Epic, Faith No More, 1989
Is this the song we all love to hate? Or ... is this the song we all hate that we love? For me, I answer, "yes," to both these questions and that, my friends, is the perfect (right) response to Epic. Irony is such a beautiful thing, y'all. It's hard to define but we know it when we see it. Epic is it -- epic is irony. Plus, Epic sounds and feels like 1989 to me and that will never be a bad thing.
Epic is the epitome of the age-old cautionary tale: Be careful what you wish for because your wishes just may come true. Epic is the Gift of the Magi, y'all. Think about it. A sardonically titled song, "epic," with its "what is it?" chant/lyric? Seriously. A song written about searching to define the qualities of the ever elusive "it" factor becomes epic in its own right because it has "it." Yep. Stay with me here -- "what is it?" Epic is actually full of "it" -- the "it" factor, I mean. Lightning strike genius level songwriting, y'all. Hello, Patton, Bottums, FNM guys -- I see you.
Epic is full of "it" not it -- right? Hold up -- is Epic just full of it? That's what we thought back in the day. Whether or not it's true, back in 1989, we all thought FNM wrote Epic making fun of Anthony Kiedis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Epic is in essence a brilliant parody narrative. Yep. Beef. FNM was The Real Thing, you see, and RHCP were sellout posers. What is "it?" It is it. Sellout music for the masses is it and apparently, FNM proved "it" is pretty easy to create.
Is that all too deep for you? Well, Epic is still a great song even if you stay in the shallow end. It's all about the crossroads; an awakening; feeling like a fish out of water; resisting being defined by societal roles -- Epic is simply about life's quest for "it." It is universal.
Do you have it? Wait -- what is it?
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