• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

  • DC Guides
    • DC Events
    • DC New 52
    • DC Rebirth
    • Batman Guide
    • The Sandman Universe
  • Marvel Guides
    • Marvel Events
    • Captain America Guide
    • Iron Man Guide
    • Spider-Man Guide (1963-2018)
    • Spider-Man Guide (2018-Present)
    • Thor Guide
    • X-Men Reading Order
  • Indie & Licensed Comics
    • Spawn
    • Star Wars Guide
      • Expanded Universe Comics (2015 – present)
      • Legends Comics (1977 – 2014)
    • Valiant Guides
  • Drag
    • Canada’s Drag Race
    • Drag Race Belgique
    • Drag Race Down Under
    • Drag Race Sverige (Sweden)
    • Drag Race France
    • Drag Race Philippines
    • Dragula
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
  • Archive
  • Contact!

Ra Ra Riot

35-for-35: 2008 – “Dying Is Fine” by Ra Ra Riot

November 25, 2016 by krisis

[Patreon-Nov16-Post-Bug][/Patreon-Nov16-Post-Bug]Sometimes songs can see the future.

Yes, I know that the interpretation of art is in the eye of the beholder, and just as we look to coincidences in the world as the sign of supernatural guidance we can also believe in the kismet of a song that perfectly describes a situation in our lives. A good song should do and be that.

Yet, I think some songs – the best songs – are something more, because they so perfectly describe a future they have not yet glimpsed.

I have a song called “A Few Bars of Goodbye” that has maintained its favorite over the past fifteen years, with E, Gina, and now EV counting themselves as fans. I wrote the song as a project for a songwriting class at Drexel. It wasn’t based in life at all, but on trying to tell a complete narrative through imagery. It’s the story of a young couple – a career girl and a cool rock boy, who is blithe to the fact that she’s isn’t getting anything she needs from their relationship.

This is the third verse:

Yes it’s hard! You know it’s hard for her to do it
And she wishes she didn’t have a 9-to-5 grind
But while she’s out there in the real world
She wonders where he’s been spending his time
Wrapped up in his chords? Trying to write the next killer line?

Now she’s humming a few bars of goodbye

I’ve never identified with the song before this year, because E and I have always had a (more than) 9-to-5 grind plus our own passion projects. Being at home with EV focused solely on the twin passion projects of this blog and my music makes those lyrics uncomfortably close to home. Now I am the one spending the day wrapped up in my chords and trying to write the next killer line, and I expend so much time, effort, and communication trying to ensure E and I don’t share the same fate as the couple in this song.

“Dying Is Fine” was one of the earliest songs written by Ra Ra Riot, and it’s among their best. An insectile frenzy of strings dissipates to reveal a disco backbeat and a simple four-note guitar line, backed by a swirling liquid bed of violin and cello.

I love that juxtaposition of elements, along with Wes Miles’s slightly stuffy-nosed baritone vocals. Every aspect of the song fights against the others, creating a push-pulling against your ears until a bridge unifies all the instruments into a building crescendo. Afterwards, the chorus comes off completely different – a summation rather than a frantic cry. The song is a magic trick of exuding both joy and grief at the same time.

Ra Ra Riot formed in 2006 at parties at their alma mater Syracuse University and quickly exploded into indie-rock notability thanks to positive reactions from tastemakers and festival cords.  They recorded “Dying Is Fine” with their original drummer, John Ryan Pike, for their debut EP, released in July 2007.

John Ryan Pike drowned after a show in June of 2007.

ra-ra-riot-the-rhumb-lineCan you imagine – not only continuing as a band after one of your best friends and bandmates had died, but still playing his songs, and having your breakthrough come from a song you wrote with him that had this chorus?

Death, oh baby
You know that dying is fine but maybe
I wouldn’t like death if death were good
Not even if death were good

You might think that the unique push-pull of the song came from its increased resonance after Pike’s death, but you can hear all the same elements on the version he recorded with the band. It still had the grief and the joy. That disco backbeat is Pike’s, present on that original recording. The liquid waves of strings were always there. The bridge that braids the elements together into resolution is intact.

Is this it
Maundering about and
All I have is too much time to understand

That one can only love
Life until its ending
Oh, and I can’t forget

“Dying Is Fine” was complete already, a perfect picture of the grief it would be release into on that EP, and then the band’s full-length followup, The Rhumb Line. Part of those lyrics are cribbed (with acknowledgment) from an e e cummings poem of the same name: [Read more…] about 35-for-35: 2008 – “Dying Is Fine” by Ra Ra Riot

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: 35-for-35, Ra Ra Riot

Primary Sidebar


Support Crushing Krisis on Patreon
Support CK
on Patreon


Follow me on Twitter Contact me Watch me on Youtube Subscribe to the CK RSS Feed

About CK

About Crushing Krisis
About My Music
About Your Author
Blog Archive
Comics Blogs Only
Contact Krisis
Terms & Conditions

Crushing Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Events Guide

Spider-Man Guide

DC Comics

  • New Guide: Howard the Duck
  • Updated: RO: X-Men 06 – Fatal Attractions
  • Captain Marvel by Jamie McKelvieCarol Danvers, Captain Marvel & Ms. Marvel – Definitive Collecting Guide & Reading Order
    The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide […]
  • Monica Rambeau, Photon, Spectrum, & Captain Marvel – Definitive Collecting Guide and Reading Order
    The definitive issue-by-issue comic book collecting […]
  • New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 20, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 20 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • New for Patrons: Guide to Monica Rambeau – Photon, Spectrum, & Captain Marvel
    It's time to shine a light on a Guide to Monica Rambeau. She's been Photon, Spectrum, & even Captain Marvel. Read EVERY issue in order. […]
  • Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)Updated: Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
    Happy Anniversary to Marvel's Avengers! To celebrate I rebuilt my definitive guide to Avengers (1963-1996), including EVERY issue & collection. […]
  • Guide to Birds of PreyBirds of Prey – Definitive Collecting Guide and Reading Order
    The definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and […]
  • Silver Age X-Men GuideUpdated: Silver Age X-Men Guide
    I've updated my definitive Silver Age X-Men Guide to collected editions of the earliest X-Men comics, including a new Penguin Classics & Taschen editions. […]
  • Guide to Conan the BarbarianUpdated: Guide to Conan The Barbarian
    I've overhauled my Guide to Conan the Barbarian to celebrate the release of Titan Comics' new Conan the Barbarian series written by Jim Zub. […]
  • Avengers Inc. (2023) #1 by Al Ewing & Leonard Kirk, released by Marvel Comics September 13 2023New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 13, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 13 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • Guide to Birds of PreyNew for Patrons: Guide to Birds of Prey
    Who are the Birds of Prey? Learn what cast members define one of DC's signature team with my Guide to Birds of Prey! […]
  • Fantastic Four (2022) #11 released by Marvel Comics September 6 2023New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 6, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 6 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • It’s gonna be May! Oh, wait, it’s ALREADY May…
    Hello, friends! Unfortunately, my non-CK life and […]

Content Copyright ©2000-2023 Krisis Productions

Crushing Krisis participates in affiliate programs including (but not limited to): Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), eBay Partner Network, and iTunes Affiliate Program. If you make a qualifying purchase through an affiliate link I may receive a commission.