Black Sabbath released both their debut and sophomore albums in 1970, and are pretty much credited with giving birth to heavy metal. Credited or blamed, depending on your musical taste.
Paranoid was the second of those albums, and widely considered their best work. Tracks such as ‘War Pigs,’ ‘Iron Man’ and the title track became instant metal classics.
I’m on record saying heavy metal is the one musical genre — the only musical genre — I simply can’t embrace. I hate to sound like an old man, but it’s just too noisy!
That said, some of these early Black Sabbath songs are undeniably catchy. Today’s SOTD is a great example. So maybe metal started in an ok place but devolved into something much worse.
Cause she couldn’t help me with my mind
People think I’m insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I’ll lose my mind
If I don’t find something to pacify
Can you help me occupy my brain?
Oh yeah!
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it’s too late
I’ve never really liked this song, though I confess I’m not a big fan of Ozzy Osbourne’s voice. As for heavy metal generally, I too am not that into the genre, though I have a soft spot for some of it from my youth, including Led Zepplin, Van Halen and, yes, Kiss. Arguably, though, those bands are not as heavy metal in many of their songs as are others like Metallica.