Phil beat me again in making a point I'd planned to write about
When I tried to be brief in stating that the song does make sense, I didn't mean in a literal line by line sense, I meant that it makes sense when thought of as I think of it, a story about a series of events that are actually connected in some way and end up telling an intriguing tale, not necessarily a story, but a tale. The point the song makes is that events and people can be connected together in one way or another.
As Phil said, the string of pearls that bookend the tale are probably not the same one, (unless the listener chooses to believe a time warp is involved, which they certainly can, if they want to, lol); but somehow all these events that make up the tale end up linked to both of them, whether or not a time warp is involved ;P.
I still have 1 idea that hasn't been covered yet, & I'm rather happy that I get to still voice an original interpretation/defense of the song, lol.
IMO, the title String of Pearls doesn't refer to the necklaces that bookend the tale, but, instead, actually refers to the series of individual events that make up the tale, they are each a "pearl" on the string of interconnected events that make up the tale.
String of Pearls is definitely not for everyone, which is why I said that Nice Guys would be the best choice for a story song, but that I could live with String, if necessary, because the playlist compilation should have included a story song, and while String probably does turn some people off, at the same time, it's abstract, mind bending quality really appeals to others so it could have worked on a compilation, especially since it's still often played at shows, while Nice Guys isn't (I'm hoping it will make occasional appearances again now, now that they made the effort to dust it off for me for the 2008 holiday show)
Definitely the best way to fire up the forum is to debate ultimate compilations and dream setlists, lol, so although lots of us obviously don't agree with the playlist that was put out, welcome to the fan community, Sleazystreet, and try to forgive us for passionately disagreeing with a compilation that claimed to be the "very best of" and "truly represent an artists' complete body of work" and "The fan favorites everyone loves". Those are bold claims that the playlist compilation just doesn't live up to.
btw, I do agree that covers are an integral part of the live experience, and are often what make a particular show into a special experience, and are enjoyable inclusions as bonus tracks on CD singles, however, I think a "best of" compilation should focus on the artist's own original work, and esp should have been replaced by SA material if space was limited to 14 tracks.
If I were asked to tweek the playlist, here are my edits:
01. Never Really Been (Live)
02. Cartoon
03. Easy Street
04. Somebody To Shove
05. Runaway Train
06. By The Way - replaced by Closer to the Stars (live from last 10 years)
07. Black Gold
08. Sexual Healing - replaced by We 3 (either live or original album cut)
09. Misery
10. Without A Trace (Live)
11. Just Like Anyone
12. When I Ran Off & Left Her - replaced by Stranger (live from last 10 years)
13. I Will Still Be Laughing (Live) - replaced by Marionette (either live or original album cut)
14. Stand Up And Be Strong - replaced by Sometime To Return (either live or original album cut)
The track order could probably use some adjustments, given the swapped tracks
I'd like to keep Laughing, or better yet, swap it with Cradle Chain, but if limited to just 14 tracks... Marionette wins over anything from Candy.
O.K. I've explained my original defense of poor lil String of Pearls, and even managed to bring my post back to the original topic, so it's time for me to shut up and go back to my vampire book, lol.
carry on, my passionate fellow inmates
dells