These lyics although non specific in nature primarily deal with the crucifixion (as per the video take by Richard Lowenstein) and the supposed second coming of Jesus Christ. As if goading this second coming or questioning the possibility altogether. I sense Michael to be a bit of an agnostic.... The Gift refers to 'life' as was provided in the sacrifice of JC for our sins.....

Like most of the FMDH album, Michael was in a mood, and this song like the others is dripping with cynicism.

IMHO

Kick

Did Jon or Michael write the lyrics?

Both, I dun like that album because of the mood...it's too dark. I like the album, but it's my least favourite. :dontknow:

I'd probably point at Michael for the lyrics but I'm sure the song is basically a shared composition......Faith In Each Other and Disappear came about with Jon doing most of the rythms and stuff and Michael just vocalising a loose melody (not even using real words in some instances :)) over the top. Got that idea from some interview somewhere. In the FMDH longform or maybe IOL, Jon says I penned that one (The Gift)...so make what you will of that.

Kick

It's funny bec. I love the album for that. I've heard so many complain that "it's so different from INXS" "I don't like it." :blahblah: So, I had to see for myself what they were talking about. As soon as I heard it, it quickly became my fave with LLT. I found it to be one of their most amazing works and ballsy for them to put out such an album.

I don't think this song or indeed the FMDH album is a huge tangent away from umm..."normal" INXS, the trademark sound is perhaps sullied slightly by the rawer (noisier) production.....hence the element of pop in some other notable INXS albums is more or less absent from this one.....put simply it rocks. What is missing as a opposed to say the Kick album is the simple and positive lyrical motifs....INXS were unsatisfied with the sales of X and WTWYA (more specifically in the US) and the continued attempt to tweak the sound to arrest the slide merely offended the ear of those who purchase what is fab at the time. This album falls between the cracks of grunge, dance, rock and pop......but it's so d..n loud you can still hear it :). The bands own opinion of the album has been tainted by the bitter after taste of a flat sales stat and the memories of what was turbulent time in the studio.

Kick

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm sure if I had heard of FMDH's release back in the day I would have bought it. I still think it's great ass kicking fun! :yahoo:

I absolutely love FMDH & I would have to say it is one of my all time fav Inxs albums, with The Gift being one of my fav songs! I would so love to see them do it live. :dance2:

Yeah. And on another note. Full Moon Dirty Hearts has some of the best INXS videoclips ever.

I had the pleasure of seeing them do this song live at Bris in 1994, and indeed The Gift was in my opinion a better song live than the output you hear on the FMDH album. Especially the crescendo finish, with the sounds of "armageddon" through all those Marshall stacks it was one of the best of many highlights at the INXS concert. Even though this song is pretty easy for the band to play their stop on a cent precision was most evident in this one. Even though a recording doesn't quite capture it, the Time EP has a reasonable live version of this song (from the Barker Hanger gig).

Kick