Is This the Way The Futures Meant to Feel…
How Pulp summarised the darker side of 90s raves.
Different Class is one of the greatest Britpop albums that was released. ‘Common People’ and ‘Disco 2000’ became huge hits for Pulp and have become ingrained in British society. The track ‘Sorted For E’s and Wizz’ has flown under the radar a little bit and I thought I’d give it some appreciation.
The songs title comes from a phrase that Jarvis Cocker heard when he saw The Stone Roses at Spike Island in 1990. Although the Stone Roses were an indie rock band many of there fans were also associated with raves and the taking of drugs was commonplace. The song aims to talk about the experience of taking drugs as well as rave culture. The opening lines of the song do this perfectly.
‘Oh, is this the way they say the future's meant to feel?Or just twenty thousand people standing in a field?And I don't quite understand just what this feeling isBut that's okay 'cause we're all sorted out for E's and wizz’
It highlights that even the pleasure sometimes obtained from taking drugs is all artificial experience and that makes it hollow. The song doesn’t celebrate or condemn drugs. It’s just someone’s experience of taking them.
The song also talks about ‘Rave Culture’ a movement that seemed to be built around the idea of community and togetherness but the song flips this idea on its head.
I lost my friends, I dance aloneIt's six o'clock, I want to go homeBut it's "no way, " "not today"Makes you wonder what it meantAnd this hollow feeling grows and grows and grows and grows’
It wasn’t like that for everyone, the song talks about a character whose stopped having fun. The drug taking has been the cause and is now a consequence.
As well tackling these subjects, the song itself is a very good song. It’s classic Pulp and perfect Britpop. It’s easily one of the best on that album and one of the best songs by the band
Thank you for reading