While releasing series of singles and EPs, the group played various unpromoted and experimental shows through the year, some of which are chronicled in the liner notes of later releases. Their debut album, Angles Without Edges, was released on the unfortunate date of September 11, 2001 and was ignored by virtually everyone, except those who listened, and loved it. An album of Stevie Wonder covers titled Stevie was recorded during their formative period was also released later in 2003.
Madlib envisioned something similar to a Wu-Tang Clan trajectory for the group, with each of the subsequent records released as different phases of the group under their individual names. Several new performers came into the frey during this period, many of whom performed on Madlib's Shades of Blue, his remix album for Blue Note. Expanded beyond the original five members of YNQ, the greater collective grew into Yesterdays Universe.
As early as 2003, Madlib's all-inclusive approach to expanding Yesterdays Universe was causing tensions among the original core group. Yesterdays New Quintet announced a breakup in 2007, but by this time several new groups had already recorded dozens of tracks under Madlib's direction: Young Jazz Rebels, The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble, Sound Directions, Jahari Massamba Unit, and Jackson Conti, just to name a few. The compilation Yesterdays Universe (2007) served to announce these new groups. Madlib Medicine Show #7: High Jazz (2010) introduces even more.
At this point we should address the frequent claims that the five members of Yesterdays New Quintet and the entire Yesterdays Universe collective are fictional aliases, mere figment of Madlib's hazy imagination. Unfortunately, our agreement with Yesterdays New Quintet/Yesterdays Universe prohibits us from divulging any biographical data about the group members or commenting on their physical status in space and time. We can, however, point out that there are documented live performances, and Yesterdays Universe artists who are known for their work outside of the Madlib circle – Karriem Riggins, Ivan Conti, Todd Simon, and Dan Ubick among them. But due to the private nature of Madlib and the members of Yesterdays Universe, we can say no more.
Superstition
Yesterday's New Quintet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way, yeh, yeh
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say
Very superstitious, the devil's on his way
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer, superstition ain't the way, no, no, no
The lyrics to Yesterday's New Quintet's song "Superstition" address the human tendency to believe in things that one cannot comprehend. The song states that when we subscribe to superstitions, we invite suffering into our lives. The repetition of the phrase "very superstitious" emphasizes the insistence that people have on holding onto irrational beliefs that often have no logical foundation. For instance, the song mentions a baby breaking a looking glass, which is believed to bring seven years of bad luck. It is a superstitious belief with no scientific backing, yet people adhere to it.
The lyrics also suggest that these superstitions are hard to shake off, and people often resort to bizarre rituals to rid themselves of their supposed bad luck. The line "wash your face and hands, rid me of the problem, do all that you can" conveys the sense of desperation that people feel when held hostage by their own beliefs. Ultimately, the song asserts that we need to let go of superstition and embrace logic and rationality in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Very superstitious, writing on the wall
Being overly superstitious and reading too much into things.
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall
Being overly superstitious and believing that bad luck is inevitable.
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Believing in the superstition that breaking mirrors causes bad luck.
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past
Believing in the superstition that breaking mirrors causes seven years of bad luck.
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Believing in superstitions without understanding them can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Superstition ain't the way
Encouraging listeners to avoid superstitious beliefs.
Very superstitious, wash your face and hands
Believing in the superstition that washing your face and hands can ward off evil or bad luck.
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can
Asking for help in getting rid of negative superstitions.
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong
Asking to be distracted from superstitious thoughts.
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song
Expressing loneliness and desperation due to excessive superstitious beliefs.
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say
Emphasizing the deep-rooted nature of superstitious beliefs.
Very superstitious, the devil's on his way
Believing in the superstition that bad luck and the devil may be coming.
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Repeating the superstition that breaking mirrors causes bad luck.
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past
Repeating the superstition that breaking mirrors causes seven years of bad luck.
When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer, superstition ain't the way, no, no, no
Reiterating the negative impact of believing in superstitions without understanding them and emphasizing the need to let go of such beliefs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Всеволод
that's some raw shit!
LordPalbert
Because he's the man!
Yeehee
funky af
Dru Nature
@hotnovel and terrific musical living conditions growing up too. Hes successful enough to afford to put in that work! so hes lucky, talented and skilled! Gotta love the mans music foreva!
Gary's Piano Covers
Just found out about this....groovin
Dru Nature
fuking madlib, why does he have to be so talented!?
arcadeMcfly
I heard it was another Madlib invasion
Johnson smith
and there's that one person who had to dislike...smh
Dru Nature
@bubnjarovski whats that supposed to mean?
Lucio bp
why it cant be on sp0t15y tho