Hüsker Dü broke with the anti-traditionalist ethos of most early hardcore bands. Their early songwriting shows the influence of folk, 1960s pop music, blues, and other forms (although often buried under a thick layer of angst and aggression), and has a strong melodic sense. The lyrics made astute, sharp, personal and social commentary, showing a great deal of vulnerability and sympathy for their subjects. Hüsker Dü's songwriting was widely admired, and their live shows were often a venue for brilliant improvisational playing. (A feedback-laden solo guitar performance from an early-'80s soundcheck tape merited release via the avant-garde Telus Magazine.) Hüsker Dü were also, however, widely regarded as somewhat unusual-sounding in their early prime, due to the instruments' non-standard tones: Mould's guitar is described below, while Hart's drums were considered 'thumpy' (and he consistently played slightly behind the beat); Norton played bass fairly laconically even at fast tempos, using his fingers rather than a pick. The band's sound can be considered an organic synthesis of these elements -- a unit that was quite powerful in combination, yet perhaps difficult to parse singly.
A particular strength of the group was the two powerhouse singer/songwriters, Mould and Hart. The tension between their musical styles (Mould was generally the angrier songwriter, Hart the more melodic one), and their willingness to collaborate, made the sum of their contributions greater than their parts. Another strength was Mould's unique, resonant guitar sound, described by a critic at the time as "molten metal pouring from the speakers." Mid-period Hüsker Dü songs are immediately recognizable via Mould's incandescent guitar tone, achieved by splitting the signal in the studio between amplified and direct tones and adding a light stereo chorus effect. Mould's technique involved playing resonant drone notes on the high strings. Although a trio, Hüsker Dü generally sounded extremely large on record and live.
The group is also notable as one of the first 1980s American underground rock bands to contract with a major record label, a move that blazed the trail for the rise of alternative rock a few years later. Another key Minneapolis band who served as an alternative rock icebreaker was The Replacements, who had a friendly rivalry with Hüsker Dü.
Mould has gone on to release other albums, including a recent solo double album release called Body of Song. Prior to that he took a stint as a writer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) scripting scenarios and fights.
Grant Hart died from cancer on September 14, 2017.
Strange Week
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, aagh...
Seven days (7x)
The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's song Strange Week perhaps seem deceptively simple at first glance. However, they actually capture a sense of frustration and desperation that many of us can relate to. The repetition of the days of the week suggests a monotony or repetition in the singer's life that they cannot escape from, while the final exclamation of "aagh..." conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by this feeling.
The song's title, Strange Week, adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics. While the days of the week are familiar and routine, something about this particular week is different or off-kilter for the singer. This could be an external circumstance or an internal feeling. Either way, the singer is struggling to cope with it.
Overall, Strange Week is a song that captures the sensation of feeling trapped in one's own life, unable to break out of a troubling pattern or circumstance. It's a sentiment that many of us can relate to, and Hüsker Dü communicates it with powerful simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
The beginning of the week, marked by a series of mundane days with little to no excitement.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, aagh...
The end of the week, marked by intense emotions or feelings of dread.
Seven days (7x)
The song emphasizes the cyclical nature of time, and how each new week brings the same repetitive cycle of days.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind