The Verve Reunites

1-2; 1-2; 1-2
1-2-3; 1-2-3

So simple yet so grand. This orchestral riff was the powerful centerpiece to one of the last worldwide smash singles we’ll ever see. Last night at MSG theater, THE VERVE played their classic "Bittersweet Symphony" to a rousing crowd that instantly leapt out of their seats and sang along with every word.
These guys came out of nowhere over 10 years ago and on the back of this one song sold millions of records and achieved worldwide fame. You're talking serious connection when they can reunite after 10 years and sell out shows, without releasing any new material. That's the beauty of a hit single, though the days of focused media attention needed to create these are long gone.
What's particularly interesting here is that this song was from a credible, alternative rock band. There might have been hits since but none like this one - we're not talking beats and inane slang about ghetto cool and body parts, this was a piece of art coming from a deep place. The strength of this was the affect, the emotion that the music summoned in all who heard it. I'm not sure if we'll ever this this type of quality in popular music ever again, not that anyone seems to really care.
As for The Verve's masterpiece, I don’t know one single person who doesn’t love this song. At the heart of it is the universal truth everyone knows. It IS a bittersweet symphony that’s life. There’s nothing wrong with that, it just is. And I'm not sure if expressing and celebrating this idea has ever been done better.