In the room of the classical musician.😊

[BGC]

Doug, “Evil Woman” was Black Sabbath’s first ever single, in the UK. The flipside was a song called “Wicked World”. The single was released on January 9, 1970. “Evil Woman” was chosen to be on the UK edition of the first album, while “Wicked World” replaced that song on the American edition of their debut album.

[PyroB]

Simple power chords and riffs, but the killer drums bring it all together!

[ВладИванов-ещ]

Virgin Steele - I Will Come For You - great epic track with high composition skills. Must to listen in future Mondays!

[jariel]

A song I know and love and can play on guitar. I'm 69 years old and have heard it a million times. I never thought that deep about the lyrics. You nailed it with the explanation of Geezer's statement. Thanks Y'all Doug.

[bobschenkel]

"Strophic", nice, add something new to my vocabulary. Really hadn't heard that word before. Thanks Doug, always want to "expand" my knowledge. BTW, Cannabis saves lives.

[gwts]

It makes me happy that the captioning for this calls your channel The Daily Duck. Thanks for the video, Duck!

[adriangoodrich]

This was the first heavy metal (it was "heavy rock" in those days") 7-inch single I ever bought, a couple of weeks after I bought my first turntable in 1973. Still easy to get, even well over two years after first release. I still have that vinyl single, 50 years later! Pretty unmistakable riff from Tony, and powerful words from Geezer I believe primarily about depression, although I always suspected maybe also how its impact can sometimes be accentuated and tend to paranoia through "certain herbs". Either way, Geezer surely must have been writing from personal experience here, given the simple raw power in the lyrics? Interested to hear what Doug has dug out regarding the true meaning! (And from others who are more familiar than I am).

[MikeFisher-]

For me the energy and urgency of the music fit well with the words; someone for whom life is running away from them and needs help, but already feels it is too late. Singles from Sabbath, Deep Purple and others certainly shook up the charts back in the day. Great times.