Background Information
Guns N’ Roses is an iconic American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. Their 1987 debut album, Appetite For Destruction, was a commercial and critical success, and propelled the band to instant fame. Subsequently, the success of their subsequent they albums, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, cemented Guns N’ Roses as one of the iconic bands of the 1980s and 90s music scene.
In 1989, the group released GN’R Lies, which included the single ‘Patience’. The song proved that the band could also do softer, more melodic ballads and equally become a hit. The song still remains a staple of the group’s live repertoire and has been covered by numerous bands since then.
Analysis and Insights
The song ‘Patience’ was not originally included on any of the band’s major albums until it was added to the compilation album, G N’ R Lies. The album was not as well-received commercially as the group’s previous efforts, but it did still become a hit and was well-received by fans. ‘Patience’ is the fifth and the last track on the album, and its popularity quickly made it an anthem for the group. The song was the band’s second Number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and also reached Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Since its initial release, ‘Patience’ has continued to be a perennial fan favorite, and it has become one of the band’s signature songs. In 2004, it was featured on the band’s Greatest Hits compilation and was once again nominated for a Grammy Award. The song was part of the band’s setlist in their Not in This Lifetime tour in 2016, and they have continued to perform it live ever since.
Expert Perspectives
Music critics have praised ‘Patience’ for the band’s ability to deliver a sentimental ballad. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the song as “a surprisingly well-crafted ballad…the song is surprisingly gentle, hinting at the reflective maturity that throngs of Guns N’ Roses fans were pining for in the group’s initial decade of popularity.” Peter Clark of Bang Magazine wrote, “The beautiful power ballad ‘Patience’ demonstrated the dark poetic mastery of this band.”
Singer Axl Rose, the vocalist of the band, has also spoken on the song in interviews. He explained that the song is about the idea that “you can’t always do what you want to do, and that you have to take your time and have patience,” and that it was inspired by “the people waiting for UYI to come out, and waiting for the band to do the next move.”
Social Significance
As alluded to in his comment, ‘Patience’ holds great significance to Guns N’ Roses and their fans. It is a perfect example of the band’s ability to combine hard, uncompromising rock with melodic, heartfelt ballads. It is a song that speaks to patience and resilience in the face of difficult times, which has made it deeply resonant with the group’s fan base.
In addition, ‘Patience’ has also become an anthem for the band. It has become the go-to song for many of their fans to sing along to at the band’s live shows. In 2017, the group included video of a fan singing ‘Patience’ during the show on their official website, as a sign of the deep connection between the band and their fans. This relationship was further articulated in a recent video made by the band featuring footage of fans singing the song during the South American leg of their Not in This Lifetime tour.
Impact of the Song
The impact of ‘Patience’ has been substantial and extends beyond the band’s devoted core fanbase. The success of the song has helped thrust Guns N’ Roses into mainstream culture, and it has become a staple not only of the band’s live setlists, but also of classic rock radio stations all around the world. It has been covered by a number of different artists, including Taylor Swift, Lil Uzi Vert, and Slash and Myles Kennedy.
The song has also received many accolades over the years. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Rock Performance From ‘G N’ R Lies’. In 2004, the song was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside several of the band’s other hit singles. Lastly, in 2017, ‘Patience’ was ranked at Number 57 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of ‘The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time’.
Music Video
The band released a music video for ‘Patience’ in 1989, which was directed by Nigel Dick. The video was shot inside a church, and featured the band performing the song in front of a small audience. The use of the church in the video was a deliberate choice, according to Rose, who said that he wanted to Paint the band “As a little bit more sensitive to the fact that, at the time, there was a lot of controversy. And we tried to pick a venue where it would show that there wasn’t any bad intentions.” The music video was a modest success, reaching number twenty-five on MTV’s Top 25 Countdown.
Legacy of the Song
Since its initial release in 1989, ‘Patience’ has become an enduring classic, and one of the defining hits of Guns N’ Roses’ career. It is a testament to the band’s ability to craft a powerful, emotional ballad, and its impact on the band’s fans and the music industry in general continues to be felt today. The song has become an anthem for the band and their fans, and its influence on popular music has been vast.
The song has been cited as an influence by numerous artists, and has been covered by a variety of different acts. It continues to be featured in the group’s live shows to this day, a testament to its lasting legacy. ‘Patience’ is certainly one of Guns N’ Roses’ most beloved songs, demonstrating the group’s versatility by crafting an emotive ballad that could still rock like their hard rock anthems.
