LogFAQs > #956177353

112. The Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
from the album Beggars Banquet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgnClrx8N2k

Key lyrics:
I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys?
Well, after all, it was you and me

Of the two leading British Invasion bands, The Rolling Stones rarely experimented like The Beatles. They were happy to stick with guitar-oriented rock, and they did it well. Sympathy for the Devil is a fluke of sorts, a song that did not sound quite right until they tried out a few variations. They stumbled into this jazz samba sound, with bongos, congas, and a piano taking lead over traditional rock elements. Backing vocalists chant woo woo throughout, giving an almost hypnotic appeal. These elements would never come together again in the same way within the pop sphere, marking this a truly incomparable Rolling Stones track.

Mick Jagger is an expert showman, and he plays the devil well. The lyrics rip through a dozen atrocities, only for him to put equal blame on us all. This devil is not an agent of destruction or tempter, but rather a trickster taking pleasure in our societal failings. Not leaving their rock sound completely behind, the electric guitar pops in about halfway through, giving a stray solo for the briefest of moments and only returning during the extended finale. Its sharp edge collide against the otherwise acoustic sound, yet that distinction lets the guitar almost float outside the rest of the track, giving it room to thrive. With Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones stepped outside their comfort zones but still managed to showcase their strongest elements.

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